At fifty, he has achieved professional success, earned community respect and demonstrated meaningful change is possible without formal political power. – Excerpt
By: Shafihi Abdulrasheed
In life, there’s something magnetic about encountering people who pulse with purpose. In Share, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, this quality is being carried with a quiet intensity that speaks of deep commitment to something larger than the name bearer.
As this remarkable man turns fifty today, I find myself reflecting on our conversations and the consistent thread that runs through every interaction. Each time we sit across from each other, his eyes tell a story that Kwara can be better. I see authentic concern and the kind that keeps a person awake at night wondering how to bridge the gap between what is and what could be.
The Apere Football Competition is perhaps the most visible expression of his community philosophy. Football, in Nigeria, is more than sport–it is language, hope and dreams rolled into one. This annual tournament goes beyond entertainment, it brings young people from different communities together.
Meanwhile, there is something brewing in his mind regarding educational opportunities for secondary school students in Share and by extension, Kwara State. On this, he has sworn me to secrecy, but I can say this; when this man sets his mind to something, it happens. He starts locally, perfects the model, then expands.
You’re still wondering who the gentleman is? Okay! Read further with me. His professional success as a Quantity Surveyor provides important context for understanding his community work. In his field, precision matters–measurement must be exact, calculations must be accurate and the attention to detail means a lot. These same principles guide his approach to community development.
He has never held political office, yet his influence on his community’s trajectory is undeniable. The good people of Share know him as someone who shows up consistently. This consistency, I must say earned him something more valuable than votes–genuine respect and trust.
At fifty, he has achieved professional success, earned community respect and demonstrated meaningful change is possible without formal political power.
As we celebrate five decades of life, we celebrate model that reminds us that the best leaders are often those who prefer to serve rather than lead.
Happy 50th birthday, QS Theophilus Ayo Apere. May your next decade bring even greater opportunities to serve, to build, and to transform the communities you love.
Shafihi Abdulrasheed
