Sixty-five today, the publisher of Ovation International, Chief Ayobamidele Momodu, is a pride, not just of the media but the nation. Olawale Olaleye writes.

Chief Ayobamidele Momodu’s story of grass to grace is public knowledge. All of the information is already out there. This is because he discusses his life and its intricate trajectory at every given opportunity with glee and self-esteem.

At the punch of a button, you’d have all you need to knowabout this proud media guru and indigene of Edo State, who chose to “naturalise” in Yorubaland, making Ile-Ife, the source, his birth station. Little wonder, his other names include Ojutelegan Ajani.

With a bit of mild activism spurred by instinctive resentment to abuse of any sort, this celebrated writer has conquered where many could not even dare. And, where many had failed, Bob Dee, as everyone calls him, is not one to be stifled by the failures of others. He’d rather make his own mistakes and learn from them.

His indomitable spirit, typical of the average Nigerian – man or woman – who carries him or herself with rare confidence and self-worth, is also why life has been unable to relegate him in the scheme of things.

He does not only catch up with trends in journalism and communications in general, but he always makes a conscious decision at self-development, just to stay active on the job, timelessly. That he has remained relevant for several decades is not a function of accident.

His willingness and readiness to help others, no matter what the issues are, is one trait that speaks to his individuality, and clearly a reflection of his thorough upbringing and the tolerant Yoruba environment, where life began for him – diped in the milk of kindness and their cultural hospitality.

With an enduring voyage on the media landscape, cutting across imposing brands and years of solid experience before setting out to do something different, not before building solid and expensive contacts in this multidisciplinary calling, it simply belies logic that anyone at all would question whether or not Bob Dee is a journalist?

With tongue-in-cheek and evident cynicism, an aide to the Minister of the FCT, LereOlayinka, during a recent interview on the Arise News Television, questioned Bob Dee’s journalism background. For convenient mischief, he’d rather he was a Babalawo because he studied Yoruba as his first degree. The effrontery alone is appalling!

A graduate of Yoruba and Master’s in English Literature from the University of Ife, (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in 1982, Momodu got his first media job as staff writer with African Concord magazine, owned by the late Chief MKO Abiola, and later transferred to the Weekend Concord as a pioneer staff.

This graduate of Yoruba wrote the first cover story for the newspaper in March 1989, and contributed to other titles such as the National Concord, Sunday Concord, Business Concord and of course, his turf, the Yoruba newspaper, Isokan.

By Seyi Orolugbagbe

The first time I ran into Joseph Ayobamidele Dada Ojutęlęgan Ajani Oluwaseun Momodu, after our Ifę days, was during one of my visits home, from the US, in the early 1990s.

So I was exiting the Abiola’s house while he was entering. We exchange greetings, having not seen since he left Ile-Ifę. But he did something so profound, by remembering to ask after my dad, whom by all consideration, is essentially one of the most, if not the most important human being to me. The truth is our relationship, and indeed my regards for him gained a higher ascendancy even from then. Then Bob Dee, as fondly called by most, suggested a spread, coming from his expertise in celebrity management for our newly established dealership in Victoria Island, Lagos. An experience he packaged and presented so meticulously well, and which helped in launching the new business, as a brand, fully and permanently in the Nigerian business firmament.

Additionally, his would-be wife and mine, happened to have been longstanding friends, having grown up in Ibadan and been Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ifę students, during same period. This would further deepen the relationships, to the extent families were brought together on both sides and parents became increasingly involved and closer, virtually becoming one large family and friendships grew larger, such that it got the Ààrę, to uncommonly but profoundly, name my daughter after his mom, Arikę. Our own great Ààrę would have showed up for me, in ways more than innumerable, in aspects, scenarios and capacities unfathomable or perhaps almost beyond human comprehension.

These are however my personal accounts. Those of others are certainly uncountable. Ààrę would make it a point of duty, even when not fashionable, nor convenient for him, to check up on everyone intermittently.
How can I forget how he would veer out, flying all the way to California, to spend time with us, or to call us up every time he set foot on the American soil, whenever he couldn’t fly in.

Then came his foray into politics, especially the very recent exercise; where it became incumbent on me to virtually step aside from every other thing in order to support him, by focusing and concentrating on prosecuting the political process and activities of running for the office of the president of Nigeria, as a gesture of appreciation.

We certainly weathered a lot together during the period. I must however state, unequivocally, that the storms and challenges, as daunting as they may have seemed, were not as nearly as important than the prospects of the gratifying feeling, the satisfaction and the accomplishment of working closely with the Onigege Ara of Joga-Orile, the Bashorun of Oke-Ila-Orangun, Ehanikhaye of Ihievbe Kingdom, Ààrę of Iwo Kingdom, the Akinrogun of Gbonganland, to list only a few, on these and similar projects. Our Bob Dee sir, olowori Yeye Ààrę Mobolaji Abiodun, Ana Adaramaja, n’Ijębu-Igbo, may the line continue to fall for you in pleasant places sir. May you continue to find God’s favor, grace, bias, kindness, joy, love, happiness and unequaled vista of good health. Your kind is truly rare.

Happy 65th Birthday Elder statesman, Omo aroti wę bi ojo, Omo o ji l’oru kę yin yin, Omo obęriri l’okun!

