EARLY LIFE

Benjamin Akinbanjo Akinrelere was born on the 9th of September, 1937 at Oke  Otunba street, Ile-Oluji in Ile-Oluji / Oke-Igbo Local Government of Ondo State. His father’s name was Pa Isaiah Akinnika Akinrelere while his mother’s name was Madam Esther Otumadeke Akinrelere (nee Fabehinje) both of blessed memory.

ACADEMIC PURSUIT

He attended Saint Peter’s primary school,  Ile-Oluji where he had his primary school education between 1948 and 1952 and from there proceeded to Yaba Technical Institute (now Yaba College of Technology), Yaba, Lagos where he studied for and passed his University of London General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary Level in 1957. In 1958, he gained admission into the Nigerian College of Technology, Ibadan (The Nucleus of the University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University) and in December1961, he sat for and passed the Final Examination of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administration (ACIS). He also sat for and passed the section 111 of the Professional Examination of the Association of Certified Accountants (ACCA) as well as the Professional Examination of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) in December 1970.

WORK EXPERIENCE

He worked as an Accounts Clerk in Mobil Oil Nigeria Limited from August 1957 to August 1958. He again joined the organization after his ACIS and worked as an Assistant Accountant between January and June 1962. He joined the Federal Civil Service, Lagos in June 1962 and worked as an Executive Officer (Audit) in the Federal Audit Department and in the Federal Ministry of Education as an Executive Officer (Accounts) until August 1963. In August 1963, he left the Federal Civil Service for the Electricity Corporation of Nigeria (ECN), Lagos as an Internal Auditor in the Internal Audit department. He had several elevations during his tenure in ECN and worked in various departments which included Internal Audit, Finance and Accounts where he finally retired voluntarily in October 1980 as Manager, District Accounting.In November 1980, Mr Benjamin Akinrelere joined the United African Company (UAC) Nigeria Limited Lagos where he worked in various capacities as Management Accountant, Consolidation Accountant and Financial Accountant. He finally retired from the Seward division of UACN in 1992.

SOCIAL LIFE

Mr. Benjamin Akinrelere was a very modest and humble gentleman. He was simple as simple can get. He was not earthly rich as he did not care for the things of this world. He cared so much for members of his family both nuclear and extended and every soul that came his way. He cared for others at his own discomfort and never dismissed people negatively. He was not just an active member of Curtis Adeniyi Jones Close Landlords’ Association. He was a motivator and indeed remained the Association’s General Secretary until he took ill.

MINISTRY

Mr. Ben Akinrelere was born into a Christian family. His father late Pa Isaiah Akinrelere was at a time a warden in Saint Peter’s Anglican Church Ile-Oluji. However in the early 90s, he gave his life to Christ and was baptized in the Holy Spirit. He was until his demise a warrior of righteousness, a true and practical believer in the LORD Jesus Christ. His zeal for God’s work knew no bounds. He served the Lord faithfully as a co-ordinator and later as a pastor in the Deeper Christian Life Ministry until he was called to glory in the morning of 6th March 2014, the birthday of his late wife.

FAMILY

Mr. Ben Akinrelere got married to his first wife, late Mrs. Elizabeth Agbeke Akinrelere (Nee Akintade) in 1963 who unfortunately passed on, on 12th September 1975. Upon the demise of “Lizzy” as she was fondly called, Mr. Ben Akinrelere married his present wife Mrs. Felicia Morolake Akinrelere (Nee Ogunleye). He is survived by a wife, many children, grand children, brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces and nephews.

EULOGY – ORIKI

Wo Ia ni o ‘Kinbanjo Linure jopo, Ew’ola dubo. Majo lerin, orno jornu Olusoyen. Majo lerin orno gbelerogun orno gbelususi   airen Oijelagana, agbeleku pa kila. O de iwo nerin, orno agbeleku e rna da jorno 'gben gwere nerin o. Wo Ia ni o. Majo, oko erin  bako derin ba Ia, o rnu sugbo agbeleku no derin, rnajo agbeleku soi pete seun jajaja noderin, wo Ia ni o rnajo lurnta  lumto, lusen agbale  yika  nen derin.

Orno atien saghola, orno a tien se gbaun no derin. 

Luta ya lala de ton gandede e i kese  de ton gandede II T’eru t’orno elaun alaidabo de duon ton gandede, ye lerin dede de je kila, de jaikila, de je labedo  nerin. Wo Ia ni o

Iaepe, orno l’ogiri ai di rna le nenpe a faso fifun, wo Ia ni o. Omo l’igi kan yo nakata s'ghoo, lighoo san lele sugbaiwo, wo Ia ni o. Lisida lidimi, yojo kangun si nundo sida.

Wo lani o, gbagba lagho, o jagho a le doye
Omo merayesa sosobi, Majo hawonho, omo lookaa
Lori pohoho loulua, likaa pohoho lo ogbon iton, ia lua amoju jege
Aolu omo nuso, uso lomo soghan.
Oun dagha olu,oun gagha omogbe
Omo likoko deyeen soghan ,Omo gesin jeba, meji lagha oho
Omo otobola bu tee, ligho poti laihon,
Li danaadanaa maa jeje ona poti
Loeguu gbobien aso oke.