Soyannwo was a Confidant and Believer in Greater Lagos Vision – Governor
The late Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Mr. Gboyega Soyannwo, was laid to rest on Thursday at the Vaults and Gardens following a funeral service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), City of David Parish, Victoria Island.
Governor Sanwo-Olu and his wife, Ibijoke, led a delegation that included Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Abimbola Salu-Hudeyin, Head of Service, Mr. Olabode Agoro, and Chief of Staff, Mr. Tayo Ayinde.
The event drew members of the Lagos State Executive Council, Permanent Secretaries, All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders, religious and traditional figures, industry captains, entrepreneurs, public servants, as well as family, friends, and associates of the deceased.
Appointed Deputy Chief of Staff in 2019 and re-appointed in 2023, Soyannwo passed away on May 15 at the age of 55 after a brief illness.
Governor Sanwo-Olu eulogized Soyannwo as the “engine room” of his administration, noting that his death leaves a significant void. He urged the family to find solace in the impactful and positive life Soyannwo led.
Describing him as “a brother, an armour-bearer, a confidant, and a faithful believer in the collective dream of a Greater Lagos,” Sanwo-Olu highlighted Soyannwo’s dedication and passion for governance and development.
In an emotional tribute, Mrs. Yewande Soyannwo reflected on their 24 years of marriage, praising her late husband as a great partner and lover. She asked for forgiveness from anyone he might have wronged, noting that some expectations might not have been met due to circumstances beyond his control.
“If I don’t give my tribute, it will be a disservice to Gboyega. Who am I to question God? Gboyega was intentional about everything, even when he was frowning. As your wife, I bless the day I met you. I bless the womb that brought you forth. I bless the children that God gave us. Everyone that matters to me matters to Gboyega,” she said.
Pastor Dapo Akinosun, delivering the exhortation, read from Proverbs 22:29 and Romans 12:14, praying for the deceased’s repose and urging the living to serve selflessly, inspired by Jesus Christ’s example.
Prayers were also offered for the Soyannwo family and the Lagos State Government by the Lagos State chapter Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rt. Revd. Stephen Adegbite.
