Standing Tall At 60: Honouring Sufuyan Ojeifo — The wordsmith, the custodian of memory, the master of language, by Owen Obaseki

I first met Sufuyan Ojeifo on the page.
Not in a room, not across a table — but in the quiet authority of his prose.

There was an elegance to his writing that stopped you. A reverence. The way he honoured greatness without flattery, and etched legacies into language so that time could not erase them.

I was particularly drawn to how he immortalised the Leader, Chief Tony Anenih, CFR — architect, strategist, patriarch — and the Captain of Land, Sea and Air, Captain Dr. Hosa Wells Okunbo — visionary, builder, titan. Both men have since joined the pantheon of history. Yet they live on, vivid and breathing, in the beauty of Sufuyan’s words. That, to me, is the highest calling of a writer: to defeat time.

For me, a man is measured by three things: humility, humanity, and depth. I longed to meet the man behind the pen. When Captain Hosa eventually made the introduction, I found all three virtues seated in one person. Gentle in spirit. Rich in counsel. Deep in thought.

From that day, a bond was forged — iron-clad, unpretentious, enduring. We have remained in touch ever since. Brothers in ideals, allies in purpose.

My Dear Brother,

Today, as you step into the Diamond Club at 60, I stand with your wife, your children, your professional colleagues, and a grateful nation to celebrate you.

May your years ahead be crowned with:
Good health that matches your vigour.
Wealth in abundance that reflects your value.
Wisdom to navigate life’s intricate passages.
And above all — may your ink never run dry. May your pen continue to name what matters, to honour what is true, and to give language to the soul of our nation.

You have spent a lifetime shaping words that shape people. Today, we return the honour.

Happy 60th Birthday, Sufuyan.
Many happy returns. Enjoy your day to the fullest. Stand tall. You have earned it.

● Proudly Celebrated By Chief Owen Chamberlain Obaseki, JP, Otaifoh of Uromi