Pioneer editorial board member of BRANDPOWER magazine and renowned writer, wordsmith, theatre practitioner, public relations and advertising professional, Olawale Babajide Obadeyi fondly called ‘Wally Jay’ by friends and admirers took his final sudden breath on Saturday June, 30, 2018 after some hours of sudden ill-health. He was aged 56.
A man of many parts, Obadeyi wrote the column ‘Testicles’ for BRANDPOWER for several years. He hailed from Igbore, Abeokuta, Ogun state. A man of many parts, he attended African Church Grammar School, Abeokuta for his O levels before proceeding to Baptist Academy, Obanikoro, Lagos for his A levels. In 1992, Obadeyi graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English Studies, majoring in Literature, from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife after first obtaining a diploma in Dramatic Arts at the same institution.
He began his working career at the Guardian Newspapers as a reporter cum writer, covering the arts, television and movie industry. Wally J moved to advertising and joined Angels Communications as a copywriter. After a short stint at Afprohand Nigeria Limited, he joined Bluebird Communications as head, Copy, rising to the position of Creative and Operations Director from where he left to start his own outfit, Maximargins Communications Limited.
Olawale Obadeyi was multi-talented as he was both a writer’s writer and an actor’s actor. He was also an ebullient and irrepressible communicator, acquitting himself eloquently as a voice-over artiste and master of ceremony. He wrote scripts for many stage, television and radio programmes including Mosun’s diary and The Loya Milk Show as well as a book “TONGUES OF THE FORECOURT” on Yoruba music, folklore and witticism which is about to be published.
Nigeria has lost a literary pearl in the passing of Olawale Babajide Obadeyi, our dearest ‘Wally J’ who was laid to rest at Atan cemetery, in Yaba, Lagos. BRANDPOWER and Nigerians will sorely miss him. May his soul rest in peace.
Obadeyi is survived by his wife, Tonia and children.
