The Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has disclosed that he became a father at the age of 19.
He stated this while celebrating his daughter, Adeola, on her 28th birthday.
The Ooni, who stated that parenting was not to be compared with a game of squid, revealed that he had his fair share of the challenges associated with parenting as he became a father at the age of 19.
Taking to his verified Instagram page, the Ooni wrote, “Parenting can be a big dream with unique challenges. It is never a game of squid. I have had my share of its beauty as a young father who was blessed with the most precious daughter at the age of 19. It was a huge responsibility for me, and I relied on a leap of faith and determination.
“The journey with my daughter, Princess Adeola, was incredibly filled with uncertainty as a young father, nonetheless, I guided my heart with all diligence and girded my loins for all the challenges.”
Reminiscing the past, Ooni revealed that having a child at a young age made him live through pockets of circumstances that called his integrity and competence to questioning.
He said, “I equally realised that being a single parent to a daughter in an unfamiliar footprint can be a major shift in human experience and a daunting journey as you need to help your child to navigate day-to-day social situations, complex feelings, and developmental changes that life prescribes.
“Profoundly, life taught me to exhibit an abundance measure of resilience, compassion, determination, and above all empathy which my daughter sought from me.”
He added, “She is and will always be a huge blessing to me and life successes. I celebrate you, Princess Adeola Ogunwusi, for being the epitome of my strength and dignity. Your tenacity, doggedness, and unshakable optimism to be the best in life are unarguably lifelong lessons that I cherish in you.”