By Sola Ojewusi

I am deeply honoured to celebrate my former boss, mentor and guiding light, Aare Dele Momodu as he celebrates another milestone.

At 65, Aare Dele Momodu stands as a towering figure in Nigeria’s media, political, and cultural landscape—a rare blend of charisma, courage, intellect, and influence. He is a man of many seasons: journalist, publisher, politician, social commentator, NADECO chieftain, human rights activist, pro-democracy advocate, and friend to both kings and commoners. He is Nigeria’s most travelled journalist, one of the most flamboyant and yet most down-to-earth public figures, a bridge between power and the people, and, above all, a committed builder of modern Nigerian democracy.

Born on May 16, 1960, in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Dele Momodu’s life has mirrored the trajectory of Nigeria’s post-independence journey—defined by struggle, survival, reinvention, and hope. Orphaned young, he rose from modest beginnings through grit, talent, and an unshakable belief in the dignity of hard work and the power of the pen. His story is that of a man who refused to be defined by circumstance but instead chose to define his legacy through service, excellence, and audacity.

THE PUBLISHING PIONEER

In 1996, while in political exile, Dele Momodu founded Ovation International, a lifestyle magazine that not only redefined celebrity journalism in Africa but projected African success stories to the world at a time of economic and political uncertainty. He created a platform where Africans could celebrate themselves, their culture, fashion, intellect, and influence without apology or compromise. Through Ovation, he told stories that mainstream Western media ignored—of African royalty, innovation, business magnates, and everyday heroes. It was as much a magazine as it was a movement.

THE DEMOCRACY SOLDIER

Long before Ovation, Momodu had made a name as one of Nigeria’s boldest political journalists and public intellectuals. During the dark days of military rule, he lent his voice, pen, and resources to the fight for democracy. He was a key figure in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), aligning with democratic titans to demand the restoration of MKO Abiola’s June 12 mandate and a return to civilian rule. For his activism, he endured harassment, threats, and eventually went into exile.

Even from exile, Momodu’s commitment never wavered. He wrote, lobbied, organized, and reminded the world that Nigeria’s destiny could not be shackled by tyranny. His column, Pendulum, became both sword and sanctuary—cutting through lies while sheltering the hopes of a battered populace.

THE POLITICAL PATHFINDER

Though best known as a journalist, Aare Dele Momodu’s political forays have been driven not by ambition but by conviction. In 2011, he contested the presidency of Nigeria, offering himself as a fresh voice amid a tired political class. He has remained an unapologetic voice for equity, good governance, youth inclusion, and national cohesion. Unlike many who wield power to divide, Momodu’s gift is connection. He is equally at home in the palace of a sultan, the study of a professor, the boardroom of a business mogul, or the marketplace of the masses.

Though you may not always agree with his political leanings, you cannot but honour his disposition that rises far above petty politicking. Aare Dele Momodu is the quintessential example of politics without bitterness—never one to court the vagaries of double-speak in the often volatile terrain of Nigeria’s political discourse. His courage to stand by his convictions, even when unpopular, has earned him not just admirers but enduring respect across the divide.

A GLOBAL CITIZEN, ROOTED IN AFRICA

Dele Momodu’s passport tells the story of a man who belongs everywhere yet remains deeply Nigerian. From the corridors of Buckingham Palace to the courtyards of African royalty, from Harvard lecture halls to Caribbean beaches, he is a living symbol of global African excellence. He has photographed, interviewed, or dined with presidents, potentates, popstars, and paupers. And through it all, he retains the same unpretentious charm, hearty laughter, and boundless curiosity that endeared him to his earliest readers.

FRIEND OF ALL, ENEMY TO NONE

In a nation often divided by tribe, religion, and politics, Aare Dele Momodu stands out as a unifier. He has friends across all faiths, regions, and political parties. He is the man whom both revolutionaries and royals trust. He listens. He mediates. He celebrates others more than himself. Whether in Lagos, London, Accra, Paris, or Washington D.C., there is always someone whose life he has touched, whose voice he has amplified, or whose journey he has helped navigate.

THE MAN BEHIND THE LEGEND

Perhaps the most enduring testament to Dele Momodu’s greatness is not his magazine covers, global accolades, or high-profile friends—but his humanity. He mentors with generosity, supports with discretion, and forgives with grace. For all his flamboyance—his signature agbadas, colourful frames, and camera flashes—there is a quiet, humble soul who remains forever grateful to God, to his family, and to the readers who have stayed with him for decades.

A LEGACY STILL IN MOTION

At 65, Aare Dele Momodu is not retiring; he is retooling. Whether through Ovation, his columns, public speaking, or political engagement, he remains a critical voice in the national conversation—a chronicler of our past, a critic of our present, and a compass for the future.

As the drumbeats of celebration echo across continents today, Nigeria honours not just a media mogul but a nation-builder, not just a journalist but a democrat, not just a man of influence but a man of substance. Aare Dele Momodu is 65—and still rising.

Happy Birthday, my Ọ̀gá, Ààrẹ, Olóyè Púpọ̀ and the very cerebral Bob Dee. You are truly the people’s Ààrẹ