To a loving grand father, thank you for teaching me about where I come from. For teaching me about my father as a child. For teaching me about the history of Nigeria. For teaching me how to use a radio. For teaching me about cars and driving. Thank you for driving us from Ibadan to Ilorin and the lovely stories about the beautiful memories you had. In all, thank you for being a wonderful teacher and loving grandfather. Miss you dearly.
The last time I spoke to you, I was so excited I could hear your voice again after three weeks. Unknown to me, the long break was a dress rehearsal for a reality that was imminent. You were either sleeping or trying to eat or being attended to by the doctor or some other thing. I insisted that morning I must hear your voice which sounded like gold to me. Now I am faced with the reality I will not hear it again except in my memories. We miss you already but I know we will miss you more in the days ahead.
Love is a scarce commodity in this generation, but you had it abundantly!
Kindness and generosity disappeared from the hearts of men for reasons I don’t know, but they flow out from you effortlessly!
You called me son very often, and you were indeed a father to me.
Yes! There was a time the devil got envious and almost soured our relationship, but because you were so loving and forgiving
My dad was a very kind and generous man, soft spoken and a complete gentleman. I didn’t really
spend much of my early childhood age with him, except when I came visiting on holidays, and the
last eleven years prior to his transition to be with the Lord when my family relocated to Ilorin from Port Harcourt. During these periods, he made his love and concerns for me very clear.
In life, some moments are so profound that they leave an indelible mark on our hearts. For me, one such moment was the unwavering dedication of my father, who recently passed. As I reflect on his life and the legacy he left behind, I am filled with immense gratitude and admiration for the sacrifices he made,
my father was a devoted Christian who served God with unwavering faith until the very end. His life was a testament to dedication, love, and sacrifice, and his influence continues to guide my actions and decisions.
Though our hearts are heavy with loss, we take comfort in knowing that he has gone to rest in glory.
Daddy was a man with a heart so pure and kind, whose love knew no boundaries.
Daddy was committed to seeing everyone around him succeed without any reservations. Your kindness touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing you. Thank you, sir for imparting into us the virtues of love, unity, humility, courage and tenacity to face life and Fulfil what God has called us to fulfill in destiny.
I’ve always felt incredibly blessed, not just for having a father-in-law, but for having someone I could proudly call “Dad” without a second thought. Calling him my father-in-law never quite fit, so in our family, we playfully settled on “Dad-Ilorin” for him and “Dad-Ogba” for my biological father; same for our Mums. It just made things easier.
If you think you’ve heard the best storyteller ever and haven’t met Daddy, think again! His knack for recalling dates and events is only outmatched by his immense love for family and community. With him, everyone’s a friend—he has a way of making you feel like you’ve known him forever.
It is a great honour and privilege to have married one of your sons, a decision I’ve never once regretted. Grandpa, you were more than just a father in-law to me, I remember vividly when I lost my own dad, just three months after my wedding. In that dark time, you comforted me with these words: “Loveth, as you always call me, your father may be gone, but you still have a father here with you.” And true to your word, you became that father figure in my life until God called you home.
Grandpa always checked on our family, to ensure that we’re all doing well.
Grandpa, you will be deeply missed, Sir, by all of us.
Daddy, it’s hard to find the right words to express the deep sense of loss I feel at your passing, yet I’m grateful to God for the long and fulfilling life you lived. You were one of a kind – genuinely loving, kind, and generous. Your heart was large enough to accommodate everyone you met on life’s journey.
You loved our family, both nuclear and extended, so dearly and unconditionally. With you, family was family, and nothing less. You looked out for us and were very proud of us. You proved that a parent can be both a friend and a parent successfully, decades before it became common. With you, we were free. You were our Father, friend, and gist partner.