As I write this, I still quite haven’t come to terms with Chief Ogedengbe’s transition but I am happy that he is in Heaven awaiting to welcome us all. A man of principle and steel but with a gentle way. He had a very distinct ‘salt of the earth’ quality that I have rarely ever seen and it shows by how loved he was and how many lives he has deeply touched. One word that would always pop into my mind when I saw him was “Peace”. His presence always brought a calming impact. His attentiveness when relating with you made you feel valued and honoured. You wanted to spend time with him. He has established a wonderful legacy through his wonderful family and I pray God will strengthen and keep all of you at this time In Jesus Name. Those who had him in their lives were blessed
Although I will miss the welcoming smile, for now, I look forward to seeing it again.

The answer I got from your personal phone was a great shock that we lost you was unacceptable to me until the next day. As we now accept God’s verdict in calling you back to Himself we thank God for your life on this earth. We knew you as a great gentleman, simple, accommodating and jovial. Your intuition to recollect your early days in elementary school and junior secondary school in Ikare always made you excited that urged to contribute towards the building of the new cathedral which is greatly appreciated by your old friends, congregation and Management of St Stephens Cathedral Church Ikare
May the soul of Olumide Ogedengbe rest in perfect peace Amen.

W A O!!! Fellow Classmates, what has befallen us in less than 24 months? (Jan 2022 – Dec 2023): The loss of six illustrious Members of our class set, who have been called to Glory; starting with Taiwo Taylor (Feb 2022), Olusola Ogunsola (Oct 2022), Adebowale Obadeyi (Jan 2023), Stephen Alabi (Feb 2023), Adeyemi Bolodeoku (March 2023) and most recently, Olumide Ogedengbe (Nov 2023).

It has been a period of tragedy for us. May the few of us remaining not see such a period again. AMEN.

Olumide was born on the 10th day of November 1939. He attended St. Stephen Primary School (1945 – 53) and Victory College (1954 – 55), both in Ikare, Akiko, Ondo State, and then joined us in Ibadan Grammar School in 1956 till 1960. As a student, he was strong academically, well-behaved and amiable. Like his illustrious father, Chief Alfred Obatuyi Ogedengbe, the 3rd Western Regional Minister for Public Works, Ibadan (1956 – 59), he was humble, diligent and competent. These admirable qualities must have been responsible for him being honoured with the Chieftaincy Title of ODOFIN OF IKARE KINGDOM.

Since the formation of the Lagos Branch of our class set, Olumide has been a persistent motivator of the Branch until he breathed his last. He hosted the last meeting of our class set, just last August (2023) and his sudden death is a real shock to us all. His persistent, motivational effort will be sorely missed and linger on in our memory.

Olumide, you were a good specimen of homo sapiens. Your legacy of diligent service shall be upheld by those of us who remain. We pray that there will not be another period of rapid depletion in the few remaining members of our class set. AMEN.

May your marvellous soul Rest in Perfect Peace. AMEN.

Your demise came to me as a rude shock. Just like rain water, tears fell from my eyes. I was cold, and dumbfounded for a while. How I wish, I was only dreaming. There were a lot of questions unanswered. Everything that happen in the world happen as the time our Good Lord chooses. He sets the time for birth and time for death and in all conditions, we have to give praises to God Almighty.
Brother “OLU” has left a very Big Vacuum that is unique within the Family, Nieces, Nehhews, Cousins etc especially for Akungba – Akoko son’s and daughters in Lagos. For me I will personaly miss you at our annual ‘Xmas dancing together at Ikoyi Club 1938. You died a Christian death; your exit was very peaceful. Our prayer is that God Almighty will console all of us. Sleep well our beloved Brother Olu.
May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace. IJN (Amen).

Joe Oluwole Oludare (Family Member)
The Baba Ijo , St James African Church, Akungba Akoko. Ondo-State.

My dear Uncle.
It’s hard to accept that you’re no longer with us. I miss you everyday.
I wish I was able to visit you from America but I’m grateful that I was able to talk to you on the phone.
I remember when you, Aunty and the rest of the family came to America a few years ago. I was so happy that I got to visit you and have the best barbecue with my family. The memory of that day will stay with me forever.
You’re forever in our hearts. Rest in peace Uncle Olu.

