Tributes & Memories

Heartfelt Tribute to ‘Olu’ Olabenjo ‘Olu,’ you were my childhood friend, and also my beloved cousin on my maternal side from Ijebu-Ode. I fondly remember how fate brought us together as students at St Paul’s Primary School, Idi-Oro on the afternoon shift of the school and after school daily, we both walked back to Shomolu, where we lived with our parents. Over the years, we developed close ties and remained close friends, sincere associates and deep confidants till death took you from here! ‘Olu,’ as I always referred to you while others called you ”Gbenga”: you were an easy-going, soft-spoken, selfless, God-fearing, highly-intelligent, family-oriented, and a well-focused person, and I admire you for these great qualities. Your passion for the success of your children propelled them to become high achievers in their different careers and professions. They will be your lasting legacy. I salute your sterling efforts. To see you in person at the hospital bed two days before you gave up the spirit, broke me down, but gave me an opportunity to express my parting remarks, pay my last respects and touch you for the final time – I thank God for that. I will treasure the opportunity. You are already being missed by all of my family. Hope to see you again in the fullness of time at the bosom of Almighty God. Farewell, my dear “Olu.” Memories of your illustrious life will linger on in my heart. With deep affection, Dr Oyemade Oyeniya

MY HUSBAND, A COMPLETE GENTLEMAN, MY HERO, A COMPASSIONATE FRIEND AND SOLDIER OF CHRIST. Wednesday 24th June 2026 is a day I will never forget in a hurry. It was on that fateful day you stopped fighting your illness, exchanged mortality for immortality, gaining the golden heavenly crown ( Jas.1:12, Rev. 2:10) . Like the brave soldier, you decided to sheath your sword after you had seen Jesus and then succumbed to the cold hands of death as had always been your wish! O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? ( 1 Cor.15:55-57) Painfully, that marked the end of our memorable journey of 47 years together as bosom friends and 45 eventful years of marital bliss. To God alone be all the glory. You were every inch a gentleman and a caring husband, father and grandfather, who deeply loved his nuclear and extended families. As a father, you were a staunch advocate of moral and academic excellence. You encouraged your daughters not to see their gender as a barrier to self-actualize and reach their maximum potential. You were also an advocate for education, ensuring that you encouraged and assisted in seeing some indigent students through school not only by paying their fees but by counselling them too. As a husband, you cared, protected and provided for me while at the same time also taught me very early in our marriage the importance of financial and emotional independence. Yours was a heart overflowing with compassion and the milk of human kindness such that you would go to any length to ensure that the underprivileged were cared for and happy. You would oftentimes deny yourself to place smiles on the faces of the downtrodden. You had no tolerance for religious bigotry, and for you, ethnic stereotyping was a no-no. No wonder you gave each of our children non- Yoruba names from different Nigerian ethnic groups, and your relatives popularly referred to you as “Baba Nkechi”, derived from the Igbo name you gave our first daughter. The other children had either Hausa, Edo or names from the minority groups. You served God and man, particularly the physically challenged, with a passion, happily and wholeheartedly, as you invested every bit of your time, talent and treasure into their care. ( Matt. 25:35-40). The widows and orphans were equally not left out, as they found refuge in you, as you would always rise to their plight (Isaiah 1:17, Ps.68:5) . I will forever remember how you once referred someone who ill-treated a widow to the Word in Exodus 22:22-24. I honestly still do not comprehend how you managed to service relationships with such a large retinue of friends and relatives without wearing out. No wonder some refer to you as ‘the man from another planet '.” Concerning your good deeds, I can go on and on. While your demise has left a vacuum that cannot be filled in my heart, I take solace in the fact that the good deeds of men live after them (Prov.10:7). Posterity will surely remember your legacies for good. Rest on, my darling husband, in the bosom of Christ, to your much-deserved eternal rest till we meet again at His feet (1 Thess. 4:17). Adieu. O di gbose o , Oko eni. Olowo ori eni. Omo owa, mojo, Ko jile gbe n’ofin. Omo o f’orun se, o f’orun so. O fi igba awo s’obe r’omoje. Mrs Omotayo Olabenjo Your one and only “Mamaa” & darling Wife

