Osaze Osifo - Online Memorial Website

Oz, it was indeed a priviledge  to have been associated with you. Thank you for the send off party you had for me when i was leaving HSBC for Nigeria in 1997. Thank you for the OANDO dreams we shared during the branding excercise. Indeed you were truly 1st among equals. We love you but God loves you more. Bro rest in perfect peace.

Oh my God 
this is a shock
Ibukun and kids, Egbe, Enoma Aunty and Uncle are deepest sympaties to each one of you
MAY GOD BE YOUR STRENGTH AT THIS TIME
Sincerely 
Fred, Nj and kids



 

l am still in shock, and really hoped it was just a bad dream. A reality check for the rest of us. Its not how long, but what impact we make. Osaze made a great impact among friends, and in Nigeria as a whole in his time line.

To my friend Ibukun, God knows best. l pray his soothing balm gives you peace at this time. May God uphold you all at this very difficult time.

On behalf of Prof Thomas Johnson and family, please accept our deepest sympathies and heartfelt well wishes at the untimely loss of a stellar young chap.

May the Lord God grant Ibukun and the children, Prof and Mrs Osifo, Egbe and Enoma and their extended families the anointing of strength and capacity to live through this bereavement. I lift your families up in prayer and in the mighty name of Jesus, plead the eternal life giving blood of our Saviour upon you until you know unequivocally that God will make a way for all to indeed be well.

In All things, we are beseeched to give Thanks.

For us, his brothers from other mothers, loved ones, friends and acquaintances may we ever hold his memory in our hearts with love and lightheartedness.

He was truly an outstanding fellow, and will be greatly missed.

Rest in perfect peace 'Sazz, and along with our other dearly departed, may you eternally be ensconsced in the bosom of the Almighty King of Kings.

Tons of love,

Ade Johnson

Rest in Peace with the Lord. My prayers and thoughts go out to the Osifo family. 

My brother,
We go back all the way with fond memories: Staff School, ISI, UniLag and even London sef. Very sad of your departure my dear friend.

Sincere condolences to my good friend, Ibukun, and the children. May the Lord strengthen and provide for you all.

Sun re o Osaze, ore mi atata.

Osaze was a brilliant mind (weird to say WAS).  I remain in shock about his sudden exit.  This really came from left field!

We came from a close knit community, so I knew him my whole life, although he was several years ahead of me in school. Our families were close and remain so.

Osaze was 'before his time' in Nigeria.  He believed in Nigeria 100% and was one of the people who mentored me to leave my job with Goldman Sachs and return home from the US to contribute to the development of our country.  Osaze was fearless, and he dared to challenge the status quo.  I remember him always telling me 'Isi Do not allow anyone to tell you this cannot be done in Nigeria.'  Osaze wanted to try everything - and he did! I remember working with him and his team on structuring the first REIT in Nigeria. I also worked with him when he was MD at Ocean and Oil Holdings to raise capital for Oando Plc.  Osaze had high standards, abhored mediocrity, and demanded the same of all people around him.

As busy as Osaze was, he always took my calls, returned texts, and took my appointments.  Around him, I felt like a little sister, and he proudly introduced me to a lot of people including his lovely wife, when I returned to Nigeria.

This is a horrific and sudden loss.  My father wailed when he heard the news, for he looked at Osaze, indeed all of the other 'campus brats' from the University of Ibadan, as his children, just like Prof. Osifo looked at us Okogun's as one of his own! 

I am still heartbroken - this is as close to home as it gets! Nigeria has lost a gem, a truly fearless and passionate patriot.  Rest in peace Osaze - you were someone I could count on for unfiltered, no BS mentorship.  You will be missed.

I weep for your parents - the nicest people on earth, your lovely wife, your children, and your sisters. This is cruel.

Rest in Peace. Only God knows why things like this happen. You were not supposed to leave so soon. Children are supposed to bury their parents! You were always in a hurry, always working, always thinking, always busy - maybe God knew he would call you soon, so you had to quickly accomplish your dreams in a short time. I hope you are not in heaven running spreadsheets, and trying to convince God on some innovative financial structure! How strange is it also that you died on a leap year date? Even in death, Osaze you had to be different!

Rest in peace, and may God see all your loved ones through this awful news.

The Okogun's

Oz, I always got confused when I heard people say the name Oz, I always thought to myself Oz ke, I am Oz, well Os.  I usually quickly pull myself up internally saying, chill young man, thats senior bro, I had this level of respect even before I got to know you.   We came to spend more and more time together in the recent years and ever more so over the last few months.  I got to know your very serious side as well as your very warm, friendly and comical side.  Oz had jokes,  yes, he made me laugh in  very senior brother kind of way.  He had this way of making you sit up and listen, he spoke very directly so there was no mistake on what he was trying to tell you, then takes a little break and makes a joke.   Osaze, this may be very selfish of me to say, but I was not ready to see you go, I was just learning who you really were, an amazing guy that was going to show me the way if only by watching your foot falls.
I thank God for your life and the mighty shadow you have cast on so many lives.
Senior bro may your soul rest in perfect peace.

Ibukun, So sorry for your loss, we pray with you, the kids and the Osifo family.  

Osaze,

Though we were not the "tightest" of friends per se, we were friends nevertheless. I remember you were always game for a good joke, or a good laugh in ISI. You were as good a guy as they came, with great wit, and sharpness of mind. I was greatly saddened at the news.

My condolences to your wife, children, and extended family. May the good Lord comfort them at this time. Rest in the bosom of our lord, old friend. Selah.

I was deeply saddened to learn of Osaze's death and I would like to express my sincere sympathy to Ibukun, the kids and the entire family.

Please accept my heartfelt condolences at this difficult time. Many will miss him.

With sincere sympathy,

KF