HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY TO CHARLEAN IDOWU OKETUNJI.
For SCOBA, it is celebration galore as our very resourceful Charlean Idowu Okeniyi Oketunji (Stanza 789/SCOBA UK Chapter) hits the Diamond Jubilee birthday today.
ID was born on Saturday October 8, 1960 to Pa Joseph Ojo Oketunji of Ilé Eésà Bínúyó, Osogbo and Mama Hannah Abebi Oketunji of Ilé Ajònnà also in Osogbo. So, Idowu is a full-blooded Osogbo son.
He attended St. Benedict Catholic Primary School, Osogbo from 1966-1972. He did a detour to St. James' Modern School, Òwó-Òpe, Osogbo from 1972-1974. Thereafter, he proceeded to Ijebu-Jesa Grammar School, Ijebu-Jesa where he was, for just one year before joining St. Charles' Grammar School, Osogbo in 1975 and finishing his Secondary School education in 1979.
Between 1980 and 1982, he was at Ilesa Grammar School, Ilesa where he had his HSC. With his insatiable appetite for knowledge, ID sought and gained admission to Nigeria's premier university (University of Ibadan) in 1982 and bagged a degree in Physical & Health Education Hons in 1985.
In line with the Federal Government directive about NYSC, he was one of the 18 pioneer Youth Corper members that served at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) in 1985-1986.
And still in pursuit of education, he returned to the University of Ibadan in 1987 to study Librarianship. Again, he was a pioneer of the extended 18 months' programmes of Library, Archival & Information Science that graduated in March, 1989.
In May, 1989 he joined the Federal Civil Service Commission and was posted to the Federal Ministry of Education HQ Library in Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos. He was later transferred to the Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos as the School Librarian in February 1990. In March 1991, ID was posted to the National Commission for UNESCO, Broad Street, Lagos as NATCOM Librarian where he served till June 1993 when he did "Andrew" by relocating to the UK to join his wife and daughter.
He started practicing Librarianship in the UK as a School Librarian at Highbury Grove School in November, 1993, then moved to Holloway Boys School in 1994. From Holloway Boys School, he moved to one of the big 3 Further Education Colleges in the UK then, City & Islington College, London where he practiced Librarianship for several years.
He is currently a Library Consultant as well as Logistics Consultant working for himself.
He is happily married and blessed with 2 lovely, wonderful ladies and a son of his old age.
He is an ardent supporter of Arsenal Football Club and an avid Chess player. He is very adventurous; hence loves travelling and knowing places.
He believes in the power of networking, buttressing the dictum, *5 knots are more difficult to untie than 2*.
Like a good Librarian that he is, he is a good reader and writer whose favorite quote is Samuel Johnson's:
*Knowledge is of two kinds, you either know it or know how to find it*
A pioneer member and Secretary of Stanza 789 at foundation, meeting ID fondly reminds you of the 'glory' days of St. Charles' in sports, particularly the game of soccer. He was a proud member of the victorious and the Old Oyo State Principal Cup winning football team of 1978 (they were and are still fondly called 'CHARLIE, CHARLIE ARGENTINA' in reference to St. Charles' lifting the Principal's Cup for the first time ever and Argentina winning the World Cup in the same year (No Set has surpassed that feat in St. Charles'). I remember ID making the No. 2 Jersey (right full back) a personal property/position in the school's football team at the time.
It is pertinent to mention Idowu's other siblings who had the honour of attending St. Charles'. They are:
*Charlean Martins Tunbosun Oketunji - 69/73 Set*
*Late Charlean Taiwo Oketunji - Stanza 737 - may his soul continue to rest in perfect peace, amen* And...
*Charlean Olasupo Oketunji - Stanza 812*
A bundle of energy, a great mobiliser/galvanizer of men and a wonderful fund raiser for programs and events, Charlean Idowu Oketunji is a great asset to Stanza 789 and indeed, SCOBA. His networking footprints are found in but not limited to Stanza 789, Lagos Chapter, Home Branch and SCOBA UK.
SCOBA CEC fondly notes Charlean Idowu Okeniyi Oketunji's membership drive and fund raising efforts during his Stanza's (789) 40th Anniversary celebration in 2019. His efforts at raising funds and getting palliatives (in cash and materials) from around the world for his Stanza and SCOBA members during the Covid 19 lockdown period are also salutary, not forgetting his unique effort for Stanza 789 (in concert with the Charlean family in general) to raise an outstanding fund for the burial and family of Late Pa Anthony. Big appreciation to ID.
We join Idowu's family, Charleans worldwide (and particularly Stanza 789), friends and associates in wishing ID a happy DIAMOND JUBILEE birthday and many happy returns of the day in good health, wonderful & successful exploits and longer life.
Happy 60th birthday, ID!
Signed:
Pius Adesakin
Publicity Secretary
SCOBA CEC 2018/20
