May the Almighty grant Sir Doks eternal rest. Ameen. My condolences to the family he left behind. I pray for continued blessings on every member of his family. Ameen 

It's so difficult for me to write this because though I had known Sir Doks for years, we were in touch more the last six months. 

He was my mentor on a project I was working on, advising on policies and strategies,  giving steers and tips on  various issues. We often  discussed  his farm project and next steps, whenever he brought us various produce, particularly Ewa Oloyin.  Mum sent him a Catholic devotional regularly,  even though he wasn't Catholic.  Just three months ago he was discussing my late father's book, giving a very beautiful review and asking when a second volume would be released. I asked him to please do a written review and he promised to. But not possible any more. 

We had also concluded discussions on how he was going to help a Lagos Monastery  revive its farm project. Our last conversation was 1st September, on this farm project, with a plan to visit the site. But not possible any more. 

Sir Doks was a good man, with a good heart, an Egbon that supported you as best as he could at all times. I am pained by his passing. He was always willing to listen and proffer a solution. A wise owl. An Omoluabi. He will be missed by a lot of people besides his lovely wife Ma Doks and family.  May his good and generous soul rest in perfect peace. AMEN.

Rest in perfect peace Daddy. The righteous is taken away from the evil to come. Great Comforter will uphold all children, families and friends you left behind. God Almighty will terminate untimely deaths in our midst in Jesus Name.

Ogunmilade Kehinde

Just like a thunderbolt  struck the entire earth surface,the news of Dokun's demise came to us as a rude shock. We thought it was not true because we  had a pleasant chat with him after church service a few weeks  before  this sad news.Though sudden and unexplainable,we still have to thank God for his  exemplary life and devotion to the work of God.These atributes will be there to lead him to eternity in God's kingdom.                                To Yetunde ,his darling wife and the lovely children ,take   solace in the fact that he left a beautiful legacy   of christian fortitude and  love for humanity .for you to  embrace. God in His infinite mercy will console and comfort you for this irreparable  loss.                                       We and the entire church  family at ANCOPEN will miss him.                                               As you join the saints triumphant, rest in the bosom  of your Creator till we all meet again in heaven where there is no sorrow or death.                                                                                        ADIIEU  ,OUR BROTHER.                                          TOSIN AND NIKE AKEREDOLU. 

Mr Adedokun Adeyemo, the news of your death came to me with the greatest shock I could imagine. May your kind, lovely, caring and supportive soul continue to rest peacefully in God's bosom. Amen 🙏. 

Daddy was a  man with a golden heart, always ready to do good for humanity.  He cared and showed sincere love for the less privileged. 

God used you to change my story and destiny in my work career with Shell Petroleum Development Company, Nigeria.  To God be the Glory forever. Amen. 

You will surely be missed and remembered always by ALL you touched their lives.

Thank you Sir Adedokun Adeyemo.

Sleep on in God's Bosom forever, Amen. 

Mrs  Clara  Ayela-Uwangue. 

Our very dear Auntie Yetunde and family,

On behalf of my entire family, we express our deep sadness about this sudden event.

Before our duo set off on their first very emotional return to VGC last year, they had chosen to defer their visit to Uncle for their second trip. It is heart-wrenching to think that this will no longer be possible and a clear reminder of my father's "DO IT NOW" motto for anything that needs to be done.

Uncle Dokun was the last church member I spoke with after service before leaving the Anglican Church On the Peninsular with numerous blessings. A fond memory that has stayed with me! While thanking Uncle in 2019 for his very touching tribute to his dear friend Chibueze, my husband, I never imagined that I would write one to him in three years.

Uncle, we cannot thank you enough, Sir, for the genuine and transparent friendship you gave to my husband. How glorious it will be when someday we shall see you and my husband again. Together in the company of the heavenly host, we shall sing:

"Then sings my soul,

My Saviour God, to Thee,

How great Thou art!

How great Thou art!"

Till then, Sir, may The LORD GOD ALMIGHTY grant your calm and caring soul eternal rest.

