Ijebu Muslim College Old Students’ Association mourns former Student Union leader,  Ademola Babatunde Opetuga

CITIZENS COMPASS – An alumni of Ijebu Muslim College Old Students’ Association (IMCOSA) SET ’71, Mr Ayodele Adelaja and other members of the Set, have mourned the demise of
Patrick Ademola Babatunde Opetuga popularly known as Pato, whose death was announced on Monday, April 15, 2024. He was aged 67.

Pato, as fondly called, was the President of the SET between 2018 and 2020.

His father was an indigene of Ibefun, located between Itoikin and Ijebu-Ode while his mother was from Olisa family in Ijebu-Ode, both in Ogun State.

According to a flyer from his family, Service of Songs will be held at his residence, at 1, Olabisi Balogun Street, Ijagemo, Ijegun, Lagos State at 3.30p.m while the funeral service and interment will be held at Jutash Funeral Homes, University of Lagos Road, by Atan Cemetery, Yaba, Lagos.

A Christian wake will be held at Hoares Memorial Methodist Church at Sabo-Yaba, Lagos, by 4.00 pm on Thursday, May 2, 2024.

An alumnus, Mr. Ayodele Adelaja, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, joined other members of the SET, in their tributes to their departed fellow.

In his tributes titled, “The Goat made his bow,” he said,

“Our Emeritus President of IMCOSA SET ’71, Patrick Ademola Babatunde Opetuga (a.k.a. Pato) made his bow to death on Monday, April 15, 2024. It was a dark day for everyone in SET ’71.

“The imaginary monstrous description of death as imagined by the late musician, Ayinla Omowura, in one of his lyrics came to mind. Pato was caught in a corner in his battle with death. Death respected no boundary in its mission to take Pato away.

“Reminiscing on our days in Ijebu Muslim College, the West African Examination Council (WAEC) was hard on us in our 1975 May/June examination. Only one of us passed the examination in Grade 1 and the only person was Pato! It took many of us by surprise because he was not an all-time bookworm.

“He exhibited less seriousness in academics during our admission in 1971. He was playful and was always found from one cashew tree to another in his usual yellow jacket on Yellow shorts. He was in the main hostel, a boarding house. Specifically, he was in Room 1 (Schoolhouse). His dad had to put him on the radar through Mr. Osunsan, a teacher in the School.

Pato’s radical character became obvious immediately when we made our promotion to the 5th form in September 1974. The sudden transition to academic greatness showed in his result of the mock examination and was eventually confirmed by the WASC examination.

“Armed with the WAEC result, Pato completed his A’ Level papers through Igbobi College in Lagos and eventually secured admission for his first degree in Mass Communication at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

“He was involved in the activities of the Students’ Union on campus and was elected as the Public Relations Officer (PRO) while Segun Okeowo was the President.

“He alongside other activists was deeply involved in the ‘Ali Must Go’ saga of 1978. The Students’ Union body campaigned strongly against some policies concerning fees by the Federal Military Government of Nigeria in which Colonel Ahmadu Ali was in charge of the Education Ministry. Pato, after he graduated from UNILAG, later had his M.Sc. in Industrial and Organisational Psychology at the University of Ibadan.
Carrier

“Pato started his work career at Lever Brothers (now Unilever) as a Management Trainee. He was Marketing Manager of Klinsite Outdoor Advertising Services. He was outstandingly engaged in the marketing of Rainbow Hair Products. He was a lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, General Manager, at Ultimate Neons Agency, and eventually set up Scarlet & Snow Oil & Gas (a major marketer of lubricants) in 1996. His organisation won awards consecutively in 1996, 1997, and 1998 as National Lubes best seller for African Petroleum (AP). His Company also won Excellence Awards on Lube sales in Mobil Oil Plc.

Profession

“Pato belonged to many Professional bodies. He was inducted as a fellow of APCON in 2022. He had contributed immensely to IMCOSA. He was in the IMCOSA Hall of Fame in January 2020.

He was well-noted and will always be remembered for his strong intellect, effective communication skills, and robust sense of humour. Pato was the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT) indeed. He was at the Ijebu Muslim College ground for our IMCOSA DAY 2024 which was held on 2nd March.

*Adieu, Pato.* 🙋🏻‍♂️ 😭😭😭