By Tunde Abatan
When she joined the Teaching service in 1989 having graduated as an Agricultural Economist from the nation’s premier institution, University of Ibadan, for her it was a stop gap -job before embarking on a career by her training and qualification .
But then before she knew it, her passion for moulding character and impacting lives of children took the better part of her and she ended up spending 31 years and six months in the four walls of the classroom.
Hence, it is not surprising that the praise song, ‘great is thy faithfulness’ filled her mouth and other well wishers who joined her in the double celebration of her Pens Down-official disengagement from the Lagos Teaching Service as a Director of Education, and her diamond jubilee anniversary.
Shy and evasive, her simplicity betrays the position she attained in her career.
To underscore her disposition to serve more even in retirement, Pastor Adesola who gave the word at the modest ceremony held in the cosy hall of Straight Gate School situated in the womb of Magodo ,GRA, Aderayo’s life even in retirement is a retirement into more service to mould, impact and raise young ones.
For hubby, Gboyega Fatoki, a system analyst and classmate of yours truly at African Church Grammar School, Abeokuta, it was a unique and unusual celebration mood for the equally quite, reserved but amiable man who together with Aderayo, whethered the storm for the past 32 years.
Fatoki, not to be left out of her wife’s moment of joy also brought out his classmates to complement old students of his heart throb from Abeokuta Girls Grammar School to add glamour, colour and reminiscences to the celebration by the two love birds .
Thus, the life of soft spoken Aderayo, who by faith opted to spent her active years in the classroom also ended up giving her heart of Gold to those students who passed through her tutelage this past three decades.
Below are faces at the Retirement and Diamond birthday celebration.
Celebrant and retiree, Mrs Funke Fatoki,with hubby,Gboyega Fatoki
Colleagues and friends of the Celebrant.
Mrs Fatoki, during her Citation.
Pendown/Retirement ceremony of Mrs Adedayo Olufunke Fatoki,as Director of Education and Vice Principal of Anthony Village Junior high school, Lagos conducted by Mrs Yinka Oluwaleye, Directior of Education and Principal, Anthony Village Senior High School and Vice Chairman of An Oops ,Kosofe Zone,Lagos.
Representatives of African Church Grammar School 738 set and Abeokuta Girls Grammar School, alumni assisting the celebrant and hubby to cut the birthday cake
