Chief Olufemi Majekodunmi

A Tribute to Our Dear Uncle, Arc. Femi Majekodunmi : A Life of Impact and Love

Thank you for living a life that was truly a blessing to so many.
You carried a light that filled every room you entered - a warmth, a presence, a joy that made people feel seen and welcomed. We will dearly miss your jokes and the playful way you teased us at family gatherings. You always gave us a reason to laugh, even in the simplest moments.
Your love for family was deep and unwavering, and your devotion to our mum was especially profound. You faithfully supported her until she passed, and even after, you continued to show up for her children with the same care and commitment. With you, support was never uncertain - once you heard of a milestone, a need, or a celebration, your support and generosity were guaranteed.

I will never forget in 2003, when you gave a cheque of ₦21,000 for my 21st birthday - a moment of pure joy, and at the time, the largest gift received. That gesture captured so much of who you were: thoughtful, generous, and deeply invested in our happiness. For as long as we can remember, our mum and all of us remained beneficiaries of your quiet, consistent kindness.

You had such a large heart. You gave freely, without hesitation or expectation. You made time for people -always responding, always present, always intentional. You always replied every message I sent you, those are treasured memories now.

You loved your darling wife so deeply that it almost feels divinely orchestrated - that you would be reunited in spirit as she marks her 80th birthday on June 8th. That kind of love is rare and beautiful.
Friends you taught during your time lecturing at UNILAG continue to speak of you with such high regard, a testament to the impact you made not only within your family, but in the lives of countless others you taught, mentored, and inspired.

We are grateful for the memories we shared and for the grace of being in your company just weeks before your passing. Even when we came to pay our condolences, you still found a way to make us smile and laugh, that was simply who you were.

You were a great man , rare, kind, generous, and full of warmth. Your life was impactful, your presence unforgettable, and your legacy enduring.
You will be deeply missed.
May your soul rest in perfect peace.

Damilola Vigo- Familusi
(On behalf of the Children and Grandchildren of Kofo Vigo (née Majekodunmi))

Beloved Uncle Femi,

What is there for me to do now but express my love for you and my gratitude? Thank God I got to spend speak to you and hug you at Aunty Layo Kiencke's birthday luncheon. As usual you had nothing but kind words and encouragement for me. Thank you, Uncle, for the decades of including me - both you and Aunty Vicky did that - in your family functions. I was always so touched by the way you would remember to include me.

I am so glad I knew you - my real and - so friendly - Uncle. Thank you for that wonderful lunch - decades ago now - in that smart London restaurant- I wish I could remember its name. I remember admiring your assortment of credit cards! So many of them. I'm smiling as I write this. I'm glad I got to celebrate your last birthday with you. I was pleased to see you cheerful and dancing.

I'm sending my love to you, Uncle, and to Aunty Victoria and to Funke, who visited me once many years ago in my home. So many years ago.

May the three of you - beloved souls - rest in eternal peace.

Toun xxxx

I am originally from Afghanistan. I got to know Femi during COVID-19. In that first meeting, I found him to be a special and extraordinary person. Without hesitation, I offered him help, and he happily accepted.
After that, during the quarantine, I made all his purchases. In short, he gradually became a very good friend and had extraordinary trust in me because of his pure heart. He always spoke to me from his heart. He always talked to me and kept me informed of his situation. During this time, I learned a lot from him.
In short, Honourable Femi was a very dedicated and philanthropic person, whose like is rare. I am proud to have worked closely with him for a while. I only wish I had not said goodbye to him on the phone.
One lasting memory of him is that one day he called me and said, “Take me to the doctor, wait for me, and then take me home.” When he returned, he told me to stop the car and very kindly asked me, “Are you upset? Tell me what’s going on. If I can help, please let me know.” He asked very sincerely, which reassured me and made my heart very happy.
I don't feel his absence, because his memory continues to live in my heart.
Finally, I wish that Almighty God grants him Paradise.

With respect,
Atiqullah Hamed

A very humble man of amazing depth , intelligence and ability. One of his many attributes was to care about those around him and see how he could improve their lives. He once told me.’” I have been very blessed. I have lived like a king and I’m happy to die a pauper “

A TRIBUTE TO ARC. (CHIEF) OLUFEMI MAJEKODUNMI FNIA, PPNIA, PPUIA (1940 – 2026)

It’s extremely difficult to know exactly where to start celebrating the life of such a colossal figure whose existence has been a blessing to everyone that had the privilege of crossing his path. Like most Nigerian architects, I got to know Arc. Femi Majekodunmi from a distance, long before I met or interacted with him personally. As a young architect back in the days, he was such an embodiment of all the attributes I dreamt of having as an architect and when I eventually began to interact with him on a personal level, I was intrigued by his level of humility despite his towering accomplishments.

Within the NIA, he has undoubtedly made lasting contributions even in old age to the sustenance of the Institute, having served as President and member of the Board of Trustees in addition to his being a trustee of the African Union of Architects (AUA) and President of the global body for architects, the UIA.

I recall with nostalgia, the various instances we had interacted in the past but perhaps the few that stuck with me include my 2015 attempt for the 3rd Vice-President position in the Institute when under pressure to step down, he called me aside and asked me to follow my heart and the rest is history. Another instance was when in 2022, he got to know I would be attending the maiden edition of the Architects Association of Botswana Conference on the invitation of the President of the Association and he asked that I make out time to visit his office in Botswana which I did and he took me on a historical journey of how the office came to be and how he named the building after his wife – Victoria.

During my Presidency of the Institute, he was always there to offer wise counsel and even made huge financial contributions to whatever cause the Institute was pursuing. Most notable was our bid to affect an amendment to the public procurement act among several other similar interventions. He was also a strong pillar of support during the dark years of the crisis that engulfed the Institute post 2015 even at the risk of being maligned by individuals much younger than him.

I recall our last interaction on the 1st of May 2026 during his 86th birthday. I had just flown in from an NIA engagement that took me to Kaduna and Zaria when my wife suggested we drive straight from the airport to his home in Victoria Island to spend some time with him. He was in high spirit throughout our stay and shared humorous banters with everyone around. Little did I know that would be my last interaction with him. Without fear of contradiction, I can boldly say that it will be difficult to find someone that matches his humility, generosity and genuine love for architecture, the Institute and humanity at large.

I will forever be grateful for his friendship towards my family, especially when he accepted without hesitation to have my son intern in his office among other acts of kindness I cannot begin to enumerate. He will be greatly missed, and I pray for a peaceful repose of his soul in the bosom of the lord.

Adieu Arc. (Chief) Olufemi Majekodunmi the architect, philanthropist and mentor extraordinaire.

Arc. Enyi Ben-Eboh FNIA, PPNIA
29th President of the Nigeria Institute of Architects