Tribute to Our Friend

I met Remi Daniel officially in 1981 when I entered University of Lagos. Before then, we met, from afar at my cousin’s bachelor’s eve party in 1980. He stood out as the most joyous person at the party. He danced, exuding so much joy and delight. His smile could light up a whole city. I had no word to capture this young man’s demeanour that evening. I did not know his name until I got admission to Unilag the following year and I realised he was Brother Akin Ero-Phillips, my cousin’s friend. They were a group of friends that were like a family. I joined that family, who gave me a soft landing into the university life and culture.

Little did I know that Remi will eventually marry my sweet cousin, Jumoke some years later.

All the Unilag days, Remi conducted himself with dignity, reliability, credibility and responsibility. He was fair in his judgement (maybe that was why he studied law), he will speak the truth in every situation, and was quite knowledgeable in current affairs. I noticed his heart of genuine love for humanity and he never took anyone for granted. Generosity seemed to come naturally to Remi. He gave without making a show of giving, and he never made people feel indebted to him. His heart was genuinely open to people.

Remi would create his own joy and fun, because he carried joy rather than waited for circumstances to provide it. He was a music lover and will dance like an ant.

Remi took all these qualities to a higher level when he met with Christ. I cannot forget soon, or at all, the beautiful worship moments we had together with Jumoke, my husband, Muyiwa and Remi in our small camp home. With my husband on the keyboard, Remi putting in worship songs, Jumoke and I supplying the harmony; we all worshipped into the nights. Many times slain in the Spirit and not able to sing or talk anymore. God confirming His word to us, bringing healing and sheer joy and absolute tranquility to our souls in the process of worship with Remi and the crew.

Remi was my friend before he became my in-law, (marrying my younger cousin) he being a man of wisdom, transformed that relationship so effectively. He accorded me with the appropriate respect of an in-law, in spite of our friendship, for which I held him in the highest esteem.

He was a trusted friend and cousin-in-law. My husband and I had a long list of ‘to do’ for Remi and Jumoke and was waiting for them to be in camp on Sunday the 2nd of August. All arrangements made by the duo, as usual, to make the home conducive for habitation was already in place.

We were at our church service that fateful Sunday morning, August 2, 2026, when the uncomfortable news filtered in. “We lost Remi Daniel early hours of yesterday.”

The rest is history. History that cannot be easily forgotten, history filled with precious moments of sweet relationships, a history that looks with hope toward its continuation at the feet of Jesus, from that resurrection morning when we shall meet to part no more.

Till then, sleep on brother, resting in your Father’s bosom.

May the Lord comfort Jumoke and the entire family, and may those beautiful memories—the laughter, dancing, friendship, generosity, and those unforgettable nights of worship—remain precious.

Good night Remi. Until the resurrection morning.

Sun re o, Ori Ade, oko Jumoke; Baba Ademide, Korede ati Sayo

Muyiwa and Kofo Babatunde