I was saddened to hear of the untimely death of Greg, a colleague I had the privelege to work with for over 20 years. He was a humble man who took immense pride in his job and was that rare breed who always stepped up to support his colleagues and the department without hesitation ensuring that his patients got the best possible care. His seniority and wealth of experience meant he was called upon a lot , often when not even oncall and he did so without any need for appreciation and recognition. His calm demeanor and huge infectious smile will be sorely missed. He was a family man and talked often of Esther and his children and grandchildren and my thoughts are with you all. His legacy will live on and in time I hope we will all take comfort from the lovely memories he created with us. Rest in Peace Greg, x
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Tribute for Dr Greg Ofili,
I knew Dr Greg through Igbo
Union Glasgow, A community group where he served as secretary for many years, helping to coordinate the affairs of members. When I joined the union, it did not take long to notice Dr Ofili’s dedication and desire to see the union succeed in its aim of fostering the affairs of members. I and other colleagues were taken in by your humility which provided a worthy example. During meetings, you were not known for many words. Any time you spoke, it was to provide good advice and direction to facilitate deliberations. You were an excellent bridge between Igbo union members who had been here longer and the more recent arrivals. Beyond Igbo union meetings, you also made yourself available to support community and family events, including child dedication and graduation ceremonies. I recall that you honoured a few of these invitations for my family. It was such a shock when the news broke that you had passed away. For someone like you, full of health and humour, nothing could have prepared me for such news. I will miss you dearly. As a big brother, friend and a pillar of the Igbo union, our community in Glasgow has been dealt a major blow. I pray the good Lord to grant you eternal peace. I also pray for strength for your family who’s pain we all share. Your memories will always be there for us to remember you as a kind and warm person who touched the lives of everyone that encountered you. Goodbye Greg, until we meet again to part no more.
- Marcel Azubuike
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Its so so sad to learn that you have passed!
Uncle Greg as I called you, you will always remain ever green in my heart as a very humble person.
You attended Igbo Union meetings with aunt Esther going from table to table greeting everyone with a smile that won the hearts of everyone present.
I have always regarded you as an epitome of humility and kindness. A couple worthy of emulation.
I endeavour to maintain contact to ask about the family and to express my little gratitude for your christmas card which arrives ahead of others.
As recent as early January, I got in contact with aunt Esther to send my new year wishes to the family and was assured everyine was ok. Little did I know that the cold hands of death was about to take our beloved uncle away from us. Nothing can be more shocking than the news that you are no more!
We will miss you so dearly as we recall your good heartedness. But we will always take solace in the great memories that you left behind.
Goodbye dear uncle, and may your gentle souls rest in the bossom of the Lord. And to the family you left behind our prayers will always be with you especially at this time.
Adieu Uncle Greg
Ihuoma Azubuike
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UG my man. I remember our days in New Benin. You, Idehen and I. Undergrads. Roaming around and feeling hip with our J5 designer wears and afrohairdos with those weird wedge shoes and our hot pick combs. The friendship we developed them looked like it was going to last forever. Just a few years ago Idehen slumped and died. We decided you and Ihad to stick more together and chat daily to keep the flame alive. Suddenly in December you informed me that I was the 1st person to send you a Merry Christmas message and you sent me cash to buy brandy for that. In January you slept and didn't wakeup after our last chat. Was the brandy a send off drink Ogbueshi UG? Of the trio I am left alone. Ahoy? Why? Rest in peace UG. You are my Unforgettable friend.
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Dr Ofili is my uncle through marriage. Through the 90s and early 2000s, he acted as guardian to myself and other family members that moved over from Nigeria to continue our education.
We appreciate your care and your teachings. You have always been great with us and more tellingly, you have always been there for us.
As we reach the age that you were when you allowed us to invade your life, the magnitude of what you did for us is better understood and greatly appreciated.
Thank you for everything.
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May Greg's soul rest in perfect peace.
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I first met Greg in October 1967 during the Nigerian civil war. We were in Asaba Delta State, which is our home town. Unfortunately there was a massacre of Asaba indigenes by the Nigerian troops and we all escaped into the bush. We were lucky to be housed by a family who owned a small bungalow in a small village. Greg's family of 10 including his parents and my family of 10 including my parents were given a room each. You can imagine a family of 10 in a room. The young males in the family had to stay and sleep outside the room. That was where I bonded with him and his two elder brothers Peter and Pius. We continued our friendship till 1971 when we both got admitted at UNIBEN. We then went on to ABU, Zaria where he was my room mate with Professor Austin Obasohan. We had a ball as room mates. Only God knew how we got any studies done. We debated every issue. We quizzed each other. We teased each other. Those were wonderful days. He then went on to do an intercalated B.Sc in Biochemistry as he achieved a distinction then and ended graduating a year after us. That was sad because we then, never saw each other as often as we did and after qualification we went our different ways. We mainly communicated by phone and because he lived in Scotland we saw each other even less frequently. However that childhood bond remained as strong as ever. UG as we affectionately called him was a true gentleman. He never liked stress. Liked to keep things simple. Very straightforward and totally trustworthy. His death has come as a big shock for all of us his original classmates. He was an active member of our platform. He was full of wisdom. Its a massive loss. May almighty father console his wonderful wife Esther and his children and grandchildren. May his soul rest in peace. Chief (Prof) Victor Izegbu, The OJIAKU of ASABA.
