Why I Can't Forget Late Sir ADEWAKUN In A Hurry – CLAM Pastor, WOLE OLADIYUN

On Tuesday, 26th April 2022, Thursday, 28th April and Friday, 29th April, the rites of passage of Sir Chief (Dr.) Moses Oluremi Adewakun took place at Ile-Oluji, Ondo State.

In his lifetime, he was the Salaja of the Ile-Oluji Kingdom.

He was like a dad to CLAM’s Senior Pastor, Wole Oladiyun, who played a vital role during the chief's burial. Many don’t know why. We can tell you. Late Sir Adewakun was his benefactor. “He was the man who gave me oxygen when needed”, explained Pastor Wole Oladiyun.

The Commendation Service was held on Tuesday, 26th April, at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Odo Ona Ibadan. On Thursday, 28th April 2022, the Service of Songs & Christian Wake was held at his residence and Funeral Service was held at The Cathedral Of St. Peter, Ile-Oluji, Ondo State. Reception/Entertainment of guests followed immediately after internment, at Gbolugi Grammar School, in Ile-Oluji, Ondo State.

What was the late Chief to Pastor Wole Oladiyun? How did their paths cross? Why did he spend a whole week in Ile-Oluji for the burial rites?

I was in Ile-Oluji, Ondo State, for the celebration of the life of Chief Moses Oluremi Adewakun who was my benefactor. "This man when he was alive, was an Automobile Engineer, the Chairman of Kaikun Motors. He was one of those selling Peugeot in the 1970/80s. This man trained me from JSS 1 to my University level until I became an Engineer. He gave me oxygen when needed".

"I want to give thanks unto the Lord for a life well spent by Chief Salaja Adewakun. My prayer is God will reward his children, his generation forever. My family, the Oladiyun family, we are indebted forever to the memory of Chief Moses Oluremi Salaja".

"I want to tell everyone out there that it’s good to do something for humanity. You don’t know what tomorrow will bring. He trained me. See what God has done in my life today. So, Chief Moses, Oluremi Adewakun your memory is blessed in the name of Jesus. To everyone out there, do something for someone, who is an indigent today, someone who is very despondent, someone who can't help himself, help that person, help that widow, help that fatherless child and don’t expect anything, but let God reward you. May the Lord bless you in Jesus name. Amen".

What sort of a person was late? Moses Oluremi Adewakun was born on Friday, November 9, 1934, to the  illustrious family of Chief Nathaniel Adewakun and Chief (Mrs.) Matilda  Olawehinmi Adewakun of Ile-Oluji Kinquom, Ondo State, Nigeria. His father was a seasoned and successful farmer and trader and held the traditional title of the Samo of Ile-Oluji Kingdom, while his mother was a dutiful wife/mother and held the traditional title of the Oshinlobun of Ile-Oluji Kingdom. Both were devoted Christians of the Anglican Communion and are of blessed memory.

The young Moses Oluremi Adewakun had his early education at St. Peter’s Anglican Junior and Senior Primary School, Ile-Oluji, Ondo State where he obtained his first school leaving certificate. Thereafter, he proceeded to Kaduna and attended Akanbi Technical College where he passed the City and Guilds Intermediate and Final Examinations and then obtained his Full Technological Certificate in Automobile Engineering.

In his quest to further his education, he enrolled as an external automobile engineering student with the Rapid Results College, London, United Kingdom for some years and passed the General Certificate of Education Examination with flying colours. Following there, the young Moses Adewakun continued his journey of life and worked as an Automobile Technician for about eighteen months with the Ministry of Works, Lokoja, the capital of the present Kogi State and was transferred to the service of the then Western Region, specifically to Akure, Ondo State as a Technical Officer at the Automobile/Maintenance Workshop of the Ministry of Works. He worked diligently here for fourteen months before providence smiled on him and he was able to secure a five-year Federal Government Scholarship to study Automobile Engineering at Kaiserslautern Engineering College in the Republic of Germany. However, this opportunity of a lifetime was almost taken away from the young Moses Adewakun, but for God’s intervention in helping him surmount man-made barriers meant to scuttle the scholarship and prevent him from studying in Germany. The clear path eventually achieved by the grace of God in this regard was the first clear indication that the young Moses Adewakun was destined for Greatness!

