By Adeshina Okuneye

My dear Ganny! How does one say goodbye to a friend who has been part of his life for more than 35 years? How does one adequately describe a friendship that began professionally but grew into a bond of brotherhood, trust, confidence and genuine affection? I met you more than three and a half decades ago, and from that time, you became much more than a professional colleague. You became my bosom friend, confidant, adviser and brother.

For over 35 years, we shared ideas, discussed life and engineering, exchanged intimate thoughts and supported one another through different seasons of life. We worked together on several professional engagements, including World Bank projects in Osun State, as well as projects in Akure and other places.

Though, we were sometimes separated by distance, our friendship never suffered from it. You remained Ganny. Always available.Always willing to listen.Always willing to help. And always ready to share your knowledge. You were an outstanding Materials and Geophysics Engineer, a professional who did not merely acquire knowledge but generously transferred it to others. You trained and mentored excellent engineers within your family and beyond, leaving behind a professional legacy that will continue to speak for you.

But, my dear friend, your greatest engineering achievement was not in the projects you executed. It was in the lives you helped to build. You were a man with a heart that was extraordinarily large. I have often said that you were the kind of man who could give one of his eyes to save someone who needed it. That was not an exaggeration of your character. That was simply Ganny.

Even when your own pension was modest, you never forgot those who were less fortunate. Whenever your pension came, you would still take a portion of it and distribute it to widows in your community. You did not wait until you became wealthy before helping people. You gave from what you had. That is a lesson I will never forget. You were also deeply connected to your roots in Ede, Osun State, where you were a respected member and head of the Ashawo family. You carried your family and community responsibilities with dignity, and you remained a man people could look up to.

Your greatest legacy, however, will undoubtedly continue through your children and those you mentored.

Baba Adeola, You did not merely raise children. You built people. You nurtured excellence. You encouraged education. You trained engineers. You supported professionals. And you gave your family a foundation upon which they can continue to build. I will also never forget what you did for me when I was launching my youth football club. At a time when I was investing my energy and resources into giving young people an opportunity through football, you gave me your full support and encouragement. That club eventually went on to win the Shell Cup competition for Osun State in Nigeria.

You may not have lifted that trophy yourself, but I will always remember that you were among those who believed in the dream and encouraged me when it was still only a dream. That is the kind of friend you were. You believed in people. You believed in their dreams. And whenever you could, you helped them move forward. Then came the day you told me that you were battling for your life.

My dear Ganny, I cannot forget that moment. We did everything we could. We explored every possible avenue. We hoped. We prayed. We believed that somehow, you would overcome the battle. Because people like you, in our minds, were not supposed to leave us so easily. But eventually, we had to confront the truth that there are battles that belong entirely to Almighty God. God gives, and God takes. You celebrated your 80th birthday last year, and today, l choose to celebrate the remarkable life you have lived. And I will remember you as the friend who stood beside me for more than three and a half decades.

Thank you, Ganny. Thank you for the friendship. Thank you for the counsel. Thank you for the professional companionship. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for supporting my dreams. And thank you for showing us that even when a man has little, he can still give much. May Almighty God forgive your shortcomings, accept your good deeds, grant you Al-Jannah Firdaus, and give your beloved family—Mopelolalya Adeola, Adeola, Adeshina, Adediran, Adepeju, Adegoke and all your loved ones—the strength to bear this irreparable loss. Adieu, my dear friend. Adieu, my brother. Adieu, Engr. Ganny Akanmu Adekunle. You came. You served. You gave. You inspired. You loved. And you left a legacy. You will never be forgotten. Rest peacefully, my dear Ganny, until we meet again.