In the words of Jack Benny, Age is strictly a case of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter. In Nigeria today, reaching the ladder of 70 takes the goodness, mercy and blessings of the creator considering the ups and downs of the peculiar country named ”Nigeria”. But the good side is when someone has good children that can adore and celebrate you when you attain the stage of a septuagenarian. So is the case of Pa Abubakar Adio Adeniji Aderohunmu as children celebrated his 70th Birthday in grand style.
In Ketu, a suburb area under Otto-Awori LCDA; along Lagos-Badagry Expressway; the household of Aderohunmu’s was agog as Pa Abubakar Adio clocks 70 years on earth and the children celebrated his new age to the fullest. Family memebrs, friends and associates eulogised the standing qualities of the great man in turns.
According to AbdulAkeem Aderohunmu, he said Pa Abubakar Aderohunmu is an enigma and best man on earth.
”This is a man of honour and respect. I emulated good virtue and character from him. In fact, Dad is a prophet deliberately sent to our family. He is jovial and friendly to everyone. Our father is an enigma and best dad anyone can wish for in life. I wish him many more years in life,” he said.
On the same vein, Basirat Ashade eulogised the good character, care and truthfulness of her father.
She said, ”If I start talking about my father, I will not finish. He is hardworking, caring, truthful and jovial. From our Primary School days, he has been a good mentor and father. He chose to raise us well and gives proper direction to us all. While in School, my father would visit everyone of us without informing us. He would appreciate our teachers and encourage our classmates. My dad loves education.
” My prayer for him is to live longer and reap the fruits of his labour.I wish him sound health, God’s blessings and mercy.”
In addition, Adetunji Aderohunmu, a trained journalist cum businessman prayed for his dad to live longer with ”much Rahmah, Sekinnah, Idayah and Imaan”.
The event was graced by family members, associates and Islamic clerics. Among the notable guests are Adeosun Abiodun and Adegbenro Nurudeen; Alumni of Department of Mass Communication; Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeoukuta, Ogun State.
BIOGRAPHY OF PA ABUBAKR ADIO ADENIJI ADEROHUNMU
The union of Sani Akano Aderohunmu of Isaga Orile and Sabitiu Awele of the Akanni Faloye clan of Ijale Ketu both, in Yewa, Ogun State produced nine offsprings and the last being Abubakr, Adio Adeniji.
On Sunday 27th July, 1952, there was vagitus (cry of a newborn) in the household of the Aderohunmu and this cry turned out to be that of a baby boy who would later be the seal of child-bearing in the Sani-Sabitiu Aderohunmu family.
Little Abubakr had his basic education at Egbado Ifonyi District Council Primary School, Eredo between 1959 and 1964.
A year after the completion of his primary school, he proceeded to Lagos and in 1966, he took up a vocation in photography at 5, Ogunmokun Street, Babalosha, Mushin. His master and of course, the owner of AKINS PHOTOS would later become his in-law and landlord.
During his apprenticeship, he got emotionally attached to one of his female junior colleagues who happened to be a relative of his master and the rest, they say is history.
Young Abubakr graduated on 12th of December 1970 but since setting up a photo studio back then was capital intensive, he had to pick up some hustles.
Immediately after his ‘freedom’, Abubakr picked a photography freelance work and this he did between 1970 and 1972. Subsequently, he sought and got employed at the Nigerian Textiles at Ikeja. He worked there for three years and by 1975, he was financially stable to set up his own photography establishment. He resigned.
Ade Lovely Photo was birthed and a studio, opened at Mafoluku, Oshodi. Not long he started his own photography business, he became a force to reckon with amongst his contemporaries. Between 1975 and 1990s he was in active service, Pa Abubakr was not a pushover in Oshodi and beyond as far as photography is concerned. His dexterity with the camera endeared him to both young and old. His studio was always a Mecca of sort to people seeking quality yet affordable photographs.
In the same 1975, Pa Abubakr made his union with his then junior, Serifat Abeke Aderohunmu (nee, Adeniregun) official and to the glory of God, the marriage which spanned 47 years, produced seven children.
Pa Abubakr contemporaries in the photography business are Broadway Photo (Oke Aro), Akhigbe Photo (Ikotun), Caleb Photo (Ikorodu) and Caddyl Photo (Ikotun).
He loves Amala, Eba and Fufu with any well cooked vegetable soup and he relaxes with Yusuf Olatunji’s sakara music; Ayinla Omowura’s apala; Jossy Friday’s bolojo, K1′ s fuji music and Sunny Ade’s juju music. It is also worthy of note that Pa Abubakr enjoyed and participated in the ‘seli’ folk music during his days at Eredo.
Although the only surviving child of his parents’ nine children, Pa Abubakr recalled that the most painful moments in his life were when both his father and mother died in 1972 and 1974 respectively.
During his active period in the profression, Baba was a member of the Lagos State Professional Photographers Association of Nigeria (LASPPAN).
