BALA: Ogun Maja O!!
Jeye: Ija Buruku!!!

I will not forget the resonance of your voice and laughter whenever we exchanged greetings this way.

I have never had cause to write any tribute in my life, not even when I lost my Dad and Mum and so many others, very dear to me, who passed on before you. You were so special and I have no choice other than to do this.

Born in Akure, Ondo State on July 24, 1958, Jeye was the seventh child of the union between Ileola Okorodudu of Ondo and Alfred Omaretseyinosa Esimajuoromo Okorodudu of Ugbuwangue,  Warri, both resting in the bosom of the Lord.

A scion of Prince Yonwuren of Ugbuwangue, the last Olu of Warri, before the interregnum of 1894-1921 in the long line of the reigning Kings of Warri Kingdom.

His early life was spent in Benin and Warri, where he had his early education. On completion of his secondary education at Eghosa Anglican Grammar School, Benin City, he proceeded to Federal Government College, Ilorin, for his Advanced Level Certificate. A graduate of Economics from the University of Lagos (1981), Jeye continued to develop himself throughout his life. He was a member of the Nigerian Economic Society and Phil Pugsley Patron of the JCI Foundation.

He met his wife Data Edna Okorodudu (Nee Jaja) whilst they were undergraduates at the University of Lagos and knew from then on that she would be his life partner. They have three lovely children: Ileola, Omatseye and Omasan.

An entrepreneur par excellence, Jeye was a philanthropist, a great mentor and an unrelenting tutor. His working career started as a youth corper, when he was Special Assistant to the then Economic Adviser to the President of Nigeria (1981-1982). He was the founder and Chairman of Adata Group of Companies. Jeye was always ready to embrace change and apply innovative ideas. His exceptional vision and creativity effected a phenomenal growth of the Adata Group. He was future oriented and created job opportunities for several people.

Jeye was extremely generous, giving of himself, his time, his resources, not only to his immediate and extended family but to anyone who crossed his path. He was wont to say: “When anyone walks into my space, I first ask the Almighty God what He would like me to do for the person and whatever He ministered to me, I did”. He did all of these with absolute humility and without fanfare. Even on his sick bed, Jeye continued to solve people’s problems as best  he could.

Jeye was a devoted and dedicated Roman Catholic, who went to Mass virtually every morning. He made Christ the cornerstone of his daily living and in his last year on this earthly divide, he communicated with his creator ever so often. He was a man with a big heart. He had so much love to give and spread the joy of living to everyone.

“Mr Incredible”, as inscribed on the T-shirt he wore in one of my visits to him at Hammersmith Hospital in London, I find it extremely incredible to agree with the obvious reality that he has passed on. This conflict within me will surely linger for a long time.

On the three different occasions that I visited him in the hospital, he was still his good self, bubbling with life. He was determined to live. At Hammersmith Hospital in London, he introduced me as his best friend to all the doctors and nurses to my “embarrassment”.

He told me there could be a window of opportunity for a temporary discharge from the hospital, sometime in December 2010 and that he might come home (Nigeria) for Christmas celebrations. I prayed fervently for his wish to come to fruition.

Alas, on Friday, December 17,  2010, the news filtered in that he decided to spend the Christmas in the bosom of the Almighty Father. Who am I to question that decision?

Tears have not stopped flowing since he passed on.

Our friendship was ordained by the Almighty Father and built on mutual respect and admiration. He was always there to lend support and a helping hand at every landmark occasions in my life before the sudden turn of events that led to his hospitalisation locally and internationally and subsequent passage.

I will miss him dearly, my friend, my brother, Jeye. This has been a very sad period for me but what a period in Heaven for him as he crossed over triumphantly that December 17, 2010, as the newest angel in Heaven, ushered in majestically by a host of angels waiting to welcome him home.

Jeye was one in a kind friend, ecstatic with people in their joy and empathized with them in their times of despair.
Jeye was an extraordinary friend, who simply could not hurt a fly and would be mortified at the thought that he had offended someone in any way.

Jeye’s departure, albeit abrupt, has left a huge vacuum but I draw comfort from the strong memories of the things we did and shared together.

Adieu Jeye, a worthy friend and gentleman par excellence.

Mr. BALA YESUFU is a Public  Affairs Manager with  NB  Plc.