Foluso Caleb Ojeleye
To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.
Obituary
In Loving Memory of Pa Foluso Caleb Ojeleye 21 September 1947 – 24 September 2026
It is with profound sadness and a heavy sense of loss that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, mentor, and friend, Pa Foluso Caleb Ojeleye, who departed this life in the early hours of 24 September 2026 at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Surulere, Lagos, following a brave and private battle with complications from prostate cancer.
Born on 21 September 1947, Pa Foluso was called to eternal rest at the age of 79, just three days after celebrating his birthday. While it is difficult to say goodbye to someone so dearly loved, we take comfort in knowing that he is now at peace in the loving arms of God, his Maker.
A proud son of Modakeke, Pa Foluso will be remembered for his kindness, generosity, wisdom, strength of character, and quiet ability to bring people together. Family, friends, neighbours, and colleagues all experienced the warmth, sincerity, and compassion that defined his life. He touched countless lives through simple acts of care, encouragement, friendship, and unwavering support.
Pa Foluso possessed a remarkable gift for building meaningful relationships and making others feel valued. Whether through a conversation, a word of advice, a helping hand, or his reassuring presence, he left an enduring impression on everyone privileged enough to know him.
Family was at the heart of his life. He nurtured relationships with patience, devotion, and unconditional love. His loyalty endeared him to friends, while his thoughtful nature, integrity, and dedication earned the admiration and respect of colleagues and acquaintances alike.
Pa Foluso is survived by his beloved wife, Evangelist Deborah Ojeleye; his children, Olajide Ojeleye, Olushola Ojeleye, and Bukola Oladeji; his daughters-and son-in-law, Grace, Ope, and Olabisi; and his cherished grandchildren, Victoria Oladeji, Daniel Oladeji, David Oladeji, Kunle Ojeleye, Samuel Ojeleye, Sade Ojeleye, Mayowa Ojeleye, and Racheal Ojeleye.
He is also lovingly remembered by many whose lives he touched and guided as family, including Rasak Busari, Tomi Ware, Mr Taiwo Gbeminiyi and countless others who were blessed by his mentorship, generosity, fatherly care, and unwavering encouragement.
The passing of Pa Foluso leaves a void that can never truly be filled. Yet his legacy lives on through the values he instilled, the lives he influenced, the love he shared, and the memories he created. Though we mourn his departure, we celebrate a life well lived, a life dedicated to family, faith, community, and service to others.
His memory will continue to inspire us, his lessons will guide us, and his love will remain forever in our hearts.
Rest in perfect peace, Pa Foluso Caleb Ojeleye.
Deeply missed. Lovingly remembered. Forever cherished.
Family History
A Legacy of Writing and Family History
One of Dad’s secret powers was writing. Now that I think about it, I also love to write.
He was always interested in preserving the history of the Ojeleye family, and so, here, I share excerpts of his work.
“WHY OJELEYE?”
The question most often asked by our children is: Why do we bear the name “Ojeleye,” meaning “the masquerade has honour”?
Although our father bore the name “Ojeleye,” we never worshipped Egungun or any other god. We worshipped only the Almighty God. The fact that our parents and some of their siblings bore Christian names during their lifetimes indicated that they had embraced the Christian faith.
Thus, when we were born, all of us were given Christian names at birth.
FAMILY LIFE
The marriage between our parents was blessed with seven children: one female and six males, namely Maria Oyinlola, Emmanuel Adebisi, Jacob Okunola, John Olayiwola, Reuben Oladosu, Rufus Abiodun, and Caleb Foluso.
Our parents were very prominent and well respected in Balogun Village and its environs. They were among the first parents to send their children to school in Balogun. Some villagers and Ijesha landowners fondly referred to our father as “Baba Tisa,” meaning “the father of teachers,” and our mother as “Mama Tisa.” These names came into use when their second child, Adebisi, became a teacher in the late 1940s.
Our father was very humble, easygoing, hardworking, and generous. Our mother was also very hardworking, intelligent, vivacious, and highly disciplined. She was a disciplinarian to the core, particularly when it came to the upbringing of the children.
Our family attended St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Ayorunbo, which was approximately one mile from Balogun Village. All of us were baptised in the same church, which we attended with our parents.
