• This signature smile will be missed. Rest in perfect peace my dear brother 

Adieu Femi and rest in perfect peace. May the Lord comfort and protect your loved ones.

Femi Abegunde rest with the Lord your maker. No more struggle, pain and suffering. You are kind, selfless and always helpful. I remen er all your encouragement while I was in Deloitte. A mentor. A friend. Great professional. Committed to God. You shall be greatly missed. Rest in perfect peace till we meet again

I was in a cold sweat when I heard the news of Femi's passing.

Femi and I met at the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University and had normal student to student relationships. However, this normal relationship got upgraded when we left school and we became “family”. Femi introduced me to his dad who gave me my first employment in Ondo State. His mum gave employment to my niece. Thereafter Femi himself found me employment when I relocated to Lagos.

Femi was always concerned about where his friends were working and always ensuring he provided help by ensuring, whenever and wherever he could, to help friends get gainful employment. He did not wait for friends to come to him. He was always asking questions about your work and offering to counsel.

You can’t fail to notice Femi’s sense of humour. Back in university, he was our Director of Socials. Whenever Femi arrived at meetings, the meeting must proceed to item 7.

One thing Femi didn’t joke with was his health. It is a cruel joke of nature that it was his health that failed him. Only God knows the answer to such life contradictions.

Now you have reached the crystal river

Your pilgrimage has ceased

Your harp string vibrates with a melody of peace

We have to give you up to be with the Lord

Goodnight forever

Gborooh!!! Thats the hailing we give to a clique amongst some few friends within us. Femi, is not just a friend any more in my family because his is known and well respected on the roll he played during the period I lost my Gtb-cousin in Liberia. We have been close right from our 1st day as Jambito in Angola hall.  So, how in disbelief I was when I got the news his passing into glory. I can bet, most of us in Agafe, still could not bring to term the reality of femi's demise. The reality will dawn more when perhaps we see the physical body. 

I thank God for the wonder life he has lived. The legacy been able to create and lives affected positively. He been a wonderful fellow. The lord almighty will grant him eternal rest in his glory

Hmmm!!! The journey of life...

Femi Abegunde was a highly respected class mate at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

He was a brilliant, humble and friendly classmate. I thank God for the kind of life he lived.

He was a great helper. I can still remember how I used to visit him in his father's house at Ijapo Estate, Akure where he used to assist me in solving some accounting/ taxation problems.

It's so sad that he left at this time. It's my prayer that the almighty God will console and be with his wife, children, family and AGAFE 88 members.

May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Amen!

When Ayo Abegunde passed in April this year,Femi called me and it was a gist that spanned  days. Ayo’s death was too painful for him and his siblings. They had spent money and it had been a long and difficult journey with Ayo. Femi was so eager to put up a Trust Fund for Ayo’s children. I suggested that they place the widow on a monthly salary but he said a capital No. He kept telling me.. Tayo, if anything happens to me, I don’t want Ayo’s children to suffer especially their education.. He kept saying this particular sentence and I was not paying attention.🥵🥵🥵

We were classmate in Secondary School , FGC Idoani Class of 5A  Students and we currently have an alumni group platform where we were interacting  and do socialise . Right back in secondary school days , my seat was quite close to that of Femi's seat  and he was always teasing me with the nick name  "Oros" . With our seats next  to each other in class , that   brought us close as good friends from Secondary School till his demise  . When Femi was working in Arthur Andersen by Gerrard Rd after Alexander Avenue, I was  also residing at Ikoyi , Onikoyi Street off Alexander Avenue  but  formerly known as Tumble Street. Femi could come in to the house to check on us as he became very close to all my siblings even though we did not attend the same University. I attended University of Nigeria,  studied  Business Management and he attended OAU and studied Accounting . I could recollect a time   he became Chartered as a professional Accountant , he paid us a visit  in my house to announce it and we all went out in the company of my  two female siblings to take pepper soup and soft  drinks years back  at   Lekki Peninsula. Over years, I  observed that we had alot in common as Ondo indigenes . Femi's Father was Head of Service in Ondo State while my dad was a Permanent Secretary at a time under Fed Civil Service Commission.   His mum was into education , so also  my mother till date. Femi's siblings attended Fed Govt Colleges, so my siblings, born in December 09 so I was born in December 13 . When I heard the mother was very sick and on admission at the hospital right in Lagos , I ran there to sympathize and prayed with him encouraging him even though the mother did not make it due to old age, It was there I had another opportunity to  interact with all his siblings once again after a very long time and attended his mum's burial ceremony   . It was a rude and sudden shock to hear that Femi had passed on in London . Well, as a Christian, I have my solace in God  that he has gone to rest and God had the best plan for him. Femi will surely be missed by his immediate family , siblings , classmates and colleagues . He was a jolly good fellow,  very intelligent and quite  focused . My  prayer is that God will have mercy and protect the family he left behind as we offer our prayers . May his soul continue to rest in perfect peace. Amen. Adieu Femi !

