Wole Olanipekun: Tribute to a life of legacies

One can pay back the loan of gold, but one dies forever in debt to those who are kind, particularly those who are extraordinarily kind. Therefore, there cannot be a celebratory staleness regarding his selfless contributions to the society, for his, is a life that touches the lives of many others. This perhaps, explains the consistent celebration of Chief Oluwole Oladapo Olanipekun, Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who is a year older today.

Wole Olanipekun, a great man who carries greatness lightly, is certainly among the men of immense means in Nigeria specially gifted with the spirit of benevolence. While those who are familiar with his narratives may be nodding in agreement with this postulation, clearly thousands of families who have benefited from his immens philanthropy will be struggling to be counted as this patrician-looking man remains a rainbow in many people’s cloud.

Having witnessed many “miracles” he performed while he was the Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of the University of Ibadan (UI) between 2009 and 2013, this writer is shocked by the fact that Olanipekun is repeating the same altruistically-inspired benefaction at the Ajayi Crowther University where he is the current Council Chairman. Since 2014, when he was so appointed, he has assisted the university with many magnificent structures and fantastic projects that have greatly lifted the faith-based institution.

For instance, Olanipekun, along with his wife, Lara, has donated a multimillion-naira Vice Chancellor’s Lodge to the university which the Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, described as “a rare donation from an individual”. This same chief, who is Asiwaju of Ikere-Ekiti, has also assisted the institution in building and roofing a hall. Recently, about 13 projects, costing over N300million, have been commissioned, courtesy of the managerial acumen of this legal luminary whose preoccupation is the betterment of the society.

More strikingly, about 22 years ago, Chief Olanipekun established the Wole Olanipekun Scholarship Scheme through which many indigent students have been able to achieve their academic dreams. From secondary schools to higher institutions of learning, students all over Nigeria have been benefitting immensely from the Olanipekun’s wealth and this has evidently made him a beacon and blistering light in usually impossible tunnels.

It was against this background that I asked him for an interview to commemorate his birthday this year. Shockingly, Chief Olanipekun refused. He told me that he believed “every day is a birthday”, therefore there was no need for that. But I insisted that, given his huge generosity to the society, he must be celebrated. Chief stuck to his gun, even as I devised plots to catch him unawares. What did I do? I stormed his office in Lagos and I was very lucky to meet him. Dazed by my determination, he couldn’t resist me any longer. He wanted to know why I deemed it necessary to write about him. I put it back to him that his contributions to the society were newsworthy. He then fixed a gaze at me as I picked my pen to jot every word that would proceed from his mouth.

“Do you know that I have got to a stage that I feel it is unnecessary to be talking about all these things?”, he asked as I surreptitiously admired his expensive wrist watch and other accessories he wore! “Sunday, many people, even in my legal profession, are envious and angry at what God has done with my life. They don’t know me. They blackmail me because they don’t understand the grace of God upon my life. Look at my office address, God’s House, where I stay, God’s Grace Villa. I am astonished by what they write about me. Out of envy, they are working round the clock to tarnish my image.”

“I take this legal profession as a ministry. I don’t mix my profession with any other thing. No politics, no business, no contract. And I will never compromise the integrity of my clients. I will never compromise the interest of justice. My clients cut across all strata of the society. But if I defended you yesterday and you won and I am defending your opponents tomorrow, you will now be insulting me because you want to monopolise my service. Law is not practised that way.”

When asked why he is so much given to philanthropy, the legal giant replied “I am appreciating God by engaging myself in assisting institutions and individuals. When God has blessed you, you want to key into humanitarianism and charitable services, after all, God says “I will bless you so that you will be a blessing unto others”. God has blessed me, therefore, I should be able to bless others. God’s blessings are never meant to be monopolised by any beneficiary”.

Obviously, he is a fellow who does things that count, but doesn’t stop to count them. For instance, this writer is aware of a story of an ingrate law graduate who was recommended by his Head of Department for financial assistance. The indigent, but brilliant graduate wanted to go to the Law School in Abuja but had no money. Chief Olanipekun paid for his wig and gown, air ticket to Abuja and school fees. Sadly, the young man disappeared from the radar after completing his legal training, failing to come back for gratitude. Yet this act of ingratitude has never stopped this legal colossus from assisting people thereafter.

However, as opposed to the young man who ran away from his benefactor, one Izuchukwu Oziogu and another Blessing Osato who were both unknown to Olanipekun, but benefitted from his scholarship scheme wrote via e-mail, thanking the legal luminary for assisting them to become lawyers. According to Oziogu “in a world where the norm is to think of one’s family, tribe, religion, colour, as the case may be, I was amazed at the generosity of a learned silk, Chief Olanipekun, who sought to ensure that I achieve my dream of being called to the Nigerian Bar. I am eternally grateful.”

Blessing Ozato on her own part, confessed that it was God who used chief for her enrollment at the Law School, saying she would never forget his benevolence to her. Again, one Adebayo M. Muftau, who claimed to be the father of Miss Sherifat Adebayo, expressed the same sentiments, thanking Olanipekun for sending his daughter to school, yet the Asiwaju of Ikere Ekiti never knew all these beneficiaries from Adams.

Who then says Chief Olanipekun does not deserve regular celebration on account of his immeasurable benefactions to the society? If those who owe us nothing gave us nothing, how poor we would be! Life, according to Helen Keller, is exciting business and most exciting when it is lived for others. Let those who see no good in what Olanipekun does go to their village and raise army of educated youth. Assisting the needy is an engagement that has brought this brilliant legal mind plaudits and popularity in copious quantities. Certainly, if we have more of Olanipekuns in our society, life will be more bearable.

Let me round off this tribute by submitting that God’s favours to Chief Wole Olanipekun are immeasurable. He is married to a beautiful and prayerful wife who produced four wonderful children. All the children are lawyers. As he marks his day, it is my prayer that Chief Olanipekun lives much longer before he becomes an ancestor. Happy birthday, chief.

Saanu writes from the University of Ibadan.