Toku,

Writing this is hard. So I’m going to thank you.
Thank you for the bear hugs. Thank you for the smiles. Thank you for being honest with me. Thank you for your advice.

Thank you for your fierce loyalty. Thank you for being yourself. Thank you for always leaving everyone in the room with a smile. Thank you for taking the bigger road. Thank you for the moments that I’ll cherish forever.

Thank you for your kindness and your grit.

You may not have been aware but you carried a light so bright- it shone through your smiles & hugs. You were radiant.

I’m grateful that I got to do life with you.
Grateful that I knew you.

I love you,
Be free.

Lape

Toks! My guy!

We started this adulting thing together, what didn’t we do, where we no wear suit and carry proposal go, to our Lekki antics, mornings at Onikepo skiving KPMG or dodging ambassador, can’t forget “Space for one?”

Despite everything that happened you were and will always be my family. I have missed and will miss you very much bro.

I wish I could say I had the slightest clue what you were going through. Wish I could’ve done something to help. I wish I could have been there.

But God knows best. I know you’re in a better place.

Keep smiling and Rest easy brother!

Dearest Toku,

It breaks my heart to write this. When I heard the news, I stayed silent and still. I still can’t believe this.

Praying for you, praying for your family, especially Firi. I pray she finds Strength and Hope in these dark times.

For the short time you were with us, you were a great source of joy, laughter and the best jokes. You were always smiling ... you were always laughing... you brought light into every room and thank you for it.

I pray you rest in perfect peace and power. You will be missed so much. We will not forget you.

Love always,

Lolade Idowu

My Brother Toku, it has been 25/26 years of amazing friendship and brotherhood. I wish it could have been a lifetime.

I can’t count how many times you have had my back. Marbella struggles to Lagos struggles to Miami struggles. In fact, everywhere in the world I have gone, 90% of the time you have actually been with me.

I remember sitting on the phone hours on end with you discussing everything from family to future making sure we would discuss points as they came up. Even when I was extremely down brother, you were always there for me. It breaks my heart that I could not do the same at your time of need as I was unaware the extent to which everything was taking it’s toll on you.

Toku, as your brother, I want to say that I love you eternally and I always will. There was not a day I didn’t enjoy your company and no day on earth I won’t miss your company moving forward. Whenever I was going anywhere I would call you to ask where you were and you would always invite me to wherever it was. There were times I just needed to communicate with someone and you were always there for me no matter the time or circumstance.

As my best friend, my brother, my blood I do not know how I will get over this. I will truly be sad for the rest of my life but will take solace in the fact that we got to share our whole childhood together up to adulthood.

It completely breaks me to be writing this bro. I will remain numb for a very long time.

I love you forever.

Rest In Perfect Peace My Brother.

Chizi Wigwe

“Toku ❤️❤️❤️“ That’s how you saved your name on my phone. The only person that has emojis, so you know you must have been special.

I don’t know how to describe how I feel right now. Thank you for bringing light into my life every time I was around you. You made me shout, laugh and feel all the feels in between. Most of all thank you for being so caring and protective towards me always. My heart is heavy and I’ll miss your presence more than I can explain.

Rest easy my friend. God bless you ❤️

My brother, Toku

Wow, where do I even begin? From the first day I met you, you were always there for me. I remember those November and December days in Lagos from that year, every morning I’ll get a call asking me if I need a ride to anywhere I was going or just to find out how I was and what I had planned for that day.

Taku, like Mr. Etop mistakenly called you and we went along with it for years to you then always yelling Iyakeeeee in retaliation for that error, I’ll miss you dearly, would never have anticipated that our short text thread two weeks ago would be our last conversation, but thank you for the memories, the good times, always being the most positive and supportive person to me and all your friends. Always sending the most detailed and loving birthday messages. You’ll be missed.

I love you bro, miss you already. Rest well brother, I’ll never forget you.

Love,
Daniel

My Toku, My Darren, My Best friend.

This hurts. Toku this one hurts, and I don’t know how i will ever ever ever come to terms with this. I love you so so so much, and I miss you so so so so much.

