According to the Holy Bible “The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.” So it was for Pastor Joseph Ajani, as family members, friends and personalities from all walks of life have panegyrised the life of their father, husband, grandfather, brother and friend, who died on 30th December, 2020.
Pastor Joseph Osuolale Ajani transited to glory at the age of 83 and was buried on Thursday, 28th January at his residence, Adagbada Arola Layout, Beside the Bethel Apostolic Christ Church, Apete, Ibadan.
Late Ajani was survived by children who are successful in their careers; grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Rev. Abiodun Adesina, charged every attendee at the burial ceremony to serve God as Ajani did, noting that only death is certain in this life.
Rev. Abiodun Adesina while giving his sermon
He said “Baba had gone to meet Jesus, so will all of us like Baba Ajani will go and meet Jesus. This may be the last opportunity for every to decide where he or she would spend the eternity, Heaven or hell?”
In a separate interview with CEOAFRICA, the Children, daughters-in-law, family members, ministers of God, community members described late Pastor Ajani as a wonderful, loving, caring, accommodating and disciplinary father.
The first son of Baba Ajani, Professor Emmanuel Kolawole Ajani, the Dean, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, University of Ibadan, said his father was “a wonderful man, caring husband and loving father to his children.”
As a Yoruba adage says ‘Mother is a gold, while father is a mirror,’ Prof Emmanuel acknowledged baba as indeed a mirror to his children.
He added that his father set many examples in term of selflessness, giving without looking back for any benefit, adding that he was many things to many people in a very excellent way.
Professor Emmanuel Kolawole Ajani, the Dean, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, University of Ibadan in chat with CEOAFRICA
He revealed his father as a lover of education, and the only legacy he had given to all his children.
He said “Our father had always told us not to expect any inheritance from him despite the property he had. He did tell us that the only inheritance he could give us was investing into our education.
“Despite the limited resources that he had, he made sure he trained everybody in the family. In fact there is no one without a university degree, even Ph.D.”
“I have seen the beauty of investing in education, investing in human capacity, and training your children. That’s the legacy I’ll keep to remember from him. I will also train my children to any level they want in life and ensure that they have a good education.”
“When you have that, you train human resources, you can acquire anything. So that is the thing I will always remember him for,” he added.
Also, one of Baba’s daughters, Mrs Bola Akintunde who acknowledged his attributes said “my father was a wonderful and loving father. Despite the fact that he is 83, we still want him to be alive. My father was a disciplinarian, an encourager. I love him because he is a good father. If I still want to come again to this world, I will want to come through him”.
Mrs Bola Akintunde, Baba's first daughter
His 5th child, Olukunle Ajani, added that “Baba had been a wonderful father to all of us. He made us who we are today.
“He was kind in his lifetime. He would tell us that the only thing he could give to us, his children was to go to school. The gathering of people at the burial ceremony was a show of whom baba was,” he noted.
Olukunle Ajani
Mrs Emmanuel Oluwaseun Folake (Nee Ajayi), the last born of the family also described Baba as “a caring and loving father. No word to qualify baba. He was a confidant whom anyone could run to when passing through hard times. Baba showed us the way, showed us how to serve God and believe in Him.”
Mrs Emmanuel Oluwaseun Folake (Nee Ajayi)
Immediate younger sister of Baba, Mrs Elizabeth Oluwakemi Adegoke equally described her brother as honest, kind, and also a father to her.
She disclosed that baba tolerated a lots; she prayed the family members would always remember him always.
Baba's younger sister, Mrs Elizabeth Oluwakemi Adegoke
The daughters- in- law of Baba also expressed their gratitude to God for giving them Pastor Ajani as father-in-law, and the life baba lived.
One of the daughters-in-law, Mrs. Delight Olukunle Ajani said “I want to thank God for knowing him as a father-in-law. I see him as my father because he played a vital role and made me forget I am not from Oyo state.
He made me forget I am from Abia state. He embraced me as his own daughter. He encouraged and supported me. He never lost hope in me even when I was looking for the fruit of the womb. Baba is a man that is full of faith; he is a liberal and jovial man.”
One of Baba's daughter-in-laws, Mrs. Delight Olukunle Ajani
Also, Adeola Rachael Ajani, wife of one of the sons, said “I can only say I miss daddy. What baba used to tell me is ‘Adeola, the only inheritance you can give your children is to send them to school so that they will not be a liability on one another. And he would also encourage me to work hard and prayed God would help me.”
One of Baba's daughter-in-laws, Adeola Rachael Ajani
Mrs Ajani Ayomide, another daughter-in-law to baba said “My father-in-law was a caring and loving father. He was a father that truly feared God. He was a prayer warrior, a disciplinarian. He was a father-in-law every wife would want to pray to have. We can say he was a role model. I can also say baba had seen, fought and conquered.”
One of Baba's daughter-in-laws, Mrs Ajani Ayomide
Fellow Pastors, community leaders, brothers and sisters to late Pastor Ajani paid their tribute to the deceased and gave testimonies on how baba’s lived his life on earth, disclosing that he was a lover of God who served God and always meditating on the Word of God even till death.
In their testimonies, they said “he was a lover of God who served God and always meditating on the Word of God even till death.
He loved prayer. He is a man of faith. Baba had served and now, gone.
The burial which was strictly restricted to family members had friends and others joined via online due to COVID-19 pandemic.
