*I was delayed for five years to meet my wife – Iledare
By Teddy Nwanunobi
Professor Omowunmi Iledare’s wife, Mrs. Joyce Olajunmoke Iledare, on Monday night, revealed that she met the Professor of Petroleum Economics and Policy Research when she was only six years old.
Mrs. Iledare, who spoke during an ‘Evening Dinner with PWI@70’ at Jake’s Place, Silver Bird Galleria, Abuja, added that Iledare ran her down with his bicycle when she was a kid.
The physiotherapist, who said that she was the hard-to-get type, further disclosed that the petroleum economist proposed to her when she was 14 years old.
“Let me say that I already met and knew my husband as a kid, when I was six years old. I met him on the street, and he ran me down with his bicycle. Initially, the first day I saw him (Iledare), I never wanted to have anything to do with my husband then, because I was the hard-to-get type of woman.
“He proposed to me when I was 14 years old. I didn’t accept his proposal. I was a born again, or had accepted (Jesus) Christ when I was nine (years old). Since then, I vowed never to marry someone who was not a born again.
“He was so persistent. My younger sister advised me to give it a trial. I decided to yield to his pressure. It was then that I discovered that he loves God, too. Actually, what attracted me to him was his love for Christ. Because I have always wanted to marry a man that loves Christ.
“From there, we became friends. Today, we are blessed with four kids, and they’re all abroad with me,” she said.
In his vote of thanks, Iledare stated that he was delayed to meet his wife.
“With dreams, one can always get what one wants.
“You see, ‘I was delayed for five years, so that I could meet and marry you’, I always told my wife.
“All my mates we’re entering the secondary school, when I was entering Form One,” the former President of the United States Association for Energy Economics (USAEE) said.
He maintained that people can make a difference, no matter their levels.
“You don’t need to have money to add value to people,” the former President of the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE) added.
Valuechain reports that the dinner was put together by some of the students Iledare either taught or supervised.
Iledare, a past president and a fellow of the Nigerian Association for Energy Economics (NAEE) clocked 70 years on Monday, September 6.