By Muyiwa Akintunde
Since the sad news broke last Saturday, I had struggled to string a tribute for Oluwakemi Oyeteju James. She lived the way life ought to be lived: selfless.
Kemi was the youngest of all my classmates at the Yaba College of Technology, 30 years ago. She was attractive and single, but she carried herself in a truly dignifying manner: quite friendly, active but with clearly defined (even if unspoken) boundaries. She made up for the shortcomings of most of us in the class who would rush in and out of school to attend to our demanding work schedules. Kemi was the life of the set.
Years after we had all gone our different ways, she stayed in touch with her classmates. It was Kemi who would later create our WhatsApp platform, which became a useful tool for our connections.
When she was 50 three years ago (July 2022), I witnessed the Kemi who had dedicated her life to serving humanity, and I had to whisper to her that she should join Rotary. The music didn’t allow me to hear her response, but I guess one perhaps is enough in her home. Kemi’s husband (oh, I can’t imagine using the term “widower”), who is my very good friend, Michael Effiong James is a Rotarian of significance and is presently serving as Executive Secretary of Rotary International District 9111.
Tribute after tribute brought some tears of joy from Kemi’s eyes. The thrust of the testimonies: When you think that everything is all over and the world has been skewed against you, talk to Kemi. She never saw problems, she saw solutions. She will give whatever she had to get you out of the situation, and where that was not possible, her words were soothing enough to calm nerves and tension. She was the go-to person when help was required.
Kemi couldn’t attend my daughter’s wedding in August 2024, but sent profuse apologies days ahead that she had a commitment elsewhere. Her message was accompanied by the flyer of the speaking engagement she had with a Christian group on that same day.
For many of our classmates, it remains a dream: Kemi is not gone. It’s even more devastating that her younger sister also lost her life a few days before her own transition; both victims of the same gas explosion.
Our prayers go out to the James, Oyeteju and all the families affected by this horror. Our commiseration to the loved ones of the deceased. May God grant you the strength to navigate this horrendous time and the years ahead.
Following @highlight Deba Uwadiae Kola Olabisi Frank Kintum Jackson Isimeme Duro Ikhazuagbe Emeka Ezeugwu Nwachukwu Edwin Tony Nezianya Emmanuel Ukudolo Fidelis Ugbomeh Funsho B. Abdullahi Onuoha Ukeh Gbadebo Akinyemi Isaac Anumihe
