Stars Line Up as Gboyega Okegbenro Completes 60 Trips Around the Sun …Odegbami, Air-Commodore Atanda, DIG Oyebade, others Midwife His Baby

Dipo Kehinde/

Being 60 comes with more gray hair and wrinkles, but it was a different ball game for accomplished sports, media, and Public Relations guru – Chief Adegboyega Olayinka Okegbenro who completed 60 trips around the Sun on November 2 and was looking young and bright, ready for another lap of 60.

From morning till nighttime, leading lights in the field of sports, sports administration, security, media, marketing, and government officials gathered at House Number 322A, Adeyemo Akapo Street, Omole Phase 1 Estate, Ojodu-Berger, Lagos, where they held prayer sessions, thanksgiving, songs of praises, and happy hour entertainment with Sir Shina Peters and Seun Rockers Band.

Okegbenro’s new baby, an NGO – Sports and Media Development Network (SMDN) was presented during the morning session attended by seasoned sports editors from major Nigerian media establishments, Nigerian legendary footballer – Mathematical Segun Odegbami MON; 80-year-old sports administrator, Air Commodore Olayiwola Atanda, and DIG Leye Oyebade mni, who led the congregation in prayers asking God to grant Okegbenro – the Ajiroba of Ila Orangun, uncommon favors as he opened a new chapter in his life.

During the presentation, the gathering learned about SMDN’s goals including placing the sporting industry on the right pedestal. They watched how Okegbenro has been touching lives and how secondary school students have been major beneficiaries of his new NGO.

“Football has the ultimate power to change society,” Odegbami told the gathering quoting England’s legendary footballer – David Beckham.

Odegbami described Okegbenro as a master of Innovation and Creativity in the field of Media and Communications. He told the audience his experiences with Okegbenro and how happy he felt seeing him doing “what nobody could have done at 60”.

“Everything he does, you’ll see excellence,” he said. “He has also attached education to his exploits.”

Odegbami also shared an experience where he sat with Okegbenro in a hotel room in Zurich as they prepared to meet the FIFA President and the opportunities created for Nigeria through that meeting.  

Okegbenro spoke about his adventures on the world stage, shared his experiences spanning over 40 years in the Media Industry that he entered as a Youth Corps member, the time at Prime People magazine where he was Editor for three years, the network he has built over the years, his efforts in advancing the course of sports in Nigeria, and how he has been creating opportunities and changing lives.

He said, “When you travel, you suffer mentally and emotionally when you see how things are being done.”

He described his NGO as educative, and mentorship-driven. “Nigeria has not been short of sports talents at any time,” he said, adding that his focus has been on underprivileged children and the girl child.

Other speakers at the event included the Editor, Vanguard on Sunday – Mr. Onochie Anibeze; the Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission – Barr. Dudu Orumen; Media Strategist – Mrs. Bunmi Awonaiya, and the Chairman, Nilayo Sports – Chief Bukola Olapade, who frowned at modern-day sports reporting whereby all the papers write same stories the same way – word for word.

Olopade spoke of capacity building and quackery in the media industry. He congratulated Okegbenro and harped on Barr. Orumen’s words on Creating Sustainability and Legacy. He also hailed Anibeze’s submission that journalists need to have a deep understanding of the sport they cover.

Anibeze said, “The sports journalist must be enlightened on the field he covers. With the Media, we can influence sports development.”

He revealed how he influenced the choice of Samson Siasia as Nigeria’s football coach, and how he gave the late Super Eagles Coach – Stephen Keshi his job.

He prayed that the blessings of the biblical Abraham should follow Okegbenro for his immense contributions to the development of Nigerian Sports.

Pledging to partner with Okegbenro’s NGO, Barr. Orumen spoke about the Chairman of Troika – Mr. Biodun Shobanjo and the human capital that stayed with his cause.

The party proper witnessed the cutting of the birthday cake and outpouring of accolades from those who really knew Okegbenro, including his 80-year-old schoolteacher that he introduced as Aunty Ronke.

Watch video clips from the event:

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