Our parents were very prayerful. This was evident in the daily observation of compulsory morning prayers for all the children. Father did not take it kindly to anybody to sleep or doze off during the morning devotions. Anyone that did not say “ Amen” to a prayer being said, usually got a slap on the face or buttocks then the resounding Amen would rend the air !!
Father could not build a house at Emuoje Compound in Modakeke because of a family dispute. He left Emuoje completely and moved to Akire Compound, where our mother hailed from. There, he built the present family house in the late 1960’s to accommodate all of us.
Our parents left Balogun Village for Modakeke in 1960, but Father occasionally returned to Balogun to tend to his farms. He also had farms at Akire Compound, where he planted yams, vegetables, onions, and peppers.
Our mother continued trading in clothes, iko, cocoa, kola nuts, and dried preserved beef, locally known as tinko. She was assisted by her granddaughters, Alatode Alawode, of blessed memory, and Orekin-Atake Alawode, also of blessed memory.
Our parents attended St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Itasin, Modakeke. They were prominent members of the Elders’ Society, known as Egbe Agba, and the Ebenezer Society, respectively.
On 20 October 1965, Father died after a brief illness. The political situation in Western Nigeria at the time of his death was tense because of the conflict between Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief S. L. Akintola. It was a period known as “Wetie.”
Nevertheless, the burial ceremony was held and attracted a large crowd from far and near. The drumming and gathering were kept within the family compound.
Our mother later attended St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Oke-Amola, when it was established in the 1980s. She continued to maintain the family with the assistance of the elder members of the family until 13 March 1995, when she died after a brief illness.
She was 95 years old when she died, almost 30 years after the death of our father. She was buried in Modakeke on 20 October 1995.
The burial ceremony was delayed until October 1995 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of our father’s death. The ceremony was well attended, and all the children were present.
At the time of writing this history most of the villages in Balogun were no more. Most of the original inhabitants had either died or relocated to Modakeke and Odeomu.
Our family building had been levelled to the ground and overtaken by weeds because it had fallen into disuse.
Although all of us agreed to rebuild the house in the late 1980s and early 2000s, there were minute disagreements.
We thank God for the foresight of one of our children, Olushola, who spearheaded the rebuilding of the Balogun house. He was assisted by the head of the family, Mr. Biodun Ojeleye, and others. At the time this history was written, the rebuilding was nearing completion.
Life Timeline
PA FOLUSO CALEB OJELEYE: LIFE TIMELINE
1954–1955 | Early Education
1956–1960 | Primary Education in Modakeke
1961–1966 | Secondary Education
1967–1973 | Nigeria Breweries
1973 | Journey to Canada
1974–1978 | Concordia University
1979–1981 | University of Manitoba
1983 | National Youth Service
1984 | Beginning of His Teaching Career
1992–2000 | Vice-Principal
1996 | Postgraduate Diploma in Education
2000–2002 | Deputy Principal
2003 | Appointment as Principal
2006 | Promotion to Deputy Director of Education
September 2007 | Retirement
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
He was married to Mrs. Iyabo Mulikat Ojeleye, née Kareem, now Evangelist Deborah Ojeleye.
Gallery
Memory wall
To Jide our friend, be strong. We pray God will comfort you and your family members.
We know and believe you are in a better place sir.
Rest in peace, Till we see again.
Shocking, but of reality, Baaba F.C.Ojeleye is gone! Mercifully, Baaba has gone to rest with his Maker the Almighty God.
Happily,Baaba came,saw and conquered! Why not? May his very venerable, affable, ebullient. vivacious ,genial and resilient soul continue to enjoy the eternal serenity at the bosom of the Almighty God and the conviviality in the companionship of the heavenly hosts.
ADIEU,Pa Foluso Caleb Ojeleye,a titan and quintessential AKORAYE.
His burial obsequies will be announced soon.Thank you all 🙏👏🏼‼️
Baba F. C. Ojeleye, you were truly one of God’s gifts to humanity. I had the privilege of meeting you when I started my teaching career at Sonmori Senior Secondary School, Ifako-Ijaiye, Agege.
You did not only welcome me; you called me your friend and later referred to me as your P.A. I am deeply grateful for the love, kindness, and fatherly relationship you shared with me.
Words are not enough to express how much I will miss you. I love you, but I know that God loves you even more. May your gentle soul continue to rest peacefully in the bosom of the Lord.
Your P.A.,
Oluwalogbeminiyi
Family tree
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