The remains of Chief Henry Olaitan Akinbobola, a former Director of Finance and Accounts at the Citizenship and Leadership Training Center (Man ‘O’ War) Headquarters, Abuja, and a great supporter of
The Crest online newspaper, were returned to mother earth Friday in the United States of America.
The Idanre, Ondo State-born chartered accountant-turned- philanthropist, passed on at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America, on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, at the age of 65, after a brief illness.
The funeral rites for Chief Henry Akinbobola, were kick-started at his residence in Lagos with a service of songs, that began at about 4p.m.Nigerian time.
In the US, Chief Akinbobola’s remains were laid-in-state, also on Thursday, during which family members, friends and Nigerians in Pennsylvania and beyond came to pay their last respects.
Though Chief Akinbobola died at an unripe age of 65, leaving his family distraught and grief-stricken, the funeral rites in both Nigeria and US, even if sombre, were well attended, and filled with testimonies by family members, acquaintances, as well as mourners and sympathisers. They all celebrated the great life that Akinbobola lived, praising God all the way; a family member told The Crest.
The late Akinbobola, a devout Christian, renowned community leader and grandfather, was buried at the Sewickley Cemetery, Wexford, Pennsylvania, on Friday, June 18, 2021, after a funeral Service at the Orchard Hill Church, also in Wexford.
Though deeply saddened by the sudden departure of her husband, Mrs. Mojisola Abimbola Akinbobola said she was very proud, and will remain ever grateful to God for the life her husband of 37 years lived and the legacies he left behind.
“Henry is irreplaceable,” she said in the release. “He was a deeply committed family man, a loving husband, a devoted father and dotting granddad. He loved God, his Maker, with the whole of his being, and gave solid expression to his faith through selfless service to humanity, providing generous support for the less privileged.”
His bosom friend, Shola Oshunkeye, a former Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Publishing Ghana Limited, now Managing Director/CEO of The Crest Publishing and Entertainment Company Limited, said he was terribly broken by Akinbobola’s sudden departure.
“We spoke last towards the end of May,” Oshunkeye said. “And there was nothing in his voice to suggest that he would leave us so soon. I’m still in shock. I can’t believe Henry is truly gone. Yet, I cannot ask God: Why? I will miss him sorely.
“Henry ran a good race, served his God with the best of his substance and talents. He never discriminated against anyone but loved all that came his way. He never had any dull moment. He was a beautiful spirit. I pray God to comfort his wife, his son, grand children, and all members of his great family. I pray God to grant my great friend a blissful rest in His bosom.”
A Chartered Management Accountant, Chief Henry Olaitan Akinbobola, FCMA, FCNA, MBA, was born in Idanre, Ondo State, Nigeria, on August 16, 1956, to the family of the late Chief Charles and late Madam Comfort Akinbobola.
He had his early education at St George’s Primary School, Idanre, after which he proceeded to Olofin Grammar School, also in Idanre, and was there between 1968 and 1972.
He attended Yaba College of Technology, YABATECH, Lagos, from 1976 to 1981, initially graduating with an Ordinary National Diploma, OND, in accountancy in June 1978. Upon graduation, he secured employment as a Senior Accounts Supervisor with the Nigerian Bottling Company. Focused and determined to further his education, Henry, in September 1978, voluntarily resigned from the job and returned to YABATECH for his Higher National Diploma, HND, also in accountancy.
In August of the same year, he commenced his mandatory national service, NYSC, in Jos, the Plateau State capital, and had his primary assignment at Onigbinde & Sons Limited.
In 1983, Henry Akinbobola was employed by the Union Beverages Limited, makers of Pepsi Cola, in Lagos, as a Senior Accounts Supervisor. Between 1983 and 1984, he worked at the Associated Breweries Limited, Agbara, and subsequently Abeokuta as Branch Accountant between 1983 and 1984.
Always looking for fresh challenges, Akinbobola, on February 16, 1985, joined the Citizenship and Leadership Training Center (Man ‘O’ War) as a Higher Executive Officer (Accounts). Through a dint of hard work, he rose to become the Director of Finance and Accounts in January 2015, a position he held until he retired from service on the August 16, 2016.
In the course of his career, Henry Akinbobola, a lover of table-tennis, travelled locally and internationally for official assignments and vacation. He was a Peace Ambassador and a Millennium Development Ambassador.
Chief Henry Olaitan Akinbobola married his beautiful wife, former Miss. Mojisola Abimbola Kolade on May 19, 1984, and they are blessed with a God-fearing son and two grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, son (Olaitan (Bobby) Akinbobola), grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, among others.
The Crest family commiserated with the family of the late Chief Henry Akinbobola, praying God to comfort them and grant the departed a sweet repose in His bosom.
