“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give,” said Britain’s war time leader and prime minister between 1940 and 1945 during the Second World War, and again from 1951 to 1955, Winston Churchill.

This inspirational message best captures the life of renowned educationist, Alhaji Jimoh Adisa Gbadamosi, who transited one year ago and wife, Alhaja Azeezat Adebisi Gbadamosi, who had gone to be with her creator a decade earlier.

Both were indeed epitome of humility and godliness. They lived quintessential lives and cadenced human virtues.

On May 15, family, associates and friends organised a memorial event at the Eko Club, Surulere, Lagos to mark one year and 10 years remembrance of this remarkable couple who impacted lives: gave their all and achieved the best that could be imagined.

Alhaji Gbadamosi breathed his last, precisely on Monday, May 15, 2023.

The event, which also witnessed reading of the Qur’an, special prayers for deceased, offering of special tributes and lecture, attracted eminent personalities, who were mostly his students including Chairman of Caverton Offshore Support Group PLC, Mr. Aderemi Makanjuola; accompanied by his wife, Mrs Yoyinsola Makanjuola and sons, Olabode, Niyi, Rotimi and their spouses.

Other eminent persons present included former Minister of Communications and General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Armoured Division Nigerian Army, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (Retd); former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and others.

The late educationists’ offspring Mr. Biodun, Gbadamosi, Mrs. Bimbola Adedun and Kunle Gbadamosi were also in attendance.

Delivering his lecture at the memorial, Associate Professor Noah Lawal Jinadu of the Foreign Languages Department, Arabic Unit, Lagos State University, said the lecture, in its intent and purpose, was a reflection of what Alhaji and Alhaja Gbadamosi stood for and expended their entire lives on.

The don said, “anyone who has the opportunity to look into their wonderful biographies, or listen to narratives on their life styles and parenting methodology would certainly view today’s lecture as a mere theoretical construct and subtle addendum.

“I have read their biographies and had the rare opportunity of listening to detailed narrations on their life styles, I have come to the conclusion that they were a paragon of admirable qualities/virtues, an epitome of erudition, and of course, an embodiment of good parenting,” the lecturer said.

Jinadu, speaking on the lecture, titled, ‘Role of Young Muslim Parents in Early Child Upbringing and Its Challenges in Modern Society’, looked at the serving children and said, the programme, “which is organised by you (the pious children) in commemoration of our late father and mother is a clear indication and a proof of positive parenting.”

In her words, Mrs. Oyinda Aiyepola, a younger sister to the late Alhaja Azeezat Gbadamosi, said the wonderful couple was like her biological parents. She called the sister her ‘younger mother’.

“It was a wonderful experience passing through the tutelage of this amazing couple. My sister, Alhaja Azeezat Gbadamosi, was 10 years older than me. Although I lived with them, I am literally their first daughter while Remi (the Caverton boss) is referred to as the first son. I learned a lot from her. She taught me about life and home management. I didn’t usually go out. We had a time that we usually returned home when we went out. She also taught me the need for promptness. Cleanliness is part of us. We used to do gardening, she taught me so much about gardening which I am still doing up till now.

“I lived with them when I was very young until I got married. I went to England and came back in 1968. I still stayed with them because my husband was still abroad.”

In his tribute, the eldest surviving son of the Gbadamosis, Biodun, said: “They were parents in a million. I am grateful for the lives that they lived and the values that they instilled in me and my siblings: to imbibe the virtues of hard work, courage and honesty. Not a day goes by without us remembering them with fond memories. We will continue to make them proud on the on this side of the divide as they continue to rest in the bosom of Almighty Allah.”

According to daughter of the deceased, Abimbola Adedun, she lost wonderful parents and problem solvers. “Losing one’s parent when you were close to them is not easy at all no matter how long it has been. It has been one year and 10 years of losing my father and mother, respectively. I missed them. There are times when I crave for their words of wisdom and advice.

“My parents were both renowned educationists, who impacted not just my own life and siblings, positively, but others they didn’t know who needed education and employment. They would go out of their ways to ensure people got educated and become literate. Their act of kindness has opened doors of favour for me.”

Another son of the late educationists, Kunle, said their demise left a big vacuum “With them being gone, a big void is felt with them not being around. They left big shoes to fill, but we will carry on their legacy for their grandchildren and great grandchildren.”

He said, “my siblings and I were taught to be considerate, embrace other people, no matter their economic status and continuous hard work in anything we do. As my Mum would say, “hard work does not kill anyone.”

Dr. Wasiu Gbadamosi, a grandson, also paid tribute to his grandfather and grandmother who lived pious and exemplary lives worthy of emulation.

“Describing my grandparents? Amazing. They gave us fish and taught us how to fish. They taught us the virtues of hard-work, patience, and persistence while holding faith in Allah, our creator. We were taught to be complacent and contended with whatever Allah has bestowed on us. These are principles they had imbibed in us. We have remained steadfast in this path thanks to their advice and guidance.

“They were colossi in the field of education and counselling. They have impacted the lives of so many oftheir students. They appreciated their capacities and capabilities early on in life and provided a very widerange of opportunities for them. Life has been good to all of us in the family but we sorely miss them.”

Mrs. Tokunbo Yinka-Gbadamosi (daughter-in-law) had this to say about her parents-in-law: “Our family Patriarch and Matriarch, Grandpa and Grandma Gbadamosi were good inspiration to me and my boys (Layi and Tunji). From the first time I met them through my late husband (Yinka Gbadamosi), it was always love and affection. Never treated me as a daughter in law, but rather as a daughter in the Gbadamosi clan. Grandpa and Grandma’s legacy for us is wisdom, knowledge, and education.

