Fani-Kayode Mourns Kogi Prince, Recalls 6 Decades of Brotherhood, Adventure

Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has paid an emotional tribute to his longtime friend and brother, Prince Nazir Ado Ibrahim of the royal house of the Atta in Ebiraland, Kogi State, following the latter’s death. In a heartfelt reflection filled with memories of friendship, adventure, loyalty and brotherhood spanning over 60 years, Fani-Kayode […]

Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has paid an emotional tribute to his longtime friend and brother, Prince Nazir Ado Ibrahim of the royal house of the Atta in Ebiraland, Kogi State, following the latter’s death.

In a heartfelt reflection filled with memories of friendship, adventure, loyalty and brotherhood spanning over 60 years, Fani-Kayode described the late prince as “one in a million” whose passing had left him deeply broken.

According to him, they grew up together and shared what he described as an “eventful and rich childhood,” navigating life side by side through triumphs, controversies and youthful escapades across Nigeria, Europe and the United States.

“I thought we would grow old together and share the memories of our childhood whilst in retirement. I thought we would comfort each other in old age whilst the world quietly passed us by. I thought so much and planned so much but alas you are gone,” he lamented.

Fani-Kayode recalled their days in Lagos during the late 1970s and early 1980s, particularly at Atta Lodge in Yaba and social clubs such as Lagos Polo Club, Ikoyi Club and Apapa Club, where they spent time with a close-knit circle of friends.

He recounted how they trained together in boxing and karate, rode horses, played polo and travelled extensively around the world in their youth.

“We fought back to back and shoulder to shoulder together against our assailants whenever either of us was attacked or threatened. We never lost brother and they never had us down. That is what made our relationship so special,” he wrote.

The former minister also reminisced about their adventures in London and New York, recalling visits to famous nightclubs including Legends, Tramp, Main Squeeze, Studio 54 and Xenon, as well as their fascination with luxury sports cars during their university years abroad.

He noted that Prince Nazir later became his in-law after he married Saratu Atta, daughter of the late Governor Adamu Atta of the old Kwara State, adding that the deceased had a special affection for his daughter, Folake.

Describing the late prince as a symbol of unity, Fani-Kayode said Nazir bridged cultural and social divides between Northern and Southern Nigeria, as well as between Nigerian youths educated abroad and those schooled at home.

“You were the bridge between the North and the South: who spoke Yoruba better than I did but who was proud of his noble Ebira Northern heritage and his Royal roots,” he stated.

Reflecting on their generation, he said they belonged to a period when loyalty, brotherhood and national pride defined relationships among young Nigerians from elite backgrounds.

“Those were the days when brotherhood meant something. Those were the days when loyalty was everything. Those were the days when we took pride in who we were and in being Nigerians,” he wrote.

Fani-Kayode, however, noted that adulthood, changing national realities and the passage of time eventually altered the carefree life they once enjoyed.

He prayed for the repose of Prince Nazir’s soul and asked God to comfort his family, describing the deceased as “the living symbol” of his lost childhood and a cherished member of a fading generation.

“God is with us and you are with Him. Greet our brothers that crossed over before you and tell them that FFK sends his love,” he concluded.

Prince Nazir Ado Ibrahim is survived by his wife, children and extended family.