The celebrant, Mr. Oluremi Sotonwa
Top government functionaries, media executives, scholars and scores of well-wishers, last week Wednesday converged at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Ilugun, Abeokuta, to witness the 60th Birthday Celebration of Mr. Oluremi Sotonwa.
Mr. Sotonwa (aka Baba Show), an Advert Agent to the University and the Diocesan Communicator to the Egba Diocese (Anglican Communion), fondly called ‘Clinton’ in his days at the Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo, where he carved a niche for himself as a foremost sprinter.
In his sermon at the service, the Anglican Bishop of Egba Diocese, Bishop Emmanuel Oludaisi Adekunle described Mr. Sotonwa as an exemplary Public Relations’ practitioner, who has rendered selfless service to the Diocese as Diocesan Communicator.
The Bishop said: “Mr. Sotonwa is an interface between the media and our Diocese. I want to liken him to the Minister of Information, although, he is not a propagandist. He does his work with utmost frankness, sincerity and unbridled passion.
“He always pesters me and justify why I should keep appointments with journalists. Often time, I will say, ‘Mr. Sotonwa, wahala yin ti poju’ (meaning your pressure is too much). He will always reply, ‘my Lord Bishop, let’s look at it this way’ and that is Mr. Sotonwa for you”.
The cleric likened Public Relations’ duties to the job of a forerunner, which he said Holy Mary, as well as John the Baptist did for Jesus Christ. He described the calling as priestly, urging the celebrant to consider the possibility of going into priesthood.
According to him, “whether he is ready to wear the collar or not, he should be sent to the Seminary because he is already doing the work of a priest as the Diocesan Communicator”.
Bishop Adekunle, however, charged Public Relations’ practitioners and Christians in general to emulate the celebrant in his poise of building the church of God, as he congratulated him for attaining 60 years of age.
The celebrant retired from the services of the Punch Newspapers as Advert Manager and the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, as a Lecturer.