From the beginning of his life to his last days, Pa Samuel Bademosi Adesorioye, a seasoned printer fondly called Uncle Sam, and former Senior Production Manager with the Guardian Newspapers Ltd (GNL), publisher of The Guardian, was a humble, diligent and pleasant man.
He was born into the family of High Chief Adesorioye Akinyemi and Chief (Mrs.) Adesorioye Sabannah Adewalere of Idebi Quarters, Ode Aye in now Okitipupa Local Government, Ondo State on March 23, 1942. He was raised by his grandmother, the late Chief (Mrs.) Abiye Adesorioye.
The young Samuel Bademosi started his primary school education in 1951 at the Standard Primary School, Ode Aye, Okitipupa Division of the defunct Western Region of Nigeria. In 1955 when the leadership of the Western Region under Chief Obafemi Awolowo declared free primary education, the development changed the Standard School to Methodist Primary School, Ode Aye.
In 1956, Samuel Bademosi got admission into the Methodist High School, Okitipupa for his secondary education where he sat for the school certificate examination conducted by the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) in 1962 and passed outstandingly.
He later moved to Lagos and got employed by the Lagos Municipal Council as a sanitary inspector (WoleWole). He worked there for many years before crossing over to Onibu-Ore Printing Press, Lagos where he developed burning passion for printing technology.
In 1972, Samuel Bademosi travelled to the United States of America for further studies and lived most of his life at No 157, South Eliot Walk Brooklyn, New York City.
In 1973, he attended the popular Community College in New York City, and driven by his great love for education, Samuel Bademosi further attended the prestigious Rochester Institute of Technology, New York where he obtained his first degree in Economics, and in 1976, he obtained his Master’s degree in Printing Technology from the same institution. He worked at different places, including manufacturing and security companies in the United States, and also engaged in other jobs in a bid to become self-reliant and achieve his set goals.
In 1982, on request, Samuel Bademosi Adesorioye came back to Nigeria to take a political appointment, unfortunately before his arrival, the person who was to facilitate realization of the deal, the late Comrade Oloye Abaku Idebi, passed on. This made Samuel Bademosi to consider the option of enrolling for the mandatory one-year national youth service for graduates under the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC), which he did in Lagos while living at 11, Oweh Street in Fadeyi.
He later moved to live in Ikeja while working with the Daily Times where he was greatly loved and respected by his colleagues at the Printing Department and the company’s management for his humility and prowess as a professional printer. Samuel Bademosi later joined the Guardian Newspapers Limited (GNL) and worked in the Printing Department, where he rose through the ranks and retired as a Senior Production Manager.
While working with Guardian Newspapers Ltd and resident at No 45, Oliyide Street, Mushin, Samuel Bademosi Adesorioye was a devout Methodist and worshipped at the Methodist Church, Palm Avenue, Mushin, Lagos.
He was a member of the Methodist Mens Fellowship of Nigeria. After retirement, Samuel Bademosi Adesorioye, whose mantra was Jesus Is Our Method, devoted his life to the service of God in his Abaranje, Ikotun, Lagos neighbourhood where he lived in his personal house till his last day on earth. At Ikotun, Pa Adesorioye worshipped at Methodist Church, Wonderland, Abaranje where he served as Property Steward at a time.
The great playwright, William Shakespeare says ‘Death, a necessary end will come when it will come’. Pa Bademosi fell ill briefly and died on April 14, 2023 at the age of 81.
Pa Adesorioye was married to Mrs. Victoria Mobolaji Adesorioye (nee Kuye) in 1986 and the marriage is blessed wth four wonderful children.
A great life well lived
Good Night Daddy
