“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.’’ Proverbs 22:29
I have decided to start this short tribute with my concluding remarks for the sake of readers
who may not have the patience to read the entire tribute. The above verse from the Holy
Bible captures the essence of the life and times of Mr. Tunji Thomas (Uncle Tunji), a man who
devoted his life to the pursuit of excellence. A highly skilled and accomplished professional
photographer, he was the gold standard by which his peers were measured. Uncle Tunji
distinguished himself as a fine gentleman of uncommon integrity and a provider of exceptional
and quality service. As a result, he was courted by the high and mighty: kings, governors,
academics, senior civil servants, the rich and the noble, most of whom became his personal
friends. His social status notwithstanding, he had time for family, friends, and community. He
was a great man in the true sense of it. According to that musical legend, Bob Marley, “The
greatness of a man is not how much wealth he acquires, but it is in his integrity and his ability
to affect those around him positively.” Uncle Tunji lived a life of impact, and helped many to
achieve their dreams.
Uncle Tunji and I were very close, and this was not just because of our family ties; there was
strong chemistry between the two of us. He was a very kind and affectionate person. I had the
privilege of spending my first long vacation with him and his family in 1973 when I was an
undergraduate at the University of Ibadan. He and his wife showed me uncommon love and
hospitality, and the special relationship that developed during that period continued until he
was called to his rest.
Uncle Tunji was an extremely neat and highly organized person. He was always dressed in
white, which resonated with his first business name, White Photos. His love of the white colour
was not just about external appearance; it was about purity of mind and character and
transparency in business dealings. He was a very positive person and was always happy at the
progress and success of others. He didn’t have the privilege of a university education, but was
an intellectual in his own right. Some of his friends were university lecturers and they related
on equal terms.
As a business leader, he was highly innovative and believed in continuous self-improvement.
He believed in the power of synergy, and that was why he teamed up with his bosom friend,
Mr. Akin Oniti, to establish a bigger enterprise known as Tunakin Photos. The organization took
photography to a
Uncle Tunji’s loyalty and commitment to family, friends and community was uncommon. He
sacrificed his comfort and convenience for others; his house was always teeming with people,
especially young boys and girls who had come from the village to seek greener pasture in the
city. He was the go-to person for guidance and counselling. His love of his hometown, Okeho,
is sincere and exceptional. He was an active member of Okeho Development Association,
Okeho Strategic Development Foundation, and Egbe Omo Ibile Okeho, platforms through
which he made valuable contributions to the progress of the community.
As a Christian, he followed the example of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in humility and
caring for others. I remember an incident in 1990 when my wife and I were hospitalized
following a car crash. By the time he visited us at the hospital, I had not shaved for days. Uncle
Tunji went to the nearest pharmacy shop to get a shaving powder and gave me a nice shave.
That was akin to Jesus washing the feet of his disciples.
Uncle Tunji touched the lives of others with the love of Christ, and he will be sorely missed. We
however take solace in the facts that he lived well and did extremely well for himself and for
others; and is survived by worthy children. May God comfort his wife Mama Ronke, the children
and the entire family.
“Loved ones live on; in words they said; in lives they touched, and in the happiness we feel
when we remember them.” Surely Uncle Tunji lives on.
J. Moyo Ajekigbe, OFR
Ikolaba Compound, Ogan, Okeho
