In all humility and with the highest glory and praise to God, I present to you the subject of our celebration, a humble man of all seasons, a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. The rock of the Olori Clan, the great son of Olori Odoza, the grandson of Alegbe Akerejola, the great-grandson of Osedu Onyanyarogun, and the great-great-great-grandson of our progenitor Emanje, Chief Sylvester Olorunda Ogbofa Olori.
He was born to the family of High Chief Olori Odoza Osedun and Chief Mrs Aminetu Olori on the 20th of May, 1935, in Dagbala. Based on the agrarian culture of our community at the time, he did not waste time to start going to the farm with his parents soon after he was weaned. But thanks to the then catechist of the young Catholic mission just established, Catechist Babaniyi of Okah-Akoko in the present Ondo State, who saved him and his peers from a life without education by taking them from their parents and enrolling them in school in 1944 at Holy Angels Catholic Primary School Dagbala. He was there till 1947, when he obtained his standard 1-3 primary education. He then proceeded to St. Andrew Catholic Primary School at Ogori in 1947 and remained till 1948 to obtain his Standard Four, and then to the popular St. Joseph Catholic Primary School, Lambil, a coinage from Lampese and Ibillo, between 1949 and 1951, where he finally obtained his Standard Six Primary School Leaving Certificate.
Still on his educational journey, he proceeded to Ubiaja Teachers Training College from 1960 to 1962, where he obtained his Teachers Grade Three Certificate. Between 1966 and 1967, he attended the Assumption Teachers Training College at Uzaire, where he obtained his Teachers Grade Two (TC II) Certificate. To cap it all, he did a special certificate course for science teachers at the then Bendel State College of Education, Abraka, in 1976.
TEACHING CAREER
Chief Sylvester Ogbofa Olori had an interesting teaching career spanning 29 meritorious years. He started his teaching career with the Roman Catholic Mission under His Grace, Bishop P. J. Kelly of the Benin Catholic Diocese in 1952 soon after obtaining his Standard Six Certificate as a classroom teacher, with his first station at Holy Angels Primary School Dagbala. He then retired at the same school in 1981 as Head Master 1, after serving in many communities such as Ojah, Ososo, Ikiran-Oke, Makeke, and Ojirami-Afe.
RELIGION/PRACTICE
Chief S.O. Olori is a man of deep religious faith in the Roman Catholic Church. His Catholic education made a deep impression on his mind and shaped him to be a dedicated and practicing Catholic. He was baptized in the Roman Catholic Church on the 8th of December, 1945, received his First Holy Communion on the 9th of December, 1945, was confirmed on the 6th of February, 1949, and married in the church on the 2nd of September, 1962, to the late Mrs. Margaret Bosede Olori (née Onobume) of blessed memory (may her soul rest in perfect peace). That marriage is blessed with 11 children, all properly brought up in the Roman Catholic faith and practicing till date.
His dedication to service in the vineyard of the lord is made evident in the numerous positions and roles held in the church. Some of which are:
- Church Evangelization Coordination Leader 1952-2010
- Igarra Parish Pastoral Council’s Financial Secretary, 1973-1988
- Ososo Parish Pastoral Financial Secretary 1988-1998
- Holy Angels Catholic Church Station Treasurer 2001-2009
- Ososo Parish Laity Council Chairman 2002-2006
- Dagbala Parish Pastoral Council Provost 2010-2013
- Dagbala Parish Finance Council Member from 2010 for many years
- President, Association of Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary (Dagbala station 1999-2007)
- In 2007, Chief S.O. Olori participated in the Catholic Pilgrimage to the Holy Lands in Jerusalem (Israel), Rome (Italy), and Lourdes (France), where he earned the title- Jerusalem Pilgrim (JP)
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Chief S.O. Olori (JP) is a revered community opinion leader, known for his uprightness, honesty, and strictness. His contributions to community development cannot be quantified, from his activities as a member of the defunct Dagbala Workers Association to the community’s Council of Chiefs, where he is presently the eldest member.
He is known for his mantra during public deliberations, such as:
eni to mo owura, lata owura fun.
Meaning that “the right peg should be put in the right hole when assigning responsibilities without sentiments.”
Above all, he has never been known to shy away from challenging situations. He would often encourage his peers to persevere because “what will be will be.”
The story of Chief S.O. Olori cannot be concluded if mention is not made of his relationship towards his peers and age-long friends such as Chief Sir G.P. Abu, Mr. T.F. Aliu, Chief C.O. Giwa, Mr. R.O. Dania, Chief A.A. Dania, Prince Owolayo Okogbe, Mr. Stephen Kowole Okogbe, and a host of others, all of blessed memories. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. “His bond with them—and many others—was so strong that his modest residence consistently became the preferred meeting place whenever conflicts arose among the group. Despite its simplicity, it was their first choice for reconciliation. Chief S.O. Olori is, without a doubt, a true peacemaker.”
And so today, we rejoice and celebrate with him, this precious life that God has blessed us, the family, and the community with.
We say again, Happy Birthday, and may God bless you with many more happy years ahead.
AMEN.