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Wale Igbintade

Members of the St. Gregory’s College Old Boys Association (SGCOBA) have paid a condolence visit to the family of their esteemed Board of Trustees member, Chief Olabode Emanuel, who passed away on January 4, 2025.

The delegation, led by veteran advertising expert, Sir Steve Omojafor, was warmly received by members of the Emanuel family, including Justice Nike Coker, Chief Ade Emanuel, Prof. Ogunbiyi, Mrs. Anana Emanuel, Mr. Bobby Emanuel, and Ms. Gbemi Emanuel.

During the visit, Omojafor conveyed the association’s heartfelt condolences, describing the late Chief Olabode Emanuel as a remarkable individual who transcended regional boundaries, viewing everyone as a fellow Nigerian, and particularly as a Gregorian.

He described the late Chief Olabode Emanuel as someone who was everything to everyone – a man in a million whom you could always rely on.

His words: “He never cared where you came from. Sometimes, Uncle Bode didn’t even need to know your name, as long as he knew you were a Gregorian, he welcomed you with open arms, whether at his office or his home. He would stop and help you wherever you met him.”

He encouraged the family to find comfort in the legacy left by the late Emanuel, noting that only the God determines when a person’s time on earth has come to an end.

Omojafor reflected on the inevitability of death, reminding the family that every individual, at some point, must return to their Creator.

 He said: “There’s a time to be born, and there’s a time to die. There’s a time to gather and a time to scatter. There’s a time to cry, and a time to laugh. There’s a time to mourn and a time to rejoice.

At this moment, we are all asking ourselves: are we mourning or rejoicing? Are we crying or laughing? We all know that a time will come for each of us to return to our Creator. As we grow older, we begin to look forward to it. When the Lord knocks on our door and says it’s time to come home, we must be prepared.”

Recalling his days as a young Gregorian in the Boys’ Scouts, Omojafor highlighted the motto “Be Prepared,” noting that, as one ages, it becomes essential to prepare for the inevitable.

Omojafor continued: “For those of us who didn’t meet him in school, he accepted us as his own once he knew we were Gregorians. He embraced us and made us part of his life. So, yes, we mourn him, but we also celebrate his well-lived life.

“He was admired by all, and there is hardly anyone, whether from St. Gregory’s College or elsewhere, who encountered him and didn’t have something positive to say.”

He further added: “While we mourn, we also thank God for the life he lived. He left behind a legacy – family, children, classmates, and even those of us who were his juniors. We pray that the Lord accepts his soul into Paradise and forgives him all his transgressions.”

In his remarks, Dr. John Abebe, Emeritus President of SGCOBA, acknowledged the late Olabode Emanuel as a true Gregorian who greatly contributed to the success of both the college and the old boys’ association.

He added: “He was one of the biggest donors to both the association and the college over the last forty years. It’s no surprise that we are offering our full support and love to the family he left behind. This is what it means to be a Gregorian.”

Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, a retired jurist, also spoke, remembering Chief Emanuel as a great man who made significant contributions to the progress and development of the school.

Other members of the delegation included Gregorians Mr. Akin Ajayi, Dr. Charles Hammond, Chief Gilbert Grant, Ms. Lola Alakija, AIG Tunji Alapini (rtd), Mr. Biola Sappor, and Mr. Lanre Adegbite.