With Christ's love,

Mary Abara

SIR DOKS. - A MAN OF THE PEOPLE

Dokun's personality exuded selfless love, care and compassion for all people around him. He went beyond the call of normal duty to render help and provide succor to all who. were in need. Indeed, the Ayansina family can never forget-the enviable roles he. played in our lives in and outside of Shell where we first met in 1979.  We were treated to hot Nigerian dishes when we arrived Assen in December 1990. He invited us to put in for a VGC house when Lekki phase 1 was being offered for sale.

He arranged logistics for us when we returned to Nigeria (saddened by the death of Folaju our 16 year old son)  in 1994 to visit our families in Ikirun and Ibadan in the thick of June 12 crisis when pms was hard to come by.

He and his adorable Iya Ibeji were highly instrumental in securing free permanent accommodation for our son Dotun for the full duration of his course at Unife (OAU).

Always willing to help,,  he intervened from far away USA in the case of a widow who was about to be sidelined in claiming the death-in-service benefits of her late husband. We can hardly exhaust the compassionate nature of this great man of valure. Surf-ice to say he left an impactful legacy of service to humanity. Although we are sad to loose him at this time, we are consoled-that he finished his race well and are assured a glorious price-has been reserved for him at the feet of our Lord Jesus Christ. May th Lord comfort all the loved ones he left behind.

Adieu brother

Yeti & Gbemi Ayansina

Like a bolt from the blue! sudden, shocking, and devastating is arguably how to describe your death, and I was in self-denial until the obituary platform was set up.

Sir Doks, you were such a free-spirited fellow ready to mix and interact with anyone and everybody without any trappings of age or seniority.

Your sudden exit is painful to us who had the opportunity to come across you.

I pray the the good Lord will find a place in His bosom for you and He will console the entire family you left behind.

Adieu Sir Doks!

Rest in Perfect Peace Sir Doks. May God Almighty comfort Aunty,  Your Children and the entire Family and Friends. The Port Harcourt group of Friends will surely miss you sir. Sun re o!

Toyin 

Sir Doks you will forever be remembered and celebrated for the uniqueness you brought and imparted in the HR community.  A true professional, always willing to share knowledge and were selfless in your approach and mannerisms. You were a father, a brother and a friend. We love you but God loves you best and He is unquestionable.

Here is saying farewell and good night.  God will grant eternal rest unto your soul.

For those if us left behind ... 'So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.'

Psalms 90:12

'Yomi Adeleye 

A tribute to Sir Doks

Doks, where and how do I start this tribute to a great man like you?

Well, we met in 1975 in the graduate school at University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. There were only three of us - Prof Gboyega Adewole of blessed memory, Sir Doks now with the angels and my humble self. Both Gboyega and Sir Doks graduated from UI and I from Unife though Sir Doks was ahead of us by a year. Some people called us the three Musketeers because we were inseparable then. Gboyega was a graduate assistant and had a car - WAF 1980 but people hardly knew the owner of the car. Sir Doks had one of the very best sound systems around Ife and was a DJ of repute. Every weekend we would pack the sound system and off we would go to a party on campus, in town or outside as far as Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo and to Calabar for a 21st birthday. In 1976, both Sir Doks and I attended an interview for graduate assistantship at Unife. We were found appointable but not appointed. Why? Departmental politics. Doks decided to abandon Biochemistry for Business Administration in Unilag while we continued the struggle in Ife. That's how we temporarily parted ways. Sir Doks and Yetunde hosted my wife and I in Dec. 1981 on our return from US and later our son, who is named Adegbite after Sir Doks. Interestingly, Sir Doks played a very significant role in the employment of my brother as a driller into Shell, my son, his namesake to an oil service company and was a mentor to Dotun my third son. What else can we ask of this great man.

It is not how long a man lived but how well. Your death was a surprise to us all, indeed a rapture because you were suddenly taken away from us. Sleep on the in the blossom of the Lord until we shall meet and part no more.