Moses Adewakun got to Germany and was more than determined and highly motivated to succeed in life. He pursued his ambition and dedicated himself to his studies, graduated and ultimately obtained a Masters degree in Automobile Engineering. Upon his qualification as an Automobile Engineer, he worked briefly in Germany and eventually returned to Nigeria and was immediately employed by Messrs Fallen and Company Limited as Service Manager. He worked as Dealership Service Manager with Fallen Motors Nigeria Limited in Lagos, Enugu, Onitsha, Port Harcourt, Zaria, Benin, and Ibadan. On his transfer to Ibadan, he was elevated to the position of the Divisional Service Manager covering the Western Zone with headquarters in Ibadan.

In the year 1972, after seven years of meritorious service with Fallen and Company, Engineer Moses Oluremi Adewakun resigned his appointment and founded and established his own company, Confidence Automobile Engineering Company Limited at Samonda near the old Ibadan Airport where he grew to greater heights.

The growth of Confidence Automobile Engineering Company Limited was very astronomical and phenomenal with the births of Confidence Motors, Ojoo, Oyo Road, Ibadan, Oyo State whose Ultra-Modern Peugeot Dealership Complex was commissioned in the year 1980 by His Excellency, Chief Bola Ige, the then Governor of Oyo State and CAECO Motors, CAECO Motorway, off Akure-Ondo road, Akure, Ondo State whose Ultra-Modern Dealership Complex was commissioned in the year 1982 by His Excellency, Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, the then Governor of Ondo State. Both are Officially Accredited Distributors of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited (PAN), offering Sales of all models of Brand-New Peugeot Vehicles including Service and Spare Parts and covering the whole of the South West and up to the Middle belt of Nigeria.

Engineer Moses Oluremi Adewakun through these establishments availed ordinary Nigerian citizens who will not have dreamt of owning and affording brand new vehicles the opportunity to buy and own brand new Peugeot vehicles by making them affordable and available at controlled prices. This endeared him to Nigerians and was part of what made him a household name in the Nigeria Automobile Industry.

Although an Engineer by training and vocation, Engineer Moses Oluremi Adewakun also distinguished himself as a prolific writer. He maintained a weekly column in the Daily Sketch, which then was one of Nigeria’s most reputable and respected newspapers. His column which educated readers about the use and maintenance of motor vehicles was a tremendous benefit to the Nigerian motorists and prospective vehicle owners and, in fact, was indeed a collectors’ item.

Also, his face and voice were regular features on the broadcast channels where he commented on burning national issues and general current affairs. His views were well taken and regarded in the formulation of government policies, indeed, what came to be known as Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) was one of the noteworthy ideas advocated by Engineer Moses Oluremi Adewakun, which was bought and became a feature of the Federal Highway Authority (FHA). He was known for voicing his candid views on community and national issues and this explains why he was the bride of the community and national newspapers.

In the year 1984, Engineer Moses Oluremi Adewakun was honoured with the traditional Chieftaincy title of the Salaja of Ile-Oluji Kingdom by His Royal Majesty, Oba Adeseko, Odundun II, the Jegun Olu Ekun, the Paramount King of Ile-Oluji Kingdom in recognition of his contributions to the development and promotion of his home town, Ile-Oluji, Ondo State, Nigeria. Also, in recognition of this great man as an astute businessman and most especially for the giant strides he accomplished in the Automobile Business World, he was awarded in the year 1992 the Doctor of Business Administration (Honoris Causa) by the University of Tampa, United States of America.

He was a great Christian who loved the Lord and dedicated his life to the service of God and humanity. He contributed immensely to the growth and promotion of Churches especially the Anglican Communion and for his bravery, courage, integrity, support and excellent Christian values and virtues, The Anglican Communion (Ondo Diocese) in the year 1997 under the leadership of the Rt. Revd. Samuel Olufunmilade Aderin, the then Lord Bishop of Ondo Diocese, conferred on him the prestigious Knighthood of the Grand Commander of the Knights of the Franciscan Order.

