•How We Have Been Able To Sustain Our Marriage
Chief Olusegun Babajide Badipe & his pretty wife Erelu Bukola Badipe are a lovely couple who live in Houston, Texas. But despite the fact that they have been living in the US for years they have kept touch with their home base. He is an Egba man, from Abeokuta, while she is from Ile-Ife. He is the Akinturashe of Egbaland.
They both reside in Houston, Texas. He works in the medical field, as a Health administrator. He has 8 successful kids, all grown up. He has 6 grandchildren. He has been in the US for close to 30 years. They have both been married for almost 11 years now. What has been the secret of their successful marriage, City People asked him recently?? He says it is Communication. “That is No 1. Then working hard at it every day and thanking all mighty God each and every day.” Both of them became chiefs late last year.
On Friday, December 14th and Saturday, December 15th, 2018 was a weekend like no other. For it was the weekend, in which a US-based couple, Chief Olusegun Badipe and his beautiful wife, Chief (Mrs) Olubukola Badipe were conferred with three Chieftaincy tiles, an impressive ceremony that took place in Oke Ona and Abeokuta, Ogun State. Activities commenced on Friday, December 14th ,2018 at the Palace of His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr)Adedapo Tejuosho, Karuwi 111,Osile Okeona with the conferment of the titles of Akintunrashe and Erelu Akintunrashe of Ago Oko and Oke Ona, witnessed by friends and well-wishers who had come from far and near to witness the unprecedented feat.
The grand finale was Saturday, December 15, 2018 at the palace of the paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba (Dr) Michael Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo 111,the Okukenu IV, the Alake of Egbaland with the conferment of the title of Akintunrashe and Erelu Akintunrashe of the entire Egba land which comprises of both Oke Ona and Ago Oko. Historically, the titles of the Akintunrashe and Erelu Akintunrashe of Okeona, Agooko and Egbaland had not been conferred on any couple in the annals of Egba Kingdom.
It will be recalled that the Alake of Egba land has always been in the forefront, since his ascension to the prestigious throne, of the crusade of inviting Egba Indigenes in Diaspora to participate in his quest to build the virile Egba Kingdom. It did not, therefore, come as a surprise that the Badipes were conferred with the chieftaincy titles in recognition of their invaluable contribution to the socioeconomic development of Egba Kingdom.
With the distinguished accolades, the Badipes have followed the footsteps of other distinguished sons and daughters of the kingdom in Diaspora, whose contributions were also recognised by the highly revered Alake of Egbaland. In his remarks, the Akinturashe of Egba land commended the efforts of the Alake, particularly, in his constantly reaching out to sons and daughters of Egba kingdom to come home and participate in Nation-building.
According to him, his inspiration is the legacies laid by predecessors like Chief Sam Dipeolu, the Akingbayi of Egbaland and Chief Sumonu, Otunbade Aje of Egbaland. He assured the people of Egba Kingdom that he would follow the footsteps of the trailblazers in contributing tremendously to the development of the Egba kingdom.
In the same vein, the Erelu Akintunrashe of Egba land, Chief Mrs Olubukola Badipe also expressed her appreciation to the Royal fathers. To her, recognition undoubtedly is an inspiration to do more to make lives more meaningful to the underprivileged ones in society. She pledged to contribute her own quota to the socio-economic development of Egba Kingdom and by extension our great Country. The spirit of altruism is the key to a better society and when that spirit receives a royal recognition and blessing, and it makes it very special, fulfilling and inspirational.
There is no doubt that the interest of the Egba kingdom will be better served with the Badipes as the Akinturashe and Erelu Akintunrashe respectively. The guests that came from far and near including the legion of guests from Diaspora were treated to the Houston Hospitality at the Providence Hall along MKO Abiola way. In Abeokuta until the wee hours of Sunday morning with the music of Oyedele Olumuyiwa. Congratulations to the Akintunrashe and Erelu Akinunrashes of Egba kingdom.
Both of them met in Houston Texas when he moved from New Jersey. Let’s tell you more. When he first got to the US in the mid-80s he got a job in New Jersey. He started out at the State University of New Jersy. It was in Houston he met his wife, Erelu Bukola. Hear Erelu: I was able to become the Erelu of Ago-Oko, of Oke Ona and of Egbaland in December 2018. I am from Ile-Ife. I am the 2nd child of my mother. There are 5 of us. I reside in Houston-Texas. I am a Professional Nurse. I specialise in Hospice, taking care of people towards the end of life. I also host events. I am a Professional MC. I handle events all over America, most of the time. I also come to Nigeria to handle events. I have come about 3 to 4 times. We are blessed with lovely children, 6 grandchildren”. How does she combine her various roles? How does she balance them out well.? What is the secret? “The secret is that I organise well. You have to be able to plan well and be organised”.
“If you plan yourself well, things will work out for you appropriately. I do my professional and hospice nurse job. I do in the night. Believe me, I do 12 hours to 16 hours. In the morning I take time to sleep. On the weekend, I handle events, in between that I have to be a wife and the grandchildren are very fond of us.” At the time he got married to her husband, what did she see in him that made her think it will work out for both of them. “To tell you the truth, he has been watching me for a while, sending words to me. I was like Ejoor, I am not interested, I am not ready for this. Eventually, when he insisted and he took me out for dinner, speaking English non-stop, I said to myself, look at this fine man, what do you want from me? That was the question I asked him that very day. He told me that night. I want to marry you. At first, I wasn’t so sure. I don’t think he meant it. Since then, it has just been perfect. People see us sometimes they say we look alike. We were somewhere 2 days ago, they called us Taiye and Kehinde. I like him. I like the fact that he is knowledgeable. He is a very educated man. He knows how to treat a woman right. He is a very, very sweet guy. My husband won’t hurt a fly. He likes to do things in his own way. He is a gentle guy. When I try to work too much, he will slow me down. He will say I don’t want you to work for this amount of days. What else do I need from a man that cares for me than to look very nice for him at all times? He cares for me. He cares about my well being. I am also into Catering abroad. I do Catering big time. I cater to big personalities, big events abroad. I cook a lot. But I have slowed down on that now. Now, I cook and cater to selected people. I like to travel around the world to shop. I travel to Italy, Switzerland, Paris. I get my husbands fabrics directly from the factory. My husband is a very stylish man”.
