By ABIRHIRE THOMAS
The Minister of Labour and Social Security, Sierra Leone, Alpha Osman Timbo and the organizers of the African Migration Summit (AMS) have condoled with the Nigeria’s Minister for State Labour and Employment, Olorugun Festus Egwarewa Adeniyi Keyamo, SAN over the death of his father, Pa Matthias Keyamo.
In a statement personally signed and copy sent to The DEFENDER, Timbo expressed sympathy to the Nigerian minister and prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased stating that, “the sad news about the passing away of your father . I know this is a very trying moment for you and the entire members of your family at home and abroad. As this is Holy Month of Ramadan, we the Muslims will say INALILAHI WAINALILAHI RAJEEUN.
“On behalf of the staff of the Ministry of Labour and social security and the SOS team in Sierra Leone, we extend our deepest condolences to you and your family for this great loss. May his soul Rest in perfect peace.”
In the same vein, Dr Ajibola Abayomi, the President of the Journalists International Forum For Migration (JIFORM) whose organization in partnership with the Nekotech Center of Excellence, Ghana led by a member of the African Union Labour Migration Advisory Committee, Dr Princess Asie Kabuki Ocansey said although the passing of the disease was a painful one, he however described it as a celebration of life of a man who had left a great legacy and a proud son serving Nigeria and humanity.
“On behalf of the AMS and our partners across the globe, I wish to extend our deep sympathies to the bereaved family, especially Olorogun Festus Keyamo.
“Our prayer is that may the Almighty Jehovah, the greatest comforter, give the family the fortitude to bear the loss. We are indeed happy above all, that the minister and his siblings survived their dad and had written his name in gold to justify the good values they inherited from him. We shall be there to pay our last respect on April 26 during the burial.
“Since 2017 in his early 40s, Festus Keyamo defied all odds to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and went on to emerge the winner of the African Legendary Decent Work Crusader Award in Freetown in 2020 during an AMS event. Indeed that is the spirit of Keyamo that has become a household name in Africa and beyond” Ajibola noted.
Pa Matthias Keyamo, passed on peacefully at the age of 83 on Saturday, March 5th, 2022 in Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta from where the family hails. He was raised in Kaduna and Ilaro, Ogun State, where he met and married his wife, Mrs. Caroline Keyamo (Nee Ogunjobi).
The deceased immediately relocated to Ughelli in Delta State where he begat all his children, including the present Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Olorogun Festus Keyamo, SAN.
