Pa Gad Adebisi Akerele: An epitome of piety

‘Death is a necessary end, it will come when it will’ says William Shakespeare in his legendary play ‘Julius Caesar’. So, the truism of death came calling on Pa Gad Adebisi Akerele in the morning of Saturday 29 May 2021 at the ripe age of 86. Pa Akerele, when alive, meant so many things to so many people. Born on 10 July, 1935 to Pa Joseph Alalade and Mama Oyeyinka Akerele at Oloba in Egbeda Local Government of Oyo State. Pa Gad Akerele started and ended his primary school voyages at the Seventh-Day Adventist Schools in Oloba, Erunmu, Irefin in Ibadan and Kuta, in Abeokuta, Ogun State between 1946 and 1954. For his secondary school education, Pa Akerele went to the Seventh-Day Adventist Secondary Modern School at Erunmu between 1956 and 1958. He had however obtained a Trade Test in driving in 1955. He proceeded to the Seventh-Day Adventist Teacher Training College in Otun-Ekiti in Ekiti State where he obtained the Grade III Teachers’ Certificate in 1962. He taught in many schools between 1963 and 1971 when he obtained certificate in accounting which made him to leave the teaching profession when he was appointed an Accounting Supervisor in 1973 by DYS Trocca Valseesia in Lagos where he worked for nine years after which he joined  Biode Pharmaceutical Company as sales manager.

By dint of hardwork and diligence, he was transferred to Enugu and subsequently moved to Kano to head the new branch of the company which had just been established there. He served the longest period of his working career in Kano until 1995 when he left to become a self-employed man.

Papa got married to former Miss Christianah Idowu of Ilaro in Yewa Local Governmenr of Ogun State. He was very open and always in touch with many of his classmates in primary and tertiary institutions. In fact, one of his mates in the Secondary Modern School, Professor Alalade who was the first Vice Chancellor of Babcock University owned by the Seventh-Day Adventist Mission, was his best man when papa got married in 1971. The marriage was blessed with children both male and female, some of who got married to spouses from outside papa’s Yoruba or Ibadan stock.

Papa lived a non-discriminatory and non-tribalistic life. As a man who was God-fearing, papa instilled the traits of probity and humility in all his children. He was humility personified. He always addressed nearly everybody with the Yoruba honorific pronoun ‘e’ even for people of his grandchildren age group. Papa would say ‘e kaabo’ ‘e jowo’ ‘e ku ise’ He was an emblem of moral purity and ethical decency. He will also be remembered for his meekness, honesty, selfless service, time management, home building, great smiles, intercessory prayers and unparalleled dedication to God’s work.

Papa, as a religious man was instrumental to planting of the Seventh-Day Adventist Churches wherever he found himself. He mobilised and cooperated with people of similar minds to establish churches, the latest being the new Oluwo Church which he cooperated with others to establish during the strict restriction imposed by the 2020 rampaging COVID-19. Papa would not claim honour, though he attracted and got many awards. For instance, the church pastor wanted to honour him with an award shortly before his death. Papa declined saying he was doing all he did for the Lord. Pastor Lanre Ogungbile had to give a posthumous award to papa recently. Vintage papa! His gait and mien portrayed the immense simplicity of his character. He was not given to pomposity, flamboyance and showoff.

At Adegbayi Church in Ibadan where he met this writer and his family with others, papa was always at home. His advice was always invaluable. It was a good decision that Elder Dele Babafemi’s Ad-hoc Committee on the 2021 Airport District Adventist Men’s Ministry (AMM) symposium of “Building a Healthy Family Life” nominated Papa and Mama Akelere as one of  the day’s grandparents model where their marriage experience was shared with members who did not know of the impending home call of Papa. The decision was Holy Spirit inspired.

Papa was also a foster parent to many children of various Nigerian tribes who are now established with families. This thus puts paid to the assertion of Timon, the main character in another legendary Shakespeare play “Timon of Athens” where Timon, after exhausting all his riches by squandering them on people, subsequently became poor and decided to leave the city and lived in the forest after being abandoned and ignored by the same people on whom he squandered his wealth. He said “the unkindest beast of the forest was more kinder than mankind”. Papa Akerele was kinder than the unkindest beast of the forest adjudged to be kinder than mankind. His kindness cannot be compared to that of the kindest beast in the jungle! He was neither aggressive nor vindictive. He could not hurt a fly. For several years, Papa’s family had been providing accommodation for many students of the Adventist Seminary of West Africa (Now Babcock University) who were on canvassing/practical work in Kano. Also, many NYSC members were similarly being offered accommodation. It is a good thing that this and other good nature traits of Papa are currently being emulated by Papa’s children and one hopes they will sustain them.

Papa detested and abhorred with phobic disdain seeing people suffering and would go any length to assuage the suffering with soft and kind words of admonition and with real physical and visible actions in kind and cash. He was really generous to a fault. He was a faithful adherent of Apostle Paul injunction in Galatians 6:2, “Bear ye one another’s burden, and so fulfill the law of Christ”. Those who knew him and who had any dealing with him have started feeling the pinch of his absence since the last three months of his home call. It is the sincerest prayer of this writer that God in His immense and infinite mercies would quickly heal the wounds inflicted by his exit. May the Lord uphold the family and the church.

Adieu Papa, Elder Gad Adebisi Akerele, as you continue to rest in perfect peace in the bossom of the Lord whom you served truthfully to the end.

 

Elder Fadele writes from Ibadan.

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