Edward Olufemi Alabi (28 Oct 1964 - 17 Dec 2016)

In loving memory of Edward Olufemi Alabi who sadly passed away on 17th December 2016.

A DEDICATION TO A FATHER, A PARTNER, A BROTHER, AND A FRIEND.

Some of you might know him as “Ego”. Others might know him as “Ejo” or even “Dende”. Or perhaps you just know him as Femi. Whatever name you know him as, there is no doubt you will know him as LOVED. Today, we gather to remember our brother and our friend. Not to mourn, but to celebrate a life that touched so many people, impacted everyone around him, and brought happiness to all who knew him. Adieu, Femi. You will be remembered forever.

Edward Olufemi Alabi was born in Islington, London, on the 28th October, 1964, to Mr. Sampson Oladejo Alabi and Mrs. Florence Olufunke Alabi. The second child and only son of the four children, he was loved from the very beginning and brought joy and pride to his parents.

He attended Lady Lak Primary School Lagos and then went on to Igbobi College in Lagos where he excelled in Art subjects. He spent most of his youth in Alagomeji, Lagos and holidays in Ibadan, before returning to the UK in October, 1988.

A FRIEND WHO STICKS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER.

Sura (Femi Ogunfunmilade):
We were housemates and you could not hope for a better man by your side! He was quiet, homely but fun! Femi gave me the nickname Sura because whenever we were due to go out, I would always be darning on a button or mending a broken zip. He started calling me Sura the Tailor and the name stuck. One of the things I remember most about him was that he stood firm beside his friends. He listened without judgement and then took your side against all odds.
My friend loved life and he loved to LOVE! He fell in love easily and when he did, it was for real.
Have you met a friend like mine? One who wished all men well and had no animosity in his heart?
He never wanted to drive, so he called me his co-pilot; always riding side-by-side as we took on the world and all the adventures that it brought.

Baba Dudu (Jimmy Adeleye):
If you knew my friend, Femi, you would love him too! I met him in June 1990 when he turned up at my birthday party, and – except for the six years he spent in Chicago – I spoke to him every single day; sometimes three to four times a day.
He was full of life and had many passions. He loved music and lived for jazz and the old-school tunes. Fashion was another mainstay of Femi’s life, and he favoured jackets – oh, he had them in every style and colour! Football? Femi was a Chelsea supporter and was blue to the bone! His jewellery was important to him – they were his prized possessions and you touched any of his pieces at your own peril.

For twenty years, he was a friend who abided. He stood by my side and supported me through all of life’s travails. I had an operation four years ago, and Femi moved in with me straight out of the hospital. He cooked, he helped me to the bathroom; he stayed with me. My mother came and she left after some time, but Femi abided.
Similarly, I witnessed the christening of all three of his children and saw my friend grow into a family man who loved his children – a love without end.

Obe! (Daniel Obeto):
I was immediately drawn to Femi from day one: he had a fun, friendly atmosphere around him. That we were both Scorpio and supported the almighty Chelsea made him even more likable. But it went deeper, so much deeper than that. In my darkest days in this country, Femi was there for me. There were days I had to be in court and he was the only one who knew because he was the only one I thought I could confide in. And he always turned up. Always. Amid turmoil, he always found a way to make me laugh, even if it was simply the way he hailed me “Obe!!”
I miss my friend.

Aburo! (Larry Adesida):
Family meant everything to Femi and while he was at his happiest when he was with his children, he considered even his friends as his family. Femi was a man of integrity. He was selfless, respectful and always put others first. He was your PADDY who you could always count on, lean on. And the knowledge! He was a man of immense knowledge and had an unquenchable thirst for even more knowledge. He was already well versed in current affairs and politics, but constantly sought to better himself – particularly when it came to his position in this world – to be a better father, partner, friend and brother.

The loves of his life were many and showed the fabric of the man in totality: Femi loved Chelsea! He was blue to the core and was certain he could do a better job than Mourinho!
He was passionate about his health and took care of himself. Yes, he loved crispy bacon, could eat it every day, but Femi was the guy who would go to his GP if he had a headache. He was probably his dentist’s most frequent patient, and was always at the gym.

He loved life and loved to travel and broaden his horizons. His Chicago years remain, according to him, the best years of his life. The desire for new experiences made him flexible; willing to learn.
An incident I remember is when he went to a Michael Jackson concert in Wembley in the 90s. Not being a big Michael Jackson fan himself, he nonetheless decided to go and experience something new. My friend returned and said “Aburo….emi gan, I don’t know when I started shouting “I love you, Michael!”” – My brother, always willing to be proved wrong in the quest for new horizons.

You would have to go far to find a better story teller than Femi Alabi! No matter what unbelievable story you had up your sleeve, Femi always had a complimentary story that could meet it and beat it.
If he were here today as we were discussing his final journey, he would say “Aburo….let me tell you a story, back in Alagomeji, mo ni ore kan ni’gbayen… …very nice guy o! Family man! The only son out of four children. Bobo yen, was a very nice guy! full of gist and always respectful. He travelled to London and had three kids. He was always there for everyone and gave everyone his fullest attention. We in Alagomeji could always count on him. Do you know what? One day, he just died suddenly at a young age! Mehn o du mi ga ni”.

He called me “Aburo” and I called him “Brother John” as a reference to his similarities to John the Baptist. He was mature, had a great outlook on life, empathy for everyone he came across, a great mentor, and was a learner of life. He was fearless in his quest to learn and improve himself – be it in the spheres of family, relationships or fatherhood.
I am honoured to have known him and proud to call him my brother.
Sleep well.