Your laugh, your beautiful smile, your kind heart, your terrible jokes that could keep me laughing for days, Our SomKu sessions. Toku you mean the absolute world to me. You showed me the truest meaning of loving someone unconditionally- despite my flaws, despite the daily headache I would cause you, despite MY terrible jokes, you loved me for me. Toku I love you, you are one of a kind, you are irreplaceable, and i will cherish every single memory of you.

I don’t think i ever told you this, but my absolute favorite movie is “The Kissing Booth”. It’s a movie that tells the story of two best friends, ready and willing to do anything and everything for each other. I remember watching the movie for the 50th time with a friend and she asked me “is there any guy that you think you can be your complete and honest self around?” and without even blinking i laughed and said “... do you know why I love this movie so much? and why i watch it so much? because this is literally a story about Toku and I”. I wish we got to watch it together. You would’ve definitely clowned me for liking such a corny movie, but i know you would’ve sat through it just to make me happy.... and i know you would’ve very lowkey loved it too.

Toku, this one cuts deep, but I’m going to try my hardest not to cry and be very strong, because i know if you see me crying from wherever you are, you’ll definitely snicker & say “Sommie, don’t do that.. big girls don’t cry”. Toku, i don’t know how i’m going to be a big girl o. But i know you’re going to help me. You are always helping me. Help me get through this one.

Toku Ogan, you’ll forever and ever be in my heart. No one will ever compare to you. My rock, My protector, My biggest supporter, My right hand, My confidant, My Toks. Thank you for being my truest friend. Thank you for coming into my life when you did. Thank you for fighting all my battles as if they were yours. Thank you for always being you. Thank you for allowing us.. ALWAYS be us.

My Darren, you’re a rockstar.
My rockstar.
My angel.

Keep watching over me & protecting me like you’ve always done. I’m going to make you so proud.

Rest easy
Always and Forever.
- Your Sommie

I don't think I've ever gone through such pain in my life before. Toku was really special to me. In all aspects of this thing called life. From Essex days where he would travel hours cause we were on different campuses, to swimming at Ikoyi club every other week after we just moved back.

He really showed me what true bromance was and will forever be in our hearts. Rest easy Toku.

Subashir

I am so devastated to have lost someone I knew fondly from my childhood and was deeply saddened by the news when I found out. Toku was a genuine companion, friend, and had a gentle soul. I will remember him for the amazing human being he was.

Big Ogan!!!!

I would like to say a few words about Toku. He was more than a friend; he was my brother and there was nothing I wouldn’t do for him. I’ve known him since we were little and I cannot believe he is gone. He had such an infectious energy about him that always lit up the room. He was cool, intelligent, thoughtful and caring. He was very close to my family and we all cared for him dearly. Toku's best trait was that he always lived his life to the fullest, simply smiling and laughing all the time. He continuously congratulated me on all my success whether it be in my studies, getting a job or just finally meeting a target I set myself and it warmed my heart. He definitely taught me how to live in the moment and not think too far into the future all the time. 

Toku was an extraordinary, truly wonderful human being. “He only hates not loving, and his passion is friendship”. He was devoted to his friends with equal affection and sincerity that made people fully reciprocate the emotion. There was nothing in his power he would not do for any of us, and we knew it without Toku ever having to put those feelings into words.

I got to know Toku through a mutual friend when we were in school and our friendship grew from that point on as we shared our childhood thoughts and aspirations. As I look at pictures of us together, we had too much fun. He never lost either his natural kindness or the moral compass that set his priorities. Above all, he was a true friend, always prepared to extend a helping hand or listen to another’s problems, without expecting anything in return. How can I say good-bye to someone who has been an integral part of my life for over 21 years? How do we reconcile ourselves to the heart-breaking reality that our beloved Toku is no longer physically with us? 

Writing this is very difficult and it isn’t possible to put into words the importance of friendship and how much Toku meant to me. I’m going to miss him so much. We must continue to speak to him, if only in our thoughts, so that he will know that we remember him and all the happiness and beauty that he brought into our lives and that he is not alone.

Toku thank you for your friendship, I will miss you forever and never forget all the time we spent together. Rest in perfect peace.

