Oh Bumsy, it took so long putting this down but despite the pains and tears your untimely demise brought me definitely I owe it to you my dearly beloved friend, you always had my respect and admiration.

Our friendship goes back to many years ago as teenagers. You had very special traits, some of which are your smiles, kindness, fierceness and carriage.

I remember how you always shared your snacks with us your friends in secondary school.

Life happened and we went our separate ways to face our university education, we got back in touch after some years and kept a good line of communication .

Bumsy you were an amazing friend who always reached out to me and cared so much about my family.

We talked so much about reuniting and spending some time during one of the holidays in the nearest future; oh death why???????.

Never did I imagine that when I spoke with you and your Mum between April and May that it would be the last time I get to hear your beautiful voice and talk about our dreams and hopes of enjoying life after so much dedication and sacrifices to family life.

Sleep on with the Angels my beautiful friend.

You loved God and that I can testify .

Oh Bunmi ("Bunmi Dehinbo", as I fondly called you) what can I say! It has taken me this long to write this message - my subconscious refusing to accept this painful reality.

I still cannot comprehend this but I take some solace in Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."

Bunmi, I do not have any memory of not knowing you (and Tolu - the Sannis), since the late '70s when our respective families returned from the UK, and our dads worked in Refinery Port Harcourt. To say that we, as a family, are sad would be an understatement.

I feel some comfort because I was able to visit you in hospital...but still, it hurts. It hurts a lot. Oje is deeply saddened! He'd been calling me to check on you.

Needless to say that your parents are devastated but, thank God for Zuriel so your memory lives on through him.

You ran your race and fought a good fight. We prayed and willed you better, but God knows best. You're at peace.

I will remember you as always smiling and warm :-). The last time we spoke was such a fun conversation and I'll cherish that. I mentioned a picture I'd found of you, me and my brothers (Oje & Imoh) plus our other friends, taken around March 1982.

Dear Bunmi, rest peacefully in the bosom of the Lord. Amen 🙏🏽

From Ohita Bare-Ibiayo and brothers Oje, Imoh, Osi and Omo BARE, and our parents

Bunmi,

Ore mi atata!

I still cannot believe you're gone. I've put writing this off in the hope it is all a bad dream I will soon wake up from. Unfortunately, it is not and so I am forced to compress a lifetime into a few words. I cannot remember a time I did not know you. 

 My memories of you stretch back to our early days in Port Harcourt when both our dads arrived as freshers from the UK to start their National Youth Service Corps at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in Port Harcourt. I remember our moms going to church together, primary school and journeys to school on the NNPC school bus, family visits, birthday parties, secondary school and eventually university where we shared a room at my Uncle Professor Sanni’s house in the staff quarters for 2 years. 

I remember staying up late at night talking about everything under the sun including our dreams and aspirations. I remember the squabbles and arguments and how you were always the peacemaker. You would never leave a disagreement to fester. I remember you giving me tips on dressing up in university, how to mix and match my outfits and you laughing at me throwing my hands up in exasperation at how I could never look as flawless as you did even in the exact same outfit. I remember coming to watch you perform at the Pit Theatre in Ife happy to tell anyone who cared to listen you were my 'cousin'. I don't remember the point at which we started claiming to be related but it seemed so much easier to tell people we were related than try to explain the depth of the relationship. I remember your phone calls always starting with "Hey Sis" and the hours we would spend on the phone talking about everything and nothing. You would ask after 'your' children Rhais and Cedd and tell me about 'my' son Zuriel. Weighed down by workload, studies, family and life in general the phone calls grew less frequent than we would like, but we would still stretch them for an inordinate amount of time catching up, complaining about the scam that is adulthood, laughing at our ever-expanding waistlines and carrying on like no time had passed at all.

