Dr. & Mrs Gboyega Osinbowale

It was like a bad dream to me when we received the call that fateful morning of Thursday, October 21, 2021, breaking the news of the passing of our beloved "Brother Dele". My wife and I just spoke with him and his wife about a week prior to that fateful day and he sounded like his usual self- happy, peaceful and yet upbeat. I asked him if he was eating well and he said: "O trust Mummy, she is feeding me well".

I have always known Uncle, as I fondly called him, as a very close person to our dad, Pa Ezekiel Odulowo Olatunde Osinbowale (Papa Igbobi) out of the three Osinbowale brothers namely Pa David Babington Osinbowale (Papa Agbeni), Pa Joseph Oluremi Oyesanya Osinbowale (Papa Eko/Papa Adebiaye) and Pa Ezekiel Odulowo Olatunde Osinbowale, all of blessed memory.

I got closer to him in 1967 which is my penultimate year to graduating from Ibadan Grammar School and was planning on taking an entrance examination to St. Gregory's College for my Higher School Class (HSC) starting in 1968 after my graduation from High School in Ibadan.

Uncle Dele also attended Ibadan Grammar School way before my time. I informed him about my plan and the fact that I was having a difficult time convincing my dad about the move. I confided in him that my plan was actually to stay for a short time in St. Gregory's and that my ultimate plan is to gain admission into the Preliminary Medical Programme at the University of Ibadan with the eventual aim of going into the Ibadan Medical School. I was able to convince him with my argument contrary to my experience when I presented the same argument to my dad.

I remember him telling me to "strike the iron while it was hot" but he also warned me that my dad may be hesitant to pay my school fees even if I was admitted because St. Gregory's was an expensive School. I was not dissuaded and I stuck to my decision and reassured him that I have my mother's support. He accommodated me in his apartment located just three houses on the same street where my dad lived, took me to the examination hall at St. Gregory's College on his way to work at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing in Ikoyi, brought me back home to his family and treated me like a member of his family for the three days I stayed in Lagos.

To God's glory, I was admitted into St. Gregory's and my plan to enter into the Premedical Programme at the University of Ibadan materialised when I passed the competitive National Examination for the programme and I was also granted a Federal Scholarship as a National Scholar for my entire Medical School Programme, based on merit. I remember Uncle would always remind me about those thoughts, aims and predictions in the arguments I placed before him and God made all of them come true. I will always cherish his sense of duty, sacrifice, encouragement and support at that stage of my life.

Uncle always looked out for me and my siblings, Engineer Olufunmi Osinbowale and Mrs. Gbemisola Maxwell (nee Osinbowale) as well as our dear mother and he found time to check on us and watch our progress and welfare. He even introduced me to the Irolu Exclusive Club founded by himself and his close friends. I was the youngest member of the club but he made sure I was fully accepted and respected in all the meetings I attended.

When I proceeded to the United States of America for postgraduate studies, Uncle kept in touch with me and during one of my niece's wedding, he approached me and informed me that two of his children are very interested in pursuing their further education in the United States of America and he wanted to seek my advice. I, of course, was very elated and I supported the idea wholeheartedly. Uncle followed up on the idea and by God's grace, five of his children are now in North America and they are all doing well in their various professions having benefited from Uncle's fruitful expedition, family love, encouragement and steadfastness. Uncle and his wife have not only steered their children in the right direction in life, but they also stayed constantly in their lives by visiting them regularly and staying with them and their families in the United States of America and Canada on an annual basis to enjoy them and their grandchildren.

I have always known Uncle to be a principled, straightforward, smart, sensible and fair person who valued integrity, honesty and excellence. He has impacted our family in a way that I will always cherish and remember. I will miss him but I know he has completed his assignment here on earth and he has moved on to be with his Maker and the Saints above. Adieu Uncle, rest in perfect peace till we meet again.