“Hiring someone with both competence and character is ideal. But if you must choose one, choose character.”
A Legacy of Firsts
On June 1, 2025, Dayo Omodare turned 60. But beyond the milestone age was a celebration of life, values, and a professional journey that helped build Touchstone Limited, our glocal brand strategy and communication consulting firm, from the ground up.
As the first staff member we ever hired, Dayo’s staff number was T002, second only to mine. More than a number, it symbolised his foundational role in a vision that has evolved, grown, and impacted many.
This is more than a birthday tribute. It is a portrait of character, resilience, and shared purpose.
When Dayo called to invite me to his “60 hymns at 60” church service, I teased him about getting his age wrong. “60 or 50?” I asked, half joking. He laughed and said his sister, ten years older, had asked the same thing. He could easily pass for a man in his early 50s.
Tall, with a military-like presence and a radiant ebony complexion, Dayo’s laughter is warm and frequent, contrasting with his steely resolve. But his defining feature isn’t physical. It’s his character — unwavering, unbending, and unmistakably authentic.
Foundations in Faith and Printing
I met Dayo over 40 years ago at Foursquare Gospel Church, Yaba. He was an apprentice printer at the time, full of youthful energy and grounded in Christian values.
In the early ’90s, my dear friend Kehinde Lawanson and I co-founded Dove Publications to promote Christian literature in Nigeria. We hired Dayo to manage operations. Kehinde and I initially disagreed on my choice, but I stood my ground. I knew I had found someone special.
Eventually, Dove was laid to rest, and my wife and I started Touchstone with ₦50000, money I received from my time at First City Merchant Bank. Dayo joined as our pioneer staff in print production. He stayed with us for fourteen demanding, transformative years, helping to shape not just the business, but the culture and character of Touchstone itself.
Dayo Omodare, a Touchstonite
Built to Last
Before we could afford computers, our creative process was manual. We would give art direction, and Dayo would dash from Yaba to Shomolu, Nigeria’s printing hub, to oversee the design process on one of the first Apple Macintoshes in the area.
Sometimes, the staff would vanish from their seats when they saw him coming. His insistence on excellence was overwhelming. But he wore it like a badge of honour.
That same pursuit of excellence showed up again at his 60th birthday celebration. The printed programme was so exquisite it deserved to be framed — a true collector’s item. With Dayo, the son of a butcher never settles for bones.
One day, Dayo reached his breaking point. He said, “I’ve realised you can’t be satisfied with anything. If I keep trying to meet your standard, I’ll collapse and die.”
I don’t recall my exact response, but it was probably Churchillian: “We are not called to do our best, but to do what is required.”
That moment taught me that even the strongest people need room to breathe, and even perfectionism must learn restraint.
Character Over Titles
Dayo speaks truth to power with a rare kind of boldness. When people praise his courage, he often responds, “Do you know what telling the truth has cost me?”
His son Ore, in his tribute, called him “stubborn.” And he can be — but it’s the kind of stubbornness that refuses to yield to compromise. Dayo cannot be led by leaders who are insecure or lack integrity. He doesn’t follow titles, he follows values.
He met his wife, Tunrayo, at one of the presses we worked with. When she asked me about him, I gave my endorsement, then teased Dayo that he was hired for work, not romance. They got married, and I had the privilege of being there.
Together, they have built a family that reflects the same values we cherished at Touchstone: faith, excellence, loyalty, and grace.
After fourteen years of outstanding service, Dayo caught the entrepreneurial bug. It’s hard not to at Touchstone. He launched Print Biz, his own print production company, and we have had opportunities to collaborate on various projects since.
Dayo’s journey proves something I’ve come to believe deeply. You don’t need Harvard, Stanford, or Cambridge to be great. You need focus, skill, resilience, teachability, and most of all, character.
A Final Word
Today, we see character failure everywhere — in marriages, in the marketplace, even in ministry. That’s why Dayo’s story stands out. He is proof that success doesn’t depend on what you have, but on who you are.
I celebrate a believer in our shared vision “to dream, to create, and to excel.” A man who made me believe his success was mine, and his failure mine too. And I told him so.
Here’s to Dayo Omodare, the man who wore T/002 like a badge of honour.
A true Touchstonite, in whom there is no guile.
Thanks for reading.
If this story inspired you, feel free to share it — or better still, take a moment to appreciate the “Dayo” in your life or organisation.
This is a good read and a worthy tribute I can testify to. Thanks for this, Sir!
Thank you so much for celebrating a dear friend and for sharing too. The words are stirring and touching. Particularly your last words “take a moment to appreciate the “Dayo” in your life or organisation.” – we often take this for granted.
God bless you Reverend
Good one.
Celebrating those who add value makes them more valuable.
May the tribes of Dayo Omodare increase.
A very good read and hearty birthday to Mr. Omodare.
I feel humbled while reading and asking myself, ‘Do I deserve this?’ Ordinary, just doing what I felt was right. To God be all the glory.
Thanks so much, Mr. Tunde Ojo, the real coach forever.
Blessed be God!
