Pa Michael Anthony Afolabi Oyewola Adewale Adu (FCIS) was born to Late Mr. Tertulian Adeyemi Adu, of Brazillian Quarters, Lagos and late Madam Caroline Agboola Adu (nee Folakan) of Oke Igbeyin, Abeokuta and Ofada on 13 June, 1939. he lost his father at a very tender age, who died in 1941. He was then brought up by his uncle late Pa Thomas Adetayo Adu (Known as papa n'parlour)
He attended St. Peter's (Faji) primary school, Ajele, Lagos , finished in 1954 and then proceeded to Eko Boy's high school for his secondary education that he completed in 1959.
He first worked as a striker (Navy) from 1960-1961 and from 1961-1962 at UAC General Foods, Lagos as an Assistant store keeper. In June 1962, he left the shores of Lagos for the United Kingdom to study at the North Western Polytechnic, Camden Town (which became the University of North London and is now merged into the London Metropolitan University). After competing his studies, registered as a CCS, CIS with the Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA) becoming a fellow later in life (FCIS).
In 1963, he was joined from Edinburgh by his then secondary school girlfriend Miss Josephine Abayomi Bandele Nuga after she completed her professional nursing training and they got married at St. Anne's Catholic church, Vauxhall, London on 10 October, 1964 (interestingly the year his adoptive father died). The marriage was blessed with 2 boys; Mr. Martin Adeyemi Adu and Mr. Stephen Adekunle Adu .
Pa Michael worked at Westminister as a store Keeper and later as Store Account supervisor. before returning back to Lagos, Nigeria on August 7, 1969 on the now retired ship - MV Aureol.
Back in Nigeria, he joined CFAO General Motors in September 1969 as Accounts Supervisor Foreign Exchange. And his dear wife came over in December of the same year. Two more children were born to them, this time girls: Ms Theresa Adesola Adu and Dr. Mrs. Helen Adeyinka Adu-Omoseni. He left in 1972 for a shipping, clearing and forwarding company Alraine Nigeria Limited in Apapa as manager-in-training where he worked variously as Account supervisor, Airport Manager Kano, Clearing Manager, Assistant personel manager, Senior Warehouse manager and Administrative Manager and retired in December 1994.
In his own words, there are 2 major things he has had to overcome in life, an accident in 1981 where he had to have a leg amputated and the sad passing of his dear wife Mrs Josephine Abayomi Bamdele Adu (nee Nuga) in December 1999.
Pa Michael Adu was loved and respected in the Adu family at large and his knowledge of family history was uncanny, names, dates and all. Many outside his immediate family would gladly adopt him as their uncle, father and friend due to his easy going manner. He also grew to become a community leader within the estate he lived in, always lending an ear, and offering needed advice.
Being a devoted Catholic, he was very involved with his local church at St. Charles' ; An associate of the St. Paul's seminary, Patron of the St. Anthony society, Patron of altar servers and even Chairman of the church council.
He is survived by a brother Mr. Charles Babalola Pedro, a sister Mrs. Mojisola Adams (Nee Pedro), 4 children and 6 grandchildren having lost an older brother Chief Benedict A. Adu (2013) and sister Mrs. Elisabeth Asabi Adu (1990)
He rests and will be sorely missed.