Bunmi you were beautiful inside and out. Your smile lit up a room and when you spoke your voice trilled with the joy of life. You were ambitious and had plans for your life even before I knew what a curriculum vitae was. You were much more than a friend and my heart aches to think there will be no more phone calls, no more opportunities to catch up in person. Your love for life was rivalled only by your love for tennis, your love for your son and your love for God. Where I stumbled and fell in my faith, stood up and repeated, you remained steadfast and encouraged me throughout. There is so much more living I would have loved to share with you, but with the folly of youth I assumed we would always have tomorrow. I love you but God loves you more. You’ve gone to rest now, and I look forward to a time when we would meet again to part no more.

Rest in Peace Olubunmi Omowunmi ‘Tudela’ Adepoju (nee Dehinbo), beloved daughter, wife to Wale, mother to Zuriel and my oldest friend. Sleep well.

Tolu

Bunmi was simply a sweetheart! She had the warmth smile. Bunmi was the first friend I made in Ife, she was sweet, caring, generous and private. 

I was looking forward to our reunion when next I come to the UK but sadly that won’t be now. Even in this situation I bless God for the gift that Bunmi was, she touched everyone she met with her sweetness and she loved God. My prayer is that God’s comfort that passes human understanding will be with her family and us her friends. To be absent in the body is to be present with the Lord. Sleep now my beautiful friend until the resurrection morning.

My deepest condolences to the entire member of her family.

Bunmi was a great friend  and nice classmate back at OAU,beautiful  and ever smiling. 

Blessed are the dead in the lord “they will rest from their labour, for their deeds will follow them.” “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.

May God grant her family the fortitude to bear the loss.

RIP bunmi

This has been incredibly hard to write. The last few weeks has felt so surreal and almost like a bad dream. We are shocked as a family that you have left us Bunmi. Family get togethers would never be the same. And oh what fun memories we had! The singing, the dancing, the jokes, the funny conversations and yet serious ones about life, faith and our children.

You went too soon Bunmi, way too soon; but it comforts us to know you loved God and gave your life to Him and so you are definitely in His arms and enjoying His glory. We will cherish our memories of you - your humour and unique laughter, your immaculate makeup and classy and tasteful sense of dressing; always beautifully presented; your love for Federer and how you almost got us kicked out when we went to watch Murray v Federer :).

We are blessed to have known you Bunmi, and will miss you greatly. We will always celebrate your life and do our best to support the loves of your life - Uncle Wale and Zuriel.

Rest in peace our dearest sister!

Love, Funmi & Tunde

Dear Bunmi,

I still find it hard to believe you are gone. You came, you saw and whether we like it or not you’ve conquered.

It’s sad but God has just pullled you out of this wicked world into His glory. I will forever cherish the little time we spent together as Coursemates in OAU.

May you continue to rest in the bosom of God Almighty.

Adieu Angel.

Dear Bunmi,

You were that fine, neat, and ever smiling UDSS girl, I always admired from a distance. You were polite and had no airs despite the luxuries life afforded you. 

Since this sad news, I have had flashes of your pretty smiling face in your clean white & blue uniform. I remember few general places we converged in Yankari.

Wow Bunmi, "what is this life if full of care......" Your death is a loss on earth. 

May God comfort and strengthen your family and loved ones.

Rest in peace Olubunmi.

Bunmi... it's shocking to hear of your sudden transition to glory. You lived well, showed and shared the love of God with all that crossed your path.

We will surely miss your sweet smiles and warm disposition. Rest in peace in the bosom of the Lord till we meet and part no more.

Our deepest condolences to your husband, son and parents.

Joseph Baiyekusi 

The first time I ever saw Bunmi was on stage; she was playing the lead role in a theatre production in the Pit Theatre at our University, OAU Ife.  Her performance was vibrant, nuanced and confident, and she was a natural performer.  I was very surprised to learn afterward that she wasn't actually a theatre arts student; she acted because it was her hobby, she enjoyed it, and from what I could see she was extremely good at it. 

I then had the honour of dancing with Bunmi when we, and some other dancers, were selected to perform a piece to present at the launch of the Eledumare album by Dehumo Togoni-Bickersteth, choreographed by Faith Benson.  Once again, I connected with this jovial, happy girl, and we exchanged a few cheerful words. 