Femi, 

Ever gracious. One of the 3 that I think of as the carers in Agafe.  Checking up on me constantly, supporting my decisions even when you don’t understand or agree. Will miss you much. Last time we spoke was shortly after you lost your brother. You are united now. I pray that God will comfort your family and they will reap the reward of your large heart. 

Yemi (agafe ‘88) 

Feme, Big brother

So it’s the end, your race is run.

Been difficult to find the words, to piece it all together. Always thought we’ll have more time, to care, share, have more fun times  and make many more wonderful memories together. But the good Lord has chosen to bring you home. Pray his love and comfort continue to abide with Yinkus and your lovely girls. 

Till we meet at His feet to mourn no more. Enter and rest well in the Master’s bosom forever! 

You’ll be missed!

Ha Baba!!!! 

Indeed a shock that it is time to say good bye.  You were a pillar of support right from our days in Andersen when we were young and needed all the motivation to learn and be resilient.  In the last few years when our relationship became that of client and a consultant, you were ever a solution provider. You always had options of solution to every problem. 

Hmmmmm............., i will miss our gist times, the loud laughs and your subtle guide. 

Thanks for all you have been to me. May your gentle soul continue to rest in peace and may your family be comforted in the memory of your good deeds that will pave way even in your absence.

Goodnight.

Dear Baba, it is really unbelievable that you are no more. I recall how you made me feel at home during my entry level interview in Andersen (KPMG) years ago, thank you for giving me the opportunity to work in a great firm. You were a great boss, you provided an enabling environment for us to thrive in Energy unit, you were firm and nice at the same time, you made sure we worked hard without forgetting to show genuine concern for our wellbeing. Years after when when our paths crossed again outside the firm, you were the still the same Baba, smiling, joking and friendly. Your passing is indeed a huge loss to us all and you will be greatly missed. I pray for comfort and strength for your family during this very difficult time. Rest in perfect peace Baba.

Femi,

You will be surely missed . Rest on.....

Femi Abegunde, My Director of Socials, as I always call you. Remember how God used you to bail me out when I lost my job with Nigeria Merchant bank and how you proactively provided a new job for me with Texaco Oil Company in 1998. Remember how so friendly we were those days. Remember that we loved ourselves and so acted as brothers. You have left me behind this sinful world because i know the Lord requested for you. We shall meet again in God’s presence and then continue our love. Good night Femi and bye for now. Leo Ezedike, Agafe88

Whenever and wherever Femi showed up there was life in such gathering. Never boring seeing and having him. Death, to us, has come too early for you - God knows the best. May God Almighty who has called you grant your soul eternal rest and may He comfort your loved ones left behind in Jesus name. 

The news of Femi Abegunde"s passing came as a shock but as human we can only accept this as the will of God without questioning it. Life lived well is about making impact that last beyond human existence and I can testify this about Femi. My relationship with him as my boss at Deloitte changed my life and career focus on high standards, courageous living, determination to always excel and making impact that matters through mentoring and encouraging others.

To the family, please be consoled in Christ Jesus and the life Femi lived which positively impacted individuals, the professional, national and international space.

My family and I express our condolence to the wife and children, siblings and entire family, may God comfort and keep all that he left behind and may his gentle soul rest in peace.

Olaide Okere 

Femi and l reconnected after school in 2009 or so while l was a member of the house of Reps leading the investigations of NNPC and he led the external audit team of the corporation. Immediately we caught on and his ever jolly good fellow attitude lit up. I saw him last in lagos in company of one of our classmates in a restaurant in VI just before the lockdown or so. Again he serenaded the place with his presence. Jovial, smiling and always willing to help. He will is sorely being missed. God knows best. My sincere condolences to his wife Yinka and family. May his soul Rest In Peace. Amem

The world is like a stage.."and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances"

Femi was a free Spirit. As a classmate in the Uni days, he had no guile. He was sociable and witty. Apart from the classroom lectures, we usually jam either at Mozambique or Moremi Hall. Such was the carefree days of our youth. I wish him a free stride upwards to the joyous realms of the free Spirits. Amen.

I remember Femi Abegunde growing up as a simple , playful and fun filled person. Our families shared quite some bond, he was a close friend to my immediate brother Ayotunde, while his bigger brother Ayo was friend to my own bigger brother Sola.
I remember sharing some banters with him on his return from his Mom's burial. We joked about our grown children and how it's a great reminder of our aging process. We reminiscenced about the nobility and integrity of our late father's and how much they respected each other.
We parted on a charging note; In his words "Folake we need to do more to make these our fathers prouder , you know?" Those were his last words to me...Will indeed do more Femi, you have touched the world and we remain grateful for your life..Adieu dear brother...Folakemi Olayinka Olomojobi

It was a great shock to learn of Femi Abegunde’s passing. I was desperately hoping and praying that he would recover and be back on his feet. This is a great loss to everyone. Femi was my university classmate and two words sum him up in my opinion: access and kindness. Femi was accessible and kind. He was a lover of people who actively sought the welfare of others. In January 2020, I reached out to Femi about helping to get a vacation internship for my daughter in Deloitte, Nigeria. He couldn’t help but he immediately referred me to two of our class mates in KPMG and PwC, one of whom helped to secure the needed internship for my daughter. I last chatted with Femi a few months ago. 

