In what many have described as a perfectly timed and deeply emotional moment, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday conferred the prestigious Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) on renowned businessman and philanthropist Sir Kessington Adebutu, popularly known as Baba Ijebu, during his 90th birthday thanksgiving service held at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The announcement made by the Chief of Staff to the President, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, took everyone by surprise, transforming what was already a grand celebration into a historic national moment.
Though Gbajabiamila appeared in a sharp black suit, in contrast to the traditional Yoruba attires worn by other dignitaries, his formal look soon made sense. He was not merely in attendance; he was on official duty, carrying out a presidential assignment that would mark the highlight of the occasion.
The thanksgiving service drew an impressive array of Nigeria’s most distinguished figures, including Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, the Ooni of Ife, the Alaafin of Oyo, the Soun of Ogbomoso, former Governor Gbenga Daniel, and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, among others — all elegantly adorned in Yoruba traditional attire.
When Gbajabiamila ascended the podium to deliver President Tinubu’s goodwill message, few could have anticipated the magnitude of the announcement that followed. On behalf of the President, he revealed that Sir Kessington Adebutu had been conferred with one of Nigeria’s highest national honours, the GCON, in recognition of his decades of philanthropy, entrepreneurship, and service to humanity.
The announcement drew a standing ovation from the audience. The celebrant, visibly moved, rose to his feet in gratitude, his eyes brimming with tears as he received a thunderous applause from family, friends, and dignitaries.
“It was a moment of honour signed, sealed, and delivered,” one attendee remarked, describing the timing and setting as “a masterstroke worthy of the President’s trademark precision.”
In his goodwill message, President Tinubu lauded Adebutu’s remarkable journey of faith, success, and generosity, noting that the nonagenarian had been “exceptionally blessed in health, wealth, and length of days.” The President prayed that the years ahead would be so rich that “they would make the best of his past seem poor.”
Observers have since described the moment as a fitting tribute to a man whose life has been defined by resilience, community impact, and an enduring commitment to Nigeria’s socio-economic growth.
As the festivities continued, the symbolic honour stood out as a reminder that timing, indeed, is everything and in the words of many present, President Tinubu once again proved to be “a master of timing.”
