‘A virtuous Ben, jewel of inestimable price’

It was quite emotional for Prince Anthony Olusola Adejugbe, the CEO of Tonique Oil Services Ltd. recently, who described the moment his wife died in his arms.

With a faltering voice and tears welling up his eyes, he spoke with high emotion about the painful exit of his dear wife, Barr. (Mrs.) Bernadette Ngozi Boma Adejugbe, who died aged 47, a year ago.

Born at Ibadan on June 3, 1962 of Igbo parents, late Mr. Maurice Onyegbula Onyirioha-Ofoegbu and Mrs. Laura Nengi Onyirioha-Ofoegbu, Bernadette had her primary education at the ICC Moor Plantation Primary School, Ibadan. After the creation of Ondo State, her parents chose to resettle in Ondo State; this eventually led her to continue her education at Saint Louis Girls School, Ikere Ekiti and completed her secondary school education in 1978.

Ben

Her first working experience started from the Specialist Hospital Akure, later at the University Teaching Hospital Benin, Guys Hospital, London, United Kingdom and much later, Medical Department of NITEL in Lagos where she voluntarily withdrew her services and decided to devote her time fully to the upbringing of her children.

The need to give her children the best possible upbringing led to the sacrifice of her nursing career has today paid off for her children – Yomi, Ayo and Deola. Ultimately, she was never the laid back housewife as she later enrolled at the University of Lagos for her LLB, made a success of it and was subsequently called to the Nigeria Bar as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2006.

Ben

Today, Tonique Oil Services Ltd. where she served until her transition into eternal bliss as the Executive Director Legal/Administration, has reached the zenith of fame in the oil and gas industry and her vital contributions and support to the company can never be forgotten.

Ben

Here is the testimony of Rev. Canon Segun Agbetuyi during one of his vacation, as he walked through a Texas Cemetery in the super rich Highland Park suburb of Dallas after a funeral service, he came upon a tombstone bearing the following epitaph written in 1873:

Pause stranger, when you pass by me,

As you are now, so once was I,

As I am now, so you will be,

So prepare for death and follow me.

He was transfixed and completely rooted to the ground. Here, he was in one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods on earth, staring at such an intriguing epitaph, the dead man must have been very wealthy in his life time to have lived and be buried in Highland Park. No house in Highland Park is worth less than $25 million in value (N3 billion). The opulence from the legendary car park in the front porches of the homes confirmed the Ecclesiastes preacher – “Most of life is vanity”.

I asked myself the question, how much is life worth? Were death to have a price, Prince Tony Adejugbe would have gladly paid without qualms for the life of Ben and she would still have been alive today, but death is inevitable, it is an inescapable episode.

May she rest in the bosom of Abraham her father till resurrection when the saints and the raptured will be in the same joyful mood of togetherness.

•Contributed by Ayo Fajana, Personal Assistant to C.E.O Tonique Oil Services Ltd., Lagos.

defined herself a positive philosophy of life as she was deep and proactive in the practice of her religion. The icing on the cake was her sunny, natural helpful smile that brightened the gloomiest day, eyes that sparkled like stars in the night. Even behind these glittering eyes, the kind heart of a woman of service, Amazon of her time, always ready in the Lord to meaningfully address all matters arising.was a woman who was gifted with legion of talents and with robust shoulders to carry responsibilities. She exuded confidence and courage. Overtime, she accumulated a great deal of experience as she weathered with her heartthrob the fierce and the howling storm of creating a business empire which opened a wider vista of life and comfort. , as she was fondly called, proceeded to Maria Assumpta Hospital Ado-Ekiti, where she earned a Diploma in Midwifery and qualified as a Registered Midwife in 1980. In 1981, she enrolled at the University Teaching Hospital, Benin-City, where she earned a Diploma in Nursing, and also qualified as a Registered Nurse in 1983.