Dear Uncle Olumide,

I will never forget your cool and calm demeanor at all times. You exemplify the clarity that comes with wisdom. I never saw you angry for once, which showed how much control you had over emotions.

You are a true born leader who was always there for us all. A beacon of light who led us on the paths of righteousness.

I’m truly grateful to be born into your clan of greatness, the “Ogedengbes”. You have told us to go out and do great exploits; and we will, so help us God!

Thank you Uncle, for continuing to watch over us from the “great beyond”!

I would say Uncle Olumide definitely had a scientific streak to him. A curiosity to explore things. This was embodied in a study room he had at his house, where he would tinker with gadgets. From clocks, to phones, to old VHS cassette players. There was a quiet inquisitiveness he showed towards things. An interest to know. Not pushy at all, in this quest, but focused.

Sometimes, when I was little, myself along with family, would visit him and Aunty Bomi, at their house. Everyone there would naturally have something to say, about some thing. Uncle would first listen and observe, chime in here and there, diplomatically of course, and just be your general even mannered host. Now during all of these different conversations floating around this visit, there usually is a topic brought up, that might not seem that important. Something that is said and then forgotten in a few minutes, overshadowed by another talking point. Something he may have acknowledged, and even commented on, but is still a sidekick to the other conpelling matters. But then afterwards, and this could be months from the day of the visit, but the next time you meet again, whilst everyone is talking, Uncle Olumide will get your attention, pull you aside, and then ask, with a very interested, engaging tone, “So what about that thing you mentioned the other time you were here?” As a child, I always interpretated this as just his interest in discussion. But looking back now, I think it was his interest in people. A quality, I think, inspired his other qualities…and is something that I believe “people”, shall remember him by

Rest Well Uncle Olumide

To my dearest Uncle Olu,
The grief we feel is tempered only by the impact you had on us as we (your nephews) grew up as cousins to your sons. The fond memories we have are a salve to the pain we feel at your loss. My earliest memories ring in my ears the sound of your unique name for me (“Lek Lek”, sometimes ‘Lakeside’), and how special it made me feel as a child. You had a way of making each of us feel special when your attention was with us. I add to that the esteem my brothers and i held for you growing up. You knew who you were and were never afraid to live life on your terms; never forgetting the simple small pleasures that made life worth living: family, routine, a newspaper with your cornflakes,ice cold milk, sardines for breakfast, talking and laughing with your family. You were always the mildest mannered and most humble yet lively presence in a room. You were always caring, always thinking of and checking in on everyone. We will never forget your example and we promise to do our utmost to honour your legacy in how we live our lives and love each other as your family – and how we hold ourselves as men. We miss you already…till we meet again ; Rest Well sir.

Uncle Olumide,

To say I was shocked after hearing the news of your sudden passing is an understatement. My being shocked, goes beyond the fact that you were not bedridden in hospital for some time, nor that you hardly ever got ill, but more so the fact that even though you were 84 years old, you looked and even acted a lot younger. Well, this is surely a gift the Ogedengbes have been blessed with. Definitely in our DNA!! I recall telling you this on your 80th birthday and we laughed about it. In fact, it will not be far fetched if one thought you were in your sixties. Perhaps it was as a result of your calm attitude in every situation.

You were extremely calm, almost like you lived your entire life filled with freedom from worry. You were easy to relate with, always happy to see others, you were just CALM and COOL. This is worth emulating.

I will surely miss you but I thank God that you lived to a good age and I thank God more that you were not in hospital battling pain.

Adieu Uncle. Till we meet again.

Sanmi Ogedengbe

I remember being very young and thinking how similar uncle Olu looked to my grandfather Paul Adegbulu. There was a calmness around him and he was always observing what was going on around him. His spirit was soft natured and he was so thoughtful. Uncle Olu would always take the time to make me feel seen and heard, sending messages to check I was okay or just saying “Hello”.

His emotional intelligence meant he could understand a person even if they didn’t say a word. Then there was his humour, always joking but always grounded, down to earth….Salt of the earth” they would probably say in Manchester, one of his favourite places.

Through his smile you could always see a warm heart. I’m sure he will make the next chapter in his spiritual journey full of smiles!

It’s very befitting many of the words used to describe Uncle O, gentle, calm, kind etc. Uncle O was such a comforting figure for those in his presence.

I’ll remember especially in my childhood and teenage years any time that I would come to Nigeria Uncle O would usually be the first familiar face to me as the person to pick me up from the airport and personally drive me back to the family house. He was always caring ensuring that I was okay and had food to eat. It’s funny the only time I can remember Uncle O ever getting angry was in the Lagos traffic…in the most aristocratic accent, “Bloody hell do you not know how to drive”. Ha-ha! It used to let me know what country I was in.

Uncle O was also the person that helped me when I was younger over my dislike of dogs. I remember the days in Surulere and in Norman Williams, him bringing me out and encouraging me to play with 2Pac, Meteor, Monica, Bingo, Yuppie and co. [hoping I got the dog names right!]. He was a man that loved to help and deeply cared. He would also take time to explain things to me and answer any questions I may have had as an inquisitive young boy! 😊

In later years I remember on his trips to the UK, he would always call to check up on me in town and to also ensure my wider family and friends were okay. He remembered all of them by name and would never fail to check in.
Just a thank you to him for being such a gentleman and loving man. Rest well sir, your presence will be sorely missed!

Uncle O, my heart is so wounded by this loss. You have been a consistent presence throughout my life from my earliest memories. As a child you called me ‘Mighty Atom’ because I was small, but full of energy… and I am sad to think I shall never hear it again pass your lips. Nevertheless, I can never forget the advice you have given me, about life, about relationships and conducting myself in marriage. I’ll miss putting together movies and music for you and our discussions about who was best Action hero. I am also so grateful to you for my cousins, Toyosi and Damilola who are a testimony to the kind of man you were, for they too are generous, hardworking men who love their families as dearly as I know you loved yours. Your legacy is alive in them and secured in their children and the generations that will follow. Rest well Uncle O,You truly were a wonderful soul, and I pray that God will reward you in heaven.xoxo

Dear Uncle Olu. Thank you for being a great uncle. Thank you for always reaching out to wish me a happy birthday even though we lived thousands of miles away. I always appeeciated that. Thank you for being a great big brother to my Dad. I know how much he loves you. It’s sad that you’re gone and you will be truly missed. But I know you are with the Lord now. Rest well Uncle.

Things change. It’s just the way of the world. Over the years that I saw Uncle that fact was no different.

Sometimes it was the circumstance. A visit to my cousin’s, Toyosi and Dami, as kids. The occasional Christmas at a relatives house. The occasional birthday party. A family gathering at Grandma’s. The whole Klan in attendance.

Sometimes it was us as people and where we were in this thing called life, with all the experiences that are part and parcel of the deal. Highs. Lows. Ebbs and flows.

But in all this constant shifting and changing one thing always remained. Constant. And that was the man. Cool, calm and always collected. Always with a warm welcoming smile. Speaking in that soothing mellifluous manner. Appearing never to age, like a painting frozen in time.

Some change is good. Some change is sometimes necessary. But I’m thankful for some things that stayed the same. I’m thankful for Uncle. Cool, calm, always collected. Always with that warm welcoming smile.

We’ll miss you Uncle. Rest Well.

You were always gracious, thoughtful, and loving. Peaceful, positive, and tolerant. You were always listening, supportive and optimistic. We love your wry sense of humour and ready smile. We cherish your constant patience and kindness. You are painfully missed but have earned eternal peace.
With our love and condolences in your memory, and with deepest sympathy and love to all who feel your loss, especially our cherished Bomi, Toyosi, Damilola and their extended families. We think of you all often and cannot wait to embrace with you, share your grief, reminisce and be thankful.

With all our love,
Diran, Otto, Nina & Ellie x(x)x(x)x

Rest in heavenly peace, Uncle Olumide. Your legacy will live on through your family.

From your niece,
Adeva x

Nothing can be as easy same time as difficult to write praise about a man who did everything with grace.
Uncle or Dad as I fondly called you towards the end of your journey.
As early as my memory could take me you have always being in between those titles for me. You gave me so many 1st only fathers are entitled or responsible for. My 1st Bicycle, teaching me how to ride a bicycle, my 1st pair of soccer boots,always ready to kick around the ball even in your suit. My 1st set of cravat tie!
At every point in my life you had the knack to relate and understand me without making me feel fear but respect a ward will relate to an older person. You made me feel like we were friends despite the age gap even as early as I was a toddler.

For us all you have shown how to be graceful in all activities of man.
You were indeed a gentleman to the core. You always seem to be able to connect with every human interaction you had regardless of their personality or societal status, a rare gift in place where we come from.
You seemed to know how to make the pauper feel like a king and with grace humble the king reminding us all of our human connection.
Father I can go on an on, you were the mentor and true template for calm within an aggressive society.
Most of all your kindness didn’t stop you from expressing your discomfort which never lasted as it started. Never pretentious and quickly forgiven recognizing to err is mere human nature.

Odofin of Ikare, another graceful title bestowed on you, it took a king to recognize a king in you need I say more. Odofin, Uncle, Dada, 007 , Oga I no Dey hungry? lol! You had some many names! You are missed already and you will be till we cross path again in grace!

Sleep in grace and wake up in grace and victory before the Almighty!

Love you Love you Love you Pa!

Dear Chief Ogedengbe, my adopted father-in-law by proxy, we already miss you, your ever warm smiling reception, your easy company, stimulating and refreshing conversation, your lack of artifice, your gentle confidence that comes with knowing who you are and what you are about. You brought to this world a family to be proud of and I am grateful for your life… God has called you home ahead of us to your rest and reward but what blessed hope I have in knowing that it’s not the end of the journey… until we meet again, thank you for the impact you left behind. May we run well with the baton you have passed on…

We met when he married Bomi, Gwen’s cousin, and thus became my cousin-in-law. We related so well that we became family. He supported Bomi in reaching the top of her career as a thorough bred academic and, Professor of Gynaecology and President of the West African College of Surgeons.

Olumide, as he was best known, was accomplished. He had character; was amiable; unobtrusive; soft spoken; caring and peaceful. He was unlikely to be found unnecessarily engaging anyone. And was, therefore, a delight to be with. Our family will forever remember this gentleman and our cousin-in-law per excellence.

Our hearts go to Bomi and their children at this hour and every hour. We pray for succour for them and their wider family and friends.

God grant Olumide eternal rest in the bosom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and The Almighty God.

Gen Ike Omar Sanda Nwachukwu GCMG CFR COM psc +mni fniia & Mrs Gwen Tonyesia Nwachukwu OON
On behalf of The Nwachukwus
Lagos
6th December, 2023.

A comet passed on, an uncle, & best elder brother, I never had.
You received me into your illustrious family, as 2nd “father” of my daughter, married to your son.
Uncle, trust you, always full of surprises, you pulled another stunt & final surprise by your unannounced, unanticipated, albeit blissful exit, two weeks after your birthday.
You were a gift to mankind, in & out Thanksgiving month.
A perfect gentleman & epitome of OMOLUABI,
* with gift of the garb & eloquence (ORO SISO);
* respect to all,across ages & social strata (ITERIBA).
* never harshness, but firmness, fairness & subtlety (INU RERE)
* stood for truth, word is bond, & kept to professions ethos (OTITO).
* role model in character and gentility (IWA ati IWAPELE).
* bravery & decisiveness after deep, thorough & critical thinking (IGBOYA ati AKINKANJU).
* brilliant, hard & smart worker, & seemed to defy aging & biological processes (ISE ati OLOPOLO PIPE).
* humility & honesty personified & fountain of wisdom (LAAKAYE).
Ayokunmi, you were the kind of man we pray God to give us, these times, described in words of JOSIAH GILBERT HOLLAND.
*God give us men…
….
As a trailblazer, you have only gone ahead of us.
Gone, but never to be forgotten.
We shall meet again, on that glorious resurrection morn, & can we still indulge in those vintage wines & cognac?.
Olumide, Didun ni iranti iku olododo
Sun Re O, oko Olasurubomi, baba Toyosi, baba Damilola.
Odofin Ikareland, Adieu.
Requiescat In Pace.

Whenever I think of you Uncle Olumide, 2 things are at the forefront. Your smile and your gentlemanly demeanour. I don’t think I ever saw you frown or raise your voice in anger. I will miss you Uncle till we meet again.

My darling Brother,
my one and only ‘Oga a no dey hungry,’ what I always call you .I Love you.
Thank you for being such an important part of my life.
Thank you for being there when I need you the most.
Thank you for being such a good brother no matter what I did.
Thank you for being you, as you transition to the great beyond, you will always be in my heart.
Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure, you are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure.
Were I to choose again, I will still choose you as my brother.
I look back to my childhood, you were always there for me, coming home from work with fruits which you alleged was given to you by Christ to be given to me.
You had my back when my other brothers bullied me.
When I grew up and had a great challenge, you were there to support me giving me a sizeable amount of money without the knowledge of any other person.
I could always discuss anything with you, you were not just a brother but a best friend.
Little did I know as we talked several times towards the end that I would not see you again.
Our loss is heaven’s gain, heaven gained a saint and I’m sure heaven rejoiced as you were welcomed by the Twenty Four Elders to join the Saints Triumphant.
Rest in perfect peace in the bosom of Christ.
Olumide, omo owa, omo ekun, omo Ogedengbe agbogungboro ati pa pa l’oju ogun. Omo a yi ma fo, sun re o.
We love you, however, God loves you best.
Eniola Ogedengbe
😇😇😇 ❤️ 💖

There are many things that I may not have known about Chief Ogedengbe, but one thing for sure is that he was a very cherished man. The impact of his departing has affected many, myself included. His presence will be missed but the joys of knowing that he is forever happy now in eternity is a calming thought. He has left an impressive legacy behind including his children, my sister included and his grandchildren. My prayers go out to the family at this time. And may his memory live on forever. Now and forever.

GOD, give us men!
A time like this demands
Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands;
Men whom the lust of office does not kill;
Men whom the spoils of office can not buy;
Men who possess opinions and a will;
Men who have honor; men who will not lie;
Men who can stand before a demagogue And damn his treacherous flatteries without winking!
Tall men, sun-crowned, who live above the fog In public duty, and in private thinking;
For while the rabble, with their thumb-worn creeds,
Their large professions and their little deeds, Mingle in selfish strife, lo! Freedom weeps, Wrong rules the land and waiting Justice sleeps.

Chief Ayokunmi Ogedengbe will be greatly missed . As an Akoko man he was a perfect ambassador for his people and projected the best of our society.

He cared greatly for our community and contributed greatly to its development and wellbeing. His most recent contributions towards the reconstruction of the seat of the Akoko Diocese “The St Stephens Cathedral” in Ikare has greatly helped with the rebuilding and his spirit of philanthropy has inspired others to give as well.

My family, the church congregation and I pray that you Rest in Peace and that your family can find solace in the great memories of you tested with them.

Chief Mrs Kehinde Ajayi
(JP Iya Gboluwaga of St Stephen’s Cathedral Ikare Akoko)

There is a Latin saying, “Vox populi, Vox Dei”: The voice of the people is the voice of God. The Saints themselves among other things are canonised based on the testimonies of the people. There is something very special about someone whom people in close contact with invariably admire and eulogise. My good friend, Chief Olumide Ogedengbe. is the man. May the good and compassionate God hear our prayers and tributes and grant Olumide eternal rest in His Heavenly Kingdom.
We had only known for three and a half years as next-door neighbours but we spent more time together than friends would spend in a decade.

We are about the same age and when I would be comfortable on first name basis he would call me Sir. I usually reciprocated with Sir or Chief. We shared the old with nostalgia and the new with rejuvenation. Olumide, soft spoken, was as humble as a dove but as wise as Solomon. In Our conversations, he would explain some Yoruba words to me and I would explain some Igbo proverbs when I used them as explatory aphorisms. More often than not he would give me the Yoruba equivalent.
He was charitable. He not only gave but also would acquaint you with every opportunity that would benefit you. Whenever he travelled workers in the close neighbourhood would know that Daddy, Father Christmas, had come back.

A happy retired corporate guru, Olumide enjoyed his retirement peacefully. His beloved wife, Bomi, as busy as a medical Professor would be, still took delight in personally preparing his favourite dishes notwithstanding they have a retinue of domestic staff. He cherished the care and company of his children and grandchildren who occasionally came, sometimes on surprise visits, from overseas. He liked riding his bicycle for exercise and pruning the hedges. Occasionally, when I came out and we started conversing over the fence, that’s it for that day.

Chief Olumide was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Estate’s Residents Association where he brought his wealth of experience to bear. Though he had choice cars in his garage, he would ride to the Residents Association meeting on his bike. At other times he would walk to the meeting on foot with Bomi. I suppose the togetherness reminded them of their courting days.
On Sundays, Chief would not miss going all the way from Lekki to Ikeja to worship and meet old friends. He had an equilibrium in his life style. He was the type of Christian we are admonished to be – Be the Bible other people read.

Nobody wants to lose a friend like that. I mourn my friend, Olumide, with a broken heart but the word of God says we should not mourn as we have no hope. There is life eternal on the other side of the bridge. Olumide has been called to glory. I pray God to give his beloved wife, Bomi, his children and family the fortitude to bear the loss. May the earthly loss be Heavenly gain in Jesus name.
Sleep well, Dear Olumide, Chief.

Gregory Ezeokafor

.

Daddy daddy!! Oh wow, I’m going to miss you so much, can’t believe this is it. I have so much to say but words will truly never be enough.
You were so young at heart and also so accommodating to me!! You taught me so much about football including the famous Hand of God story,haha.
We used to watch Manchester United games together over the weekend, I remember how we used to eat pounded yam once a week and your utter dislike for Okro, or the times you use to hype me and call me sissy Eko when I was going out.
I’m so glad I got to experience you in this life time.You’re in my heart foreverrr & I love you!
Rest in perfect peace daddy.

It’s still like a dream that you’re indeed gone. A man with an aura of perfect gentleness. Longevity is in your family and we thought it was just a mild sickness. Sleep on uncle olumide. God loves you more with great assurance that you’re in a place of absolute peace resting in God’s bossom. May God grant the entire family the fortitude to bear this loss.

My Uncle Olumide, I am always grateful for the way you opened up your home and heart to me when I came to Nigeria for my service year with The National Youth Service. You were meticulous- your clothes were never, ever rumpled! Your pants and trousers never had a wrinkle on them!
You loved eating yam anytime of the day.
It is so ironic that I ended up with a husband from Akungba!
I will cherish our time together watching Big Brother and your comments about how ridiculous the cast was.
I will miss your random WhatsApp messages just saying hello or sending a rare pic of my mom, Aunty B and even my Grandma.
A true gentleman man indeed!
Rest well, Uncle.

The Perfect Husband for my dearest cousin, Bomi.
Father and friend to his sons, Toyosi and Damilola.
Quiet and Unassuming.
He took everything in his stride, never complaining.
Because he was always at  peace with himself, no one could ever accuse him of anything unbecoming.
He knew the God he served and radiated the love of God in his life.
Odofin, agbogun gboro. Goodnight.
Rest in Perfect Peace.

During this incredibly difficult time, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Please accept my deepest condolences. I pray that you find strength, comfort, and solace in the love and memories you shared.

Psalm 34:18 reminds us, ‘The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.’ May you feel God’s presence and experience His peace that surpasses all understanding in the midst of your grief.

Dear Heavenly Father, we come before you with heavy hearts, mourning the loss of our dearly departed. We lift their soul up to You, trusting in Your mercy and grace. May his soul find eternal rest in Your loving embrace. Comfort and console Chief Ogedengbe family and friends during this time of grief. Surround them with Your love and grant them the strength to face the days ahead. We entrust him into Your care, knowing that Your love endures forever. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.