Adeniji Adaralegbe was my father, and there are so many things I want to say about him. He was my hero, my role model, and he showed me all the things that make a man a man. Growing up, my dad and I were inseparable. I remember always sitting on his lap and watching music videos with him in the home office. Our favorite one to watch and listen to was Danfo Driver. As I started to get older School started to get serious, and my dad was always there and trying to make sure I did well in every class and worked hard at everything I did. He would always say, “do it and do it well”, and I listened, I was getting all A’s in school, he was so proud of me he framed my transcript, took it to work, and put it on his desk. 

My dad saw my potential and sent me to a Boarding School in England to join my cousins, Ife and Sope Adaralegbe, and study abroad. Upon my return, he then made sure I got into a great High School and gave me the opportunity to take college courses through the school to get my associate's degree. With me being the oldest and going to a different school to my siblings, my dad would drive me to school and pick me up. Every car ride felt like I was taking a test, he would ask me about homework, upcoming tests, how confident I felt about my work, and constantly reminded me to communicate with my teachers more. I always knew what my dad wanted for me was a success so if he ever told me to do something I did it with no doubt that the outcome would be in my benefit. My dad was a very intelligent man and I saw it, and I’ve always wanted to be just like him and I know he wants me to be better. 

My dad wanted the best for everyone and a person like that should never be taken for granted because tomorrow is never promised. My dad was generous and kind. He helped whoever he could when he could. He even bought a house to help out some of his employees who were in hard times. My dad believed that family was the most important thing in this world next to God, he loved God. Spending time with family was second to that. My dad worked a lot and worked very hard to achieve all the awards and success he had, and this is what made family time even more important to him. We were a very close family, my dad had many nicknames and different ways he used to call us when we were in different rooms, I remember always hearing him call me sometimes it was “Jopsie” sometimes it was “Jopsicola” sometimes it was “Jope Marie” and he even had a whistle that sounded like my name and I always knew when he was calling me. My siblings' nicknames were, for Jaiye “Jaiye Rose” or “Jaiyeskie”, for Niji is was “Niji Dean” or “ Mr. Niji”, for Sewa it was “ Sewa K” or “Miss Sewa”. Sundays were reserved for church and for family time, every Sunday we went to church and he loved when we all wore our matching Nigerian apparel. I can still remember all the Saturday evenings and Sundays after church, he would turn on the music and call us all to the living room and we'd all join him and start dancing together in the living room. We even had mini talent shows with Me dancing, Sewa and Jaiye singing their original songs and Niji (III) trying to breakdance. These times I enjoyed the most.

 My dad rarely liked going to the movies, but when we all did, he was notorious for falling asleep an hour into the movie. My dad loved Mexico, something about it reminded him a lot of Nigeria. He took us all the time and named me the family translator when we went. He was so funny and charismatic to be around when we were in Mexico. I can still hear him telling me “Jopsie help me tell them…” “Jopsie ask them where this is…”, I loved it, he made me feel helpful and smart all the time. We would walk down the beach everyday and get souvenirs and play Afrobeats and Techno, and even King Sunny Ade. When we were growing up he took us to Nigeria, as he knew it was important for us to know where we came from, and he's taken us all over the USA and Europe. He wanted us to see and experience different cultures and see the same beauty he saw in the world. He cared for all of us a lot, I remember as a little girl if I was sick I would go and tell him and he would say “awe pele my dear”, and as I grieve now I hear him say it more than ever. He had so much love for his family and that is what makes letting him go so difficult.

My daddy was a strong, powerful man.

He was so strong he fought for three long years to be able to see me and my siblings grow.
He loved us so much he did not want to say goodbye. I love my daddy so much and I know he loves me too.

One of my favorite memories about my dad is when he used to rub my head and he would magically make me fall asleep. There is no place like my daddy‘s hands to put me to sleep.

I also loved when my daddy would come home, he would pick me up and turn me around like a helicopter. 

He was the best daddy ever and I will miss him forever

Junior, my junior brother.....
You and I are only a year apart, but you had so much respect for me that one would think I was many years ahead of you.
It’s difficult to think of you in past tense, you had so much life within you that I knew for sure you would come through this ordeal. But, it was never meant to be.

You and I enjoyed a great relationship after you came to live with me in Chicago. We shared so much and became inseparable, you had the best relationship with Olu, you took him as your older brother. It didn’t matter that you were a guy, you and I shared a studio apartment and shared a vehicle so we were almost always together.

You were a selfless person, you worked two jobs to buy the best suits for Bayo and his best man for Bayo’s wedding. When Remisola came along, yon again lived with us in Des Moines, Iowa. You spoilt her so much, that you would rebuke me if I smacked her or she cried for anything.
You were always a go getter, trying to be your best in everything you did. You moved to Phoenix and excelled at what you did, sales. You had the best training and put it to great use. God favored you and you shined and continued to shine.

Your nieces and nephews were your pride and joy. You loved each and everyone of them and celebrated them.