Writing this tribute is extremely painful and emotional….how can I ever imagine that someone I spent time with just last June in MD is gone…just like that!!!!. Sir Doks meant different things to different people…..he meant everything to me…at a very young age, I so badly wanted to be like him. He showed interest in my siblings and I at our young ages and not only motivated and guided us, he demonstrated that we all could be whatever we wanted to be by setting high standards for us, and he did all these with effortless grace. He was a true trail blazer and leader, and he earned our collective love and respect.

He always had an ear open to other peoples' problems and there was never any problem too big for him to handle. I have never met anyone so plugged-in like Sir Doks......his knew everyone....his network was massive. He was a major calming force in the family, very dependable and knowledgeable. Sir Doks had a very strong work ethic and did not believe in cutting corners. His overriding focus, besides our well-being, was education, and not surprising, the best fruit of his life is that all his children are well educated, hardworking, humble, and responsible.

This beautiful man inspired so many of us and we will continue to illuminate the path, with his light, so others may be well guided. In this life there are those sent to us to manifest wisdom, action and bring joy, Sir Doks was one of those spirits. The pain we are all feeling right now reflects the love he generated in so many of us. Sir Doks, it has been an honor and the purest of pleasures to have known you, and called you a big brother, friend, mentor, benefactor, confidant. May the good Lord comfort and strengthen Sister Yetunde, Dr. Dedun, Adebanke, Kunbi, Taiwo and kehinde....and all your siblings.

I am seriously broken…my heart bleeds…but still, I can only thank Heavenly Father, creator of all things, for blessing us with Sir Doks….thanks for letting us know this wonderful man who taught us unselfish love, personal ethics, rewards of hard work, decency, being a good partner and parent, quiet elegance, good living and jazz ……and finally dear Lord, we return our cherished champion to you, may he find eternal peace at your side! Wale Adeyemo, Raleigh, NC

Sir Doks (Egbon e), I have been finding it difficult to write a tribute on you. Writing your tribute is like writing the story of my life. I find it very hard to know where to start or where to end. We had gone a long way together starting as young 'Degoke Adeyemo's boys at Iremo Road, with you as the "bunch leader"and me and Tunji trailing behind to the years spent together at 17, Akarabata Lay-Out, (Line 1), Ile-Ife to when you have to suddenly exit our lives to join the saints triumphant. It's been a tough reality to accept. I will never forget our years together in Lagos to the recent times we have been together toiling the ground together and fighting the cause of our forebears at Aye Adeyemo. Distance had never been a barrier to our relationship and at all fronts. You had been a good brother, leader, confidant and friend. May the good Lord bless you where you are.

Now that the reality is done on me that you have gone to be with your Creator who loves you more, all I have to say is: Sir Doks (Egbon e) continue to rest in peace in the bosom of your creator till we meet to part no more. 

Sir Doks (Egbon e), by the Grace of the Almighty God, me and my other siblings will continue and sustain the good legacies you left behind. I earnestly pray that the Lord God Almighty grants us the wisdom and the means to succeed and we shall by His Grace.

Sir Doks sunn re o l'akata Jesu.

'Denji Adeyemo 

My heart bleeds!!! This sure stings. Just like that, like a candle in the rain you left everyone surprised and asking what happened? With an unshakeable faith and trust in God almighty, we bid you farewell to your maker in whom you believed so much 

Big daddy, Sir Doks; the one who also has an epithet for everyone, you are the real deal!! Rest In Peace uncle.

I have tried to come to terms with this and it is still hard. I still can’t believe Big Daddy is no more and I honestly lack the words.

You still had so much to live for, but I will take solace in the fact that Absent in this world is present with the Creator. 

Rest in peace sir. I will go harder and live life in your honour. 

A Tribute to Sir Doks

Our beloved Sir Doks, it has been a struggle processing the sad reality of your demise; it is shocking and devastating, but we bow to God’s superior will and pray for peaceful repose of your lovely soul.

