Kunle Adelabu
-As former Gov’s aide explains celebrating birthdays, future plans.
It was a wonderful and amazing time out for Prince Yommy Sopitan, a former Executive Assistant to the Governor of Lagos State on Maritime and his immediate family members on Thursday, April 1st, 2026, when the stakeholders in the maritime industry – federal, state and those in the private sector hosted Prince Sopitan to a birthday party.
The bash which held at the Café De Lounge within the Ikorodu Ferry Terminal, to the celebrant’s surprise, turned out to be an x-ray and assessment of his personality as stakeholders in the industry (which the former governor’s aide has been practising for decades) paid glowing tributes to him one after the other.
It was indeed a great evening that the celebrant and family would not forget in a hurry as individuals that Prince Sopitan has worked with and those that he is still working with shower praises on his personality, character and deeds.
Prince Yommy Sopitan served as the Executive Assistant on Maritime Affairs to the Executive Governor of Lagos State in the first term of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu. He is a royal prince from Lasunwon Royal Family in Isele Ward, Ikorodu, where his late father, Chief Sopitan (aka. Teacher Alajo) was the Baale of Isele Community and a community banker who collected “Esusu” contributions and was well trusted and respected by Ikorodu residents who entrusted their monies in his care for safe- keeping.
Mr Sina Ashogbon, a businessman, paying his tribute commended Prince Yommy Sopitan for his humility.
“He is a nice person and he’s very straight forward. He is full of humility and very respectful. I am very glad to be called Egbon by him and I always feel glad to have him around.
“Prince, keep being yourself and God will continue to guide you and also remain your humble self.”
Dr Bello, who is a close friend of the celebrant congratulated him on his birthday and commended his kindness and sense of giving back to humanity.
“Prince Yommy Sopitan has made it a routine to donate blood every year. This is an act of giving back to humanity. There is no kindness that is greater than this. We should copy this good gesture from him to save humanity.
“It is not just that they will just grab you and force you to donate. You will have to take some tests and be certified okay. They have to ensure that you are properly screened and ascertain that you have enough blood and that you are fit.
“You never can tell the person that will be in need of the blood because we make use of blood all the time. It was also an opportunity to have a good access to our own health. Through blood donation, the donor will know if he has any infection and others or ascertain his or fitness.”
He furthered: “This has been his tradition for years and which I want everyone to emulate. He is also a generous man who gives freely to humanity.
“I join others to congratulate our brother as he is marking another year and wish him more fruitful years.”
Also, Mr Leke Afuwape, in his own remarks, described the celebrant as his boss and mentor.
“I congratulate my boss, brother and mentor. He has taught us humility as a major way of life and with it, you will go places definitely.
“I also want to appreciate him for all he has done; he is doing and will still do. May God Almighty continue to ease your affairs sir and grant you His infinite mercies.”
Akindolapo Ajayi, CEO Café De Lounge , Ikorodu Ferry Terminal, in his own tribute said:
“I have known the celebrant for some time and he is always looking younger. He is a humble man and the very day I got to know him I couldn’t believe his status but you wouldn’t know.
“I want to tell him that he should keep being who he is.”
Another well -wisher and guest at the birthday party, Haruna Oladeji, who works in the maritime industry, described Prince Tommy Sopitan as a focused person who is always concerned about others.
“For the little time that I have known Prince, I know that he is a focused person and always concerned about others especially those working with him and under him.
“He always cares and asks about you all the time. He doesn’t want to see you moody or going through any challenge without him feeling concerned and offering to assist.
“I had the opportunity of doing a business with him and through that I made profit which I used in buying my car and that was my car. There are so many things to say about him and how he has impacted many lives.”
He explained that Prince Sopitan means many things to different people because of his good gestures and impacts on people’s lives.
“Some people call him daddy and there are reasons they called him that, while some call him boss and there are reasons for that. Also, some others chose to call him leader and they have their own reasons too. He is also a role model to many. In my own case I don’t know which title to use to refer to him, but the truth is that he’s everything that they are calling him to me and to many people.”
Another industry stakeholder, Mr Samuel Olasunkanmi, also sees him as a very humble person who is not carried away by position and power.
“Actually, what everybody has said about him is true. He is a very humble person and one thing stands out about him, which is that if he says that he is going to do something he will do it. He always follows his words to the letter and I am a beneficiary of his kindness.
“He is somebody to emulate. He is not carried away by position and power. He has been able to bring himself to the level of an ordinary person even though he is in the government. If you don’t know him, you will just think that he is a random person until you get to know him.
“I pray that he continues to grow in life and exceed his own expectations.”
Mrs Olutosin, in her own remarks, extolled him as a dad and leader: “I always call him daddy because he is a daddy to everyone around him. Just like everyone has said, he is a good person. Thank you for being a great daddy to us and being our leader. We pray that he celebrates more birthdays in higher positions.”
