Pictures like this one in which grown up men fall on their knees (and stay in that posture for many minutes) in obeisance to a fellow "man" are only common with politicians, traditional rulers or powerful religious figures. But the man in that picture whom all those old men knelt before is not a politician, an oba, a pastor nor an imam. He was simply a teacher who made a difference with his life. And his name is Dr. Joseph Olalere OJELEYE.

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Yesterday in Gbongan, Osun State, people gathered from far and nigh to celebrate the life of this man and to launch his biography.

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Baba started school late. He entered secondary school at the age of 19 but he didn't let his age hinder him from achieving his dreams. Baba went on to bag an MSc and a PhD later in his life.
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In spite of the many opportunities he got after he bagged his PhD, Pa Ojeleye decided to continue teaching in a secondary school for his love for teaching and his commitment to molding his students lives. How many would us would do that today?

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He doesn't have 49 cars, he doesn't even have houses in Abuja, Lagos, Dubai, New York and London, he doesn't have $2million in his account at the expense of his countrymen. He didn't have all that but he has the most important of all, honour!

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Today, many of his former students, a Senate of professors, captains of industry and folks whose lives turned out well because of his "small" inputs were on hand to honour him. One of his former students, now a Professor, flew in from Canada, about a day or so to the event, just for the occasion and he is due to fly back today. All for a man who was a teacher.

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Also present at the event were a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Bolarinwa Oyegoke Babalakin; the Olufi of Gbongan, Oba (Dr) Adetoyese Oyeniyi; former Mobil Chairman, Mr. Olumide A. Onakoya, Dr. Kunle OJELEYE, the son of the author and; Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, a columnist with Premium Times Nigeria and one of the reviewers of the book.

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At 81, Pa Ojeleye's life is only a remainder that you don't have to steal to be respected. You don't have to be a politician or a pastor or sheikh to impact lives, to move your community forward or to earn people's goodwill.

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Nigeria may be passing through this storm it is passing through right now, politicians may be ready to throw the country to the dogs, public life may have become a joke and an avenue for quick riche, but it wasn't so in the past. Let's not forget the simple things that once made our country great: values, selfless service, genuine love for people.

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May we survive this storm. May our country emerge stronger. God bless Nigeria

Touching.

Reward for teacher

Very touching

Let the politicians receive brain.

inspiring

Battery low who get flash share for battery I need help

"success is not measured by money but rewards through talent" I came across that somewhere here on NL.

That's the generation of people who value their teachers. Not this present day children who find it so difficult to greet their teachers after graduation.

BrutusOj:
That's the generation of people who value their teachers. Not this present day children who find it so difficult to greet their teacher after graduation.

Keep deceiving yourself and planting warped ideas into the minds of people.

Students respect A TRUE teacher, not the frustrated fuckwits maquerading as teachers today!

BrutusOj:
That's the generation of people who value their teachers. Not this present day children who find it so difficult to greet their teacher after graduation.

Yes. Because most teachers today teach because no other job opportunity. Most of them either couldn't find a job after nysc and remained at their PPA or got tired of job hunting. It's only very few of them that enjoy teaching, and even the most stubborn and rude students usually just avoid them.

Honestly, a teacher's influence extend far beyond the classroom.

Till today, I use the maxims my Mathematics teacher in JSS taught me in studying my University courses and in life generally.

Sadly, anyone with a cursory knowledge and a half-baked degree can get a job as a teacher nowadays.


For all true teachers here on NL and in Nigeria,

I say SALUTE, sirs and mas. May you reap the fruits of your labors.

Outofsync:



Keep deceiving yourself and planting warped ideas into the minds of people.

Students respect A TRUE teacher, not the frustrated fuckwits maquerading as teachers today!

young man keep quiet.. I am talking from experience. Our generation is filled with rude people. I have been a teacher since 2005 and I can tell you how rude kids of this generation have become. Teachers were respected fellows back then unlike now

chiddyok:

Yes. Because most teachers today teach because no other job opportunity. Most of them either couldn't find a job after nysc and remained at their PPA or got tired of job hunting. It's only very few of them that enjoy teaching, and even the most stubborn and rude students usually just avoid them.

Not 100 percent true. Not everybody teach now cos there is no other job, so many have the flare for teaching and need motivation to continue. I for example feel so proud seeing my present and ex students excel, the management ain't meeting up

OP, your grammar is enlightening.

BrutusOj:
young man keep quiet.. I am talking from experience. Our generation is filled with rude people. I have been a teacher since 2005 and I can tell you how rude kids of this generation have become. Teachers were respected fellows back then unlike now

Wrong. Our generation is filled with wrong teachers.
How can I respect a teacher who cannot fully explain the principles of what he's teaching?
How can I respect someone whose only solution is whipping in the name of "being disciplined"

Look at the current crop of teachers and compare them to those teachers of old.
Perhaps then you'll realize the reason for the lag in respect.

Outofsync:
Wrong. Our generation is filled with wrong teachers.
How can I respect a teacher who cannot fully explain the principles of what he's teaching?
How can I respect someone whose only solution is whipping in the name of "being disciplined"

Look at the current crop of teachers and compare them to those teachers of old.
Perhaps then you'll realize the reason for the lag in respect.

Now I can see you are not conversant with educational policies of recent.Corpral punishment used to be accepted back then, now it's prohibited, only few teachers still embark on that which is highly frowned at. Talking about knowing what teachers teach now, I think you are mistaken NYSC temporary teachers to full time teachers. Sure,some teachers ain't up their tasks but it doesn't mean majority are poor in delivering their lesson. Beside, that's not enough reason for students to disobey their teachers. For someone to accept taking up the task of teaching you despite the poor welfare package from his employer is enough for you to acknowledge his efforts no matter how little they are. Bros, if we continue like this, time will come when the class rooms will be filled by only student making noise without teachers. outside there in western world, teachers are noble people. We need to make teaching job a noble one to encourage gifted brain to embrace the class room. Why do you think the brilliant graduates (first class product) hardly take up teaching jobs for a start? cos they wouldn't be appreciated like other sectors would.

I cannot but agree with brutusoj...this indomie generation are pathetic when it comes to respect and etiquette. Most of them are rude and place low value in their teachers...they will rather value tonto dike ,jayz or cossy.there are good teachers out there,they deserve respect!!!

babyfaceafrica:
I cannot but agree with brutusoj...this indomie generation are pathetic when it comes to respect and etiquette. Most of them are rude and place low value in their teachers...they will rather value tonto dike ,jayz or cossy.there are good teachers out there,they deserve respect!!!

Thank you bro.. the truth is always bitter.. our generation is rude, simple

Where are these mods to push this inspiring story to FP!!!If na snake now, them go don stick am.

BrutusOj:
Not 100 percent true. Not everybody teach now cos there is no other job, so many have the flare for teaching and need motivation to continue. I for example feel so proud seeing my present and ex students excel, the management ain't meeting up

I said 'most' not all, and very 'few' enjoy teaching.

Another afonjas rewarded.. .

They know how to honour their own. Wish other tribes will learn from them.

nice