K20 Swingers Golf Kitty Group Immortalize Prince Toyin Gbadebo at Abeokuta Golf Club
Veteran broadcast journalist and golfer, the late Prince Toyin Gbadebo popularly called ‘Gbadeh’ has been immortalized by members of the Abeokuta Golf Club, spearheaded by the K20 Kitty Group with a farewell teeing off and planting of a tree in his honour.
By: Olufemi Orunsola
Members of the Abeokuta Golf Club, spearheaded by the K20 Kitty Group have immortalized veteran broadcast journalist and retired Deputy General Manager, Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC), Prince Toyin Gbadebo popularly called ‘Gbadeh’ at the Abeokuta Golf Club.
The immortalization took place on Monday 23rd September, 2024 through a farewell teeing off and tree planting ceremony which attracted the presence of the Ogun State Head of Service, Mr Kehinde Onasanya, the Vice Chancellor Bells University of Technology, Ota, Prof.Jeremiah Ojediran, the General Manager, Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation, Mrs.Toyin Sogbesan, a former Captain of the club, Bashorun Ladi Adegbite, the rank and files of the Club executives, and members of the K20 Golf kitty group who paid glowing tributes to the departed golfer.
in his remarks at the immortalization ceremony, Mr Kehinde Onasanya commended the golf kitty group for choosing to immortalize the deceased veteran broadcast journalist whom he described as a man of the people, who was known to be bubbling with life, sociable, highly professional but fun to be with throughout his life time.
The Ogun State Head of Service also remarked that his presence at the final teeing off and tree planting ceremony for the late broadcaster and golfer on a Monday morning was a testament to the significance and importance he personally attached to Prince Toyin Gbadebo's life and times.
Mr. Onasanya also observed that the legacies of the late broadcaster who passed on to glory in July, lives on as he left behind, a wife and children who have no reasons to regret how he lived his life, recalling that even when he visited the family to condole with them after the death of Prince Gbadeh, he left the family encouraged rather than saddened due to the encouragement he received from the mien of Mrs. Gbadebo.
Also speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor, Bells University, Ota, Prof Jeremiah Ojediran revealed that the social impact of the late Prince Gbadebo was positively felt by the University through the services of his wife, Mrs. Yemisi Gbadebo who made significant reference to her supportive husband in the course of discharging her duties at the university to which she was extremely committed.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Captain of the Abeokuta Golf Club, Prof. Kola Adebajo noted that the late golfer and veteran broadcast journalist has been considered worthy of the honour of a farewell tee off at Hole 10, the Royal Hole dedicated to the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egba land, HRM Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, Ojukenu IV, at the Abeokuta Golf Club, considering the outstanding contributions of the late golfer to the golf club in his life time.
Furthermore, the coordinator of the K20 Golf Kitty group, Architect Ayo Edun noted that the late Prince Toyin Gbadebo was instrumental to the formation of the K20 Swingers kitty group at the Golf Club.
While giving the vote of thanks at the end of the first phase of the ceremony which took place at the Club floor, Architect Tokunbo Fowode thanked all golfers, dignitaries and well wishers who graced the occasion, noting that the legacies of the departed golfer leaves on.
Other highpoints of the immortalization ceremony was the farewell teeing off activity in honour of late golfer where the leadership of the Abeokuta Golf Club, members of the K20 Golf Kitty group as well as Golf Professionals took turns to tee off in to oblivion in honour of the departed golfer, Gbadeh.
The widow of Prince Gbadebo, Mrs. Yemisi Gbadebo as well as his children also took turns to ceremonially tee off the balls into the oblivion in honour of the late golfer.
A citrus tree was also planted on the Abeokuta Golf Course to immortalize the departed golfer by his wife and children in the presence of golfers who graced the occasion.
Mrs.Yemisi Gbadebo, who noted that she would choose the late Prince Toyin Gbadebo again as her husband if she had an opportunity to do so in another life, thanked the K20 Golf kitty group and the entire leadership of the Abeokuta Golf Club for their thoughtful immortalization of her husband, praying that the good Lord will continue to guide and guard all golfers in the club and reward them abundantly for their kind gestures.
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