OYEMEKUN GRAMMAR SCHOOL, AKURE
Alumni Association

A TRIBUTE TO OUR DEAR COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND,
PASTOR TOLU MOGAII (ITEM)
OGSA 1974 - 1979 ALUMNI SET
(Chairman 1974 - 1979 Alumni Set, Vice Chairman UK Branch)

Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure Alumni Association has indeed lost a committed and diligent member. Very passionate and supportive to the growth of his Alma Mater. Pastor Tolu Mogaji enlisted as a member of the 1974 intake and graduated in 1979 as the Library Prefect.

His special organizational abilities, leadership traits, and charismatic personality were readily apparent in all that he does.

Pastor ITEM was a special man who showed concern and true love for others. He also distinguished himself as a reliable, accommodating. attested and trusted member of the OGSA Alumni Association Globally. Indeed, he was a peace-loving, God fearing. a reputable person who inspired and impacted lives positively. His conunitment geared towards the developtnent of our Association especially in the UK are deeply appreciated, remarkable, commendable and now historical. He excelled in every assignment entrusted into his care. no wonder he made an indelible mark during the 70th Anniversary of the "Onlv School", he showcased transparency and dedication in his duties and in life generally.

We wish you farewell in your journey to eternity. Pastor ITEM, you will be in our hearts and memories. It was a privilege for us to have been a part of Pastor ITEM’s life. Although much too short for our liking, his was a life well lived!

It's hard to let go of someone so dear to you: more than just a brother, he was a friend. We were not expecting this, and sometimes I feel like this is all just a bad dream.

It is hard to find suitable words to pay a tribute to this truly remarkable man. It is worthy of note that during his life he had the satisfaction of knowing the high esteem in which he was held by his mates and colleagues: as evident during his 60th Birthday ceremony

Our solace is in the fact that he lived a fulfilled and enviable life and above all; he knew and referenced God. Journey well to the world beyond my dear colleague.

Our prayers, are with the entire family. We pray that God Almighty will continue to uphold Pastor (Mrs.) Foluke Mogaji. the children and every member of Pastor Tolu Mogaji’s family.

May his gentle soul continue to rest in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dr Adeniyi Ijogun MRICS, FNIQS, FCIarb, CCarb, PQS
Global President
OGSA Alumni Association

With heavy yet grateful hearts, we write this tribute in honor of a truly remarkable man of God, a dear uncle and brother-in-law, Pastor Tolu Mogaji.

Uncle Tolu was more than a family member; he was a pillar of strength and a beacon of light to everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. His kindness knew no bounds, and his love for others testified of his faith in God. He had a sincere desire to see others thrive, always encouraging growth, progress, and fulfillment in those around him.

As a man of God, he wasn't two-faced; he lived his life as a reflection of the teachings he shared. His wisdom, humility, and unwavering commitment to his calling touched countless lives. He was a source of encouragement, a spiritual guide, and a friend to all who needed him, including our family.

Though his physical presence is no longer with us, we take solace in the knowledge that he rests in the Lord. We are comforted by the legacy he left behind—a legacy of love, faith, and a relentless belief in the potential of others.

Rest well, Uncle Tolu, in the arms of the One you served so faithfully. You will forever be cherished, remembered, and loved.

Olawumi, Damilola, Omolola, and Tomilola Mogaji

Pastor Tolu Mogaji was a devoted and committed member of the OYEMEKUN Grammar School Akure Alumni Association.

This commitment has started since the school days starting in 1974 to the point that he was part of the founders of the UK branch of the Alumni as the pioneer secretary to the last portfolio of Vice Chairman.

Pastor Mogaji has maintain a close snd perfect relationship with members of the Alumni worldwide and a great encourager and contributor to all the activities of the Alumni.

A great man of God,, committed family man, great colleague, very gentle, humble and always have the words of wisdom in all occasions to celebrate members and Oyemekun.


You will be sorely missed. May your soul rest in peace and God will be with your immediate family and the OYEMEKUN family that are now celebrating your life.

My Tribute to Pastor Tolu, My Pillar and Backbone
by Dr Peter Kehinde Mogaji
My brother, Pastor Tolu, you came, we lived together for decades, but suddenly, you left us to glory. Yes, your death was devastating, yet I have to come up with my tribute to your despite the difficulty caused by my ‘heavy heart’ in putting together such tribute.

