By Temitope Lakisokun
Grief and gratitude are holding hands in my heart as I write this.
Gratitude for who he was, and grief for what we have lost.
When I think of Ogbenyi Egbe, I am reminded of the words of Benjamin Franklin:
“The noblest question in the world is: ‘What good may I do in it?’ ”
I’m convinced Ogbenyi woke up every single day asking himself this question and proceeded to do all the good he could. Here was a man who gave freely of himself—his time, his energy, his resources, his boundless creativity. Ogbenyi was “Google” before googling became a thing. His knowledge was vast and he knew something about everything. And not only did he know these things, he was always keen to share. He was a friend and a brother for all seasons.
I met Ogbenyi in the heady early days of TaijoWonukabe. 30 Bassie Ogamba was our Algonquin. Many of us gravitated towards Ogbenyi because we realised he was a good man to have in your corner. He gave so much and asked for so little. His kindness was limitless, and he never wearied of extending a helping hand. He was our Mr. Fix-it – computers, phones, gadgets, machines, cars, etc – Ogbenyi had a solution.
In a world that can often be brutal, he was the rather odd empath. In the 26 odd years I knew him, I never heard him pass a snarky comment or disparage anyone. Sometimes, a conversation may veer in that direction, but he would always find a way to defuse or deflect. He held no grudges and kept his relationships in good repair.
Speaking of relationships, his love for his family was indeed the cornerstone of his life. We all witnessed a real-time transformation in Ogbenyi when he met and married Helen. His demeanour softened, and a new light seemed to shine in his eyes. This change became even more pronounced with the arrival of Daniel. Fatherhood brought out an enhanced version of the empathy and creativity he was always known for. He became Ogbenyi 2.0!
As a creative genius and philosopher, Ogbenyi transformed mere design briefs into works of poetic beauty. He had an uncanny ability to see beyond the surface, to find meaning and inspiration in the simplest of tasks. Those of us who had the privilege of working alongside him witnessed his extraordinary patience and composure, even in the face of seemingly impossible deadlines…and we did have quite a number of those! His patience was inexhaustible. I never saw him panic or break a sweat.
Ogbenyi was a problem solver with an insatiable curiosity for how things worked. His mind was always active, seeking solutions to challenges big and small. Whether it was a complex design issue or an everyday one, he approached everything with that same curiosity. He also had this ability to find joy in the simplest of things. His passion for Formula 1 racing bordered on the obsessive – he could spend hours discussing the intricacies of aerodynamics, team strategies, and the latest technological advancements in the sport.
I guess it was more than just entertainment for him; it was a celebration of human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of excellence. His fascination with container houses was yet another example of his unique perspective on life. He spoke about this constantly. Where others saw simple metal boxes, he envisioned innovative, eco-friendly living spaces. He was captivated by the idea of transforming something utilitarian into something beautiful and functional, much like he did with his design work.
Ogbenyi believed in the art of the possible.
He demonstrated that true fulfilment comes not just from grand gestures, but from appreciating and finding potential in the ordinary. He never lost his sense of wonder. He looked at the world with curious eyes, he saw possibilities where others might see limitations, and he never stopped learning and exploring.
Now, what made Ogbenyi truly exceptional was that his goodness was not from religious obligation, but from a deep-seated desire to make the world a better place. His faith was a complement to his inherent kindness, not its source. He showed us that one can be moral, ethical, and profoundly good without needing the promise of divine reward or the threat of eternal damnation.
In what turned out to be our last conversation, even as he was in pain and on the threshold of eternity, his thoughts were on how to help others navigate the changing landscape of our business. This selflessness, this constant focus on the wellbeing of others, was the very essence of who he was: A man who not only did good in the world but found immense joy in the process of living and loving and creating.
What A Guy!
- Temitope Lakisokun, Surulere, Lagos, August 2024