By Dele Olonilebi
The 5th day in the month of September every year will always be remembered in the life of Dr. Rotimi Olarewaju Bolufemi, a politician, business mogul and philanthropist as he marks another year today on planet earth.
Today is an occasion to thank God for His provision, protection, kindness, care and support since stepping on this planet. Whatever he has achieved since his birth is truly from God and not man.
He has excelled in all spheres of life, he has contributed his own bits to the development of his community Okoro- Gbedde, Kogi State and Nigeria. For many who may not know him here is a brief run-down of his bio-sketch and other details about this man of substance.
Dr. Rotimi Olarewaju Bolufemi was born into a very humble family way back in 1968, precisely on the 5th September, 1968 in Okoro –Gbedde in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. Okoro-Gbedde is a bustling community in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
It is a town of about six kilometers from Kabba. It is a community known for its giant strides in education, self- help and communal development. Okoro-Gbedde has produced great sons and daughters that have made and are still making waves in Nigeria especially in the area of education, business, politics, sciences and humanities.
Dr. Bolufemi comes from this unique and progressive community. He is a rising star, a man who has imbibed the thorough culture of his people which is premised on hard work, respect, moral uprightness, humility, commitment, tolerance, honesty and God-fearing principles.
His rise to stardom in the community, Kogi State and Nigeria is not by coincidence or accidental but rather by hard work coupled with the strong principles impacted on him by his good parents, seniors in his family and the entire Okoro-Gbedde community.
He had his primary school education in Okoro-Gbedde, and later proceeded to Okoro-Gbedde High School for his secondary school education. After the completion of his post-primary education he proceeded to Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State.
On his completion of his higher education, he worked with some renowned organizations where he displayed high sense of discipline, absolute honesty, dexterity, adept, punctilious, obsequious and ratiocination.
Dr. Bolufemi grew up as a son of a peasant farmer. He saw poverty at his tender age in life. But something else worked for him in his early life, his parents put him in the path of knowing Christ.
At early time of his life, he was enrolled in the church choir of his community. The strong support of his parents for this lad to embrace Christ has helped him to commit his ways and doings to God-his maker.
Today, he is strongly addicted to gospel music and a strong promoter of various church choirs within and outside Kogi State. In a nutshell, Bolufemi is a man who has the fear and respect for God.
He has committed huge of his resources including his time to support religious institutions across the state. Mr. Bolufemi is a unique and stupendous man who has a crystal-clear vision for his people.
He knows their needs, he identifies with their problems, he takes time to analyze the challenges and he goes all out to solve them. He is simple to approach and accessible. He is a man with many parts. He believes in team-work. He has acquired an enviable wealth of knowledge and experience which have been an immense advantage to everyone around him, his community and Kogi State in general.
He is a manager of talents and resources, he is devoted to excellence.These unique attributes have helped him in several ways to succeed in life.
He has transferred these attributes to his private businesses which has equally catapulted him to the peak of the business world.Bolufemi grew up to love education and his great passion for education aided him to crave for it. And he got it.
Right from his tender age, he knew that it was only good education that would banish ignorance and poverty. Today, Mr. Bolufemi is a successful individual and has promised himself to return part of his wealth to help the masses in his community and even beyond.A practical step by Bolufemi was demonstrated in December, 2017, when he gave out seventy motorcycles to indigent youths from Kogi West Senatorial District to cushion or alleviate their sufferings as a means of empowerment to the less privileged in the society.
Each of the seven Local Government Areas in the districts namely; Ijumu, Kabba/Bunu, Mopamuro, Kogi, Yagba East and Yagba West got ten motorbikes at no cost courtesy of this great philanthropist.
This uncommon gesture from Dr. Bolufemi is a wake-up call and challenge to wealthy individuals from Okunland and Kogi State in general to come out to rescue the pro-poor individuals from abject poverty.
The success story being told here today about Mr. Bolufemi is as a result of his commitment and concern for the poor and he has vowed to help them attain the best in life. Kudos to this very great man of conscience, the man of the moment!He has won and received several awards and accolades for his immense contributions to humanity both locally and internationally.
Dr. Bolufemi is happily married to a demure and humble lady, Mrs. Josephine Folashade Bolufemi (nee Omotowa). The marriage is blessed with three cheerful children namely Blossom Glory, Samuel Japheth and Shadrach Korede.
Finally, I spiritedly felicitate with Dr. Bolufemi on this special occasion of his birthday today. I heartily toast his gracious and celebrated life and pray the good Lord to bless his new age with his heart’s desires. Have a swell birthday and rejoice in the Lord’s faithfulness.
Written by:
Dele Olonilebi
From Lokoja