THE EXCEPTIONAL MR AIDEYAN, FRIDAY OSAGIE

If you grew up or schooled in the old Bendel State, there was only one bookshop that you could ever get any kind of books that you were ever looking for.

Aideyan Bookshop was the toast of bookshops in the old Bendel State and it was so popular that there was no nooks and crannies of the State that its Branches were not in existence or located. And in fact, it spread its book tentacles to other neighbouring States.

It was that big and influential in the educational sector of Nigeria.

So, in those days, it was said that any book that one cannot find at Aideyan Book, perhaps, the Author or Authors have not yet been born. And to put it more succinctly, he or she might still be in the embryonic stage or state of his or her life in his or her mother’s womb.

Aideyan Bookshop was that popular.

So, during that period, I was attending Army Day Secondary School, Army Barracks, Agenebode for my secondary school education and even though we had the Okhakhu’s Bookshop at Agenebode that was equally well stocked with all the books needed for the educational needs of all the schools around Agenebode and its environs at that time, some people still preferred to travel as far as Auchi to Aideyan Bookshop for their educational books need.

Truly, Aideyan Bookshop was everywhere and at strategic locations too!

I recall, with pure nostalgic feelings that during my several travels to Kaduna in the 80s to visit my late father, Mr Dominic Sule (DS) Osabomeh, how I used to admire one of its branches, sitting prettily admirably on top of a rock or mountain at Lokoja, the hilly and beautiful landscape of the present day Kogi State. In this, I always looked forward to that impressive and iconic sight, hence I always kept my eyes awake, alive and open whenever we were approaching the ancient city of Lokoja and the Confluence Capital of Kogi State, just so that I could behold this iconic bookshop on top of the hill.

In one of my recent travels along that route to Abuja, precisely on Friday, September 29, 2023, I found myself, unconsciously looking at that hill that reminds me of the iconic presence of that iconic bookshop at that iconic spot.

That was part of the adventure of my many travels along that route in the 80s, even extending into the 90s.

However, after my first two enjoyable visits to Benin City during the long vacations of August 1986 and 1987 respectively, I came back to the ancient city in January 1988 to live with my late Aunt, Mrs Christy Kashekule Afeleokhai (Nee Salufu) to study and sit for my General Certificate of Education (GCE).

Here, I discovered that there were so many Streets in Benin City bearing the inscriptions of Aideyan, where one stands out at the Benin Golf Course, by Reservation Road, GRA, but strangely enough, I did not encountered anyone bearing that famous name in my almost three (3) years that I lived in the ancient city of Benin City.

That was a huge mystery to me because I had expected that as popular as the bookshop was in the 80s, even into the 90s, which was confirmed, directly by the many Streets bearing the inscription of ‘Aideyan’ in Benin City, that I would encounter many people or persons bearing that name at every turn of my encounter.

Yet, I did not.

Perhaps, the name was highly revered and so, it is not a common name for everyone to bear, and hence it was not a common name for me to encounter while I lived in Benin City. However, this was to change and changed forever.

On Monday, August 23, 1999, I joined the employ of Oceanic Bank International Plc by divine providence and I was privileged to have been deployed to work in the Records/Performance Management Unit, Human Resource Department, Corporate Office.

And it was on this role that I encountered him on Monday, November 08, 1999 when he was employed as an Assistant Officer (EP) to begin his banking career and I recall that in excitement, I exclaimed very loudly when I saw his surname, ‘Aideyan’ and instantly, I said ‘finally, we have employed the son of the owner of the great Aideyan Bookshop,’ but he just smiled and said, ‘no be my Papa get am ooooo,’ but I said to him further ‘that whatever he says to me, I can never believe him’ and until I left Oceanic Bank International Plc in 2012, precisely on Wednesday, February 15, 2012, I always called him, fondly by that sobriquet, ‘the son of the owner of Aideyan Bookshop that helped to shape our educational needs in Bendel State.’ And he would, in return, always smile, beautiful smiles indeed!

That was how I encountered Mr Aideyan, Friday Osagie on Monday, November 08, 1999 when he was employed as an Assistant Officer (EP) to become my professional colleague in Oceanic Bank International Plc and providentially, he was posted to the Information Technology Department, Corporate Office in line with his course of study, Computer Science. Mr Aideyan is a 1996 Second Class Upper (2.1) graduate of Computer Science from the prestigious University of Benin (UNIBEN), Benin City.