“They impacted knowledge, taught us to be self fulfilled and become all that we are capable of becoming in our profession. They taught us to love, be compassionate and caring to one another. I really missed both of them.”

Adebisi Adedun-Gbajumo, a grand-daughter who imbibed spirit of hard work from her late grandmother, said. “Hard work doesn’t kill; it only makes you stronger” words from my grandmother that have made me who I am today. Giving up wasn’t an option in my grandmother’s books neither was there room for failure or laziness.

“I grew up with my grandmother, my mother had to travel a lot for work. She taught me all the life skills I know today. From solving mathematics, cooking, braiding hair and basically everything about being a woman.”

Oladunni Adekoya (nee Gbadamosi) said: “Grandpa and Grandma Gbadamosi of blessed memory were such an admirable couple. They were extremely involved in my life from my birth till the day they both left this world.

“Reflecting back on my memories of them, the part of my life where they made the most impact was my education. From my first day of school till the day I graduated from university they were always there. Grandma became my lesson teacher and took it upon herself to make sure I excelled in my studies. They both emphasised the importance of education and hard work.”

Talking glowingly about him, one of his students and Caverton boss, Mr. Aderemi Makanjuola, said, “Alhaji Gbadamosi had a relationship with my father and my path crossed with him in 1962 when I wanted to enter secondary school and my father sent me to his household. I became one of his. He and his late wife were both inseparable duo who embraced and impacted education not for their children but for other people’s children. And they were both principal of schools. The husband was teaching at Ahmadiyyah College Agege, and the wife was at the Ahmadiyyah Girls’ High School. He later moved to Jibril Martin Memorial Grammar School, when it started.”

Makanjuola had an encounter with the late renowned educationist as a teenager in 1962 at age 13. This later resulted in a robust father-and-son relationship. He remained a father figure and a reliable confidant to the successful businessman until he died last year, 2023.

“They both really dedicated their lives to educating people. And all the people they have helped to educate have become greater people in the country and doing very well.”

That Makanjuola blossomed under their tutelage would be an understatement: “They took me as their child and proudly call me their first son to anybody that cares to know. And I always live to that expectation for them. And they have been very nice, decent and all of that to me.”

The impact of the Gbadamosi on the Caverton boss was enormous. From his secondary school days to his foray in England, they were there all the way.

“After my studies in England, I came back to Nigeria they already had a place for me in their house with my wife and first born Bode. And then when I started work, Alhaji Gbadamosi was one of those who influenced my getting work at Barclays Bank. They were always with me all the time. Whatever I did, they were there. Whatever they did, I was there. And I ensured that I treated their children as my junior brothers and sister.”

It has been one year since his demise; Makanjuola said he missed his counsel. “Papa was a man of wisdom. I go to his house every Sunday. He would tell me his life history all over and all over again. He would tell me about Lagos. He would tell me about what he had done. His wife was also a very pleasant lady. She took care of the husband when he was sick. They were always together.

“The late Gbadamosi was an awesome person, who believed in giving. Even if your parents didn’t have money to send you to university, he would look for scholarships for you. He was a great person and everybody that met him knew that they met somebody along with his wife.

Corroborating her husband, Mrs. Yoyinsola Makanjuola said the late Alhaji and Alhaja Gbadamosi fondly called ‘Mummy and Daddy’ were epitome of great morals and finesse. They lived a life full of great achievement in nurturing all students that passed through their tutelage as principal of Muslim colleges.

“They took over my husband as their biological child with total care and love which smoothly extended to me and our children. We owe them everlasting gratitude for being there always to see that all is well. Daddy till he passed on always looked out for us, making sure we were comfortable and he spoilt us rotten with gifts,” Mrs Makanjuola said.

In his tribute, General Olanrewaju said, “as distinguished educators and well-known elders in the Lagis community, they understood the transformative power of learning for young people, recognising how education could serve as the cornerstone upon which their careers could be built to enhance their futures.”

The retired jurist, Justice Isola Adekunle Olorunnibe, also praised Alhaji Gbadamosi, whose life resonated with Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy that says: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

According to the 94-year-old icon of the bench, their path crossed in 1948, when Ahmadiyya High School was established. “He was one of our teachers and I was one of his early students. We maintained a cordial relationship because of the conduct of Papa Alhaji Jimoh Gbadamosi, OON. All of us were tiny young boys then. Then we left school in 1952. But before we left, he had gone to Trinity College in Dublin, Republic of Ireland for further studies. By the time he returned I was already a lawyer.

“He stuck to the ethics of his profession as a teacher. He later proceeded abroad for post graduate in Oxford University. He maintained an excellent relationship with all his students. Both the new and old ones. We kept on going to him for advice.”

Commenting on his influence in his life, Justice Olorunnibe said it was enormous. “The late Pa Gbadamosi was an epitome of integrity; he was very accommodating and a man full of wisdom. I think he was ordained to be a teacher.

“I miss him. I have missed his Friday lectures, but you can call it sermon. On Fridays, he would tell me the history of Lagos, prominent personalities and he would tell me how to behave. So I miss his prayers. He would pray for me, my family and all our friends who are his former pupils. Mama was a wonderful mother. She too was a teacher. She would listen to you carefully. We miss her motherly care. As we celebrate these wonderful people, my wish for the children is that they should keep up the tradition of Papa and Mama’s legacies of togetherness and friendship.”