Dad, Today marks the tenth year of your departure, it doesn't feel that long ago. I was chatting with mum yesterday, and I was saying how fast time has flown. It’s been slightly more than 13 years since I last saw you, spoke to you, touched your hand, hugged you or just sat in your presence. I miss you! I really, really miss you. I miss the sound of your voice, how you’d call me Boboo.. I miss your hugs. I really wish I could hug you right now. I miss your words of wisdom, your sense of humour (I think you’d like my sense of humour, though I tend to be a tad cynical) and I miss the sound of your laughter. Not a day goes by when I don’t imagine what life would be like had you not died. Every situation that I find myself in, I imagine a scenario where you’re present and sharing in the happy moments. I pray for you, though. That’s something. It’s the only thing I can do, really. I also get to hold on to the memories. I get to look at photos of you. I get to be proud when people (to this very day) still talk about what a fantastic man you were. You were always there for people when they needed help and you never expected or wanted payment for helping people. Your generosity and selflessness is inspiring and unmatched. A learned gentleman to the core. You’ve left people with a lot of good memories of you. They always mention how you made them laugh, always listened, how you always helped whoever you could with whatever you could. It gives me a feeling of warmth inside to hear these things about you and inspires me to be the kind of son you’d be proud of. I like to believe you’re watching over mummy,my siblings and l. When I dream about you, I feel happy and sad at the same time. Happy that you were in my dream and sad that it ended too soon. I used to cry a lot in the beginning because of the void left by your death, but as I got older it got a bit easier. I still cry sometimes, but it’s easier to now laugh and smile at the memories. Thank you, Barrister Michael Ahanonu Egere. Thank you for your love. Thank you for the memories. Thank you for being a good, hard working human being who encouraged me to be the best person I can be and to do the best I can in everything I wish to achieve. Mostly, thank you for being my father. I love you

Our last close interaction was when he stood in for us on our wedding day in Lagos as a loving father and uncle that he was. With outstretched and warm hands he became the first in our family to welcome my wife when I took her to Aguda soon after she said yes. I remember our phone conversation while he was in hospital and how much I looked forward to seeing him walk out of that hospital. It did not come to be because the Lord had a much better plan for him, though our hearts be broken. Continue to rest in the bossom of your loving Lord and ours, the Lord Jesus Christ and may we continue to draw inspiration from your life and memory.

No farewell words were spoken, No time to say goodbye, You never even got to meet your Grandchildren You were gone before we knew it, And only God can tell us why. Your life was a blessing your memory a treasure... You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure... Tenderly we treasure the past With memories that will always last. Remembering you on this day, Comforted by so many memories. Though absent you are very near, Still loved, still missed and very dear. In the hearts of those who loved you You will always be there. God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be. So he put his arms around you, and whispered "Come to Me". With tearful eyes we watched you, we watched you fade away. Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands now rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us He only takes the best. Always in our thoughts Forever in our hearts