Mr Dipo Famakinwa, the late Director –General of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), was buried in Lagos on Friday amidst tears by family members and other sympathisers.
Famakinwa was buried at the Ikoyi Vaults and Gardens after a funeral service held at the Chapel of Christ the Light Church, Alausa-Ikeja.
The interment was witnessed by the wife and children of the deceased, Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, retired AIG Tunji Alapini as well as friends and colleagues.
Paying tributes to the deceased, Ajimobi expressed sadness that one of the brightest, dutiful and committed citizens of the South Western part of Nigeria was gone.
The governor had last week described the death of Famakinwa as a rude shock and a loss too much to bear.
“The energetic young man was always prepared to sacrifice his time, expertise and resources to ensure the integration of the South West.
“He was a rallying point for all the stakeholders in the south-west of development agenda.
“He has left us when his wealth of experience is still much treasured,’’ he said.
Famakinwa died in a Lagos hospital on April 21 after a brief illness.
Former Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos eulogised the Dipo Famakinwa, saying that he contributed much to the economic integration of South-West states.
In a condolence message in Lagos, Tinubu, a National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said that Famakinwa’s death was a blow to the regional integration efforts.
Famakinwa died on Friday morning at the age of 51.
”The death of Dipo Famakinwa left me distraught. Leaving us at such a young age of 51 is unpleasant, but his was an eventful life. He lived a life of mission.
”He pursued that mission with vigour.
“Dipo was a partner, soul mate, fellow advocate and foot-soldier for economic integration of the states in the South-West Geopolitical Zone for the development of the region.
“He breathed life into that economic integration initiative. He was busy arranging the building blocks for the realisation of that ideal.
”He set a huge task for himself at DAWN and was working on this with all his energy. I learnt that he had to be forced recently to take a short leave after working ceaselessly over the years at DAWN,” he said.
According to Tinubu, the Yoruba race has lost a strategist and an organiser.
“His death is a loss not only to his family, the DAWN Commission and Yoruba race, but also to Nigeria.
”The academic world also lost because Dipo was very cerebral and serious-minded.
”What we must all do across the South-West is to ensure that the idea of regional economic integration he worked and died for does not die with him.
”It should be pursued with more drive and force. That is what we must do for him.’’
He commiserated with the deceased’s family members, and prayed that God would give them the strength to bear his death,
“I mourn with his relations and friends; I mourn with the entire Yoruba race, ” he added.
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