Indeed, this was how Friday became my new neighbour at the Waterfront Plaza Corporate Office of the Bank, located at the heart of Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue at Plot 270.

Strikingly, his employment with thirty-nine (39) others was the next major recruitment exercise after mine on Monday, August 23, 1999. Effectively, he was one of my many running mates at Oceanic Bank International Plc.

Now, as the old millennium in the 90s prepared to turn over to the new millennium in Year 2000, Oceanic Bank International Plc needed to expand her market share in the banking sector in Nigeria and perhaps, on the continent of Africa through aggressive branch network expansion and so it was a time that the Bank urgently needed people, staff who would be dedicated to solving its Information Technology (IT) or InfoTech related problems or challenges that may emerge from the aggressive branch expansion programme and thereby providing the needed solutions, real time, on time.

And in this, competence took precedence over all other recruitment considerations for the people with the necessary and right skill sets, knowledge and commitment to enable this meaningful change to occur.

This decisive action, guided by the vision and responsibility of the Management Team led by Chief (Dr) Mrs Cecilia A. O Ibru, enabled the Bank to soar and she soared into greater heights.

And Mr Aideyan Friday Osagie was part of this soaring experience as he brought meaning and purpose to everything that he did in the Information Technology Department, Corporate Office.

Crucially, Friday began his banking career with Oceanic Bank International Plc in the Core Banking Unit, Information Technology (IT) Department, Corporate Office. This Unit, equally known as the ‘Finacle Team’ was responsible for the implementation, running, managing and supporting the main Banking Application of the Bank’s software. Here, it is on records that Oceanic Bank was the first bank to bring the Finacle Banking Application to the shores of Nigeria in Year 2000.

Later, he was redeployed to Quality Assurance & Compliance Unit, Information Technology (IT) Department and subsequently to Service Management Unit (Help Desk Support), Information Technology (IT) Department and because of his versatility on the job, he was redeployed to Trade Finance Support (Foreign Operations Solution Software) Unit to give a critical and crucial technical helping hand and support to the Foreign Operations Department (FOPS), Corporate Office, a key and vital Department of the Bank at such a time that the Bank depended on it for her growth and profitability.  

Truly, growth is always a beautiful thing, and it is even more so when we participate in it.

Friday participated in the growth of Oceanic Bank International Plc with his dedication and commitment to service, playing his part responsibly, effectively and efficiently.

And this is why it is said that ‘there is no better knowledge than experience’ and when it seems that Friday had gone on an Israelite journey by his various deployments and redeployments to other key Units of the Bank to provide information technology support, he was redeployed back to Core Banking Support Unit, Information Technology (IT) Department, Corporate Office where he once more, proved his mettle.

Of a truth, Friday came to Oceanic Bank International Plc when the Bank needed more and willing labourers as her work, the work of her expansion through her aggressive branch expansion network was becoming much and she needed more labourers to go to the field with her to achieve this and he heard this call and devoted his life, working diligently for its success. On his seat at the Information Technology Department, Corporate Office, he travelled to many, if not all the branches, spreading the good news of his diligence and efficiency and even when and where he encountered numerous challenges and difficulties in the discharge of his duties, he persevered patiently and returned home from those travels with renewed vigour, vitality and resounding results and accomplishments.

In this, he touched and inspired many people throughout his career with the Bank with his uncommon diligence and dedication to duty.

His brilliance, drive, determination, and intellect, earned him many admiration at Oceanic Bank International Plc.

Indeed, he did not act or carried out his duties in a careless way, but with careful attention to details, and order and instructions.

On this, he was a champion, drawing on his technical trainings, skills and knowledge to excel on his role.

Truly, it takes a little more of learning, discipline and persistence to make a champion. Friday was a Champion in Oceanic Bank International Plc because of his learning, persistence, positive personality, accessibility, adaptability, etc.

Sincerely, the sterling qualities of Friday and his unique talents are worth emulating because he used them in the right way in Oceanic Bank International Plc, contributing to its successes, massively.

Certainly, a community is not made up of just one person, but it involves others. At Oceanic Bank International Plc, especially in the Information Department (IT), Corporate Office, we had a community, a community of people that worked for the good of the Bank and Friday was part of that beautiful community, a community of people with diverse backgrounds in information technology that worked, sincerely for the good of the Bank.

In this, he earned that adjective of a ‘top performer’ because he was truly good.

