By Amb. S. YASIR ABIOLA
For Mature Minds Digital Radio & TV
ADO-EKITI — It was an evening of celebration, gratitude and heartfelt tributes as Chief Dr. Jadesola Taiwo Babatola marked his birthday at his residence in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, October 1, 2026.
The celebration brought together members of his family, invited friends, associates, colleagues, community leaders and well-wishers, who gathered to rejoice with the celebrant and celebrate his life, accomplishments and contributions to society.
Among the dignitaries at the occasion were Prof. L. A. Oluwasanmi; Chairman, Owode Zone 3, Hon. Deji Olayinka; Balogun John, popularly known as Baloo; members of staff of Ekiti State University (EKSU) and other guests.
An Evening of Thanksgiving and Celebration
The birthday anniversary featured a blend of spiritual reflection, thanksgiving and social celebration.
The programme included a session of praise and worship, during which family members, friends and guests offered songs of gratitude and celebrated the goodness of God in the life of the celebrant.
This was followed by a short exhortation and prayer session, with prayers offered for Dr. Babatola’s continued protection, sound health, longevity, wisdom and success as he begins another chapter of his professional journey.
The atmosphere later became more relaxed and celebratory, as guests were treated to refreshments, music and entertainment. Family members, friends and associates interacted freely, shared memories and expressed their goodwill to the celebrant.
The combination of prayers, goodwill messages, music and fellowship gave the occasion a warm and memorable atmosphere.
‘He Is Respectful, Disciplined and Has the Love of His People’
In his testimony, the celebrant’s elder brother, Oluwasegun Babatola, described Dr. Jadesola Babatola as a man who does not look down on anyone.
He highlighted his brother’s respect for people, discipline and commitment to the welfare of those around him, adding that he has consistently demonstrated love for his people.
According to him, beyond his public and professional engagements, Dr. Babatola is also a devoted father who values his family.
‘He Facilitated Development With His Personal Resources’
Also speaking, Hon. Ehinafe Odunayo Bola reflected on Dr. Babatola’s tenure as chairman of the community, particularly his contributions to local development.
He credited the celebrant with facilitating development projects during his tenure, noting that Dr. Babatola’s involvement went beyond words and included personal contributions to community development.
Bola particularly recalled that Dr. Babatola was instrumental in facilitating solar-powered street lighting in Owode Quarters, which he said was achieved with the celebrant’s personal resources.
He described Dr. Babatola as a nice person and prayed for many more years of life, peace and prosperity.
‘A Compassionate and Humble Neighbour’
Dr. Taiwo Oladipo described Dr. Babatola as a very good neighbour, compassionate individual and humble gentleman.
He referred to him as “Registrar Emeritus”, in recognition of his extensive administrative experience across several higher institutions in Nigeria.
Dr. Oladipo noted that Dr. Babatola had served in institutions across Ondo, Bayelsa, Oyo and Ekiti States, adding that his passion for development remained evident throughout his career.
‘He Loves Having His Family Around Him’
In her goodwill message, Mrs. Adejoke Babatola spoke about the celebrant’s strong attachment to his family.
She noted that Dr. Babatola derives particular joy from having members of his family around him and prayed for divine protection against every form of evil.
‘His Experience Will Be Valuable to EKSU’
Another speaker, Olofin Ayodele, expressed excitement over the emergence of Dr. Jadesola Babatola as the newly appointed Registrar of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti.
He spoke about the celebrant’s extensive knowledge of university administration, noting that there are aspects of the internal workings of EKSU that may not be widely known to many outside the institution.
Ayodele also attributed the initiation of certain revenue-generating mechanisms within the institution to Dr. Babatola, stressing that across the various organisations where he had worked, the celebrant had demonstrated an ability to identify opportunities for revenue generation and institutional improvement.
He expressed optimism about the experience Dr. Babatola would bring to his new responsibility.
‘I Have Always Regarded Him as a Hardworking Man’
An associate at the celebration also shared a personal account of his first encounter with Dr. Babatola.
He recalled that he had known about Dr. Babatola for years, particularly from the period when he served as a Commissioner with the Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
He said his opportunity to interact with him closely came when a former Registrar of EKSU, Dr. Omojola Awosusi, gave him an assignment to carry out at the University’s Registry.
According to him, Dr. Babatola was among the people he encountered there, and the experience reinforced his perception of him as a hardworking, devoted and focused administrator.
He said he had maintained a high regard for Dr. Babatola since then.
A Birthday Marked by Gratitude and a New Chapter
Beyond the birthday celebration, the gathering provided an opportunity to reflect on Dr. Babatola’s journey across public administration, education, institutional management and community development.
The celebration also came at a significant moment in his professional career, following his recent appointment as Registrar of Ekiti State University, an institution with which he has a long-standing connection.
For the family, friends, colleagues and associates who gathered at his residence, however, the occasion was principally about celebrating the man behind the titles — a family man, administrator, community contributor and professional whose journey has touched different spheres of institutional and public life.
With prayers, praise and worship, goodwill messages, refreshments, music and fellowship, the birthday celebration ended on a joyful note, with guests wishing Chief Dr. Jadesola Taiwo Babatola longevity, divine protection, wisdom, peace and success in his new assignment.
Mature Minds Digital Radio & TV congratulates Chief Dr. Jadesola Taiwo Babatola on his birthday and wishes him many more years of impactful service.