I recall numerous times you would visit and wonder what was available to eat. You loved my cooked beans and efo riro, and I was always very happy to cook for you. I called you Junior ( re-re-mi). While you were on your sick bed, I would visit and admonish you to pray and ask for mercy and would talk about our good times ,you would cry and cry, and I would wipe your tears.
I truly looked forward to the day we would celebrate your home going after being in the hospital for so long. I knew for sure it would be a great celebration of thanksgiving, little did I know it would never be. I’m pained because I knew you had so much to tell me but could not communicate. I’m encouraged that God showed you mercy and convinced I will see you at the feet of Jesus.

You were full of life, I pray your legacy is transferred to your children. We promise to make sure your story is kept alive and you are never forgotten.

Haaaa! Junior here’s to you, till we meet to part no more by the grace of God. My consolation is we will all die we just don’t know when.
Sun re aburo mi atata that left us way tooooo soon.

It's hard to find the right words to express my thoughts about my brother Adeniji Adaralegbe Junior in the past tense. He was the 5th child out of the 7 children God blessed our parents with. I am the 6th and his younger sister with one year age difference between us. Junior was remarkable in so many ways. He lived his life to the fullest and touched so many people during his time here with us. I remember the many valued and meaningful roles he played throughout his life. He was not just a brother, but a shoulder to lean on, a protector and a friend by choice. He was a family man, and an entrepreneur. Junior, always exudes confidence and charisma, he was like a magnet that many gravitated towards which is why he had so many friends. His exit has left me numb and distraught.
He loved his family profoundly. He was a devoted husband, son, father, uncle, brother, and friend. Jnr was a comfort and source of joy to us. I remember how he had a way of making our mother smile on many occasions and even helped with her personal care for years despite his busy schedule until she went to be with the Lord. Junior was full of life, he was very neat, had a penchant for expensive things, he also loved to dress well and was a very benevolent and caring person, very selfless to a fault. He was a pillar of support, guidance, and protection always. He was happiest when he was surrounded by his family and friends. His devotion to his family was second to none.
Many will miss his friendship as he was the type you can count on, he was dependable even if it is for just a piece of simple advice, a listening ear, a shoulder to lean on, he will be there ready to help and to make you laugh. He was not complacent and never settled for less, mediocrity was not a part of him. Junior spoke out when it really counted; his strong principles did not allow him to let something wrong stand unchallenged. He always followed through on commitments. He never let anyone or anything stand in the way of making things right, anytime we had disagreements he will call me the next day and apologize. We can only imagine how much more he could have accomplished in his life if not for the ailment that cut short his journey in life.
Junior was always happy to share his expertise with anyone who would listen, he worked hard and consistently, he never stopped learning. He led by example as he mentored his nephews and nieces including his own children being an inspiration to many.
Junior was an astute businessman who was always aware of the business environment and had the insight to recognize opportunities and challenges and the ability to realign his employees and company resources to deal with change as necessary. He wanted everyone around him to succeed. He loved to support and encourage, he always found time to attend youth basketball games even when his own children were not on the team. 
I am grateful for the time we spent together and that I was able to care for him during his illness at the hospital from April 2018, we were all expecting a positive outcome.
Junior and I were very close, from childhood even until his ailment we talked almost every evening about so many things, his life was fulfilling with a wife and four vibrant children. It's very hard to say goodbye. The pages of his book will never be closed. His legacy lives on in the lives he touched positively and the children he left behind.
Adeniji Akinboyejo Jnr, my darling brother, we will miss you, but we will always remember you with respect, admiration, and love. You enriched our lives and my world will not be the same without you. I am consoled that you are resting in the Lord and we will meet to part no more. Sun re o. Junior egbon mi atata.

GONE TOO SOON!

To be candid, bringing myself to writing this is an herculean task.
Hmmmmm! Junior, my darling brother! Still hoping it's a bad dream but then reality hits me that this is real no matter how difficult that is to digest or accept.

Junior, a huge family person...super caring, ever watching out for me while we were growing up and even as a married woman.
My passion and dexterity today in Mathematics stems from him. He painstakingly, thoroughly taught me the rudiments of the subject .

He was the popular one amongst us, gregarious with a very large heart made of gold. Mummy's boy! He loved our late Mum to a fault .
Too many beautiful memories that would forever remain indelible. 

Junior my precious darling, this is heart wrenching and still unbelievable .
You have indeed left a huge vacuum. A colossal loss to us all.
You are resting finally, free at last .

Adeniji Jnr. I pray we meet on resurrection day. Love you profoundly.

Olusola

Junior's second daughter, Adejaiye Rose, at her school's talent show.

Junior's third child and only son, Adeniji Dean III, at his school's talent show.

Junior's third daughter and last child, Adesewa Kay, at her school's talent show.

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NIJI AND SANDRA ADARALEGBE

NIJI AND SANDRA ADARALEGBE