Newton Anthony
IT was a sombre and nostalgic moment for the family members and friends of late Prince Sunday Adebamigbe Adetoba as they gathered to bid their idol a final goodbye.
Not a few would want to forget in a hurry the exemplary life and times of a man who had only five biological children but took his time and deployed his God-given resources to foster and cater for several other children. 
To many, joining others to bid farewell to a man whose life was munificent deeds, committed stewardship, cheerful giving, empathy and of course grit courage was not enough befitting honour to the beloved departed.
It was, therefore no surprise that family members, foster children, the church of God, the old students association of Community Grammar School, Mokola, Ibadan, the deceased alma mater, thronged the ancient town of Ibadan to bid the quintessential humanist a final bye.
The funeral service was a sembler of the glorious and eventful life the patriarch of the Adetoba dynasty lived as Life Based Chapel International,10 Adegoke Street Oremeji Mokola Ibadan, the venue of the occasion, overflowed even to adjoining streets with a sea of heads.
In his homilies at the Celebration of Life, Pastor. Folorunso Olusegun of The Apostolic Church, Ifewara intoned that the greatness of a man is how well he relates with God and human beings.
The cleric added that Christians need to know the way, know where they are going after life on earth and be prepared to live a life of confession.
The ‘93 Set of the old students of Community Grammar School Mokola, Ibadan, other dignitaries, family members and the church of God later joined the children of the deceased at a Special Thanksgiving Service and were entertained at the Tafo Arena Hall.
The eldest son, Mr Adebiyi Adetoba, who spoke on behalf of the children, described the deceased as a man of peace and harmony even as he promised to build on the relationship his late father established among the siblings.
The late Prince Adetoba was born on the 18th of May 1947 to the family of Oba Titus Ajibegbaaji Adetoba and Olori Florence Ijidunle Adetoba of Ifewara, Osun State.
He had his primary school education at Saint Dominic Catholic School, Ifewara, Osun State. He later relocated to Ibadan, Oyo State capital where he learned tailoring as his primary profession. He was to later go into the transportation business.
In the course of his sojourn in business, the late Prince Adetoba met his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Adetoba (nee Omonua), of blessed memory, and they tied the not in the 70s. The marriage was blessed with five children and a number of grandchildren. After Mama Elizabeth Adetoba slept in the Lord on the 4th of July 2009, Baba focused attention on the welfare of his children and grandchildren. As a true family man, he extended this passion to his extended family.
He was appointed as an Elder at his church, Life-Based Chapel where he served the Lord in various capacities. Late Elder Adetoba, a lover of children, exemplified in the fact that his sitting room was often filled with children from the neighbourhood even as he watched cartoons with them.
His grandchildren were his best friends. His children fondly referred to him as “Professor of History”, “Local Journalist”, and “Human Rights Advocate“, due to his passion for uprightness and his undying love for Geography and world history. The late Prince Adetoba lived a life of impact and fulfilment.
Late Prince Sunday Adebamigbe Adetoba passed on at the age of 76 years.
Eighteen-Eleven Media