Honestly, a sense of community was developed in the Information Technology (IT) Department, Corporate Office as it became a supportive environment for everyone where Friday played a critical role.

Until Monday, November 30, 2020 when he left the employ of Ecobank Nigeria Limited as a full Manager of a successful banking career, he had a positive spirit that stimulated others in the Information Technology (IT) both of Oceanic Bank International Plc and Ecobank Nigeria Limited because he is an exceptional man.

Truly, he earned that adjective because he was truly good!

And this is the Friday Osagie Aideyan that became my new neighbour with his employment into the Bank on Monday, November 08, 1999 and in him, I did not only found a professional colleague, but a true friend and a dear brother as the blood of Edo runs in us, where, throughout our career with the Bank, I always looked up to him as he would always looked up to me, even now.

We are friends. We are professional colleagues. We are brothers. And I am very proud of him, especially of his diligence at Oceanic Bank International Plc.

Friday is humble and he acknowledges his dependence on God, his Creator. And he does not demand from others, standards himself would not be able to keep and in this, he always speaks rightly. And he is always ready to share his knowledge, and wisdom with others.

Sincerely, in the Information Technology (IT) Department, Corporate Office, Friday worked with a lot of enthusiasm, displayed the right attitude and commitment and he was certainly loved by all for his calmness and peaceful disposition. And he was very respectful, to all!

In one of his chats with me on WhatsApp on Saturday, May 09, 2020, he said to me ‘good day to you my brother from another mother and your family out there and I hope that you are doing well? We thank God for having kept us this far. Just thought I should check in on you today. Let us continue to trust God by keeping our faith alive. All will sure end in praise. May our God continue to keep all of us safe in Jesus name. Have a blessed weekend and greetings to your household.’

This is who Friday Osagie Aideyan is. His faith in his God is infectious. His friendship is inspiring. And his commitment to positive causes, admirable. Simply, he is an embodiment of everything good, humility, godly disposition, intelligence, calmness, wisdom and piety.

My own dearest brother, Friday, God will continue to bless you. Your name will be written in heaven.

In his homily at the 07:15am Mass on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 14, Musa Yar’Adua Street, Victoria Island, Lagos in the Twenty-eightieth (28th) Week in Ordinary Time, Year B and the Optional Memorial of Saints Hedwig and Margaret Mary Alacoque, the then Associate Parish Priest, Reverend Father John Oscar Obi, now Director, Lay Apostolates Centre, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos said ‘people have influence on us, particularly our close friends and relatives, those that we listen to counsel and advise us are even having more influence on us.’

Truly, people have great influence on us. Those we listen to, have great influence on us as well as those that counsel us, positively. And Friday Osagie Aideyan has great influence on me because I listen to him because he only gives good counsel and advice.

So, administering a platform as big and sensitive as Oceanic Bank Family WhatsApp platform, is never going to be an easy one where different personalities, men and women of great learning and exposure exist. In this role, I have always find support from so many members who go behind the scene to advise and encourage me whenever the going is getting too tough or hot for me to handle and one of such, is my brother and friend, Friday.

Constantly and severally, he reaches out to me behind the scene or through the backyard or even on the background with his wise counsel, always advising me to have self-control no matter how challenging the situation is.

On Saturday, March 23, 2024, he reached out to me and gave me, behind the scene, as usual, a wise counsel that helped me to navigate what would have been a very sensitive issue for me to handle. On that day, his wise and timely counsel, even behind the closed doors from the Oceanic Bank Family WhatsApp platform, assisted me greatly.

And I can never take for granted all his wise counsels to me because he is an exceptional person.

Sincerely, Mr Aideyan Friday Osagie is on the list of my friends that always give me only good counsel and advice. Indeed, I always listen to him because I always learn a lot from him, from his wise counsels.

This is love and it is practical love working through practical action!

Thank you Friday for being my true brother and friend!

In my Writings and Chronicles, Friday has remained one of most dependable and reliable Cheerleaders and he has continued to urge me on, on this noble path.

