ADIEU, MY INDEFATIGABLE GBOYEGA
4th September, 2019 was a day I will never forget in life. I received the greatest shock of my life when at 4:00 am on this fateful day I got the news of Professor Taiwo Adewole's transition to glory. I had spoken to him barely twelve hours before he passed away. There were no indications he was going to die. Indeed this is fate, there is no armour against fate. A cruel fate. I cannot remember when last I cried when someone died, not even my mother or father but I wept for the fate that befell my friend of more than 50 years for over two weeks before I could console myself.
We met at the Federal School of Science, Onikan, Lagos in 1968 and since then we have been more than friends. I cannot do anything without him and he too will always carry me along in anything he does. Our relationship was not only contiguous but consanguineous. We got admitted into University of Ibadan the same year and while I was posted to Zik Hall, he got posted to Kuti Hall. We did all that was humanly possible for him transferred to Azikwe Hall, we pressed and made sure my roommate was moved to another room. As a result, we shared the same room for the duration of our different courses. After graduation and national service, we regrouped; bought the same brand and make of car with the same colour (WAF 1980), such was the association we shared until his sudden departure. About six years ago, I gave him a copy of a will I made and asked him to the my administrator, when I die. Little did I know he would go before me. Very painful.
He was generous to a fault and his magnanimity is unparalleled. The role he played in the life of one of my children is particularly remarkable. As a medical laboratory science student at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba, he was transferred to Jos during reorganisation exercise and when my friend learnt of this, he did everything humanly possible and got him back to LAUTECH. Besides, this boy stayed with him at Ede for three years until he graduated. I am eternally grateful to him for this and many other things too numerous to recount here.
Out of those of us who were friends particularly by the Science School Group, he was outstanding. After his first degree in biochemistry, he went in for PhD and later proceeded to read Medicine. He was a fellow of the West African College of Physicians. He was a recipient of many awards including Husband of the year award in 2011.
He has departed this sinful world where his wealth of experience would have benefitted mankind, my prayer is that God will uphold the family , the wife, Keji, the children and those he left behind including me. May God grant us all the fortitude to bear the loss
MAY HIS GENTLE SOUL REST IN PEACE.
Adieu Norothing.
Yemi Adekunbi and Family