For over 30 years we were first colleagues at Shell, later family friends, and for all those years, it was our privilege to have come across a gentleman with whom we shared some wonderful moments. Indeed, our thoughts of Dokun always revolved around how blessed he was with a lovely family that he and Yetunde had brought up and who have increasingly doted on him as he aged gracefully. Several times we reminisced with him and congratulated him on the choices he made, and the good fortune of a wonderful, caring family.

My thoughts go back to London, where we first had a one-on-one meeting in the early nineties. I had heard so much about him as the go-to-Shell-HR-person. I was at the time on cross-posting at Shell UK Expro. I found out he was to be in London and booked an appointment to have lunch with him. He turned up in time and we had a wonderful time. I reminded him of our first meeting in Assen a few years earlier when I visited the Shell Nigeria families there.

Anne and I later found out that he and his family had settled down at VGC, where we also were to first settle down upon our return to Nigeria in 1995. It was from then our friendship, beyond being Shell colleagues, grew. Sir Doks together with his lovely wife, Yetunde (who I call Olori) played a major role in assisting us to settle down at VGC, and for that we remain very grateful. Sir Doks was the one person I spent a lot of time with, especially Saturday evenings when we would enjoy pepper soup or grilled fish at VGC. He was one I depended on for a lot of advice. He simply would tell it to you in simple straightforward words – take it or leave it.

In later years, when I joined the Council of the Federal Nigeria Society for the Blind (FNSB) and more recently as its Chairman (November 2019 to May 2022), I invited Sir Doks to join us as our HR adviser and he kindly obliged. It is to his credit that we now have an FNSB Employee Handbook, in addition to readily providing us with guidance on HR matters.

We spoke frequently and socialised on many occasions, and one just felt relaxed in his company. Yetunde of course was always there, an ever-present pillar of support in many situations.

On Thursday September 22 2022, Sir Doks gave me a call to greet me. He started by saying we hadn’t spoken for a while and we had our usual banter and we must have spoken for about half an hour. On Saturday September 24 2022, we were on the way to a wedding at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina when I got a call from Dada Thomas, and he was telling me something I found unbelievable. Of course, we immediately make a U-turn and set out to Lekki to catch up with Yetunde just outside Nicon Town where we confirmed our worst fears … Sir Doks sounded hale and hearty when we spoke two days earlier !

We will miss Sir Doks, no doubt about that. We already do. We thank God that the sacrifices he and Yetunde made to educate their lovely daughters have paid handsomely; see how well they are doing. We pray that they, supporting Yetunde, will have the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. We know that Dedun, Banke, Kunbi, Taiwo and Kehinde will be worthy survivors of our beloved Sir Doks.

Adieu, our beloved Sir Doks ! Forever in our hearts.

Anne and ‘Gbola Sobande

Daddy, your death came as a rude shock to me. You visited us in Ile- Ife and left after spending 9 days in the month of September 2022, little did I know that would be your last visit. It pained me so much.

You were such a wonderful brother. I enjoyed every moment I spent with you. I appreciate your love, kindness, consideration, compassion, generosity and lot of attributes you possessed which I can never forget. 

The vacuum your demise created will be very difficult to fill but we take solace in God that you lived a good, decent and fulfilled life. You loved me so much like  your daughter with whom I share the same name: Miss Taiwo Adeyemo. I am consoled  by the fact that everybody that came to condole with us testified that you are a great man that lived a good and enviable life.

I pray God Almighty grant your soul eternal rest. Adieu sir.

Mrs Taiwo Adeyemo (Ile-Ife) 

Writing about you is one of the most emotion thing I have ever done now that I am pained because you left me unprepared. Your virtues of contentment, humility, patience, respect, tolerance and thankfulness have illuminated my life. Your immense compassion and desire to help others is an attribute. You have been a guiding light to other, you were so generous, caring and did your best for everyone around you.

You had a deep believe in God and left me with words of hope, encouragement and prayer. I pray that we honour your legacy of love, kindness, generosity, positivity and posterity.

I take solace in the fact that igi ti o to ki pe ni igbo and that the righteous shall be taken away before the evil days. May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace.