The Director of Research, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos, Professor Olu Obafemi, on Saturday, April 6, 2013, laid to rest, the remains of his late father, Pa Emmanuel Buraimoh Obafemi, aged 94.
The burial ceremony of Pa Obafemi, who slept in the Lord on Saturday, April 6, 2013, took place at the ancestral home of the Obafemi’s in Akutupa, Kogi State.
Born in 1919, Pa Obafemi, an educationist, per excellence, was said to have believed in the value of education and spared no effort in training all his children.
According to his biography, the Late Obafemi was a man, who would sell portions of his land to make sure his children got the best education money could buy.
No wonder, when he was no longer able to, his children, beginning from the eldest (Professor Olu Obafemi), rallied round with great joy to make sure all of his children received sound education and rose to become successful children that their late father became proud of before answering the call of the ancestors.
In his tribute, Professor Obafemi, in a poem, could not believe his father had left this earth soon, saying: “Papa, it is not time to say goodbye when we are yet to grow wisdom teeth. It is not time to close your eyes. When we have not learned to tie our loins, it is not time to breathe deep-down when we have not memorized the stories of the
race.”
On her part, Dr. (Mrs.) Elizabeth Dupe Ojo (daughter) described her late father as a good educator, who knew the value of learning and worked hard to make sure all his children and many relatives had western education, which his parents could not offer him: “Realizing how important education is, he opened his home to youths with prospects to success. Our compound soon became the centre for the Common Entrance Exam Preparations especially for Bunu youths who had to travel several miles to take the exam.”
The Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, who as unavoidably absent at the funeral ceremony, was, however, represented by the Director of Research and Documentation, Mr. Louis Eriomala.
© Nico News