Encomium
THE family and children of Yeye Otunba Iyabo Martins-Kuye, the wife of Otunba Jubril Martins-Kuye, who turned 70 on Saturday, April 25, 2015, threw a luncheon party for her on Sunday, May 3, 2015. The party held at Landmark Events Centre, Water Corporation Road, off Ligali Ayorinde Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
ENCOMIUM Weekly was there to bring you the tit-bits of the joyous occasion.
OPEN HANDS AT HAND – Stepping into the venue of the luncheon party tells you something about the celebrant that she has taste. The event centre was decorated to the hilt by one of the best interior decorators in the country, Open Hands owned by the amiable Akin Ariyo.
TEE A AND HELEN PAUL THE COMPERES – Ace comedian, Tunde Adewale, a.k.a Tee A and ace comedienne, Helen Paul, a.k.a Tatafo, were on hand not only to anchor the birthday gig but also to add value to it with their rib cracking jokes.
THE DANCING QUEEN – Not a few young women at the party would be green with envy watching the birthday girl not only dressed to high heavens in her Cinderella like flowing gown but also with the way she wriggled her body to the pulsating rhythm of hip-hop songs oozing from the loud speakers. Many of them certainly will pray to be fit and agile like her when they turn 70.
TRIBUTE GALORE FOR THE BIRTHDAY GIRL – Yeye Otunba Iyabo Martins-Kuye would probably be pinching herself to ask whether she is the same person some dignitaries at the occasion were showering encomiums on when they were paying her tributes. Among those who paid glowing tributes to the birthday girl were Chief Ajibola Ogunshola, Chief Nike Akande and many others.
Her husband, Otunba Jubril Martins-Kuye, her only sister, Mrs. Tekobo Dongo, her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law were also on hand to pay tributes to her. They, however, did theirs through a projector shown on the big screens positioned at strategic points inside the hall.
32 FLOWER BOUQUETS FOR MAMA – With Boyz II Men’s Mama loving you is like food to my soul, playing at the background, the celebrants 32 grandchildren presented her flower bouquets one by one. It was emotional for the celebrant and many other guests.
TOAST FOR THE BIRTHDAY GIRL – The toast for the birthday girl was given by her long time friend and confidant, Ms. Bunmi Sofola, who also showered encomiums on her friend of over 40 years.
VOTE OF THANKS – The vote of thanks was by the celebrant’s husband, Otunba Jubril Martins-Kuye, former Minister of Finance and later Commerce and Industry. He not only eulogized his wife but also prayed that she would live longer than her mother who died at 97.
FRIENDS IN NEED AND DEED – The celebrant has many friends which cut across all social strata. Many of such friends were at the birthday gig not only in different aso ebi (uniform) but on separate tables of their own.
There was Mrs. Pat Arawore, the celebrant’s friend of many years. She was there with her husband and coterie of other friends. Ms. Bunmi Sofola, another alter-ego of the celebrant was there too with her own friends. Among those who graced the occasion on Ms. Bunmi Sofola’s card were the Amala Group of which the celebrant is a member. The Amala Group meet every last Wednesday of the month at Ms. Sofola’s residence where they savour amala with some drinks to wash down.
Amongst Amala Group members at the occasion were Mr. Muyiwa Adetiba, Mr. Yomi Onasile (who with Ms. Bunmi Sofola will mark their birthday on Wednesday, May 6, 2015), Mrs. Abimbola Oworu and Mrs. Folake Marcus-Bello.
ZAPPAHAIRE EVENT IN CHARGE – The wondrous birthday gig was managed by Zappahaire Event owned by Mrs. Funke Bucknor-Obruthe. She brought in Kemabom which served the sumptuous meal; Vine and Branch, that served fresh juice, CQU Events and Logistics, which served drinks and many other service providers that made the occasion a grand one.
– TOLANI ABATTI
