Adebayo Salami, Foluke Daramola, Other Nollywood Icons Pay Tribute To Jide Kosoko At 70th Birthday

• Salami, Odule, Yinka Quadri, Elesho, and Saheed Balogun, amongst others, shower encomiums on Jide Kosoko on his 70th birthday.

• Salami urges Kosoko to continue with the commendable qualities he has exhibited.

• Saheed Balogun discloses the resounding slap from the celebrant that reset his acting prowess.

Eko Hot Blog reports that veteran actor Adebayo Salami, popularly known as ‘Oga Bello,’ Yinka Quadri, and other Nollywood icons gathered to pay tribute to Prince Jide Kosoko as he celebrated his 70th birthday on Sunday, January 14, 2024.

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The festivities commenced with a thanksgiving service at Embrace International Assembly Church in Ikorodu, Lagos, before moving to his residence for a grand reception.

Prince Jide Kosoko celebrating during the church thanksgiving

Colleagues and protégés from the entertainment industry took turns to express their admiration and gratitude for the iconic actor’s life, which they deemed worthy of emulation.

Oga Bello, his best friend and brother, led the tributes by expressing gratitude to God for the journey both of them had experienced, highlighting the significance of reaching the age of 70.

He wished Kosoko a long life and asserted that their children would outlive them.

Adebayo Salami greeted by Papi Luwe at Jide Kosoko’s birthday celebration

The veteran actor said, “First and foremost, we have to give thanks to God for a day like this because becoming 70 years old is no small feat especially with the kind of journey Jide and I went through. The journey of Jide Kosoko till this moment he’s 70, we really need to give thanks to God.

“We will do the one greater than this. You will live long on earth. No matter how long we live, we will never bury any of our children. They will rather outlive us.”

Prince Jide Kosoko, the celebrant

He also disclosed that Kosoko would never admit he’s an island of knowledge, adding that despite the good things people were saying about the celebrant, some had said some negative things about him which he is aware of.

In his tribute, Oga Bello emphasized the 70-year-old’s positive attributes, describing him as versatile, amiable, and someone who never harboured negativity.

He urged him to discern the truths from the lies and deceitful remarks, encouraging him to continue with the commendable qualities he has exhibited.

Quadri, referring to Kosoko as his boss and brother, shared the bond they developed since 1985, expressing gratitude for the familial connection they have maintained over the years.

HRM Oba Abiola Kosoko, the Oloja-elect of Ereko, Lagos and Yinka Quadri during the church thanksgiving

“Prince Jide Kosoko, I greet you. You’re my boss. We got to know each other around 1985, with Otunba Adebayo Salami. Since then, I’ve been like a little brother to them, and they have always taken me as their younger brother. It’s not just that, what we’ve shared, some siblings can not do more than that. I knew his mum when she was still alive and she took me as her son. He also knows my parents and they took him as their son too.”

Quadri described Jide Kosoko as having a pure heart, praising his quickness to make amends if he ever said anything hurtful. He highlighted the amicable nature of their relationship and how Jide’s family and his own mutually embraced each other.

Quadri acknowledged the uniqueness of Jide’s family, given the historical context, and thanked God on his behalf for the remarkable journey of 70 years.

“Some people were wondering why many children when his children were being called during introduction. It’s understandable because his mother only gave birth to just two children, and his elder brother did not give birth to any child before he passed away, so it’s not bad if he has many children.”

“For what God has done for him, we need to thank God on his behalf.”

Adeoye Adewale fondly called ‘Elesho’ reminisced about the memorable times they’ve celebrated together and expressed optimism for many more joyous occasions in the future. He prayed for Kosoko’s longevity, hoping for a remarkable celebration when he reached 95 years.

Adeoye Adewale ‘Elesho’ paying his tribute to Prince Jide Kosoko

He said, “Prince Jide Kosoko has celebrated with me, and today I’m here to celebrate with him, God’s willing, this won’t be our last celebration. You will live long to celebrate 95 years on earth, and as you wish, you’ll celebrate many more years.”

Similarly, actress Foluke Daramola praised Kosoko for being a worthy role model and father to young actors in the industry, especially to her, while praying for long life and prosperity for the celebrant.

Saheed Balogun, another prominent figure in the Nigerian film industry, paid a heartfelt tribute to Kosoko, emphasizing the profound impact the veteran actor has had on his career.

Balogun acknowledged Kosoko as his mentor and guiding light, stating that in the Yoruba film industry, the celebrant stands as one of the best, if not the best.

He also shared a personal anecdote about his journey in the film industry, highlighting how Kosoko played a pivotal role in shaping his acting career and that of others.

“When I came to Lagos from Kwara state, Prince Jide was the one who gave me a lead role and amidst big stars, I was told to threaten them, only to get frozen and uncle Jide gave me a resounding slap that reset me since then. So when I’m called your external son. It’s because I take after you in acting,” Balogun said.

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“I remember Uncle Jide meeting Yomi Fash Lanso for the first time and giving him a lead role to play, which shot him to stardom despite not acting in any movie before then. There are many more Uncle Hide has helped become great. I’ll always remember your quote ‘ it is only you that can make you, what you want you to be, by following the right person at the right time.’ I adore you, sir. May the Lord bless you,” he concluded.

The heartfelt tributes added to the warmth and joy of Prince Kosoko’s 70th birthday celebration, creating lasting memories for the iconic actor.

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