Four Years 30 October 2022 After Archbishop’s Death, Sir Folu Olamiti Reflects on Grief, Faith and Eternal Rest*
Four years after the death of his beloved nephew, an Archbishop, veteran media figure Sir Folu Olamiti has reflected on the pain of losing him at a young age, drawing comfort from his Christian faith and the belief that death has given way to eternal rest.
In an emotional tribute marking the fourth anniversary of his nephew’s passing, Olamiti described the loss as a wound that remains deep, despite the passage of time. Yet, amid the grief, he expressed confidence that his nephew’s earthly struggles had given way to peace in the presence of God.
“Four years today, the Lord called you home to everlasting rest. Losing you at such a tender age was deeply painful. The wound remains profound, but we find comfort in the belief that God called you to a home beyond the envy, bitterness and trials of this world,” he said.
For Olamiti, the anniversary is both a painful reminder of separation and an opportunity to celebrate a life defined by adversity, perseverance and spiritual accomplishment. He recalled the many trials his nephew endured during his relatively short life, drawing a comparison with the suffering of Jesus Christ.
“During the short time you spent on earth, you passed through many trials, much like Jesus Christ. Yet you came, you saw and you conquered,” he said.
His nephew’s elevation to the ecclesiastical office of Archbishop remains a source of pride and consolation for the family. For Olamiti, the achievement stands as a testament to a life that made a lasting impression despite its brevity.
But faith, while offering comfort, has not diminished the longing for reunion. In a particularly poignant passage, Olamiti expressed his desire for the day when he, too, would pass into eternity and be welcomed by the nephew he continues to mourn.
“Rest on, my dearest aburo. I long for the day when I, too, will join you, just as you are pictured here, welcoming your uncle into peaceful rest in eternity,” he said.
The tribute captures the enduring tension between grief and faith: the pain of losing a loved one too soon, the pride of remembering a life of spiritual achievement, and the Christian hope that death is not the end.
Four years on, Olamiti’s words reflect a deeply personal bereavement transformed by faith into an enduring expression of love, remembrance and hope for a reunion beyond the grave.
