Tears of Joy, Fulfilled Dreams: Dele Momodu at 65

The 65th birthday celebration of Aare Dele Momodu was nothing short of a grand, soul-stirring festival of memories, milestones, and miracles. For me, my story with Aare is a profound bond of a father and son, one etched in admiration and unwavering loyalty.

The world already reveres him as a global citizen, a cultural ambassador, and an elder statesman. But what the world may not know is that his 65th birthday celebration began not with applause, but with tears of joy that first flowed in the ancient town of Modakeke, Osun State. Yet, the true wellspring of emotions burst forth in Ibadan, where my leader, His Excellency Governor Ademola Adeleke, was moved to tears.

In Modakeke, the Aare of Iwo transformed his family home. A structure rebuilt in just three months and handed it over to his beloved elder sister, Mrs. Feyisara. But this wasn’t just a house; it was a monument of memory and meaning. The new edifice, exquisitely crafted, now cradles the final resting place of their father, the late Pa Jacob Momodu. And because Aare was born in a church, he lovingly erected a new church behind the house along Ondo Road, a tribute to faith, family, and beginnings.

At the unveiling, I stood humbled as Aare Dele Momodu and his sister embraced, both unable to contain their tears. They must have journeyed back in time. To those difficult days, over five decades ago, when they were evicted for unpaid rent. But today, “Ajani,” has rewritten their story with grace and glory.

Next came the unveiling in Ihievbe, his ancestral hometown, where he built a magnificent country home christened “The Jacob & Joseph Momodu Country Home.” Although I couldn’t be there in person as I had the honour of attending my dear friend Emmanuel Omolala’s wedding, I followed every beautiful moment through social media. And what I saw? Ihievbe was wrapped in joy, glowing like Christmas morning.

It was the triumphant return of a son of the soil. An Omo Wále. The naysayers who once claimed that “Ajani has no roots here” now sit silenced, their doubts buried under the grandeur of his presence and legacy.

But the true crescendo, the “mother of all tears,” unfolded in Ibadan, during the inauguration of the Dele Momodu Leadership Center in the prestigious Alalubosa Estate. There, before an audience of dignitaries and dreamers, Governor Ademola Adeleke was overwhelmed with emotion. His tears, heartfelt and profound, he told the story of a man whose family once couldn’t afford rent in the early ’70s, but who now, through divine favour and sheer resilience, has built a sanctuary of scholarship where students and researchers can study without financial burden.

Those tears from Governor Adeleke became a mirror for Aare Dele Momodu’s own. A cascade of gratitude, remembrance, and hope.

For Chief Momodu, this milestone wasn’t about fanfare or feasting. It was about impact. About giving. About legacy. Even without holding public office, he has poured back into the society that raised him, with the heart of a servant-leader.

Now that Aare has ascended into the sacred circle of Nigeria’s elder statesmen, the next five years of Aare should be dedicated to raising new torchbearers, future Dele Momodus who will continue the legacy of excellence, humility, and nation-buildin