Reading this piece reminds me of the excellent spirit that permeated the then “Little Road” enterprises. Dee-Iy Limited was next door to Touchstone for a while. A business in a field that was and has since tied itself to the core of Touchstone.
This piece succinctly describes the man Dayo, a humble gentleman indeed.
We join many others to celebrate the grace of God upon Dayo who I thought could only be turning 50 now and not 60. Reality rings that it’s diamond jubilee already.
Hearty Congratulations!
Dayo, you are very much appreciated as a professional and a brother in faith! May the Lord continue to prosper the works of your hands and satisfy with many years in good health in Jesus’ name, Amen! God bless
Yomi Agiri
Many would have written a piece like this often at the demise of the recipient. I am glad Dayo is alive to read this eulogy himself. It’s not posthummus . I say this always ” give them their flowers when they are still alive” and not trying to arrange the bouquet on the casket. This is what egbon Tunde Ojo ( I call him the wordsmith) has just done. Happy birthday Dayo. It just being a terrific ten six times in a row. May this new decade usher in times of fulfilment and rest. May your tribe increase
What an amazing testimonial of a great man!
As an holder of T003, I attest to the warm nature of Dayo. He is an extremely dependable and loyal. In my 6 years of working together with him, I experienced a man who could share his last kobo with you. Very kind and most times unruffled no matter how bad the situation is?
For many years, Dayo has been my forerunner, I clocked 30 few weeks after him and same for 40, and 50 and now…
Congratulations Pastor Dayo Omodare. You will celebrate 70, 80,90 and many more in good health and sound mind.
Good afternoon Sir,
Thank you for sharing this beautifully written tribute to Oga Dayo. As always, your words carry both elegance and depth. The piece was moving, inspiring, and quietly confronting in the best way.
Two powerful takeaways really stood out for me:
1. “We are not called to do our best, but to do what is required.”
That line hit me with the weight of responsibility. It pushes beyond effort into the realm of purpose and obedience. Is this quote original to you, or borrowed from someone? Either way, it has lodged itself in my thinking, especially in a work culture where “trying” is often mistaken for “delivering.”
2. In your highlighted “3Ms” (Marriage, Marketplace, and Ministry), you captured something sobering and urgent. I too, have become increasingly troubled by how often we witness character failures in these critical spheres and in almost all spheres to be honest. The breakdowns are real and they’re costly. Oga Dayo’s story is refreshing because it offers a counter-narrative: one of integrity, consistency, and quiet impact.
I also couldn’t help but admire the way you told the story, part history, part tribute, part moral compass. It reminded me of the kind of legacy that matters most: not flashy success, but enduring character.
Thank you again for this gift of words and wisdom. E pe fun wa Sir.
Warm regard
Dayo Omodare can also be described as the “midwife” that Birthed Panoplia.
Olutoyin My Lovely Wife had a mandate to encourage Christian Leaders as part of the assignment for our home. We started by letter writing to individual leaders that we know. It then increased and move to typography machine. Again the demand increased and we needed to upgrade to print. We discussed with Tunde Ojo and Touchstone accepted to do the job for. Beautiful design was made and expected the print. That was the Meeting Point of Panoplia and the Relentless Dayo Omodare. Following up the Panoplia made us realize that our dreams of printed Panoplia rested on Dayo Omodare Touchstone. Even when we submitted late Dayo will even At night or we hours deliver the job.
Of course design changed , pages increased and some times change articles that has been previously submitted. Dayo Omodare kept delivering.
When Panoplia became Digital each Quarterly Edition is with Nostalgia of Dayo Omodare.
We join others to celebrate your steadfast and reliable character with your humble wife. I know God blended your strong goal getting attribute with a humble and always smiling wife. Always greeting Dayo’s friends and associates with genuine respect.
We celebrate you Dayo as you attain the Milestone age of 60.
With Touchstone’s kind permission we will reproduce the Tribute Touchstone has published in the next edition of Panoplia.
Thanks again for being you Dayo Omodare.
With Love and Appreciation from Panoplia.
Olutoyin & Adewumi Alabi
What a great and inspiring accolade on a worthy personality especially in the area of integrity and excellence which is rare in this clime,Dayo.
Your ramrod character is worthy of emulation.
Congratulations on these traits of yours and also on attaining the diamond anniversary.
Wishing you all the best in all ramifications on the sixth floor and beyond in Jesus name.
Many thanks for your effusive congratulations to Dayo.
This line resonates with me the most
“Do you know what telling the truth has cost me? the kind of stubbornness that refuses to yield to compromise. Dayo cannot be led by leaders who are insecure or lack integrity. He doesn’t follow titles, he follows values.
Great capture of an exceptional nature
While still alive is good to celebrate someone
Thank you sir.
Pastor Dayo Omodare The Great…. May you shine brighter! Happy birthday sir
Amen. Thanks, Ibrahim.
I’m deeply touched by this tribute. Rev. Tunde Ojo, thanks for celebrating excellence, Industry and loyalty.
Mr. Dayo Omodare, thanks for exemplifying what Christianity is all about.
My wife and I celebrate this icon. You are a jewel of inestimable value and a beacon of hope.