Sir. Chief (Dr) Moses Oluremi Adewakun was a great apostle of Community Development and people’s peaceful coexistence, and he was recognized for his efforts in these areas by the Oyo State Government of Nigeria in the year 2011 and made a Justice of Peace (JP) to the thunderous cheers and ovation of the people. As a Justice of Peace (JP), he presided over Abayomi/Atele, Iwo Road, Ibadan, Oyo State Urban Community’s Executive Committee which resolves conflicts among individual and corporate residents and ensured peace and good neighbourliness.

As an Elder statesman, he was a great and exemplary leader who mobilizes and inspires people into achieving seemingly impossible tasks. At Abayomi Urban Community, Iwo Road, Ibadan where he lived and was the Community Chairman, his leadership attracted World Bank's assistance to the community with the International Development Agency (IDA) releasing a grant of Ten Million Naira to the Community for Social Development, which was utilized to construct two bridges sink, four mono-pump boreholes, 600-metre stone-lined drainages, four steel culverts and road rehabilitation among others. The projects which were all implemented by the community earned accolades from the Supervisory Oyo State Community and Social Development Agency and the World Bank.

He was such a great manager of people, money, and material resources. This was the quality that the World Bank was looking for in leaders before committing its resources to the hands of the community. In addition, through unwavering doggedness, he single-handedly attracted the Oyo State Rural Electrification Board to the community for an electricity extension project that has translated into two additional transformers, concrete electric poles and aluminium conductors. In further recognition of the community development efforts of this iconic illustrious son of Ile-Oluji Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Olufaderin Adetimehin, Jimokoll, the Jegun Olu Ekun, the Paramount King of the lle-Oluji kingdom, his council and the great people of Ile-Oluji in the year 2019 at the Ile-Oluji Day celebrations bestowed on him the prestigious Ile-Oluji National Merit Award (INMA).

Sir. Chief (Dr.) Moses Oluremi Adewakun throughout his lifetime occupied many exalted positions and had many distinguished honours bestowed on him, among others are as follows:

 

POSITIONS, HONOURS AND AWARDS

(1) Chairman/ Chief Executive, Confidence Automobile Engineering Company Limited.

(2) President General, Peugeot Distributors Association of Nigeria.

(3) President General, Ile-Oluji National Union, worldwide.

(4) President, Ile-Oluji National Union, Ibadan Chapter.

(5) President, 79 Associates of Nigeria

(6) President, Young Men Christian Association (YMCA), St Paul’s Anglican Church, Odo-Ona, Ibadan.

(7) Community Chairman, Abayomi/Atele Urban Community, Iwo Road, Ibadan

(8) Patron, Anglican Youth Fellowship, St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Odo Ona, Ibadan.

(9) Patron, Christian Women Progressive League (CWPL), St Paul’s Anglican Church, Odo Ona, Ibadan.

(10) Adviser, Busy Bees Society, St Paul’s Anglican Church, Odo Ona, Ibadan.

(11) Member, Cathedral Church of St. Peter, Ile-Oluji, Ondo State.

(12) Member, Social Circle Club, Ile-Oluji, Ondo State.

(13) The Salaja of Ile-Oluji Kingdom, Ondo State.

(14) Justice of Peace (JP), Oyo State of Nigeria

(15) Grand Commander of the Knights of Franciscan Order, (Anglican Communion)

(16) Doctor of Business Administration, University of Tampa, USA

(17) Ibadan South Anglican Diocese Diamond Merit Award

(18) St Paul’s Anglican Church Centennial Lifetime Award

(19) Fellow, Nigeria Institute of Automobile Engineers

(20) Member, The German Institute of Automobile Engineers.

His hobbies were: Reading, Writing, Community Development, Church Development, and activities, Entertaining, Socializing, Watching Wrestling on TV, and Listening to news and current affairs.

Sir. Chief (Dr.) Moses Oluremi Adewakun lived a great and exemplary life and positively touched and impacted so many lives and the world. Upon successful completion of his God’s given assignments on earth, he graciously transitioned unto eternal glory on Wednesday, 29th December 2021 and he is survived and would be fondly remembered by his amiable wife, children, grandchildren, siblings, nephews, nieces, cousins, friends, and the good people of Ile-Oluji Kingdom.