Another guest, Mr Afolatan Claudius Adeleke, another stakeholder in the maritime industry, who has been with him for long described the celebrant as a man that always gets results.
“I got to know him while he was at the Royal Waves and since then, we have been so close. He is a man that will always get results for you whenever you discuss any challenge with him.
“I pray that as you are celebrating another year today, it will not be your last and that you will have the opportunity to celebrate many more years in higher positions and good health.”
Engr. Hamzat, another industry player, also recalled his amazing experiences with Prince Yommy Sopitan.
“It has been an amazing thing to know Prince and I don’t think that I will ever see another brother like him. Of course, he is older than I am but he has carried me along in every way.
“He has sponsored my trips to Abuja to meet with many big people. Because of his good deeds, many of us are expecting to see him in higher places and I know that God will grant him his heart desires and our prayers.
“You will celebrate many more birthdays with great accomplishment and favours of GOD.”
Mr Femi, Personal Assistant to Prince Sopitan, described the celebrant as a brother, boss, daddy and everything to him. He added that he doesn’t have any reason to regret working with him.
“Precious Sopitan, a daughter of the celebrant, described his father as the best in the world and a disciplinarian. He is very strict and doesn’t compromise his words. He is someone that everyone looks up to.
“I can’t do anything behind his back and I get him involved in whatever I am doing even before I tell my mum. I really appreciate and thank God for all he’s doing and the privilege to be where we are today.”
Promise Sopitan, a medical student, also speaking about his father, said: “He has been a very strict father and I love him for that and I am much like him. He will discipline you whenever he needed to and later call you to have words about why he had to discipline you.
“I want to thank him because most of what I have achieved today is because of him and I want to thank him for everything.”
Mrs Bukola Sopitan, an event planner, an educator and wife of the celebrant, paying her tribute, said: “He is my favourite person. He has been a good person to me. He has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. He is a lovely and sweet person, even though sometimes we fight but we always come around.
“There is one thing about my baby is that he loves to smell good and you can never catch him without looking fresh. He is always looking nice and fresh, because he always takes his time to look presentable. He is an amazing person. His favourite musician is KWAM 1 which he listens to all time.”
Prince Yommy Sopitan, in his response to all the accolades, thanked his hosts for coming around to celebrate him. He specifically appreciated Mr Shina Ashogbon and Baba Ilaje, both of whom he referred to as his uncles and brothers for their influence and impacts in his life.
He was also full of appreciation for three medical doctors – Dr Bello, Dr Jegede and Dr Oluwa, the trio he said are the source of his young looks and his fitness.
He explained that the reasons for his children saying that he’s strict is because of his discipline, a trait that he also explained accounted for one of his former employees who during his tributes also said that he has never seen a boss asking LASWA, NIWA and marine police, to arrest his boat and captain who indulge in drinking alcohol before navigating the waterways. He emphasised that he doesn’t compromise his discipline.
The maritime expert also said that encouragement and support by people and his consistency are key to his personality.
As part of his discipline and consistency, Prince Yommy Sopitan also said that he has been donating blood to commemorate his birthday since 1999 as part of his ways in thanking God for his favour and mercies over him.
“I left Nigeria in 1998 to pursue my master’s degree in Maritime Technology and ever since 1999, I have started doing something which I have been consistent with. This was a result of looking back in my life to see how God has shown me favour from my humble background.
“I decided to give what I have to praise God. Whenever I want to celebrate my birthday, I always go to the hospital to donate blood and I want everybody here to start doing the same thing. Though, you may not find it easy to do., but it is not a bad idea. You can make it a consistent routine,” he charged his guests.
The celebrant further explained how he has been celebrating his birthday: “Every birthday from 1999, the first thing that I always do in the morning of every April 1st, is to start praying from 5 minutes to 12 midnight till 2am and worship God before going to bed.
“After waking up, I usually pray, send messages to everyone that has impacted my life for their efforts over me and thereafter, go to the hospital to donate a pint of blood. I have been consistent with it.
“Also, three days to my birthday, which is every March 27th, I usually do my PCV and once I get the report, I usually send it to three medical doctors who are my brothers and confidantes and that is why they are present here. Dr Bello, Dr Jegede and Dr Oluwa are reasons why people are saying that I always look younger.
“They always encourage me to donate and I always encourage the medical personnel that is getting the blood from me to always ensure that the blood bag is filled because that is the number one natural gift that God gave me and I am giving it back to him.
“I just want us to embrace the act and be consistent with it,” Prince Sopitan again pleaded.
He also said that he will be having more children by birth or adoption, a practice he also said is part of his plan to give back to humanity and a way of appreciating God.
“I have five children already but more are still coming. Aside from having my own children, I also want to adopt children to be trained and raised through education and to give them a good life,” he said.
