T/002: A Portrait of the Pioneer Touchstonite, By Tunde Ojo

“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 T/002, 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 50’s.

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 ’90’s, 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.

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.
Visit tundeojo.org for more posts.

#character #leadership #entrepreneurship #touchstonelagos #workculture #dayoomodare