Bankole "Banjul" Julius Ige, Engr.

Engr. Bankole Julius Ige was born on August 26, 1961 at Efon-Alaye, now in Ekiti State.

His parents were Chief Joseph Oni Ige and Mrs  Comfort Aduke Ige, both of blessed memories.

Early childhood was basically at home in Efon Alaye where he grew with both parents, step mums and other siblings in a commodious dwelling that engendered familial love, bonding and camaraderie that characterise everyone’s relationship till date.

Education, for the young lad, started at then St.John’s Primary School in 1968. The School later experienced a name-change, becoming St. Paul’s Anglican Primary School, Efon-Alaye. Even from as early as primary school age, young Bankole had become a rallying point among peers in School. Along with *Adeuyi Samuel (Babisco), Sola Oluwatayo (Olaniyan), Rueben Oni (Niyan Ejelu), Suyi Dada and Adelowo Olowookere,* he had developed a bond of friendship that has endured overtime and lasting till date.

His next port of call was St. Peter Modern School, Efon-Alaye where he spent the next three years before proceeding to Ekiti Parapo College, Ido-Ekiti, one of the most sought after Schools for secondary education in Ekiti in those days which he left with a Grade One School Certificate in 1980.

With such a brilliant result, the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, PortHarcourt was his next destination in his educational journey, emerging five years later with a Bachelor of Technology Degree in Civil Engineering from the institution. At RSUST, his brilliance shone through again and decades after graduating from the School, his academic records remained largely unsurpassed, a fact attested to by one of his lecturers, Dr Imoro Kubor during the 8th All Africa Games in Abuja in 2003.

As a professional builder, Engr. Ige's trademark diligence easily became the hallmark of his practice. From Folben Nigeria Ltd, Cornerstone Construction Company, and much later, Ogun-state government-promoted Makun City Project, to mention but a few, BanJul discharged himself with distinction. His successes in these places apparently bouyed his confidence in setting up his own practice. Thus was born BanJul Nig. Ltd under which he undertook many projects in Lagos, Abuja and other parts of Nigeria.

As a family man, BanJul, as we all loved to refer to him, was certainly a roaring success. To say that he loved his children is clearly understating it. He simply did but would not spare the rod when occasions call for same. It was such a deft, skillful blend of a spartan, steel-hearted discipline and lovingkindness that produced a set of children every parent should be proud of. In achieving this, of course, he enjoyed the full support and cooperation of Mrs Kehinde Blessing Bankole, his wife of 34 years and pillar of support till death do them part, unfortunately, at such a young age and so suddenly.

In the larger family, Baba Biola was nothing short of a beacon of love and a rallying point for all; young and old. Three days before he breathed his last, he penned a 2/3-page letter to all his siblings whom he affectionately called “Omo Olopo-Ewa”, preaching love, tolerance and respect for each other. That piece of communication remains a testament to his abiding loving memory.

In all Ayinde Ogo, Omo Aduke Olopo-Ewa registered as a value-adding member of the family, both immediate and extended.

He was no less to former classmates, friends, in-laws and all he interacted with.

All, certainly, miss him.