Femi, continue your eternal sleep in the bosom of your maker.  We loved and still love you BUT the Lord loves you the most.

You are sorely missed, my friend and professional colleague.

Gone too soon!

Femi has left a huge void in the lives of many. But he has also left behind an impressive legacy. A true gem!

My deepest sympathies go out to Yinka and the Girls; Bukky, Bayo and the Boys; and the entire family. May his memory forever be a Blessing...🙏🏽

I stumbled across this poem which struck a cord with me and thought to share...

When I Must Leave You

By Helen Steiner Rice

When I must leave you

For a little while -

Please do not grieve

And shed wild tears

And hug your sorrow to you

Through the years,

But start out bravely

With a gallant smile;

And for my sake

And for my name

Live on and do

all things the same,

Feed not your loneliness

On empty days,

But fill each waking hour

In useful ways,

Reach out your hand

In comfort and in cheer

And I in turn will comfort you

And hold you near;

And never, never

Be afraid to die

For I am waiting for you in the sky!

                              ~

Rest in Perfect Peace Profound Dear Femi... 🙏🏽 🙏🏽 🙏🏽  

I've had this page open for a couple of weeks - couldn't bring myself to write. It's almost as if writing this makes it true and real. 

I've known Femi from our FGC Idoani days, through Ife, and more recently in a professional setting. What a guy!

A true professional in every way, kind loving, yet firm and no nonsense. Knowledgeable, balanced and yet related well with everyone regardless of their station.

You will be greatly missed.

Adieu

-  Lekan Akinyanmi

Sometimes, the only thing I really want to say is “nothing” because I am still in shock. Mr. Abegunde was a good leader and mentor. I got so many lessons from him, including lessons about life.

Although, he would not tolerate “wishy-washy” at work, he was a friend of his staff members. He was fun to be with. Each time I called him after I left Deloitte, he would first ask me about my current work and family. Most times they were lengthy discussions just to filter if I was okay. He was passionate about solving people’s problems, whether work related or otherwise.

He thought me that when something must be done by “anybody” and you are among them, just “fix it”. According to him, it is possible that nobody will show interest. I remember telling him how difficult it was to abandon your personal workload to concentrate on everybody’s interest, but he told me that if I leave it, so many things could go wrong and more effort might be required to curtail/redeem the situation.

While I feel so sad that he has gone too soon, I take solace in the fact that God allowed our path to cross. Meeting him was one of the best things in my career. FAB (as we usually called him) provided support to a lot of individuals and will always be remembered.

My prayer is that God should continue to be with his family.

All I have left to say now is that may his soul rest in perfect peace! 

It was on a Monday morning when aunty Bukky called to tell me you had passed on, I screamed ,my neighbors quickly rushed out and asked what happened? I said I had lost my mentor. It was painful, my wife had to leave her car on d road when she heard. She didn't believe it. It got 2 us like a storm, a rude shock !

I met you through Hon. (Dr.) Jibayo and ever since it's been fun with u uncle.

I was glad when ur siblings called me your PA in Akure.

I will miss coming to the airport to pick u up. You brought ur family to my house last year December, we all ate together and had fun, I am grateful.

You have impacted so much in me, you trust me so much , you trained me to be a better person. We talk almost every day, you pick my calls whenever I call u, u will say Kenny o ga ju.

Uncle I was broken when I heard about your demise. What a world we live in!

We were together in Ekiti during your mother- inlaw's burial. I chatted you 23rd August,2021 and you said Kenny am not getting any better , I was scared ,I quickly spoke with aunty Bukky and she said we should keep praying, I was broken. 

Who are we to question God?

You came ,you saw and you have conquered...it was pleasant knowing you sir. My wife will miss u, Hon.Dr Jibayo will miss u but I will miss u more. Continue to rest in the bosom of the Lord.

My sincere condolences to the entire Abegunde's family most especially aunty Yinka. God will console you ma. Good night Uncle Feme.

I never believed you would go so soon! A soft spoken perfectionist and astute auditor.

As the Special Assistant to Dr. (Hon.) 'Jibayo Adeyeye, I had a privilege of meeting some of his friends and associates.

Sometimes in 2018 Dr 'Jibayo gave me an assignment with a stringent deadline and that was how I met Uncle Femi Abegunde.

We became family, he took me as his own, he was my Baba oko due to the fact that himself and my husband were from the same place. My husband became his Personal Assistant and they were very close.

