Prof. Aina (Ayanna) Olubukola Adeogun, a Professor of toxicology, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan has eulogized her father, His Eminence, Primate Dr. Gabriel Akanni Adeogun (late) for contributing immensely towards making her what she is today.
Aina made the commendation on Tuesday, 25th May 2021 during her father’s burial ceremony.
The university Don revealed that her father was the one who taught her contentment in all things and how to give with a large heart.
She said “It is difficult to comprehend that my Dad is dead. How do I accept the phrase “The Lord giveth and taketh away” again? First it was my mother, now my father, this is too devastating for me. I feel empty my best friend, Broda Gani, father, brother, gist partner, the one who gave me the uncommon confidence and strength to face life and the world with dignity, with my head held high in all situations?
“How do I forget parents who taught me contentment in all things and giving with a large heart? How do I see a father who taught me bluntness and embracing the price of truth with dignity as just a memory? Life kicks you at your core sometimes and this is one that I can never forget.
”My father, my best friend, my darling, the one who filled all the void in my life. You cannot become a memory, you cannot become a past, you are always in the present and future as long as I live.”
She eulogized the father for believing in girl child education in spite of numerous pressures on him not to send her to school when they were passing through doldrums.
“I can never forget your sacrifices, they were a lot; times you had nothing but still gave all; times the world dealt you a blow for protecting younger colleagues and their families by standing by the truth, when you had to choose between providing for us and walking to and fro from work every day, you choose the latter.
She acknowledged the role of the father when she delivered a Faculty of Science lecture in 2018. “I was proud to have you, my father and cheer leader, who believed in me and saw the diamond in the rough, standing up proud and being recognized with misty eyes because you reminisced on how far we had come together.”
“Death leaves heartache that no one can heal…Love leaves a memory that no one can steal…” Olarewaju Adeogun, a son of the deceased expressed,” she added.
His Eminence, Primate Dr. Gabriel Akanni Adeogun, slept in the Lord on Thursday, May 13, 2021, aged 82 and was buried on Tuesday, 25th May after a Church service held at Agbara Adura Evangelical Church, Oke-Abetu, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The burial had in attendance dignitaries, political bigwigs including the Ondo State governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN; intellectuals and personalities, including church leaders in and within Ogun State and the entire South West geopolitical region of Nigeria.
