‘He’s honest, diligent’ — wife, daughter of maritime mogul Otunba Olakunle Folarin recall fond memories

By Genevieve Aningo

Despite the recent good tidings unraveling  in the Nigerian Maritime Industry, the industry still mourns its patriarch, Otunba Olakunle Folarin who passed on to Eternal Glory on November 8th at the age of 81 years old.

Otunba was born on 28th November 1940  and  was  privileged  to have a  taste of the white man’s land  from an early age having studied at the Templeton College, Oxford, in the United Kingdom  and Harvard University, Massachusetts, United States Of America.

The deceased served in various government parastatals and also was the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of his own private companies – Kenprima Technology Limited and Kenprima Nigeria Limited.

He also served as the chairman, Nigeria Ports Consultative Council (PCC).

In this Interview with his wife, Mrs Joyce Folarin, and daughter Mrs Olamide Adeosun (nee Folarin), you would discover Otunba as a husband and as a father. 

Mrs Joyce Folarin –Late Otunba’s wife

What kind of man was your husband – Late Otunba, Olakunle Folarin? 

My husband, Otuna Folarin, was an energetic and a hardworking man . He was honest . I thank God for his life. 

It’s been barely two weeks after his death, describe life in his absence so far?

I just came back from the states.  Obviously,  for someone  you have lived with for 50 years, you are bound to miss him because we joke a lot . We were used to each other, so it’s very painful. Nobody likes to miss somebody that they love but it’s one of those things. I miss him. Then, when he comes back  from work, we talk from evening till mid-night; chatting. Sometimes, he goes on telling me what he has done for the day and where he went. So, I miss him because I don’t have someone to talk to and loneliness is another thing .  When I was in Nigeria, it was just the both of us and the Help. So far, it’s not been easy living without him. 

Can you share some of the events leading to this death? . Did you feel his death coming? 

I had travelled.  I was not in Nigeria. I was not around so I cannot say anything about that or what happened. 

What qualities did the children learn from Late Otunba?

My husband was a very assiduous man who does not tolerate laziness from anybody. He was hardworking and he would tell you the truth whether you like it or not. I thank God the children learnt that from him because they are not lazy.  That’s why they excel in their endeavours. 

Can you describe your husband in three words?

He was Intelligent, hardworking and very strict.  

Mrs Olamide Adeosun (nee Folarin) first Daughter and child to Late Otunba. 

What kind of father was your father –Late Otunba? 

My dad, Late Otunba Olakunle Folarin was a very fun loving ‘guy’. He was conscientious. He was a family man whose family nature extended beyond his biological family. He has a maritime family, too. 

What qualities or values did you learn from dad?

I learnt to be hard working, diligent, focused, and determined. My father was a total all round ‘guy’. He had general knowledge. These are the qualities that I have picked from my dad. 

Can you tell us an outstanding event from your childhood with your father? 

I remember when I was between secondary school and going Abroad for my A- levels. A very quiet moment was when my Dad sat me down and he made me realize that the only inheritance he could leave with me was my education. He told me that if I ran with it; I could be anything I wanted to be. He told me that if he left me silver and gold or money in the account, it would finish one day but that the education he is about to give to me would be mine forever and no one could take that away from me. That was a defining moment for me with my dad. 

Aside from his immediate and maritime family, what Legacy( ies) did your dad leave? 

The legacy my dad left beyond the maritime industry is actually similar with what he left with the maritime industry and even for us his children and the public at large.  His legacy, outside the industry, is mentoring. He was about informing those around him. He was about being open minded; mentoring them to be the best that they can be. He enjoyed mentoring them to aspire for more in life. 

So far, how do you still feel his absence  within this short duration? 

My dad was a well of wisdom for me. What I miss now on a daily basis is his candid advice and his ability to apply common sense to everything. Every day, my dad would talk because he was a very intellectual man and so he liked intellectual conversations. In general, we spoke about his  favourite football team , Man United, to the recent redesign of the Naira note. Every day,  he would engage  me in intellectual conversation which he was really delighted  in and that is something I have missed right now in the last week that he is gone. I missed that intimacy of having those intellectual conversations

Describe your dad in three words . 

My dad is Knowledgeable, loving and genuine.