His Wife & Kids Revealed A Lot About Him @ 80
Ijebu high Chief, Ambassador Femi Fowora, passed on to greater glory on 27th January, 2020, at the age of 84. He was one of the Awujale of Ijebu’s favourite Otunbas. He was Otunba Setejoye of Ijebuland.
In his lifetime, the Awujale, Oba Sikiru Adetona fondly called him Ambassador sometimes Afemo. He will be this week. When he was 80, below are the tributes his wife and children wrote about him.
What do you say about someone you ‘ve known for 54 years and you have been married to for 52 years? A lot but I will not bore you with that. We traversed the World from Khartoum to New York, then on to Dakar Senegal, Canberra Australia, London back to Dakar, Trinidad & Tobago and finally Belgrade Yugoslavia. Its been a wonderful life!
He has been a wonderful father and brother to me and a great father to his children and a doting grandfather.
Let me share with you what he told me when I agreed to his marriage proposal. “You are not going to work but look after me and the children” and I agreed. I hope I have satisfied you on that.
As you celebrate your 80th birthday, I wish you Yinkus many many more years and healthy life. May the Almighty father continue to bless and keep you. Amen
Chief Mrs. Edith Olayinka Fowora (Wife)
(Yeye Setejoye of Ijebu land)
80 years has come and gone since you were born on this earth and not a single day goes by when I don’t think about your worth. You are the kindest man I’ve ever known and the best dad I could ever hope for. From teaching me to play with toys to reciting my ABC’s.
Through your work – I saw and experienced the world. Australia to Yugoslavia and many more countries in between. You gave Deola, Femi and I the best of everything, loved mummy in the purest way possible thus inspiring me to be the best possible husband and father I can be. I have a lot to live up to. Sometimes, you were tough on me.
But you always taught me what I needed to learn. You showed me that whatever I get in life must be worked for and it must be earned. I have admired every moment of your life and it is because of you that I have what I have. I thank you for raising me, for loving me and for teaching me your way and I wish you all the love in the world on this, your 80th birthday.
– Adetola Fowora
A BIRTHDAY PRAYER FOR DAD
I’m praying a birthday prayer for you, Peace and happiness in all you do. Lord, my father gave his all for me, I pray, you’ll hear my extra special plea: Keep him safe, so he can still be near; Lord, my father is so very dear. Role model, an extraordinary man, He’s my dad and I’m his biggest fan. Dad, I’m praying to the Lord for you that He will give you all the goods you’re due. By Joanna Fuchs my father Otunba (Amb) Olufemi Fowora is an extraordinary presence
in my life. He has spent the greater part of his life loving and supporting my brothers and I unconditionally, and has spent every minute of his married life loving my mother unconditionally. He loved his late brother Eng. Chief Eric Fowora, unconditionally and continues to love all my uncle’s children unconditionally. I marvel at how large my dad’s heart is. I marvel at his strength and resilience. I marvel at what he has overcome in the last 24 months. I marvel at the fact that every Sunday for the last 31 months my dad picks up the phone and calls me in Miami …. ‘my darling daughter …. ‘I am filled with immense joy that my dad has reached the age of 80, his diamond jubilee. Surrounded by his wife, children and children’s children, what a blessing from God Almighty! Daddy, I wish you a happy birthday, may God continue to bless you and keep you, may He continue to keep you healthy and may He continue to increase your number of days. Love you like kilode.
Your darling daughter
– Adeola Adewunmi
At certain times in the last 3 years, I thought we would not make it to this day. So, first I must give God all the Glory for seeing us through a very difficult period for both Daddy and Mummy, who soldiered through almost insurmountable odds to get here. I have known you all of may 45 years on this earth. In that time, I have learnt a lot of what I know and the way I have chosen to run my life. Like you, I have a wonderful loving wife and 3 lovely children. like you, I have understood never to spend more than I have and to plan out in detail what I want to do with my life early on. I was privileged at a very early age to travel the globe, first class courtesy of a more generous Nigerian government of better days, learnt fluent French, got driven to school in Rolls Royce Phantom VI at seven, flown Concorde at 10 and had experiences few children on the planet could have dreamt at the time or now for that matter. (My older siblings were at boarding school at the time!) These experiences prepared me well for my latter life as it gave me unshakeable confidence in myself in the face of much peer’s pressure from many who tried knowingly or unknowingly to intimidate me. For this I am truly grateful. I am also grateful for having a father who accumulated tremendous goodwill over his career.
As such, when I got into the world of business I learnt that the mere mention of my father’s name afforded me the opportunity to be listened to and ultimately opened many doors. This intangible asset is worth more than gold. Now, as you have hit this landmark age and continue to look forward to many more years with us I would like you to stop worrying over the little details and things you cannot control.
For instance, Lagos State Government sending you a demand notice for land use in full even though the law clearly states that you have a concessional rate and we resolve this yearly. Don’t worry Lagos State will not possess your house! Worrying about this every year is not constructive! When I asked you why fretting, you told me some time ago that at this age you have to as now is no time to create problems!
Now is the time to take things completely easy in the knowledge that you have created those who will resolve most problems that may arise! I congratulate you again on having made it past the finish line so well. Now, you can catch your breath. To attain the age of 80 in our country in these times is a remarkable achievement and may Gods Grace and favour continue to protect you as long as it pleases our Good Lord.
– Olufemi Fowora
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