Femi was never too big to pick your calls or respond to your chats. I greatly appreciate that about him. A jolly good fellow indeed, always at our university class alumni meetings, except he was out of the country. Femi would always contribute financially to every cause in our group. He was an extremely busy guy that had time for people. 

I send my condolences to Femi’s wife, Sister Yinka (who I met ever so briefly in February 2018 while she was representing Femi at a burial), his precious daughters, siblings, family and friends. This is a very tough one. I pray that God gives them and everyone the fortitude to bear this great loss. 

May Femi’s soul rest in peace. May his godly legacy live on. Amen. 

Baba! So sad to hear you are gone! Is this for real?

You were a brilliant and approachable boss to work with! You carried everyone along, and staff under your leadership felt like they were part of one big family. The energy unit of Andersen/KPMG was unique because of you.

I can't believe you are gone....you impacted the lives of so many!

May God bless your family and all mourning you during this very difficult time.

Rest in peace Baba (Femi). 

TRIBUTE TO A FRIEND AND BROTHER

I have been shocked following the “untimely” passage of Femi.

I avoided thinking about him because of the emotional uproar.

Comforted by the words of Shakespeare that “….death is a necessary end and it will come when it will come…”

I have summoned up the courage to write thus:

I met FEMI in 1979 when he was admitted to our great school-FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COLLEGE IDOANI.

Our meeting was casual.

He first caught my attention when he became one of the Government scholars that won scholarship for the entire duration of his stay as a student in our school.

As students of this very great school,we were not very close and didn’t really cross each other’s path except for the closeness of any classmates.

We both left Idoani and while he left to the then University of Ife and studied accounting,I was in the University of Lagos studying Medicine.

We never met during our university days.

Providence brought us together when I established my Hospital practice in Ikosi Ketu Lagos. Femi also lived in ikosi with his brothers.

I quickly became his family Doctor and our closeness developed from here.

Our very close relationship spanned over twenty years even though we had known one another for over 40years.

We shared a lot of things in common, we got married about one week apart and our children have an age mate on either side.

Our closeness became infectious to our siblings. Our siblings related freely amongst themselves at the background just as our nuclear families did.

We went together with our families on holidays to different parts of the world and different tourist destinations.

For many years, particularly when our children were growing up, we synchronized our family holidays.

Femi and I also toured several parts of the world together.

While I relied on Femi for financial and investment advice, Femi relied on Funke (my wife) and I for medical advice.

There was hardly any major event in both families that we were not both present except for extraneous circumstances.

We watched each other’s back and we criticized one another when we were alone.

Whereas Femi lived and work on the island, I worked and lived on the mainland, but distance was not a barrier. We spoke and saw each other frequently.

Femi being an accountant was extremely accountable while I was quite weak in this. As such, he was the record keeper of all our expenses while we traveled.

Femi loved his family and would sacrifice anything for their comfort.

Femi was a workaholic! He was always on his computer as he didn’t like to respond late to an email, most times at his own detriment.

Femi was my closest friend.

We shared every moment of his last days together on phone and video even though he was on face mask far away in London, while I was in Atlanta.

I did not doubt one bit that Femi would pull through. We had gone through more difficult times together.

But Alas! “the necessary end came when it would come“ and Femi passed, without saying goodbye.

We shall surely miss you dear brother.

Adieu Femi!!! Continue to rest on till we meet to part no more.

Jibayo Adeyeye.

I mourn my friend and brother of 38 years, a very simple man and a thoroughbred professional. Femi had amazing simplicity and friendliness about him, but was passionate about his profession and was always approachable and willing to help. At Ife, he was a great and extremely friendly classmate. At Andersen, he was supportive and fun colleague. Outside of work he remained a sincere friend, and a great family man. Femi was willing to help, any time, any day. Writing this condolence at this time was something out of contemplation a mere two weeks ago, especially for a brother full of life and zest, but we submit to the will of the Almighty. Our gratitude is for the great professional and personal life he lived, the lives he touched, the wonderful family he raised, and for our assurance that he knew the Lord. Femi's good work and impact live on. Rest on my pal and brother!

• Still trying to accept the fact that FAB is no longer with us on this side of the divide.
• We cannot question God. It is a personal loss. We can only thank God for allowing our paths to cross. I will continue to cherish the memories forever.
• I pray that God Almighty will uphold the family you left behind and grant you eternal rest.
• Thanks for the roles you played in my career development and free consultation whenever it was needed
• You had left a huge vacuum that cannot be easily filled not only in Nigeria but worldwide.
• Rest on my mentor.