In my heart, you will forever be loved and cherished for those ‘saving love and care’ you demonstrated in my life (and in the lives of other siblings and others) while you were with us. Your attitude towards our lives as siblings were those of care and affection. You would always want to us live our lives suffering-free by connecting us with the right people within appropriate atmosphere towards achieving our life goals within our chosen careers. In your show of care, I always remember the day you asked me in the early 1990s: ‘What’s Taye doing in Akure? He should come to Lagos even if it would cause us all living together, drinking gari’. Taking after our father’s (Pastor MD Mogaji’s) large heartedness, benevolence and generosity towards everyone, you provided and supported us all (Brother Femi, Taye, Kehinde, Idowu and Alaba) with initial long-term temporary accommodation, living with you in Ibadan (Old-Ife Road, Ajeigbe Bus-Stop in Challenge area) and in Lagos (Iju, idimu and Ketu) despite further associated costs.

Creating atmosphere of fun among us your younger siblings within Pastor MD Mogaji’s household in those early 1970s days, you formed our ‘family military unit’ you tagged as the ‘3rd Marine Commando’ (probably taken after a Nigerian Civil War unit led by Colonel Bejamin Adekunle). As our ‘military unit head’, you, ‘Field Marshall Atole Mambo’ led us in our military parades usually within the filled foundation of the then under-construction building of CAC Oke-Isegun Headquarters, Akure. You appointed me, ‘Brigadier Kennedy Mambo’ was the next in command to you. You also extended this military fun to propel us to work on our father’s farm in those days by giving your command whenever we wanted to start weeding on farm: ‘Third Marine Commado! Everybody, take position. One, two, three, four….’, and we would all start working fast and hard to achieve our tasks on farm.

You were very protective. The protection you gave me as your sibling, a junior student in the boarding house in Oyemekun Grammar School Akure, where we both had our secondary school education is what I will always remember. You were in Form 4 when I was in Form 1. Despite you living in far-away White House, you shielded me away from those dreadful seniors in Deji House. You prevented me from being part of the early morning hard ‘General Work’ and Operation Feed Nation (OFN)’ by drafting me to be a ‘sweeper’ in charge of the school buttery and dispensary which you were appointed to manage and oversee by the school authority.

In my banking career, you showed your care for me. I will all remember that you were the first family member to show up physical on-spot when as Branch Manager, my branches were attacked and robbed by heavily armed robbers of 1997 and in 1999. In the case of Owo Branch robbery, you stood by me throughout with the police investigations and ‘questionable’ interrogations. While I was under those post-banking life threatening heavy spiritual attacks (ignited by my indirect confrontation of those work-place secret society), from your Ondo town duty point, you were checking on me at home on my sick bed in Akure, almost every day for the over-6-month period of those attacks. On a particular day, you met me in severe pains while lying on a sofa, as the attacks got to the turn of my two knees, swollen with intense terribly smelling body fluid gushing out, you asked God a question that lingers in my brain till today that: ‘Iru adanwo Jobu wo l’eyi, Olorun?’ (Meaning: ‘What kind of (biblical) Job’s affliction is this, God’). I survived those intense spiritual afflictions truly, but painfully it’s unfortunate that you did not survive your’s. God knows the best.

You had a great influence in my coming to live, study and work in the UK. You were a strong backbone in the UK, giving me supports I needed every time, every moment. Due to what happened a decade ago during my doctoral (PhD) study years, I would have suddenly experienced sleeping rough on the street of London homelessly, but you came to my quick rescue and averted the possible catastrophic effects on my doctoral studies. This rescue of your loved brother is a source of disaffection to some till date. Your financial supports for the take-off doctoral studies as well as those moral and ‘family supports’ throughout my studies against all odds, would always on my mind. In 2016, as I was returning hopelessly to the UK after our mother’s burial to round of my thesis submission within the less than 2 months deadline, you turned my hopelessness to hopefulness by allowing my ‘second-coming’ with those great homely care and concern towards my survival within those difficulties and pains of doctoral studies. You and our daddy, Baba Toluwase also joined me in fighting post-thesis submission spiritual wars to the glory of God.

You were my propeller when it comes to attending many CAC programmes, events and anniversaries here in the UK. I appreciated the fact that you understood the reasons behind my reluctance in this regard. You always asked: Will you attend this anniversary or that programme? Don’t worry I will drop you at home after the event’. You always exhorted and encouraged me that one cannot stand afar watching simply because things are not done in the CAC-doctrine ways in many instances here and because of those apparent church-politics within the fold; and that one should still join the force (always making references Baba Toluwase’s exhortation in this regard). Although, we might have differences caused by our opposing schools of church administration and management thoughts/biblical interpretations (as matters of principles and practices); these never played down our close relationship as siblings/brothers. Now, my propeller is broken, and my driving force is gone.

