One of those ‘strong-headed’ junior boys in ISI, as we referred to some at the time, it did not take long to know who Funto was – he was not easily bullied by the seniors and would put up a fight (physically) if pushed. My first days with Funto Akinkugbe. And no, we never fought!
Give it to him – ever so willing to give his ALL to help whoever and whenever. At each point of writing this tribute, I am still baffled, pained and hurt, asking myself, ‘How can we be planning a funeral for Funto?’ Awfully painful!
Fast-forward to UK days between 1992 and 1994, The Way Fellowship, which I led at the time, was gathering strength in numbers and relevance for young working students. With some of the meetings being held at Neasden, where Funto, Yemi, Segun Ademuwagun and others resided, our companionship grew.
This led to Funto putting his ever so helpful persona into the arrangements for my wedding – amongst many things, he travelled round with Lola and I in our search for the hall to use for our reception as well as putting his creativity into designing the programme etc. The night before the wedding, we had a good number of friends that had gathered to fix certain things at the hall as we got ready for the ceremony in a fun-filled atmosphere. Of course Funto and the pretty lady that Lola had mentioned to him were both there. So it was that Lola introduced her bridesmaid, Buki, and left the scene. On return from honeymoon, whilst Lola was at mum’s (their foster mum), she picked up the phone to hear the baritone voice that asked to speak to Buki, and that was how she knew things had taken off.
A year to our wedding date, bar three days, precisely on August 3, 1995, Lola and I joined others to celebrate the marriage of Funto and Buki – with Funto having determined to set a kissing time record during the event! So, apart from the psyche that we had been sold that all Ondo natives were cousins, we now became family by marriage – Lola and Buki, being foster sisters. The family bond and friendship developed further in the early days, with some Christmas ceremonies together, particularly those with mum. Funto and I always got our Christmas gift of socks from mum :)!
We remained family and friends and now this!
Literally, in July 2015, when on my return to London from Lagos, Lola asked how Funto was and if I had seen him lately, my words were; “He is very well and having the time of his life”, as we had caught up during that July at an event.
Funto is unarguably very warm and ever so likeable. He offered me the use of his office when I first started making business trips into Lagos; although I did not require it, I found that there were others with that privilege. He is willing to bend over backwards to support people in whatever way he was able to. Like Yinka and Kayode said to me; with any family function, once it has been handed over to Funto, it can be considered done.
With mixed feelings as I write this, I still ask myself questions. The only way I can now conclude this write up is: RIP my cousin, brother, in-law and friend; see you later in the presence of our unquestionable Father and Master!
1 Corinthians 15: 54-58
When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.
KOLA OLUTIMEHIN