Happy Diamond Jubilee Birthday Celebrations. May God reward you more than you bargained for, in Jesus name. Amen.
I appreciate your thoughts, sir. Following Christ must be life-transforming. If not, our faith will be nothing but mere Christianity.
I also know bro Omodare personally — we’ve had to collaborate on some projects too. His loyalty, integrity, humaneness, candour, and sense of duty stand out unmistakably. What you’ve written here captures the man I’ve encountered over the years: principled yet approachable, exacting yet empathetic. He brings both gravity and grace into every space he steps into. Dayo is one of those rare people whose presence reminds you that character is still the best credential. This portrait is deeply moving — a well-deserved tribute to a man who never just filled a role, but elevated it.
Character, the best credential.
This is a powerful submission.
The Chronicle of a Coach
If someone is qualified to profile Mr Omodare from faith and professional angles, Mr Tunde Ojo is over-qualified. He is the right man for the job. If the celebrant is shopping for a competent contributor to his biography, I believe Mr Ojo will do a very good job.
Like a good coach knows the strength of his players and how to field them, this piece tends to place Mr Ojo in the league of Lius Enrique (the man who just won European Champions League with Paris Saint German), Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and many other greats.
Mr Omodare seemed to have experienced a demanding boss in Mr Ojo, the man with penchant for excellence. That’s a good takeaway.
With Mr Ojo judging Mr Omodare’s birthday printed programme as a masterpiece and collector’s item, it showed value transference. Like the Yorubas will say, ti ewe ba pe lara ose, a do ose. Maybe it’s safe to say that one of the evidences that Touchstone happened to man is the excellence the work of his hands reveal.
Mr Dayo Omodare, T002, I join others to celebrate you. In the good book, there was a man whose character and competence took to the palace. From there, he was set in an exalted position. May your commitment to ethical business practice and hard work continue to deliver you outstanding results and
great rewards.
A blessed birthday to you, Mr Dayo Omodare.
Thanks, Muyiwa, for this highly engaging treatise. You have succeeded in introducing me to myself. I humbly accept your well-crafted, kind and encouraging words for Dayo and my humble self. But I am not surprised because you have been one of the most self-effacing concept and content writers that we have worked with. Thanks for being a pillar. Thanks for being one of our Co-COO at Touchstone. Thanks for keeping the dream alive.
Thanks so Dr. Dotun.
Dear Dr. Dotun,
Your testimonial is as inspiring as it is challenging. I am glad you have experienced the Dayo Omodare work culture and ethos.
This is an article from a wordsmith, to which I attest, as Dayo and I have been friends for 40 years.
You are downrightly correct. He celebrated your friendship on his 60th birthday. You are his closest friend that I know.
Thank you for being a role model sir @Daddy Dayo Omodare.
I cannot agree more. Thanks.
Wow, excellent writeup as usual. I must add however Rev that you keep exceeding the excellence threshold with every succeeding writeup. I actually thought I knew Bro Dayo Omodare very well until I read this writeup which unveiled a new Vista of the beloved brother, whom I thought I had known forever. Congratulations Bro Dayo, for reaching the sixth floor of life. Not many of us in Nigeria can boast of that feat in these days. Many more happy returns of the day in good health, sound mind and more grace to soar even higher to your destined greatness sir. You’re welcome and pay your dues promptly to our Egbon Kehinde K Lawanson. Cheers.
Thanks a million for your comment. There`s much more to Dayo than what this brief write-up could capture. This was just a glimpse of his persona.
Powerfully captured. Bro. Dayo Omodare is an embodiment of resilience, excellence, faithfulness and integrity. I agree with your submission about character and competence, rare commodities in our present generation. Bro Dayo posses these great virtues and have been deploying them in all the years I’ve known him.
Cheers to a man of our great God who enables us to walk in the steps of Christ.
More grace to you sir for this tribute to a worthy ambassador of all that is good and beautiful.
Thanks for your encouraging words. You can tell. You have known Dayo for years.
Reading this piece reminds me of the excellent spirit that permeated the then “Little Road” enterprises. Dee-Iy Limited was next door to Touchstone for a while. A business in a field that was and has since tied itself to the core of Touchstone.
This piece succinctly describes the man Dayo, a humble gentleman indeed.
We join many others to celebrate the grace of God upon Dayo who I thought could only be turning 50 now and not 60. Reality rings that it’s diamond jubilee already.
Hearty Congratulations!
Thank you, Ma. Dee-Iy Limited was our first “landlord” on Little Road, so to speak. Thank you for accommodating us during our early beginnings when we were more of dreamers than anything else. Thank you for supporting us still, even till today. We are still dreaming . . .
A very beautiful and moving tribute to an authentic human being. I know Dare through Touchstone and indeed attest to the fitting description and all adjective employed to ‘paint this portrait’
Wish Dayo Omodare, many more beautiful years on earth in good health. grace and swag, amen.
Thanks. You nailed it. Dayo Omodare is a simply amazing.
What a deeply moving tribute. Mr Dayo Omodare’s journey captures not just professional growth but a rare commitment to character, faith, and excellence. In an age where speed and scale are often prioritized, this reminds us that quiet integrity still shapes legacies that last.