For instance, while commenting on my Chronicle on my mother, ‘Mama Jeminetu Osabomeh (Nee Idi Ekpoki): A Woman of Extreme Courage and compassion’ to celebrate her eighty-one (81) years birthday on Sunday, February 11, 2024, he said, without mincing words ‘hmmm. Brother Mark, this beautiful piece on the chronicles of the life journey and sacrifices of your amiable Mama is not only encouraging, but also fruits for thoughts on how to live a genuine life of forgiveness, patience, perseverance in adversity, courage, love, care among other virtues of life. I took my time to read through from the first to the last line of your write up and I am sincerely encouraged by your outpouring of affections and love for Mama. Some of Mama's life travails and challenges as chronicled in your write-up brought me sincere tears. I also salute your personal tenacity as a true son of a lovely mother, as I read through how far you and your surviving sister have travelled this very long road with Mama. Your major two regrets in this write up also caught my attention as well, but I will say, do not nurse any regret, my brother. God have seen that you genuinely love Mama from the bottom of your heart. Do not let what you could not do in the past, continue to hurt or despair you. Please find a way to heal and see how you can remain a blessing and support system to our beloved Mama in the days and years ahead of her. Once again, thank you for taking out time to put this piece together. It came with a lot of learning points and sober reflections for me as an individual. As you and your loved ones celebrate the 81st birthday anniversary of Mama today, kindly extend my felicitations and very best wishes to her. All glory and honour be to God Almighty for standing by her and your entire family through the years. I wish her many more fruitful years as much as God's grace will keep her for us. Once again, happy 81st birthday wishes to our dear Mama. May God in His infinite mercy continue to bless her, bless you and all of your entire household. Warm regards to you, my beloved brother.’ 

Sincerely, these are the types of feedback that have continued to urge me on, on the path of my Writings and Chronicles to appreciate all those that have played and continue to play positive influence in my life, which I pray that one day, some day, I shall be able to compile into a book for the benefit of this generation and the next and I am very grateful to Friday for the keen interest that he has in me, especially in my writings and has continued to encourage me, positively.

In truth, Friday always deeply address me in intimate and affectionate language that describes his total and unreserved love for me, as a brother.

According to the Preacher, ‘it is human nature to depend on our own abilities and resources to achieve success because self-reliance often becomes the standard of greatness, and in the desire to claim all the glory, we may be tempted to act alone, even without God.’

However, in Year 2021, I discovered that I could not act alone nor rely only on my personal abilities or resources, but on God through His sons and daughters, my friends, brothers and sisters.

In that year and like I have already chronicled severally, I had two (2) very important events to plan for and execute at my village, Udochi, South Uneme in December 2021 and these very important twin events were the Traditional Women Cooking (Ikpigho-Idumhi) Title ceremony of my only earthly and elder sister, Mrs Theresa Onomoane Asekhameh (Nee Osabomeh), which is the pride of every woman in South Uneme Clan, Etsako Central Local Government Area, Edo State and to visit my mother, Mama Jeminetu Osabomeh (Nee Idi Ekpoki) who had not seen my children, her grandchildren since December 2012, nine (9) years apart when we were previously at home. And in this, I needed the support of others, many of my friends and even relations.

With absolute pride and trust, Friday was one of our trusted friends that I could reach out to on Sunday, November 21, 2021 for support and he acted, beautifully and sufficiently on Monday, December 13, 2021 that enabled me, with the sincere financial support of many of our other trusted friends, to plan, prepare and execute, successfully these twin important events in December 2021.

And I was not surprised by his immediate response to my appreciation to him on Tuesday, December 14, 2021: ‘Good morning brother Mark and thanks for your appreciation. You are indeed a man of good heart and you actually deserve more than this. It was a mere privilege that God used me to meet a very small part of a greater need at this time. God could have chosen to use someone else, if He so wishes. So, let us return all the glory to Him who has been there for us all. Mark, remember that we are Brethren. So, do not fail to let me know, if there are other ways I can be of help today or in the future. I will be very glad to honour your call, as much as God permits. Have a blessed day brother and greetings to your house.’

Sincerely, like I had already stated in my chronicle ‘Mrs Theresa ‘Baby’ Onomoane Asekhameh (Nee Osabomeh): My Remarkable Sister and Role Model’ on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 to mark the 58th birthday anniversary of my only earthly and elder sister, I will forever be grateful to friends and relations who are too many for me to mention that genuinely, honestly, and generously supported me, especially financially to see to the accomplishment of those two (2) noble programs in December 2021.

So, with the successful ceremony on Saturday, December 25, 2021, I decided, on Friday, December 31, 2021, to send a personalized ‘thank you’ appreciation letter to all my friends that helped us to see to the success of the ceremony on Friday, December 31, 2021 and again, Friday’s response did not leave me in any doubt of his honesty, sincerity, but much more, of his humility.

