* Rousing Cadence From His Life Tunefully Lived
*He Was Older Than The Life He Lived, Breath He Drew – Family 
It is often said that the sweetest soul experiences multiple births and rebirths. First, at its initial delivery from the mother’s womb; and anytime after its demise, when somebody breathes life into the name by an ennobling word or deed, or by simply remembering it.
There is a lesson here for the discerning: that a man, by his deeds, should carve his name on hearts, and not tombstones. Whoever succeeds at this, his legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about him.
In this vein, it may be said that Dapo Abiodun, Governor of Ogun State, has once again breathed life into his deceased child, Gbemiga Abiodun’s name. Governor Abiodun achieved this by instituting a N55 million scholarship award scheme for 550 indigent students in the Remo Federal Constituency of the state in honour of Gbemiga, who died six years ago.
At the event, the sad, surreal story of Gbemiga a.k.a DJ Olu’s death, moved his family and friends to tears.
But Governor Abiodun, father of the deceased, drew solace from the fact that he was older than the days he lived and the breaths he drew.
The deceased effortlessly combined the wisdom of old age with exuberance of youth thus manifesting as an inspiring bridge between, young and old, past and present. While alive, the past throbbed through him in a mighty rhythm and the future pounded the drums of eternity to which he swayed as the tides and seasons swayed.
Pity he had to depart the world so soon. But DJ Olu made his mark on the world; the brilliant, adventurous entertainer and entrepreneur left pieces of his soul and rousing nature behind. For this reason, his father decided to immortalise him by establishing a foundation for the needy, in his name.
According to Governor Abiodun, “Olu, beyond his popular choosing career as a Disc Jockey had an unwavering passion for sound education, which he pursued passionately till God called him to be with him on that fateful day of 7th October 2017.
“It is instructive to know that Olu’s choosing career as a Disc Jockey was a product of his innate passion for music and rhythms at a very tender age; the passion he consistently pursued to the apogee.”
The governor decried the low enrollment of girls in male-dominated trades in Technical Colleges and Vocational Centres compared to boys and also lamented that despite the free education policy of his administration, many basic school graduates are hindered from proceeding beyond junior or secondary schools and acquiring tertiary education.
He called on the beneficiaries of DJ Olu’s memorial foundation to make the best of the scheme to better their lots, saying it was the best way his family would keep the memory of the deceased alive.
Speaking at the launch of the Gbemiga Abiodun Education Scholarship Award held at Iperu, Ikenne Local Government Area, Prince Abiodun said the scheme will ensure that brilliant students and those whose parents could not afford to educate them, have access to quality education.
According to him, the number of beneficiaries will increase to 1,000 in the next 12 months, which will be the minimum at any given time.
He also promised that the scholarship would be extended to the other federal constituencies in the state for maximum spread.
He said: “It is against this backdrop that my family came up with a scholarship scheme called Gbemiga Abiodun Memorial Scholarship Award, in memory of our son, Gbemiga Abiodun, which is strictly for indigent learners of Public Primary, Secondary Schools, Technical College and Tertiary Institutions, as well as Special Needs Learners within Ikenne, Remo North, and Sagamu Local Government Areas, to provide support to selected learners who are from the aforementioned local government areas of Ogun State.
“The Award is in two phases. The first phase is to be a scholarship award, designed for indigent and brilliant students while its alternative form; the second phase will be a Bursary Award for in-need but not necessarily brilliant indigent students whose chances of upward socio-economic mobility are probable with bursary support.
“This Scholarship award is designed for three (3) years and within the age bracket of 6-25, and selection will be determined by the State Ministry of Education Science and Technology, using the Cumulative Promotion Examination Result obtainable from the OGSERA platform while the beneficiaries for tertiary institutions were recommended by their respective institutions.”
The governor described education as the only light to the future of prosperity, development and peaceful co-existence, noting that the programme was conceived to celebrate the impactful and eventful life of his deceased son and all that he stood for while alive. Gbemiga, he said, lived a life of selflessness, consistency and scholarship.
It would be recalled that Gbemiga’s demise elicited questions as to how and why such a tragedy should befall him in the prime of life. His unfortunate demise threw his family and friends into a state of despair because the deceased touched so many lives at so many different levels.
Those who know him described him as a very down-to-earth, generous, kind-hearted, idealist who inspired others even while hope seemed a futile venture.
Family and friends at home and abroad commiserated with the Abioduns in the wake of Gbemiga’s death.
Even though he died six years ago, parents and siblings of the deceased aren’t finding it easy to come to terms with the heart-wrenching and enduring agony that lingers after the death of a loved son and brother.
It is, however, the family’s ultimate wish to forever elongate and treasure memories of the joyous days and priceless moments they spent with him. And what better way to achieve that than immortalising the deceased by inaugurating a scholarship foundation in his name.
