By Lekan Adejuwon, Dami Akinlotan
A commendation service was held in honour of late Mr Bank Akinnuoye Abiodun Francis (JP) who died on Tuesday February 14, 2023.
Akinnuoye until his death was the head of Information and Corporate Affairs Department of Federal Teaching Hospital, FETHI Ido Ekiti.
Held at the hospital’s capacity chapel of grace auditorium, the commendation service was attended by huge crowd of FETHI’s staff, members of the deceased family as well as the entire Information Department unit of the hospital who paid their last respect to the man many described as “‘loyal, dedicated, mentor and thorough professional”
In a moving farewell exhortation delivered by one of the officiating Pastors, Dr Akinwale Akinbade, a reference was made from Jesus parable of the rich man and Lazarus taken from Luke 16:19, the clergy reminded the audience of the reality of death as a necessary end but the beginning of another journey into eternity.
“When the rich man and Lazarus died and buried, when they now woke up to the reality of life, each person had gone to where he belonged and suddenly the rich man became an intercessor in heaven that since my own portion is like this, there still some people on probation like you and I
“And he began to pray to Father Abraham saying I have five brothers whom we lived together, the figure five is significant in the Bible as pointed out by Jesus in another parable of five wise virgins and five foolish virgins”
“The rich man pleaded that if his brothers should die now they are going to hell fire, please help me send Lazarus to them so that they won’t come to this place of torment but Abraham said unfortunately and disappointedly no, they have Moses and prophets if they failed to listen to them neither would they listen to anyone raised from dead”
He enjoined the congregation to prepare their journey home while on earth by surrendering their lives to the Lord Jesus and forsake their sinful ways.
The commendation service was brought to a close with tributes from representatives of FETHI Information Department, Directorate, family, church and friends.
The deceased daughter gave a vote of thanks on behalf of the family.
