Tribute to Uncle Dayo and Aunty Funlayo

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Our Uncle, Issac Adedayo Akinrele, fondly known as Uncle D, was the third son of Venerable Archdeacon JF Akinrele, a trainer of males, a monarch of language possessed of the form of mind that filtered feelings out of misery, and who accomplished his educational sojourn with a Grasp’s diploma in classics in Durham.

The second principal of Ondo Boys Excessive College—an establishment which he nurtured to coach an enormous array of the expertise of males whose mind and integrity served as an ethical barometer of our beloved nation of their period—he resolved to coach males to the very best diploma of their potential and envisioned his household as a mannequin of his endeavour.

His success, measured by that of his youngsters, first, Christopher Olufemi Akinrele, who blazed the path together with his academic pursuits in Ondo Boys Excessive College (OBHS) which culminated with a Grasp’s diploma in finance from Columbia, and who was an impressive economist, administrator, and boardroom guru.

Then Frank Odunayo Akinrele, the cerebral and witty lawyer who embarked from OBHS, to Kings School Lagos (KC), and proceeded to the College of Hull, the place he received the Andrew Marvell prize as the very best legislation scholar within the college, and finally turned an impressive advocate of his era.

After which Uncle D, who adopted his brother from OBHS to KC the place he pursued his educational research and distinguished himself in all points of his studying.

A polymath, he received prizes within the Sciences in addition to the Arts, additionally turning into the choir conductor and organist. At Cambridge College, he graduated with honours in Pure Sciences whereas additionally being a university lengthy soar champion, then went on to Imperial School, for his Masters in Meals Chemistry, and eventually he bagged a PhD in Biochemistry on the College of Ibadan to satisfy his ardour for native content material.

He turned one among Nigeria’s top-ranking diplomats and foremost scientist, thus leaving a stable instance for his youthful brother, the good and mercurial Marshall Olatunde Akinrele, who additionally attended OBHS then KC, the place he obtained the very best ends in the entire of West Africa within the ‘A’ stage exams, and secured a scholarship to Trinity School Cambridge to check Engineering, and like him additionally turned an impressive industrialist and inventor.

Intellectually endowed and versatile, Uncle D turned the primary indigenous head of the Federal Institute of Analysis and Expertise.

Intent on elevating the usage of regionally sourced uncooked supplies over costly imported ones, he developed merchandise that created a profoundly helpful impression on the Paper, Development, Cosmetics and Drinks Industries, thus enabling them to be aggressive and extra environment friendly.

He put his vitality and creativity to work, penning 62 scientific papers, and never surprisingly, 4 industrial patents have been issued in his title.

Learn additionally: When greener pastures beckon- A overview of Lola Aworanti-Ekugo’s Lagos to London

He proceeded to characterize his county in Europe as head of the Alliance of African, Pacific, Caribbean, and European nations.

He did this very efficiently, selling helpful partnerships between Europe and African, Caribbean nations, which earned him an Order of Advantage in Senegal, and recognition in Who’s Who in each Africa and Europe.

Although Uncle D was a brainiac – industrious and with an unparalleled ardour for all times, he was harmoniously balanced, and unsurprisingly additionally an aficionado of Cuban cigars, Jaguars, and boats. He wore his class within the garment of confidence coated by humility.

He had regular habits, a gentle nerve and a gentle eye which caught the glamorous and engaging Funlayo Odunjirin, daughter of the famed educationist, Chief JSA Odunjirin -an affinity together with his personal parentage that should have provoked the attraction of similars.

As he made speeches throughout his tenure in Brussels on the virtues of the EU, in promotion of enterprise partnership with Africa, on the identical platform as Magaret Thatcher who was selling the virtues of UK and Euro partnership, she was internet hosting the Prime Minister of Belgium and the President of the EU with grace and heat that mirrored her pedigree.

He married her in 1961 until dying do them half, and of their parting inside two weeks of one another, within the phrases of the English poet Binyon, they’re united as soon as extra, the place, “Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.”

Certainly Romeo and Juliet, Anthony and Cleopatra, the paragons of Shakespeare’s lovers, will envy them their reward of lengthy life, and the blessing of extra time afforded them.

I conclude by asserting that Uncle D, you bespoke of an aristocracy that was not depending on cash. You have been snug with all since you have been snug with your self.

You considered life as a service and also you rendered it in a life nicely spent. Dostoevsky could nicely have had you in thoughts when he said- “the thriller of human existence lies not in staying alive however to find one thing to reside for”.

We’re proud to be descendants of the torch you bore so gallantly and so worthily bequeathed. I pause to commend our grandfather for the braveness of his conviction in enrolling his three youthful sons in Kings School regardless of his headship of Ondo Boys Excessive College, on account of improved alternative.

His imaginative and prescient in encouraging their careers in a various method, captured their particular person expertise in Economics, Regulation, Science, and Engineering respectively.

I observe respectfully that a very powerful contribution on this exceptional story is the position of our grandmother, the gorgeous and trendy Victoria Akinrele, progeny of the Akinkugbe household, whose self-discipline and devotion as a trainer and mom, ensured that not one among them faltered of their evolution.

She fused the individually totally different temperaments of the brothers into profound related natures of business and integrity. It was the hallmark forex that outlined all their respective endeavours in life. We owe our beloved grandparents this irreparable debt of gratitude, and we thank Uncle D for translating, like his siblings, the imaginative and prescient of his mother and father into actuality.

– By Ademola Akinrele (ex St. Gregory’s School)

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