On behalf of the Board of ReStraL Ltd, I write to express our heartfelt condolences on the passing of our dear brother, friend, and esteemed Board member, Engr. Olugbenga O. Olabenjo ("Baba"). We bid farewell not only to a respected colleague, but also to a trusted friend, wise adviser, and committed partner in ReStraL's journey. From the beginning of his association with us, Baba demonstrated an uncommon dedication to ReStraL's vision. He gave generously of his time, experience, and wisdom, inspired by a sincere desire to see the company flourish and fulfil its purpose. Whatever responsibility was entrusted to him, he approached it with seriousness and made himself available whenever he was needed, regardless of where he happened to be. Whether called upon to attend to an urgent matter or offer wise counsel, he responded readily and without hesitation. We knew that we could count on him—and he never disappointed us. His contribution was not confined to the Boardroom. He visited our offices from time to time, relating warmly and easily with everyone he encountered. His humility, friendliness and genuine interest in people endeared him to colleagues across the organisation and made him an integral part of the wider ReStraL family. As Founder, I was privileged to have in him someone who believed deeply in what we were building. Baba brought sound judgement and thoughtful perspectives to the Board's deliberations and consistently lent his voice, influence and support to initiatives that advanced the company. His encouragement and quiet confidence were an important source of strength, particularly during periods of challenge and uncertainty. He approached every Board engagement with diligence, humility and a genuine sense of responsibility. His contributions were thoughtful, his disposition gracious and his commitment to excellence unquestionable. His legacy lies not only in the decisions he helped to shape, but also in the spirit with which he served—with loyalty, selflessness, integrity and devotion to a cause greater than himself. Baba's passing leaves a void that will not easily be filled. Yet, even in our sorrow, we give thanks to God for the gift of his life, for the privilege of knowing and working with him, and for the many years of friendship and faithful service we shared. We are comforted by the enduring impact of his contribution and the worthy example he leaves behind. His life reminds us that true leadership is measured not merely by titles held, but by lives touched, institutions strengthened and legacies built through faithful service. To his dear wife, children and the entire Olabenjo family, the Board, Management and entire ReStraL family extend their deepest condolences. We pray that God grants them comfort, strength and grace during this difficult time. Though he has departed from our midst, his contribution will remain woven into the fabric of ReStraL, and his memory will continue to inspire us. May the Almighty grant him eternal rest, and may his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.

You were a great father, no doubt. You were a father, not only to Seun, but stood for her friends when you could. You will surely be missed, no doubt. However, you continue to live in our hearts till we meet to part no more at the feet of Jesus. Rest in peace, daddy. You will not be forgotten.

My Grandpa, Engr. Olugbenga Olatunde Olabenjo (Babaa) was one of the kindest and most selfless person I’ve ever known. I recall when he would take my siblings and I to the motherless babies homes as well as disabled homes when we younger in Nigeria. Back then I would be scared to interact with the children and even question why he was taking us there. But looking back now I understand, Babaa wanted us from a young age to develop a sense of compassion and empathy, to learn how to treat all people the same regardless of how they look, their situation, or the physical challenges they may have. I believe this is the same compassion and empathy he passed down to my Mom as well as unto me. He was a man of excellence and also encouraged all his family members to strive for excellence too. To put this into fruition, he implemented the yearly Shomolu awards, celebrating different age groups of the Olabenjo family who exceeded in their academics, an award which I won twice. Being his first set of Grandkids alongside my twin brother, he was a very active and involved grandparent, with my younger twin brother and sister coming later. He would frequently take us on excursions and visits to his project sites, as well as buying us TFC snacks during our weekly visit to Surulere after Church. When we moved to Canada, he remained an active Grandparent, with him and Mamaa frequently coming every summer to spend time with us as well as my Mom’s siblings. It broke my heart to see how his health regressed so quickly over the past 2 years but I know that he’s at peace now and isn’t suffering anymore. Even though he is not here physically, his legacy and impact on not only my life but the lives of others will continue to live on forever ♾️ . Rest on Babaa 🕊️, Love from your Grandson, Oluwatoni Adelekan.

