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It is with a deep sense of loss that I share this tribute in memory of my age long friend, colleague and brother Pst Tolu Isaac Mogaji whose sudden transition has left me devastated.
Pst Tolu and I came into first contact 1980 whilst schooling at the then Polytechnic Owo, Ondo State Nigeria. We had gained admission into the then school of Business Management and Accountancy studies.
We became instant friends along with other friends with whom we shared bonding and aspirations as young men then.
His acronym, ITEM became popular with him in school particularly because of his flair and early mastery of accounting and its related skills. It was,therefore, not a surprise that he qualified as a chartered accountant ahead of his peers and distinguished himself in his professional career.
As we grew, the relationship blossomed transcending our academic and professional pursuits to our families and social life.
His marriage to his dearly beloved wife Foluke, an indigene of my native township of Ondo, further consolidated our friendship.
He would subsequently humorously acknowledge me as ‘egin mi’ (meaning my senior brother, my in-law) whilst I complimented with ‘ana mi, ore mi stats’ (my in-law my friend indeed)
Pst Tolu exemplified gentleness, kindness, humility, compassion, level-headedness, discipline and forthrightness. He would maintain his calmness and remained organized in every trying situation.
A caring friend whose loyalty and commitment to friendship was unparalleled, he maintained unbroken contacts with his carefully selected friends and their families notwithstanding geographical distances.
Every time my family visited London, he reached out to me to ensure our well being.
He never visited Nigeria without touching base with me and the family also. On what has turned to be his last visit, we were privileged to host him and see him off at the airport on his return journey back to London oblivious that was to be the last time I would see him.
He probably had premonitions of his home call.
I had asked him to hold on to a parcel he collected on my behalf until I visited London to pick it up. He insisted on having it delivered to me as soon as he found someone coming to Nigeria. He did as though he was conscious of time.
Pst Tolu was a passionate lover of Christ whose commitment and lifestyle was a great inspiration to everyone around him.
His weekly radio and online outreach programs exemplified his love and commitment to spreading the gospel.
I couldn’t really recollect any of our conversations not concluding with the sharing of the gospel, his music ministrations and prayers.
Tolu will be dearly missed but it is consoling that this huge loss is heaven’s great gain.
Adieu Tolu as you rest on in the bosom of the Lord
Pst Tolu and I came into first contact 1980 whilst schooling at the then Polytechnic Owo, Ondo State Nigeria. We had gained admission into the then school of Business Management and Accountancy studies.
We became instant friends along with other friends with whom we shared bonding and aspirations as young men then.
His acronym, ITEM became popular with him in school particularly because of his flair and early mastery of accounting and its related skills. It was,therefore, not a surprise that he qualified as a chartered accountant ahead of his peers and distinguished himself in his professional career.
As we grew, the relationship blossomed transcending our academic and professional pursuits to our families and social life.
His marriage to his dearly beloved wife Foluke, an indigene of my native township of Ondo, further consolidated our friendship.
He would subsequently humorously acknowledge me as ‘egin mi’ (meaning my senior brother, my in-law) whilst I complimented with ‘ana mi, ore mi stats’ (my in-law my friend indeed)
Pst Tolu exemplified gentleness, kindness, humility, compassion, level-headedness, discipline and forthrightness. He would maintain his calmness and remained organized in every trying situation.
A caring friend whose loyalty and commitment to friendship was unparalleled, he maintained unbroken contacts with his carefully selected friends and their families notwithstanding geographical distances.
Every time my family visited London, he reached out to me to ensure our well being.
He never visited Nigeria without touching base with me and the family also. On what has turned to be his last visit, we were privileged to host him and see him off at the airport on his return journey back to London oblivious that was to be the last time I would see him.
He probably had premonitions of his home call.
I had asked him to hold on to a parcel he collected on my behalf until I visited London to pick it up. He insisted on having it delivered to me as soon as he found someone coming to Nigeria. He did as though he was conscious of time.
Pst Tolu was a passionate lover of Christ whose commitment and lifestyle was a great inspiration to everyone around him.
His weekly radio and online outreach programs exemplified his love and commitment to spreading the gospel.
I couldn’t really recollect any of our conversations not concluding with the sharing of the gospel, his music ministrations and prayers.
Tolu will be dearly missed but it is consoling that this huge loss is heaven’s great gain.
Adieu Tolu as you rest on in the bosom of the Lord