Several years after graduation, I had relocated to the UK.  I once again ran into Bunmi in the company of a dear friend, Tolu Sanni to whom she was related.  I remembered her instantly, and we laughed and chatted about the old school days and looked forward to the future.  She married her dear husband and had a wonderful son, and we often reconnected at social events.  She always had that warmest smile, and was always happy and welcoming to everyone.  

It's a huge shock knowing that her time on this earth has come to an end; it's far too soon.  When one is taken from us at such a young age, it's almost impossible to find words of comfort for her loved ones.  What could I possibly say?  I can't even begin to fathom the grief of her beloved Mum, Dad, husband, son, and so many friends and acquaintances.  My sincere condolences to you all. I pray that God in His infinite mercy gives you all a glimpse of the glory she now radiates in His divine presence, for if we could see the beauty of the hereafter, we would not mourn.  We will still miss Bunmi dearly... but we would not mourn. 

Rest in Power, dear Bunmi.  You are fondly remembered and will forever be cherished.  Please give my Mama a cuddle from me. 

Dola Oladipo (friend) x

I am writing this over a month after I learned that Bunmi is no more with us. It’s tough to imagine I can’t just pick my phone to call her or send an email or WhatsApp to share a message!

I met Bunmi at OAU, Ife in 1993. We were on a queue to register for a course. She had to go somewhere, so she asked if I could help reserve her space. I told her it’s OK. After that, I discovered we were actually in the same class, we were both 100 level students of English in the Faculty of Arts.

Bunmi was a decent, courteous and well mannered student all along our undergraduate years. We became a bit more acquainted because of our mutual interest in French language. We also had a few mutual friends.

After our undergraduate days, I lost contact with Bunmi. I reconnected with her through LinkedIn. We arranged to talk to catch up on our professional lives, family, surviving in the UK etc. During the call, I mentioned the startup business I was running. She became quite interested in the project and she offered to help with the legal side of things.

I can say without any reservation that having Bunmi as the head of our legal team since July 2019 has been a great blessing for Innovate Africa. Bunmi blatantly refused to get paid for any of her work! She was able to help draft, amend and update many legal documents, she sat in meetings and gave very robust legal advice. I am grateful for all the hardwork and every contribution from Bunmi.

When the wife of our classmate from Ife passed away in April, Bunmi was the first person to contribute to a Gofundme fund I created to help repatriate her body from the USA. That was the cheerful giver and selfless person that she was. This is just an example of quintessential Bunmi.

Personally, I have been blessed to have met her as students and also working professionally with her.

I pray that the good Lord will be with the family she’s left behind. And I will pray that “Odun a jina s’ira”

Dotun Adeoye

I honestly can’t believe you are gone Bunmi. I know we did not see each other often but your smile and positive energy always lit up the room. 

It is sad to know that your bright light is gone from our lives but God has called you home so go with God Bunmi. My thoughts and prayers are with your family. 

Bunmi,

We were all shocked to hear of your passing. It's my loss that I didn't get to do life outside the secondary school classroom with you.I have good memories of you from years back. What stands out most was your ever smiling face and the big text books you used to scare us with.

I remember an incident in primary school( I think). We had to fill out a form. They asked for state of origin. I had just newly come into Nigeria as a young girl. You happened to have been in front of me and filled in Ogun State as your state of origin. I joined you to write Ogun state as I thought Ogun and Ogoni were one and the same( chai)

Indeed earth's loss is heaven's gain. Rest in peace Bunmi and may God grant your family the strenght to carry on.

It was really sad hearing about your demise Bunmi. You departure from this world came rather too early, you were supposed to live to that old ripe age before death comes knocking but it came rather too soon. Well,who are we to question God. You were a good friend anyone would want to have. I remember our secondary school days and all. I pray your soul finds eternal rest in the bosom of our Lord Jesus. Amen. Rest in perfect peace my dear friend Bunmi.

Emmanuel T. Dagogo Hart.