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I am at a loss for words by the sudden passing of Dr Ug Ofili. My brother and friend, oh boy nah wah o. May the God receive your gentle soul and give your immediate family Esta, Uche, Sami & Emi the strength to go thru this tragedy. Amen.
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Dr UG, we love you so much. You will be missed dearly in our lives. May the good lord we serve, forgive your sins and accept your soul to rest in perfect peace. Amen!!!
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Dr Ofili, The news of your demise was a big surprise to me and all the members of Sugarcane African Restaurant, the last time you were at sugarcane African restaurant to eat your favourite beans meal little did I know you are going to leave us so soon, we love you so much but God loves you more May your beautiful soul rest in peace Amen.
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Tribute to Gregory Ubakanma Ofili. B. Sc., MB:BS; FMCOG, FRCOG. ( Nov 1954 - Jan 2004)
The discomforting news of the sad demise of a childhood friend, was broken to me by a telephone call from another close friend and former room mate Victor Izegbu just before noon yesterday 18th January. It was my saddest day in recent times.
At just 69, it is unbelievable and hurtful for Greg ( Ubaka) to pass away so swiftly. Greg was a quiet gentleman who took life easy. What lessons can we learn from this? Seems only spiritual. By our earthly standards , he was a very good man with a pure and clean heart.
Greg Ubaka Ofili and I were in school together, in the lower sixth form at ICC Benin City in 1971. We had finished school certificate in 1970, he coming from St. Pius Onitsha-Ugbo to meet us locals there. We both left lower sixth to MIT/ Uniben as FY71. We left to ABU Zaria along with others and there four of us were room mates at Ribadu Hall, Victor Izegbu, Greg ( Ubaka), Odjoh S ( late) and myself. Andrew Osahon Gbinigie was our alternate room mate, as he was more often in our room than his allocated next room. Ubaka was the youngest and most meek. As we returned to Benin from Zaria in 1974 he was recalled as a Distinction earner in Biochemistry to do an intercalated B.Sc. degree for one year, which he took and earned a BSc. Second Upper degree from ABU Zaria and returned to the next Medical Class graduating in 1978 with a Distinction in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. He went on to specialize in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and after the requisite passes went to the UK in 1985/86 for further training in O& G where he also passed the UK exams and worked at the highest level as a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist. He retired at 63 a few years ago, pretty early, and pursued other interests while taking life easy. Ubaka had a few health challenges about fifteen years ago but we believed it was all sorted out. This was time to explore the world but he seems to have fulfilled his God given assignment.
Though we had minimal contacts through mid working life, we reconnected in the last few years, thanks to the FY71 forum. He shared pleasant sentiments with me at my retirement last August. He will be sorely missed by all especially the FY 71 group. May God grant him eternal rest in his bosom and grant the family the fortitude to bear and carry on.
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Tribute to late Dr Ubaka Gregory Ofili UG or Greg to many of us
At birthdays and other celebrations we often sing ‘ He is a jolly good fellow, he is a jolly good fellow, he is a jolly good fellow- - -and so say all of us. I confess that I almost always join in the singing. However if the truth be told, there are not many who really qualify to be eulogised as such but without any equivocation our late brother, friend and colleague belonged to the select few.
I got to know Greg over fourty years ago and in all that time he has always come across as a genuine straightforward person, what you see is who he was, no false pretences, no hidden surprises. He was a good husband, a dedicated father, an excellent doctor and professional who always put the interests of his patients before his own interests and was always willing to go the extra mile to serve those around him. He had a light hearted approach to life and you felt entirely comfortable in his presence. Greg was someone who did not throw his words around because he felt himself bound to them. He was a man of integrity and altogether an examplary personality whom we all will miss very much.
Rest in peace our dear friend and colleague.
From N J and B I Nwabineli
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Sending prayers and love from to the family from our hearts 🙏🏿🙏🏿
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We have lost a well-loved and compassionate big brother, sponsor and mentor. Dr Greg Ofili and his family gave us a sense of community when we arrived in this country. We will miss his conversations, jokes and advice. His support and impact in our lives were immense and we will forever be grateful for his kindness and friendship. He will be greatly missed. May his gentle soul rest in the bosom of the Lord.
Ochuko and Mercy Emore
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May the soul of the departed continue to rest.
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Greg was a lovely man, we would joke about my bad leg and when I was using a walking stick in the hospital WIH. This news has filled me with great sadness as we did keep in touch by email. My best wishes to his family
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I am so sorry to hear of Greg Ofili's untimely death. I was One of Greg's colleagues in Wishaw General Hospital and I appreciated his kindly manner and his wealth of experience, both of which benefited his patients and all grades of staff.
I wish Esther and family every sympathy during their time of bereavement.
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Greg was always an inspiration, with his always gentle smile. His humility was without bounds. His demise was a shock as spoke with him few days before his passing as he was in our group planning for the Nigerian Catholic Community planning for our February Mass. He will be missed so much within the community.May his soul rest eternally with God.
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