Ekiti Agog for Erelu Edna Owolabi @ 67

By Gboyega Adeoye/ADO-EKITI// To Erelu Edna Aina Owolabi, wife of Dr Makanjuola Akindele Owolabi, West Africa’s first Fellow in Aerospace Medicine of West African College of Physician, and Fellow, Aerospace Medical Association, USA, Saturday 25th September 2021, will linger long in sweet memories. A highly valued industrious wife of a down to heart technocrat, is today 67 and is being honoured with pleasantries to mark her day, coming at the threshold of the 43rd anniversary of a conjugal engagement, described by the husband as ‘packaged from heaven.”

Timeline was 9:30am, take off point was Aisegba, hometown of Dr Owolabi. Destination was Ado Ekiti and venue; the Ekiti State Golf Club on Aisegba Road Ado Ekiti. The event to honour a dedicated wife of high moral standing kicked off with a ceremonial golf game. Tee-off time was 10:00 am with few Caddies attending to notable dignitaries, including Capt Ibrahim Kadafir Mshelia and wife, Ann Nkem; long standing friends of the Owolabis, cum other well-wishers, who milled around the celebrant to play a five-hole game, specially programmed to light up a day well lined up with pump, pageantry, thrills and frills.

Highly elated Erelu Edna Owolabi, who found so much comfort and joy in companionship with Delta-born wife of a pilot, Mrs Ann Nkem Mshelia, could not hide her joy, betrayed by her occasional banters with the duo of her hubby and Capt Mshelia, all of who bubble in the merriment of the day as they look unto what Capt Mshelia described as the most interesting segment of the package; refreshment with pounded yam and “Ewedu” soup.

To Dr Owolabi, three things count for Erelu Edna Aina: Godly reputation, Hard work and True love. According to him, in Erelu, he found a wife that has been painstakingly hardworking, humble as loving. “She is ever loving and full of humility and respect for me. The Bible says; ‘Choose a good reputation over great riches, for being held in high esteem is better than having silver or gold. Hard work brings prosperity. Only fools idle away with their time. In humility, those close to me can always confirm that my singular motto for living is found in Proverb 22:4 which says, “true humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honour and long life.”

Capt Mshelia, corroborated his words saying he found near perfection in the relationship of Dr and Erelu Owolabi, who according to him, are epitome of hard work, true love and honesty; virtues that are in short supply in this part of the world. “Their relationship is so inspiring. I tapped into the opportunity of becoming close to Doctor the moment our path crossed and today it has been a success story. Here is a family of thoroughness, dedication, humility in hard work and love. I used them as yardstick in choosing my own life partner and the gains have been enormous. I am from Borno State but now I am part of Ekiti. Dr Owolabi is my friend, uncle and father since I lost dad long ago.

“I was inspired by the display of hard work by Erelu Edna Owolabi, who at the time I was getting close to her husband was a workaholic. She would tie her purse around her waist in those days when she was running a restaurant, dishing out good, decent meals and ensuring acute accountability. I watched her in admiration in those days and concluded I would have a wife like her. God helped me to make that happen. I found her real type in my wife, Ann,” he said.

And the day was capped with these words: “To today’s celebrant and all who have come to honour my wife physically or virtually, across the world, during this COVID-19 pandemic, may Almighty God protect and secure you as well and grant you divine riches, honour and long life.”

With about 45 years practice experience since graduating from the University of Ibadan in 1976, Dr. Owolabi was the first Nigerian to hold a post-graduate qualification in Aviation Medicine from the Royal College of Physicians of London and the pioneer Fellow of the West African College of Physicians in the subspecialty of Aviation Medicine in its Faculty of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Owolabi, Member of the American College of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, is member and fellow of several other professional Institutes, Societies and Associations in the United Kingdom and United States of America.

In addition, Dr. Owolabi is Chairman / Chief Medical Director and Consultant in Aviation Medicine & Human Factors of Mends Specialist Hospital & Aviation Medical Centre, Kaduna; Mends Training Institute; and Wondernet divisions of Mends International Ltd.

He is a retired uniformed Flight Surgeon & Specialist in Aviation Medicine to the Nigerian Air Force, all of which he said is made possible by this pillar he celebrates today: Erelu Edna Aina Owolabi