My Swimmer

I feel so grateful to have had you as a father. I remember growing up was so interesting that anytime you came to pick us from school, you never came empty handed. There were always some goodies for us (sons), and you always had a smile on when handing them over. I can remember the packs of Wall’s ice cream, Nasco wafers (I so much loved the banana flavour and Daddy knew and so he handed it over to me immediately out of the mix, leaving the strawberry and vanilla flavours to my brothers, Bode and Kolade, who both aren’t particular about the flavours. They just enjoyed it. But I loved the banana flavour and Daddy always went the extra length to get it for me.
There was also Suntop, Okin shortcake biscuit, Smarties, or he would just walk into NTA, which borders our school, A.D.R.A.O International School and get some steaming hot suya sticks.
Oh Daddy! Thank you for the treats. Every occasion was special because Daddy ensured they were. Christmas and Easter would see us at the Amusement Park at Apapa and later to Kingsways, Marina to have the train ride to see Father Christmas. Afterwards, we would visit Leventis stores and shop. He so knew how to spoil us even after our mom had just reported to him of a misdeed by one or all of us collectively, Daddy would still give us that treats regardless. It usually got Mom so mad. He teased me Baba Jonbolu (meaning paper weight because of my poor feeding habit). It was his own way of encouraging me to eat well. He was a fine gentleman and enjoyed the fine things. From his Pierre Cardin shirts, French suits to his Van Heusen shoes, my Dad was stylish. You won’t see him without his sun-glasses and he had plenty of them. Daddy loved sports, especially swimming and football and he would boast about his swimming skills, sharing details of him defeating his friends and siblings at contests from the beach front at the Federal Palace hotel to Tarwa Bay. He told us so much about his conquest at the sport and sometimes challenged us (children) to a swimming contest which we always declined for fear of losing, hence I nicknamed him, Swimmer.
Daddy was always fun to be with and he loved to celebrate you and your successes. I miss you Dad, and your grandsons will miss your ever impactful presence anytime they visited or called you.
Forever in our hearts my dear Swimmer.

Prince Olushola Mosunmade Shadeko


My Charming Prince

Prince Charles Adegboyega Shadeko was a lovely father and an awesome man. Always full of life and very interesting to engage.
My fine boy Daddy was stylish and cute with his ever-dark hair punk.
He was erudite and vast on all subject matters. Ever ready to learn. I trust my Dad, he knows what you are talking about even if you were an astronaut that lives on the moon. He knew how to make strangers feel welcomed and at home. He was best at making you put on a good smile though it seems you are about to face your worst fears, I assure you Daddy would paralyse your fears with humour instantly. As I prepared to leave the country for Canada soon after my wedding, my Daddy was already missing me and the feeling was mutual. I had told him we would chat regularly and do video calls to bridge the distance, but that didn’t do much to assuage him because Daddy wasn’t so much a techy person. He was old school. He wouldn’t even have an ATM card for fear of electronic fraud. He would always walk into First Bank banking hall with his cheque leaflets for his transactions,
But I made sure we did; we had lots of video calls with Daddy from here in Calgary, especially at birthdays, Christmas and New Year and it really made him happy. Daddy didn’t just offered, but he insisted on driving me personally to the airport to catch my flight. We chatted all the way non-stop and even continued our gist at one of the waiting lounges at departure before my flight was called. I had hoped and looked forward to a home-coming with Daddy, but sad my super Dad is gone; gone to be with the Lord, my consolation.
I love you Daddy. My wife, Sandra still can’t stop the tears and your granddaughter Zoe will miss your prayers and love. You will always have a place in our hearts.                                                     

Prince Akolade Oloyede Shadeko (Son)

My Dad, My Paddy

I am still finding it hard to speak of Daddy in past tense. It’s still shocking and overwhelming. I try not to think about the reality of his demise, maybe it is my own way of grieving. But as his burial date approached, my elder brother, Olabode, Baba O, as I fondly call him, won’t stop breathing down my neck to churn out my tribute to Dad and so here is it: ‘Daddy was kind, loving, stylish and very prudent too. He loved people and goodness; he enjoyed celebrating feats and successes achieved. He was also principled and honest to a fault. Fondly, I remember Dad always looking out for us (his boys) in every way he knew best. Daddy was my best friend and paddy.
I can’t relieve myself of all of my fond memories of and with him, so I would just let the rest be for my keeps and would keep counting my blessings alongside our memories till we meet again, my Daddy.