Even up till your last days, on your sick bed in hospital despite what you were going through, you still exhibited your care and affection towards me when you asked me, 12 days to your demise: ‘Iwo naa n ko bayi, ti ori maa n fo nigba gbogbo?’ (Meaning: What about you also, experiencing incessant headache?’). My response to your question was that the headaches were cause work-related stress and that the headache would soon subside as I would soon proceed on leave to take things easy. One further assurance I gave you on this same day as I moved closer to you on bed was that nothing bad would happen to you and that you would not die, given the reason that if such would happen to you as my sibling it would have been revealed to me. I could not tell you before you left this world that the voice I heard around 2am the following morning (11 days to your death) was a voice that sang the first two lines of a common funeral song into my ears on my bed: ‘A o pade l’ese Jesu, nibi ti a ko ni y’ara wa’ (Meaning: We shall meet at Jesus’s feet, where we will not depart from each other’). I woke up sad; but the better and glorious assurance is that we shall meet at Jesus’s feet.

Sleep on my beloved brother, Pastor Isaac Toluwase Ekundayo Mogaji. Sun un re o. A o pade l’ese Jesu.


By: Dr Peter Kehinde Mogaji (Brother, Sibling)

TRIBUTE TO A BOSSOM FRIEND/BROTHER.
For over 56 years, you were a pillar of support, confidant and bossom friend and brother. While some of us were filled and thrilled by youthful exuberance all through our primary school at CAC primary school Irowo Akure and secondary school days, you remained cool, calm, gentle and obedient to God, parents and societal norms, even to maturity leading you to be a minister in God's vineyard.
I'm yet to come terms that you are gone, but the reality has dawned on me now. However, my consolation is that we shall meet at the feet of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Adieu my friend and brother, ISAAC TOLUWASE EKUNDAYO MOGAJI. REST IN PEACE.

Tribute to Late Pastor Isaac Mogaji
By Titus Ayodele
It is with a deeply heavy heart that I write this tribute to honour Pastor Isaac Mogaji, a man whose life was a shining example of discipline, dedication, and unwavering service to God and humanity.
Pastor Mogaji was not only the immediate past Financial Secretary of Efon Alaaye UK & Europe Association, but also someone I had the privilege of working closely with over the years. His service, from the inception of the association, was nothing short of meritorious. As a Chartered Accountant and a senior colleague in the industry, Pastor Mogaji brought unmatched professionalism and excellence to the management of the association’s funds. His meticulous approach and unwavering integrity were evident in every task he undertook, leaving behind a legacy of excellence and responsibility.
On a personal level, Pastor Mogaji was like a big brother to me. A well-bred indigene of Efon Alaaye, he carried himself with grace, dignity, and an inherent respect for others. His jovial nature was infectious—he always found a way to bring laughter and warmth to every interaction.
He was deeply devoted to the work of God and tireless in his commitment to charity. Pastor Mogaji poured himself into his faith and his service to others, embodying the very essence of love and selflessness. His dedication to the church and his ability to inspire others through his actions spoke volumes about his character and the depth of his heart.
Pastor Mogaji’s life was a beautiful testament to what it means to live with purpose and leave a meaningful impact. Though his passing is a tremendous loss to us all, I find comfort in the knowledge that his legacy will continue to inspire and guide those of us who had the privilege of knowing him.
Rest well, Pastor Isaac Mogaji. You will forever be remembered for your kindness, discipline, and the many lives you touched. May God grant you eternal rest and give strength to your family during this difficult time.
With heartfelt condolences,
Titus Ayodele

Tribute
It is with profound sorrow and heavy hearts that we bid farewell to our dear friend, Pastor Tolu Mogaji, whose passing has left an indelible void in our lives and the heart of our community, Efon Alaaye UK &Europe Association. His life was a testament to unwavering dedication, selflessness, and love and service for his faith and his hometown of Efon Alaaye in Ekiti State.
It was at the inauguration of the Efon Alaaye UK and Europe Association that I first met the man Pastor Mogaji. After the introduction, I asked him if he was from the same chief, Olu Mogaji, and he replied jokingly o wii re, ,ẹyẹ meji kii j'aṣa.
He was a reticent, easy-going, but deep-thinking man. He wouldn’t say a thing that had not been well thought of and processed.
He was an honest, truthful and dependable man. He was a man not afraid to say what he believed in.
As the financial secretary of the Efon Alaaye UK and Europe Association, the position he held till his last breath, he was an embodiment of uncompromised principle and one of the central pillars that held the Association standing till today.
His Narrowgate project was a testimony to his devotion, his church and his service to humanity.
In this time of loss, we take comfort in knowing that Pastor Mogaji lived a life of purpose marked by love, service, and faith. His memory will live on in the countless lives he has enriched and empowered. Pastor Tolu Mogaji, your spirit will continue to inspire us all to serve our community, honour our faith, and cherish the places we call home.
Rest in peace, my dear friend. May God continue to guide and protect your family and the loved ones you left behind
Soji Ekundayo