Senator Ede Dafinone has mourned the death of Olusegun Awolowo Jr., the prominent lawyer, public servant, and grandson of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Awolowo Jr.’s passing, announced by the family on Thursday, has been described as a significant loss to the nation and to those who worked closely with him.
In a statement issued on Friday, Dafinone said he received the news with shock, noting that Awolowo Jr.’s death was not just a national loss but a personal one.
He recalled their extensive collaboration during Awolowo’s tenure as Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) from 2013 to 2021. At the time, Dafinone served as a Director at NEXIM Bank and Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Export Group (MANEG).
According to him, what started as professional interaction evolved into a friendship rooted in mutual respect and a shared drive for Nigeria’s economic advancement.
Dafinone described Awolowo Jr. as a visionary technocrat whose work in driving the non-oil export sector left a lasting imprint on national development.
He praised his humility, warmth, and intellect, noting that these qualities made him widely admired in both public and private circles.
He extended condolences to the Awolowo family, the Ogun State government, and Nigerians who are grieving the loss of a man he described as dedicated and patriotic.
Dafinone prayed for strength for the bereaved family and for the repose of Segun Awolowo Jr.’s soul.