My grandfather was many things: a devoted husband to my grandmother, a loving father to my mother, and a cherished teacher to his grandchildren. As his first grandchildren, my twin brother and I were especially blessed to experience his love and care firsthand. Whether through the thoughtful excursions he took us on seldomly to teach us about our roots and cultural heritage, or during our weekly family visits to his home after church, one thing was certain, every interaction with him was intentional as I always left having learned something valuable. From a young age, he would refer to us as "Master" with are names proceeding afterwards. It didn't occur to me at the time, but I understand now that this reflected how highly he always thought of us as his proud to have had grandsons, sadly, It is now a phrase that will echo forever within my thoughts. He was known in different ways to different people, but his wisdom and kindheartedness were constants that always shone through. As I reflect on these past few weeks and towards the future, I remind myself of the positive impact he had on me, from the lessons he taught that built my judgment to the corrections he gave that refined my decisions. They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, with my unplanned decision to follow in his footsteps as an aspiring engineer being a testament to this. So as the fruit borne from his teachings, I will continue to apply his lessons in my everyday life, keeping his memory and vision alive, to hopefully pass them on to my own children someday, repeating the cycle back from seed to tree. Our dear Baba, you will be deeply missed but will remain forever in our hearts. Rest easy now Sir. Your grandson, Oluwatobi Adelekan.

My grandpa as I fondly called Engr. Olubenga Olabenjo was a person I truly felt comfortable with right from the start when I knew him as my Hubby's close and true friend. He demonstrated great love for my family and it was an honour to make him the godfather to our last Child Olufolajinmi whom he genuinely loved, nurtured and mentored in such a fine manner that she looked up to him to become an engineer just like him!!! I thank God that he saw her graduate as a Mechanical Engineer and he proudly celebrated her. He was particularly fond of me and always told several memorable stories about my family which he knew very well being an Ijebu-Ode person just like me. Every moment spent with him and his lovely family especially his wife (my grandma) was always a relish to behold. I thank you very much sir for your love, care, guidance and kindness towards my family and I. You will always be loved and cherished. Rest in the bosom of the Lord sir till we meet to part no more. Your Aburo, "granddaughter" Kenny Onadeko.

I always said I was going to be an engineer because my godfather, Engineer Olubenga Olabenjo, was an engineer. He inspired me in numerous ways to strive for excellence, to put my best foot forward, and to do all that I could to continue to contribute towards better environments everywhere I found myself. I am forever in debt to his kindness, his graciousness, and his ability to always encourage me in everything I did and do. May your soul continue to rest in peace, sir. I love you and will always love you.

I never had the privilege of meeting Grandpa, and yet I have met him — in the discipline and grace of his children and grandchildren. Again and again, they speak of the mentorship he instilled in them, and I see it reflected clearly in who they have become. His values did not stay with him; they grew legs and walked into the next generation. Your legacy lives on, sir.

My Dear Ọga, I'm still not over the shock of the news of your sudden departure to be with our Lord and Saviour. Is 1992 not just like yesterday, when you graciously took me under your tutelage as a young civil engineer? My becoming a chartered engineer was due to your long-suffering and persistent encouragement, and I thank God it paid off. Through you, I achieved many firsts which would not have been possible if our paths had not crossed. You were an experienced and meticulous Civil Engineer, and you did not expect anything less from your officers. The mention of your name in engineering circles opened doors of beautiful opportunities for your subordinates. You were not just hardworking, you were also selfless. The 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital, Abuja, bear witness to the functional water supply schemes and wastewater disposal facilities directly attributable to your design, supervision, and commissioning across Federal Government secretariats, institutions, and estates. For giving Nigerians potable water - and knowing that water sustains life - it would not be out of place to call you Mr. Nigeria, for the wholesome living you helped provide to the generality of Nigerians while you were in active service. My Dear Ọga, in your own words, I hope it will not be out of place to conclude this tribute by saying: "Our meeting here on earth is adjourned sine die!" Goodnight, my beloved Ọga Ọlamib'erinjọ! God Almighty bless your family, friends, and well-wishers, more and more richly, day by day, in Jesus' name. Amen! Ayọr Ọladapọ