Grandparents are a valuable resource because they have so many stories and experiences from their own lives to share. Oftentimes children will listen to grandparents even when they are not listening to their parents or other adults. Grandparents also offer a link to a child’s cultural heritage and family history. Children understand more of who they are and where they come from through their connection with their grandparents.
Today is a good day! The children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of Mama Rebecca Folashade and Pa Samuel Adedapo Adebiyi are celebrating them. Amazingly and graciously, Mama is 80 years old and Baba is 95. What a good God we serve.
Pa Samuel Adedapo Adebiyi
The first to be trained as a cocoa inspector officer by Ila local government in 1952, Pa Samuel Adebiyi is also known and addressed as Baba Cocoa. He was born on 14th August, 1927. He attended, for his primary education, Native Authority School (now L.A. School), Oke Aloyin, Ila Orangun between 1934 and 1945. Afterwards, he went to Baptist Elementary Teachers training college where he obtained Grade III (Three) certificate in 1958. Mr. Samuel Adebiyi thereafter proceeded to Muslim Teacher Training College, Oru Ijebu (1964-1965) where he obtained Grade II certificate. He was headmaster of L.A. School, Ila Orangun, A.U.D. Primary School, Oke Ola and Ora Road, Ila Orangun, St. Matthew Primary School, Isedo, Ila Orangun and Baptist Primary School, Iregbe, Ogbomosho before. He retired as headmaster in December 1989.
A man with exemplary leadership skills, Pa Samuel Adebiyi has had several positions of authority. These include: Chairman, Conference of headmasters, Ila local Government (1984-1989), Chairman, NUT Co-operative Union (1984-1989) and first chairman and proprietor of First Baptist Group of Schools, Ila-Orangun (1991-2002). He is also actively involved in community service. He was a member, Ila-Orangun Development Council (1991-2002), Member, Ila local government legislative council (1991-1993), Supervisor for Education, Ila local government (Dec. 2006-March 2007) and Executive Member, Ila Grammar School Parents /Teachers Association (2006-2011); He was a member of Karowosaye C.T.C Union between 1967 and 1971.
President, Ila Local Government Pensioners Association for 8 years, Financial Secretary, Ila Local Government Hunters Association and currently the Baale of Olumobi compound.
Pa Samuel Adebiyi loves reading and gardening. He is married and the union is blessed with godly children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Mama Rebecca Folashade Adebiyi, was born to the family of late Pa. Ezekiel and Mrs. Marian Oyeronke Adekeye of Ile Obafa , Oke-Ejigbo, Ila-Orangun during the reign of Oba Adetoyi Akande Orimadegun. She attended St. Matthew’s Anglican School Ila-Orangun from 1951-1953, S.I.M. School, Oke-Ofe in Kwara State from 1954-1956 and finally to Baptist Day School, Awe Oyo State where she obtained her first school leaving certificate in 1957.
She further moved to United Anglican/Methodist Modern School in Oyo in 1958; later to local authority Secondary Modern School in Ila-Orangun from 1959-1960. She attended Social Development Women Special Centre, Apampa, Ibadan from 1968-1969, where she specialized in catering and cooking.
Mama Rebecca F. Adebiyi served as a School Matron at Ila Grammar School, Ila-Orangun from 1970-1978. She was later transferred to Kiriji Memorial College, Igbajo where she worked from 1978 to August 1980. She added another feather to her cap when she proceeded to Local Authority Teacher College L.A.T.C Iyana Ofa Ibadan, Oyo State to obtain her teachers Grade II Certificate in September 1980 to July 1982.
She had her first teaching experience as a trained teacher at St. Julius R.C.M. Ila-Orangun from 1982 to 1984, before proceeding to Baptist Day School, Ila-Orangun from 1984 to date. Her commitments to community development is worthy of emulation having served as the first secretary for the Committee on Women Development, Ila Local Government since 1984 to date. She was also a member of better life programme, Ila Local Government chapter. She has contributed in no small measure to the social and economic life of Ila-Orangun women. A devoted Christian, she is a member of Adult Choir, and was a secretary to the Church Nominating Committee of the First Baptist Church, Ila-Orangun.
Mama Folashade Adebiyi is a socialite, member of Ila-Orangun United Sisters Association. Her hobbies include singing and Bible reading. She is married and blessed with children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
