Nigerian Governor: Celebrate Loved Ones While They're Alive

Too often, we wait until someone is gone to tell the world how much they meant to us. But one Nigerian governor is challenging that tradition with a simple, heartfelt message: celebrate the people you love while they can still feel your appreciation.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State made this call at the 80th birthday thanksgiving service for Special Apostle Titus Ogunseye in Lagos. The event brought together family, friends, and community members to honor the religious leader while he could witness their love firsthand.

"Most of the time, when we lose our parents, we organise elaborate celebrations after they have gone, and they do not have the opportunity to witness the love being shown to them," Aiyedatiwa told attendees. "Today is different because Baba is alive to see everyone who has come to celebrate him."

The governor reflected on the significance of reaching 80 years, describing it as a special blessing and a reminder to acknowledge life's precious moments. He praised Ogunseye's lifetime of service, compassion, and wisdom, calling him "a wise master builder" who devoted his life to uplifting others through prayer and teaching.

The celebration drew a remarkable crowd, including Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, who joined in honoring the octogenarian. The gathering featured ministers, a special choir that the celebrant personally requested, and countless community members whose lives Ogunseye had touched.

Why This Inspires

This simple act of celebrating someone while they're alive carries a powerful lesson for all of us. We live in a culture that often saves the biggest tributes for funerals, when the person we're honoring can no longer hear our words or feel our embrace.

The celebrant's son, Apostle Damilola Ogunseye, shared that the gathering fulfilled a divine instruction rather than just family tradition. When his father turned 60, they received guidance to celebrate him so others could see that serving with love and faith brings real rewards.

The large turnout reflected decades of genuine impact. These weren't just polite guests fulfilling social obligations. They were witnesses to a life well lived, showing up to express gratitude while their words could still bring joy to the man they honored.

Governor Aiyedatiwa's message extends far beyond this single celebration. It's an invitation to rethink how we show love and appreciation in our own families and communities. A kind word today means more than the most elaborate tribute tomorrow.

The wisdom here is beautifully simple: don't wait for a funeral to tell someone they mattered.