‘Brother Mark, thank you so much for your appreciation, prayers and kind words to me and my family. Going through your letter of appreciation really got me so emotional. I am overwhelmed and humbled by the content. It further shows how much of a grateful personality you are. In all of this, please let us give God all the praises for the opportunities He has set before each of us.

I read through and saw a whole lot of commitments that you have put in place for routine intercessory prayers for me and my family in this New Year and beyond. Sir Mark, thank you so much. May God also help to raise Godly men and women that will also stand in the gap for you and your family at all times. Amen.

May this New Year 2022 be the ‘year of fulfilment and elevation’ for you and your family. God will always remember you for all that you do to put smiles on the faces of others. You are indeed a role model and a personal encouragement to me as an individual. On behalf of my family, I wish to extend our heartfelt appreciation to you, your immediate and extended families for your love and prayers. Happy New Year 2022 to you and your family. See you at the top, my dear brother.’

These words, sincerely expressed by an exceptional brother, will live in the deepest parts of my heart forever.

Thank you Mr Aideyan, Friday Osagie for being such an exceptional being!

However, when I had deliberately refused to use the ‘open cheque’ that Friday offered to me on Tuesday, December 14, 2021, he has, on his own continued to reach out to us.

For instance, Thursday, April 11, 2024 was my Year 2024 birthday, but I was highly surprised when, two (2) days later, precisely on Saturday, April 13, 2024, I received an alert from him with a simple narration ‘for your 2024 birthday cake,’ but more than this, Friday went further to apologize, apologize for reaching out to me late.

With sincere tears in my eyes, ‘hmmmmm’ was all I could muster to say in response to his chat because I sincerely lacked the appropriate words to use at that material time as I was never expecting anything from him nor did I ever approached him for any, yet he acted because he is an exceptional brother.

He owes us nothing, yet he has continued to generously give to us!

Sincerely, I have derived much joy and comfort from the love and care of Friday since our path crossed at Oceanic Bank International Plc on Monday, November 08, 1999 because his continued kindness for us has not been by compulsion, but by his own free will, his free will for us.

Honestly, Friday has continued to prove that ‘true wealth, according to the Preacher, consists not in what we keep, but in what we give away’ because possessions are a great responsibility where the Lord expects us to use them honestly and responsibly and to put them at His service and the services of others.

In this, Friday always seeks the good of the other instead of his own gain. This is not only inspiring, but profound, profound in its entirety because ‘true generosity requires self-sacrifice’ because ‘genuine generosity flows from a heart that is filled with mercy and compassion.’

Friday’s heart is filled with mercy and compassion for others and I am a beneficiary as he has become for me and my family, a shelter of compassion!

My own dearest brother, by your goodness and kindness for us, you shall participate in the beautiful feast, the heavenly banquet that the Lord has prepared for you, both here on earth and in heaven.

Sincerely, one remarkable aspect of Friday’s trait is that he is consistent. In this, Friday teaches a valuable lesson on consistency. He is consistent with his words. His consistent with his integrity. He is consistent with his positive attitude. He is consistent with his peaceful disposition. He is consistent with his courage to seek knowledge. And he is consistent with his faith in his God.

And he has remained a shining exemplar of finesse, respect, dignity and honour for us.

This is admirable!

Honestly, Friday Osagie Aideyan is a humble boy because he came from a truly humble family.

He is dressed in humility and clothed with humility.

Truly, it is said by the sages that ‘many people in the world have the wrong heads because they chose heads according to their fancy,’ but it seems that Friday has the right head chosen for him by God because in his head, he has a good character because ‘to succeed, everyone needs good character with a good head.’ God gave him a good head, the head of kindness and compassion, the head of simplicity and humility, and the head of the fear of God and respect for all, all men and women.

My own dearest brother, on this day and always, I celebrate your warmth and humility, your big-heartedness, kindness, compassion and generosity towards all. I celebrate your intelligence and brilliance. I celebrate your integrity and godly manners. I celebrate you.

Happy birthday my own dearest brother. And thank you for everything, especially your humility, godliness, kindness and compassion.

I am grateful to have you as a brother and thank you for calling me a brother, sincerely and acting out this, genuinely.

God bless you, my own dearest brother Friday Osagie Aideyan; ‘son of the Owner of Aideyan Bookshop!’

Grateful indeed for your true friendship and brotherhood.

Na me

Your brother

Mark Osabomeh (HR)

Friday, December 20, 2024