Love

Adebodun Adebayo

My Big Brother,
There are no words to express the way I feel. My heart is completely broken.
This time has been the hardest I have ever had to go through. And I know you’re looking down at me telling me to stop crying like a baby. As always. But I miss you so much. I think of all the memories we had. They give me comfort. They make me smile in the midst of my tears.
I think about the time where you were in London and you would FaceTime me for hours on end. We would watch movies together on FaceTime, you would cook while I was there, and we would just talk about day to day things.
You were my warrior. My fighter. My bodyguard. Nobody could come near me when you were around. Just like other siblings, we had our differences, but in the midst of my childish stubborn ways, you kept reaching out to check up and kept praising me for everything I did. It was always so hard to be angry at you. You have the most lovable soul. You never wanted to see me lack. You always had my back and I always had yours. I will miss you shouting my name in public and making me laugh uncontrollably.
I love you so much. And I miss you even more. My heart is shattered. My Angel.
Mama T, Smally Banana.

My Dear brother

Toku, you shall always be on my mind and heart. You had literally been on my mind these past couple days as I was looking forward to our birthday where we always speak and pray for guidance and success for one another...knowing that I can’t do that anymore brings sorrow to my heart.

You were a Guardian angel to all of us and the person we would always count on to turn a bad situation into a good one with just a few words & a smile.

You would call me on days when You hadn’t heard from me in a while to simply ask how I am doing and would always leave me with uplifting words to make sure I keep pushing. “My brotha it shall be well, you’re blessed” is what you’d say to me.

You would call me at times just to say that you miss all your guys and we should return to Nigeria as their were things we could do collectively, I admired you for being a support system and for your ambition and drive.

You had a heart of pure Gold and an amazing aura. the thought of not being able to call you or receive a message/call from you hurts me. I will hold on to the good memories and know that you are in a better place. You will always be in my heart Toku AKA ambassador. Rest well.

Love from your brother,

Nnamdi Iwuajoku

Toku you were a joy to us all. Gentle giant with the best energy and only positive things to say. Literally supposed to be seeing you in 3 days.

Will miss you calling my phone yelling “Labileeeee”. Always “Ibs you know you’re the best!”. I never dared doubt myself around you because no way you were having it.

We talked about all the career progress you made and how we had made it so far and still so much to achieve. Toku we are all so proud of you. You were a hard worker who made it seem easy. You cared for all your friends and always made us laugh and feel loved

Rest in Glory my dearest Darren. I love you so much ❤️

From Labile

My Big Bro I Love You Forever And Always. May You Rest In Perfect Peace Bro Continue To Look After Me In The Spirit As You Did In The Physical.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44
So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; and it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

GOD Bless You Boss Rest In Perfect Peace.

Toku. A brother, a friend and the most loyal, warm hearted guy. You were always there to put a smile on my face, in the good and bad times. Will miss you dearly, but one hundred percent won’t forget you! Rest in Power King 

My Dear brother Ambassador, words can’t describe how I felt when I heard the news that you were no longer with us. Up till now it honestly feels like a nightmare, that I pray hard would end.



I remember the first time I met you, through Chizi and Tochi. I always thought to myself that this guy was different. and that I had never met anyone like you.



You were such a caring soul, always looked out for me, calling me, asking me how I was doing, what my plans were? You would say ‘Cjeezy we must make this money o’ ‘with an emphasis of “chai” at the end of your sentence, which always puts a smile on my face.



Who will I call when I want to discuss Manchester United, and how useless we are? Who will I call, when I am having a shitty day, who would put a smile to my face? We literally spoke a few weeks ago, and you were telling me about your new job, your business endeavors, and all I kept saying was ‘Ambassador I am so proud of you!



Toku! So resilient, so hardworking, so ambitious. You had so much going for you, why did you do this to us? Toku! It's such a shame that your time was cut abruptly, when nnamdi broke the news to me, I felt so numb and helpless! and even as I am writing this, I still feel so numb.



So much pain is within my heart! but I will forever cherish our brotherhood, our friendship group and all the laughs we had together, whether it was us cracking jokes with Omatsola and calling him “general” or just laughing at silly jokes. You are irreplaceable Toku and there will never be a day that would pass without thoughts of you flashing through my mind. I hope you are at peace and in a better place. seeing all your friends posting videos of you, seeing pictures of you takes me down memory lane and brings tears to my eyes, because you lit up every room you entered! I love you brother! Adieu! until we meet to part no more.



From your brother

Jeremy Chikeluba