A triumphant exit: Pa Nicholas Aiyeomoni bows out at 76

Hmmm! Life is a marketplace where sons and daughters of Eve come and go as traders. Come what, the Prince and the beggar must depart the land of sojourn to account for his transactions at the marketplace. So it was for Pa Nicholas Emedane Aiyeomoni, an energetic, pragmatic and selfless icon who was one of […]

Hmmm! Life is a marketplace where sons and daughters of Eve come and go as traders. Come what, the Prince and the beggar must depart the land of sojourn to account for his transactions at the marketplace.

So it was for Pa Nicholas Emedane Aiyeomoni, an energetic, pragmatic and selfless icon who was one of such enviable and outstanding personalities till his death.

Born in 1942, he died after attaining the golden age of 76 on May 25, 2018. Though died a couple of weeks ago, he began his final journey on a road that is strewn with thorns and spikes to mother-earth this Friday (July 27) at Volt-Garden, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Pa. Aiyeomoni was born at Obe Adun in Ondo State to a humble and hardworking family of Papa Jacob Aiyeomoni Ibikunle and Mama Serani Peke Aiyeomoni.

He started his primary school education at St. Peter’s U.N.A. School, Obe Adun, Ogun State from 1950 – 55 and later proceeded to New African School, Ebute-Metta, Lagos to complete his primary school education in 1957. For his secondary education, he attended Lagos City College, Yaba where he passed out with an excellent and outstanding result.

On his successful completion of secondary school education, Pa. Aiyeomoni worked briefly for Barclays Bank of Nigeria Limited, Balogun Square, Lagos, Nigeria.

Breaking new frontiers, he left the shores of Nigeria in 1970 for the United States of America to continue his educational exploits and career advancement. There in America, he attended the following prestigious universities and graduated with excellent grades: Central YMCA Community College, Chicago, Illinois and bagged Associate Degree in Libral Arts (June 1974), Chicago State University, Chicago and obtained B.Sc. degree in Business Administration (June 1976), and Governor’s State University, Park Forest South where he got a masters degree in Business Administration (August 1977).

Pa Nicholas Emedane Aiyeomoni.

Pa Aiyeomoni had a very fruitful career. While in the U.S; he worked as a Haulage Officer with Messrs Checker Transport Company, Chicago, Illinois from 1977 – 82. As a patriotic citizen, he relocated to Nigeria, his fatherland in 1982. On his return, he diligently served the one-year mandatory NYSC programme in 1983 between January and November at Union Bank of Nigeria Limited, Eric Moore Road, in Iganmu, Lagos as deployed.

Thereafter, he took up appointment with Sunflag Nigeria Limited in 1983 as Deputy Manager (Banking Relations); the position he held till his voluntary resignation to pursue his oil business. He was the Executive Dealer of Total Service Station, formerly Elf Service Station at Saint Finbar’s College Road, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos from 1992 till mid 2016. In management’s wisdom, he was moved from Akoka Station to Palm Grove Total Service Station in 2016 till his death.

The late Aiyeomoni was a dynamic, honest, versatile business mogul and a disciplinarian. He was God’s fearing, a devoted Christian and an active member of Patriarch Bolaji Methodist Cathedral, Ikorodu. A member of the Builder Society of the Cathedral, he also belonged to several philanthropic and charitable organizations.

Until he was called to glory, Pa Aiyeomoni was:

·        Past President, Ikorodu Lion Club

·        Member, International Association of Lion Club

·        Chairman, Board of Governors, Stars International College, Ikorodu

·        Chairman, Oke-Oriya 2 Community Development Association, Ikorodu

Pa. Aiyeomoni has several awards and laurels to his credit including:

·        Prestigious Melvin Jones’ Fellow Award

·        One/Two Stars Fellow of  Nigerian Lions Charity Foundation Award

·        Distinguished Personalities Merit Award, and many others too numerous to mention.

He was married to Anthonia Iyabode Aiyeomoni (Nee Riberia), and had three children and grand children.

As it is written in the scripture, ‘For everything, there is time for purpose under Heavens; a time to be born and a time to die (Eccl. 3:1). This divine injunction in the Bible is indisputable and unquestionable. 

Pa. Aiyeomoni passed on peacefully after a brief illness. As the cold wind of death came blowing on him, he bowed and answered nature’s call.

Today, we mourn the guiding hands of Pa. Aiyeomoni but rejoice in the Almighty God for the life and times of our dear father, grandfather, brother, uncle and cousin who left behind a legacy of uncommon commitment to the generation of Aiyeomoni and the community at large.

We believe he is not dead but resting at the bosom of the Lord till we meet again to part no more. To say we will greatly miss him is an understatement.  Pa Nicholas Emedane Aiyeomoni, Adieu!