Drs. Maurice and Bessie Soremekun Receive High Chieftaincy Titles in Nigeria

[Toyin Falola]

Drs. Maurice and Bessie Soremekun Receive High Chieftaincy Titles in Nigeria

By

                       Pastor Peter Kayode Omole

 

Drs. Maurice and Bessie House Soremekun were recently awarded three chieftaincy titles each in Nigeria (West Africa) during the month of November 2008. The title of chief is a very high honour in the cultural, historical, and contemporary context of African society. It is bestowed on a very select group of people who possess a strong moral character, come from a good and morally upright family, have performed acts of kindness and humanitarianism to members of the citizenry, and who exemplify all that is considered good in African culture. The nominees for chieftaincy go through a very rigorous and competitive vetting process. Candidates for chieftaincy must have also performed deeds through the years to uplift the Nigerian society.

 

The first set of chieftaincy titles were bestowed on the couple in the ancestral home of Dr. Maurice Soremekun's father in Keesi, a sub-urban town in Ogun State of Nigeria. The chieftaincy ceremony was held on November 13, 2008 and Maurice was awarded the title of Maiyegun of Keesi and his wife, the title of Erelu Maiyegun of Keesi. A second set of chieftaincy title was bestowed on them in Dr. Maurice Soremekun's mother ancestral hometown of Bakatari. Maurice was awarded the title of Balogun of Bakatari Christians, while his dear wife, Bessie was awarded the title of Iyalaje of Bakatari Christians (which, translated, means Commander of the Marketplace), which is so appropriate given that Bessie is an entrepreneur par excellence.

 

The high point of their trip to Nigeria was the conferment of the third chieftaincy titles, which took place during a very beautiful coronation ceremony at the King's palace on November 15, 2008. During this ceremony, His Royal Majesty, Oba (King) Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, The Okukenu IV, Alake of Egbaland, personally bestowed on Maurice the very high and esteemed chieftaincy title of BADA ASIWAJU OF EGBALAND, and on Bessie, the highly exalted title of ERELU BADA ASIWAJU OF EGBALAND. Maurice's title literally means Frontline War Leader, which is the equivalent of a Field Marshall. Both of them participated in a wonderfully rich chieftaincy ceremony in which the Oba (King) personally placed on them the chieftaincy caps and presented them with their chieftaincy certificates. With the conferment of these chieftaincy titles from the King himself, Drs. Maurice and Bessie Soremekun are now part of the King's inner circle and part of the ruling elite in Nigeria. They also have direct access to the King himself. They will work very closely with him as he articulates various policies for the citizens of Egbaland, as well as accompany him, when possible, on various trips and missions of importance within Nigeria. They will also work assiduously to help promote better relationships between Nigeria, the United States, and other countries around the world.

 

After the coronation ceremony concluded at the Oba's palace, the newly crowned Chiefs celebrated along with their family members and friends at a party they hosted at the Kingmod Guest House Hotel in Abeokuta. The Hon. Sir Olu Awotesu presided (as the Chairman) on the occasion while they entertained many friends and guests in a very congenial atmosphere. Some of their special guests included Mrs. Tokunbo Akinluyi, the chief organizer of the event and sister of Maurice, Ms. Sunmbo Soremekun, a very successful entrepreneur in Nigeria and cousin of Maurice, Dr. Emmanuel Fasanya, a distinguished gynecologist from Texas, Dr. Evelyn Erokwu Mbanefo, their dear friend and a renown physician from Shaker Heights, Ohio, Otunba Jimi Oduba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Dr. Adediji Soremekun, a distinguished pharmacist from Los Angeles and the brother of Maurice, as well as Brigadier-General Dr. Mobolaji Johnson (retd.), the first Governor of Lagos State, Nigeria.

 

Dr. Maurice A. E. Soremekun, BS, MSc, MD, FACOG, FACS, FRS, etc,  (you may want to add "MBHS" and "Westminster"), is a gentleman by all standards. I first met him in 1990 when I was the National Secretary of the Old Boys' National Association of our alma mater, Methodist Boys' High School, Lagos, Nigeria. He came on a visit to Nigeria from the U. S. where he is based. The first impression Dr. Soremekun gave me was that he loved (and still loves) our School with passion. We "struck" a friendship deal, which has bound us together and grown bigger and larger ever since. This gentleman has helped the School morally and financially to a very high extent. The husband of Bessie is a great man of honour. So amiable! So gentle and NEVER forces anything! With not less than six Academic Appointments/Employment to his credit, Dr. Soremekun is a BUNDLE of HUMILITY, which makes him excel in his entire endeavour and attracts him to people.

 

Dr. Soremekun has been honoured with many awards both nationally and internationally. The alumni of his alma mater gave him a Merit Award as a distinguished "Old Boy."  I had the singular honour and privilege of decorating him with this Award in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, in July 2001, when I was the National President of the Old Boys' National Association. He was the first Chairman of the North American Chapter (Branch) of the Association.

 

Dr. (Mrs.) Bessie Soremekun is a woman of honour and great virtue. Her simple looks and quiet disposition seem to have "hidden" her superb academic sagacity and unparalleled achievement. She holds many titles including the Public Scholar in African American Studies, Civic Engagement, and Entrepreneurship, Professor of Political Science and Professor of African American and African Diaspora Studies at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). For her meritorious work at IUPUI, she was recently appointed and elevated on August 1 2008 to the new administrative position of Faculty Fellow by the Executive Vice Chancellor and Dean of the Faculties at the University. Apart from her lectures, Professor Bessie Soremekun hardly talks above a whisper. She appears to be a natural psychologist. She "innocently" looks at you and is able to read what is "inside" of you. That is a great talent indeed! She is a Public Scholar of note -- always in demand for talks and lectures. An established and award-winning author who has received numerous honor and awards, Bessie has written a number of books on her specialties.

 

Bessie is beautiful and pretty. She is elegant and of very pleasant disposition. As mentioned above, she hardly talks above a whisper but when she does, she is very detailed, articulate, eloquent and with unquestionable intelligence.

Please, join me in congratulating these two very deserving people, Chief Dr. Maurice Adekunle Ebun Soremekun, the new BADA ASIWAJU of EGBALAND, and his very accommodating wife, Chief Dr. Mrs. Bessie House Soremekun, the new ERELU BADA ASIWAJU of EGBALAND. They are the proud parents of three children.

 

---Pastor Peter Kayode Omole is a past National President of the Methodist Boys' High School, Lagos, Nigeria, Old Boys' National Association.

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Toyin Falola
Department of History
The University of Texas at Austin
1 University Station
Austin, TX 78712-0220
USA
512 475 7224
512 475 7222  (fax)
http://www.toyinfalola.com/
www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa
http://groups.google.com/group/yorubaaffairs
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