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His Life

Biography of John Oluremi Fatikun

February 18, 2019

Engineer John Oluremi Fatikun was born in Ilesha on the 3rd of June 1942 into the family of Pa Longe -Fatikun and Mama Sayeye Longe Fatikun both of blessed memory. He was the last child of the union and one of only two children of his mother who survived to adulthood having come after the loss of 6 children between him and his eldest brother late Pa Folorunsho Longe of blessed memory as often happened in those times. As a result, his parents named him Oluremilekun, which means ‘’The Lord has wiped away my sorrow” shortened to Oluremi.

Daddy attended Apostolic Church School (where he met many of his long term friends till date), then St John’s Anglican Primary School Iloro between 1951-1957 and Council Secondary Modern School Muroko Ilesha from. 1958-1960 for his secondary Education.

Daddy worked in Wesley Guild Hospital (now part of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital) from 1961 to 1964. He married Mummy (Miss Adejoke Esho of blessed memory) in 1964 in a traditional wedding ceremony before proceeding to the United Kingdom in 1965 for further studies. Mummy later joined him in England in 1965. The marriage produced 2 daughters Christine Folashade Fatikun (Now Oyewo) and Jennifer Oluwakemi Fatikun (Now Anyanti).

While in the United Kingdom he obtained a degree in Mechanical Engineering from The Paddington Technical College and became a member of the Royal Institute of Plant Engineers. He worked in England while studying to fund his education, and after its completion, he worked in different companies in the UK as an engineer.

He also played in amateur football leagues in the UK and lived in various boroughs in the City of London. Daddy arrived and studied in England at a time when combining work with studies and social life was a challenge for an African student. It is a testament to his strength, character and tenacity of purpose with his wife, that he was able to achieve his educational goals and all that he was able to do.

On returning to Nigeria he started working in the Nigeria Motor Industry (NMI) a subsidiary of CFAO as a plant Engineer in 1974 thereby contributing his own quota as an engineer to the development of his fatherland. His first posting was Lagos and later to Kano also in the same company as a plant engineer.

 A life changing event took place in 1976 when on tour in the then Sokoto State (a few kilometres away from Talata Mafara) when he was involved in a ghastly motor accident that almost took his life. He ended up with a severe spinal cord injury. By the grace of God, he survived the injury and underwent extensive rehabilitation in Dala Orthopaedic Hospital, Kano and in specialist hospitals in France, and at the Stoke Mandeville Spinal Cord Injuries Centre in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire in England and as a result was able to walk again.

With his strong will and stoic nature, he was able to continue to work in NMI for many years with the support of his wife after the accident to train his children through university and support his extended family members.

He retired from NMI in 1988 to establish his own business specifically a heavy duty machinery hiring and maintenance and servicing company dealing in forklifts and cranes in Kano till the year 2002.

Daddy retired home to Ilesha, Osun State from Kano after the death of his wife in 2002. While in Ilesha, he fathered a son, James Olumide Fatikun.

In Ilesha he participated in the governance of the local community and philanthropy. His heart and home were open to all.  He monitored and cared for both and his nuclear and extended family all over the world. He was full of wisdom and good advice.

He went to be with the Lord in the evening of the 2nd of January 2019 after a brief illness at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile Ife.

His passion was football (especially the English League) and Music especially of the Reggae Genre with a passion for the late Bob Marley.

 He is survived by three Children (Folashade, Oluwakemi and Olumide) and five grandchildren to date (John, Ebun, Daniel Wunmi, and Jessica), as well as adopted children, nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws.

Daddy you are running and jumping and dancing now with Jesus. You are at peace.

And so we sing-    ♫Till we meet again, till we meet again, till we meet at Jesus’ feet….♫