Looking back it seems we met  just  a few years ago but honestly, I feel like I have known him for over 20 years.  I will miss you, we will miss you but I know Kenny will  miss you more.

Goodnight Uncle ! 

Tribute to Mr Femi Abegunde

You lived an exemplary life to those fortunate to have crossed paths with you. We are sad and deflated that you left so suddenly but your footprints are undeniably visible on earth and they give us true hope that one day, we will meet never to depart again in the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Death could not stop you, it only aided your ascendance into a world of true peace.

Rest in glory Uncle Femi.

- Segun Ajayi

TRIBUTE TO MY BROTHER FEMI ABEGUNDE “CHIEF”

I can’t belief that I will be writing this tribute for Femi my brother. It’s painful and forever will cherish the last 3 days I was with him in the hospital.

Femi was our Number 1 Jambite while I was number 4 at Great Ife (Obafemi Awolowo University) many years ago studying Accounting.

Some years ago, Femi called me “ Felix, “You are my brother not just my Friend ”

Femi my Brother, you fought a good fight, you finished the course, you kept the faith, therefore the crown of glory which Lord the righteous judge prepared awaits you. I was with you on Friday 27 August, and we chatted all through. You ate and drank the water and even ask questions from the Medics. You gave so much hope and assurance that all is well as I urge you to keep fighting. There was no sadness or pain. On several occasions, you were more concerned about me not sitting down whilst the doctors were talking to you. You ask me to get you a fan, I went out and brought one, you message me on Saturday 28th Aug. that the fan it was a “Saviour”.

Destiny brought us together over three decades ago. After finishing my youth corp. with 1st Bank Abeokuta, our friend and brother Peter Ajewole visited me and ask if I would like to work for Ondo state government and narrated that Femi’s dad had given him a job, I replied yes and eventually attended an interview at Akure and got the job. My first serious job.

Destiny moved us closer after I relocated to UK and Femi’s first job assignment out the country landed at our house the day my son was celebrating his first birthday. That event brought a special bond between Femi and my son. He drove for hours to be with me and his mum when he had the news. Femi’s Life touched both young and old, black, and white.

I remember in 2006 after he was appointed Partner at Deloitte, Femi called me to ask if I would like to join him in travelling to Beijing in China for the ceremony. Femi wouldn’t accept all the excuses I gave until I answered yes. We met at Heathrow Airport and travelled with him and his colleagues to China. We had fun, visited the Great Wall, went to local market, and bought items for our wives and children. Each time he picks an item, he would ask if this is fine for the girls. A true family man indeed.

Destiny continued to move our families closer together when I told Femi about my calling to step out in ministry. Our first service took place in our conservatory with only my families and his families present. For Femi, Yinka and the girls, there is no hiding place in our house. Same as when my family visit them too, Femi and his wife will go all the way to ensure our stay is comfortable on numerous occasions. Anytime they visit, we all stay under the same roof without any issue. Such was his big and loving heart.

Destiny brought us closer with my wife and Yinka “Chief Mrs” became so close that anytime she is upset, Femi will tell my wife, mummy Foluke “I have upset your sister, please help me beg her…

There was never a dull moment in his life. I saw Femi sleeping peacefully on the 29th Aug.2021 at about 11pm.

Femi did not die but resting in Perfect peace of God.

Sleep well my BROTHER…

Egbon Feme... That’s what I called him, and he was truly that! My brother from another mother.

My elder siblings Bayo and Morayo were together in the Obafemi Awolowo and had 2 very good friends Bukky and Yinka. As fate would have it, Bayo went on to marry Bukky who was Egbon Feme’s younger sister and Egbon Feme married Yinka - the rest is history. 😊

I never considered him an in-law, because he transcended that and treated me as his aburo. He often cited his lovely wife and daughters as evidence and proof that women are beautiful intelligent and successful, reminding me in my times of doubt that the sky is the limit. He attended my wedding back in 2011 and was always present at major family occasions.

What I loved to see was the relationship he had with my mother. He was like another son to her. They would gist in fluent Yoruba, and laughing together as they watched “Border Control” and “Can’t pay… I’ll take it away.

I will remember how you lived.  Full of life and seizing each moment to celebrate. Rest easy my Egbon and  your 3 mummies will pamper you until one day we will meet again. 

It is well with your soul and your legacy will continue to live on in your wonderful family. 

Kemi Owoeye (Nee Osobe)