By Ayodele Abere
“The Memory Of The Righteous Is Blessed”.
Dad, I always appreciate God for the privilege of those joyful moments we shared with you as father and children. Being a legend, your life was a blessing and your memory a treasure. You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure.
It is not always a good experience for one’s parents to die prematurely, especially when the children are not yet of age to take responsibility by themselves. My siblings and I were victims of such.
By God’s grace, I can say we were born with silver spoons, but the demise of my parents almost put an end to the luxuries we used to enjoy right from birth. We all passed through odious situations, which made us unsure and scared of what the future held for us as their plans to take us to remarkable point in life were shattered due to their untimely deaths. Personally, I had lost all hope because I thought my education would be truncated without knowing that they didn’t die intestate.
My dad, the late Mr. Raphael Toyin Abere was born on August 28,1940 to a humble family of the late Pa Olorunsusi Ogunleye and Madam Famadewe Abere at Okebedo Quarters, Ilawe-Ekiti in Ekiti South West Local Government Area of Ekiti State. He had his elementary Education at St. John’s Primary School, Ilawe-Ekiti, between 1946 and 1953. At the end of his elementary education, he went to Lagos, where he worked as clerk in Adele’s Law chambers and later with His Royal Highness, Oba Adele of Lagos. He left Lagos for Yola, now Adamawa State Capital, in 1958 to work as secretary/typist for the then Action Group (AG) party. In 1960, he came back to Ibadan where he was employed by the Western Nigeria Development Corporation and later joined the Fire Brigade in the Western Nigeria Ministry, where he resigned for his academic pursuit in1964.
His quest for more knowledge and further education, took him to the United Kingdom, in February 1964, where he enrolled at North-Western Polytechnic, London, for Chartered Secretaryship, and he came out in flying colours in 1967. He also enrolled at Henson College of Technology, London, for Cost and Management Accounts course, in September 1967, where he also graduated with a very good grade in1969. At the end of his studies in the UK, he returned to Nigeria in 1970.
On his return, he worked with some organisations such as Northern Textile Manufacturers Ltd, Kano. He was an Accountant of the company from December 1970 to June 1972. He also worked with Arewa United Stores Ltd, Kaduna as an Accountant/Company Secretary from July 1972 to December 1973.
He worked as District Accountant, National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), which was later changed to Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), Lagos from January 1974 to June, 1976.
He left NEPA to join the Royal Exchange Assurance Nigeria Limited, Lagos as Deputy Chief Accountant from October 1976 to September 1977, the very year he was admitted as an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). He joined Johnson Wax Nigeria Ltd, Lagos as Financial Manager/Company Secretary from October 1977 to June 25, 1982, when the cold hands of death came and snatch him away from us in a very painful manner.
My parents were loving, caring, meek, respectful, humble and generous. They committed themselves to the service of God Almighty and humanity throughout their life times.
My dad was one of the most distinguished and well-educated elites of Ilawe-Ekiti. He was very prominent and influential. During his time, he was an ebullient community leader and an international figure of high repute. He was the glue that kept the whole family, and a rallying- point for people in general because of his stupendous achievements, generosity and philanthropic nature. Being a jovial and gregarious man, he offered to be amiable to everyone that came his way.
He impacted greatly in the lives of people, but only few reciprocated it. He was a catalyst for positive change. Unfortunately his mission and vision for the family, the people of Ilawe and Ilawe as a town were not able to see the light of the day due to his premature death. No wonder that the whole town stood still as the entire people of Ilawe, both old and young were in sombre mood the day his remains were brought from Lagos and committed to mother earth. He was a brilliant mentor and unforgettable hero.
My beloved dad , even though you were short-lived, the precedents you laid for us are strictly followed. I together with my siblings will continue to cherish those good values in you, which include honesty and impeccable characters. All you had in life was by dint of hard work. You maintained unblemished and outstanding records of achievements in every area. You remain our pride even at death.
May you continue to rest in the bossom of the Lord until we meet on the resurrection day. Adieu!
