By Lukman OMIKUNLE
Comedian Gbenga Adeyinka has celebrated Seun Oloketuyi at 50, recalling how the Best of Nollywood Awards founder helped shape his career
Gbenga Adeyinka Celebrates Seun Oloketuyi at 50, Recalls Career Impact
Popular comedian and entertainer, Gbenga Adeyinka 1st, has celebrated his longtime friend and brother, Seun Oloketuyi, popularly known as Mr BON, as he clocks 50, recalling the significant role the award organiser played in his career and personal journey spanning nearly three decades.
Oloketuyi is the brain behind the Best of Nollywood Awards, popularly known as BON, one of Nigeria’s longest-running entertainment awards.
In a tribute marking Oloketuyi’s 50th birthday, Adeyinka described him as “one of Nigeria’s finest mobilizers and fertile minds,” while reflecting on their early years of friendship, shared struggles and career-building.
Adeyinka said his relationship with Oloketuyi had gone far beyond the passage of time, with their journey becoming intertwined with some of the most significant chapters of his life.
“I have known this remarkable man for close to three decades, and when I look back at our journey, I realise just how much of my own story is intertwined with his,” Adeyinka said.
The comedian recalled how Oloketuyi supported him at the beginning of his career, describing him as a dependable source of connections and opportunities during his formative years.
“Seun was there at the very beginning of my career. In those early days, when I was still finding my feet, he was my plug,” he recalled.
Adeyinka also reminisced about the period they spent living together in a family BQ with Oloketuyi’s other brothers, describing the experience as a defining chapter filled with “hustle, dreams, laughter, uncertainty and hope.”
“We didn’t have all the answers, but we had each other, and somehow we kept moving,” he said.
The entertainer credited Oloketuyi with playing a significant role in his career, saying his friend connected him with influential people, opened doors and introduced him to opportunities at a crucial stage of his journey.
“I can say without hesitation that Seun played a significant role in my career journey. He connected me, opened doors, introduced me to people and opportunities, and was there at a time when having someone who believed in you could make all the difference,” Adeyinka declared.
Beyond their professional relationship, Adeyinka described Oloketuyi as a friend and brother whose influence on his life could not be measured only by the opportunities he created.
He praised the birthday celebrant’s ability to develop ideas, mobilise people and turn ambitious plans into reality.
“His ability to conceive ideas, set goals, bring people together and then actually break barriers to achieve those goals is remarkable. He doesn’t just see possibilities; he has an uncanny ability to get people to believe in them too,” Adeyinka stated.
Reflecting on their nearly three decades together, Adeyinka said he had watched Oloketuyi “dream, build, connect, create and impact lives,” adding that he remained proud to have benefited from his friend’s generosity and intellect.
As Oloketuyi marked his 50th birthday, Adeyinka said, “I celebrate the man, the journey and the impact.”
He added, “I celebrate the young man who shared a BQ with us, the friend who walked the streets and chased opportunities with me, the mobilizer who could make things happen, and the brother who has remained part of my story through the years.”
Expressing gratitude for their enduring friendship, Adeyinka said some debts could not be repaid through money or words.
“Some debts cannot be repaid with money or words; they can only be acknowledged with a grateful heart. And today, I acknowledge mine,” he said.
The comedian wished Oloketuyi greater impact, bigger ideas and extraordinary opportunities as he entered a new chapter of his life.
“May you live long enough to see many of the seeds you have planted blossom into forests,” Adeyinka prayed.
Adeyinka the 1st concluded his tribute by describing Oloketuyi as “my friend, my brother, my plug from way back,” before wishing him a happy 50th birthday.
