8 – day Firdaus holds for Engr. Mutairu Afolami Oyeneyin.
– Steve Ovirih.
Late Engineer Mutairu Afolami Oyeneyin has been described as a kind gentleman, lover of his people , lover of culture and a great lover of Allah. These and many more were the major highlight of the Firdaus held in his memory at his residence, 14, Alhaja Tijani Street, Berger area of Lagos, on Friday , 19th March 2021.
It was a shower of tributes and encomiums for the Great Nobilitas, Late Engineer Oyeneyin at the event which was anchored by Islamic clerics and scholars from Lagos Mainland and Island.
In his sermon at the Firdaus, Imaam Abdulgafar Mohammed Akerele said Late Engineer Mutairu Afolami Oyeneyin, aged 72, was a devout Muslim who never missed worships and Islamic activities in the mosque anytime he was in Nigeria.
He noted that the Firdaus is a gathering of Muslims on the eight day of the demise of a member to pray for the repose of his soul and to seek appeasement and purity on behalf of the deceased.
The cleric admonished the people to maintain a way of life that is acceptable to Allah and they should not allow life challenges, lack or comfort to deny them the worship of Allah, their benevolent creator. ”It is Allah who made and gifted Engr. Oyeneyin as a prized child to his parents over 72 years ago. Same Allah (Sub’na watt’la) is the one who has taken him and collected him to the abode of peace and tranquility; Aljannah, a place of comfort and glory better than this earthly plain.
”So we will all ask Allah on this eight day of the passing away of his servant to grant him peaceful rest and comfortable haven in the hereafter,” Imam Abdulgafar Akerele noted.
Earlier, ”Dural iftn tal” a special prayer has been offered by Ustaz Fadilatulai while Ustaz Mohammed Bislah recited the Quran.
The first son of the deceased, Dr. Boonyamin Ayotunde Oyeneyin was invited by the clerics to offer zakat after the prayer of Firdaus and his younger brother Mr. Afolami Sodiq Oyeneyin, their uncle, Mr. Abdulgafar Oyeneyin and aunt, Pastor Sidikat (nee Oyeneyin) also followed suit as well as members of the congregation.
Ustaz Sheikh Ibrahim from Ajah equally recited the Quran and rendered the prayer of ”Suratul Yasin Allimulikul.”
The event was streamed live across the globe where the deceased wife, Mrs. Agbeke Oyeneyin and his other children, Mr. Adedamola Oyeneyin and Dr. (Mrs.) Faduyile (nee Oyeneyin) participated in the prayer session.
Other siblings of Engr. Oyeneyin also joined online from their respective locations across the globe.
Engr. Mutairu Afolami Oyeneyin (Sir Ajiteru) died in Atlanta Georgia, United States of America on the 9th of March, 2021 and was buried according to Muslim rites in Atlanta, GA, USA.
While speaking with thepolity.net at the event, Baba Oyeneyin’s first son, Dr. Boonyamin Oyeneyin said he grew up to know his father as one who kept members of his family under his umbrella, providing them care and seeing to their wellbeing without any kind of discrimination. He noted that his father’s life was well lived and he left an exemplary legacy that every member of the family is proud of. His younger brother, Mr. Afolami Oyeneyin averred that he will miss his father dearly because he was his close confidant.
In the words of Mr. Abdulgafar Oyeneyin, the deceased younger brother, he said, ”We will miss him; I will miss him dearly. He was a fine bred Ondo Icon whose love for his people was second to none .” Mrs. Risikat Ajayi, the deceased younger sister said she grew up in Engr. Oyeneyin’s house and he protected and provided for all his siblings as a father would to his children. She said the gathering was to celebrate a great son of Ondo kingdom. Also in agreement were some of the deceased other siblings Rafiu Oyeneyin, Mrs. Taiye Ajao and Mrs. Kehinde Akinkunmi who were present at the event.
Prof. Francis Adedayo Faduyile, an in-law to the deceased described him as a personage whose robust interest in his people’s culture was quite commendable. Faduyile said Baba Oyeneyin was a great custodian of the culture of his people and was very accommodating. He advised the children to continue to keep their father’s memory alive by showing passion for their kith and kin just like their father did in his life time.
Engr. Mutairu Afolami Oyeneyin was born in Ondo Town on the 3rd of August 1948 to the family of late Chief Saliu Oladele Oyeneyin.
He attended St. Joseph’s college Ondo from 1961 – 1965 where he set the record for “A1” in all his classes – a record which still stands till today. He then proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University for a degree in Electrical/Electronics Engineering from 1966 – 1970.
He worked with the Nigeria Railway Corporation from 1971 – 1973. In his career progression, he worked as an Electrical Engineering consultant with Chris Fajemirokun & associates from 1973 – 1975. He later worked with Tacas Associates from 1975 – 1981 and then went into private engineering consulting from 1981 until his demise.
Engr. Fola Oyeneyin was an accomplished Electrical Engineer and an Illumination/Environmental services consultant of many years. He authored several engineering publications related to his professional practice. He was fondly called “Prof” by colleagues in his university days.
Engr. Oyeneyin’s emergence in the world of literary writing and authoring is not accidental.
Literature had been his childhood love, matched only by Mathematics, the subject that lured him into Engineering. His passion for reading and writing, his most favourite hobbies were overwhelming and this no doubt must had prepared the stage for him authoring multiples books, which he saw as a divine calling.
One of the greatest treasures Engr. Oyeneyin stumbled upon while he engaged in his hobby (reading) was philosophy, a subject that progressively moulded his life and thinking, and re-defined his values. He used philosophy to launch a dynamic moral and social crusade through his writings, publications, and social media messages to promote the advancement and well-being of humanity.
His motto: Love, Service, and Probity kept him going all through his earthly sojourn.
Engr. Oyeneyin is survived by his loving wife of 43 plus years, Mrs. Agbeke Oyeneyin and his children Dr. Boonyamin & Hadizat Oyeneyin, Mr. Adedamola & Busayo Oyeneyin, Engr. Oladokun & Dr. Oyinlola Faduyile, Mr. Afolami (Jr) & Bukola Oyeneyin and many grandchildren, Khairat Oyeneyin; Ayotomiwa & Temitayo Oyeneyin; Olabade, Olasewaade & Olarotade Faduyile; Ayomide & Motunrayo Oyeneyin.