Prince Olakanmi Adedamola Shadeko (Son)

My Dotting Dad!

Everything I had thought about writing my tributes to my Dad didn’t turn out as I had imagined. First, I thought it was going to be easy, simple, and quick, but how wrong I was.

On many occasions, I had asked, encouraged, demanded, and at some point yelled at my younger ones to turn in their tributes to Dad, so we don’t miss the timeline set to have the program printed.

I never knew they were probably stuck and possibly in a troubled emotional state as to what to pen down about Daddy, as I later found myself. And since I am unaware of any standard guideline of how to write a tribute about one’s Dad, I just decided to pour out my soul in the way I can to talk about my father, teacher, mentor, adviser, and model.

Daddy was too many things in one. One minute he is commending you about how smart you are and the next he tells you how unintelligent a decision you made was. Neat, stylish, and a lover of very good things, my Dad had many names by which he called me depending on his mood or moment.

He called me Omo-Oba; Bode N Jola, Omoalabos Daddy, ‘Labo, Babajambala, etc, and they were all unique to only him calling me by these names. I miss your sweet soft voice and how I long to just hear your voice one last time before goodbye.

My Dad was knowledgeable on all subjects. Don’t ask me how because I can’t explain myself, but he was and he would debate you to win on any subject. His knowledge of a lot of things was amazing.

He spoke Awori, English, French, and Yoruba languages fluently, and encouraged me to take to learning French and Awori especially, but the dominance of the English Language at learning and studies at different levels of the academic ladder didn’t help much. Maybe, I would consider it now.

Looking back now, I guess Dad wanted me to grow up very quickly for reasons I can’t still place my fingers on.

He started engaging me in his business at age 13. Putting me through his work which I considered at the time, not my business. I would type many business letters with his type-writer; use a perforator on the edges of the papers, so I could get in ropes into them to bind together.

He would make me read his business proposals, which I sometimes couldn’t make a head out of them until much later as I advanced in age.

He laughed at my witty suggestions, his own way of telling me I didn’t make sense of the subject discussed and my punishment would be to go through the entire pages of Sketch, Daily Times, Tribune, National Concord, and Punch newspapers and pick out a minimum of 100 (hundred) new words and their meanings.

He probably didn’t know how to flog because the height of his corporal punishment dished out was to kneel and raise the hands and you could be there for hours, wow! Dad could also be very sweet. He knew how to dish out treats and was very generous at it too. My sunglasses-loving Dad was a sweet tooth. He loved ice cream, cakes, biscuits, and pancakes. 

He also enjoyed his red wine sweet too. One would be amazed at his strength and skills at a game of tennis. He enjoyed swimming too as well as football.
Daddy was very doting and got excited about the success achieved. He would sing, dance, and smile all day about the knowledge of a feat achieved.

He had a beautiful heart and I love my Dad for that and much more.            He practically led me by the hand at most things till he was sure I was safe to flap my wings and fly all by myself.

I remember after my youth service in Maiduguri, I had returned home with the hope of cooling off for a year before scouting for a job, but nope. My Dad, after few months of my lazing around, eating my mom’s food and doing nothing basically, got me into his car and drove us to Independent Communication Network Limited, a company owned by his friend, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, and told him he needed to get me engaged and that was it.

Thank you Dad for your love; for looking out for me when I never bothered or cared about a thing in the world. Thank you for your guidance and directions. Most importantly Dad, thank you for the generous prayers every morning and night. I always expected your call between 10 pm -11 pm and when it came, all you say is, ‘Labo, I just want to pray for you…’ I miss all these and more Dad, and would always cherish the times and memories.

I admire your bravery and courage even in the face of death. You wanted to stay some more with us, I know because I was with you till the very end, but God wanted you home.

So, take your rest Dad, my Lagos Prince, Omo-Oba Adegboyega Mosunmade Akanbi Shadeko.

Take your deserved rest with your Creator till we meet again, Dad.

I love you Dad! 

Prince Olabode Modadeola Shadeko (Son)