Engr. Femi Tetede Laid To Rest Amidst Praises, Described As An Honest, Impactful Gentleman

BY ABUSATAR HAMED

The late Engr. (Chief) Elijah Olufemi Tetede has been eulogized by the Dean of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Diocese of Yewa, Ven. Olusola Ladipo-Ajayi, as an honest and complete gentleman who will be forever remembered for his transparent and God-fearing life.

The praise was offered during the Funeral Service held on Friday, February 2, 2024, at the Cathedral Church of Christ in Ilaro-Yewa.

Ven. Ladipo-Ajayi emphasized the impactful and transient nature of life, urging both the congregation and those outside the church to live meaningful lives.

He expressed concern over the pursuit of unnecessary wealth, emphasizing the ultimate equalizer, death that everyone will face.

The cleric also used the occasion to call on Nigerian leaders to address economic hardships and insecurity, praying for divine guidance in resolving the country’s challenges.

At the Service of Songs on February 1, 2024, the Baasegun of Ilaro-Yewa, Dr. (Chief) Kunle Obadina, shared a testimony of Engr. (Chief) Femi Tetede’s extraordinary honesty.

Dr. Obadina who is the Medical Director of Hossana Hospital, Ilaro-Yewa, recounted a redbrick manufacturing project that did not materialize, and ten years later, Tetede returned with a cheque tenfold of his initial contribution, attributing it to an alternative business investment with the project’s funds.

Dr. Obadina urged transparency, honesty, and a fear of God in business relations and positions of power.

He offered prayers for the peaceful repose of the deceased and strength for the family in coping with the loss.

Omooba Segun Adewale, a renowned philanthropist and astute politician, praised Tetede’s professionalism in mining, highlighting his role as a consultant to former Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State.

Yinka Tetede, speaking on behalf of the family, remembered their father as a disciplinarian, acknowledging his guidance and expressing gratitude for having been part of the deceased’s family.

Engr. (Chief) Femi Tetede, a respected Petroleum Engineer and politician, was laid to rest at his Ilaro-Yewa residence.

Clerics and others however praised the late Engr. Femi Tetede, describing him as a complete gentleman and an honest politician

His legacy in the oil and gas profession, marked by 23 years of meritorious service in NNPC without any blemish, will be remembered, along with his attributes of openness, kindness, and camaraderie.

Engineer Olufemi Tetede, the Gbobaniyi of Ilaro-Yewa, originally from Ilaro-Yewa in Ogun State, began his educational journey at various institutions, including United African Methodist School (UAMC) in Irogun-Yewa, Methodist School in Ado-Odo (1952-54), and African Church School in Ilaro-Yewa. By 1966, he had completed his Higher School Certificate (HSC) at Yewa (Egbado) College in Ilaro-Yewa.

In 1967, Tetede secured admission on a scholarship to Friendship University in Moscow, where he pursued a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Petroleum Engineering, and graduated in 1972.

He then commenced his professional career with the Federal Ministry of Mines and Power, focusing on petroleum engineering data management.

Subsequently, Tetede joined the Nigerian National Oil Corporation, where he underwent further training in petroleum engineering at the prestigious Indian Institute of Petroleum Exploration in Dehra-Dun, earning another certification in Petroleum Engineering in 1997.

Later, he was awarded a scholarship by the University of Lagos to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA), specializing in Management and Marketing.

During his tenure at NNPC, Tetede worked on various oil field development projects, including the Obaji Oil Development Programme, Obaji Watery Injection Project, and Gas Gathering System for Obaji Oil Field, among others.

In 1978, Tetede was appointed as a Technical Assistant to the Minister of Petroleum & Energy, and in 1980, he assumed leadership roles within NNPC, culminating in his position as Chief Planning Officer in the Corporate Planning Department.

In 1983, he became Officer-In-Charge of Petroleum Profit at NNPC’s Petroleum Inspectorate Division, and in 1985, he was promoted to Assistant Director at the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, overseeing the coordination of the energy sector for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of the United Nations.

For the next two years, Tetede represented Nigeria as the Alternate Governor at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria.

Following his retirement from NNPC in 1996, Tetede ventured into politics, becoming a founding member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and later joined the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

He championed the “Ogun West for Governor” movement and was chosen as the gubernatorial candidate for Ogun State by the AD faction led by Alhaji Tayo Sowunmi in May 2002.

Dignitaries from various sectors of the society attended the burial ceremony to pay their final respects to their beloved.

May his soul rest in eternal peace, and may comfort be granted to those he leaves behind.