Musiliu Babatunde Balogun a.k.a Bobby of London is the 5th among eight children of Alhaja Kuburat Ayoka Balogun nee Johnson, who died in year 2020 at age 92, but was remembered one year after.

Saturday July 31, 2021 would continue to linger in the minds of the children, and grand children of the deceased as well as family members and well-wishers, as their matrich was remembered on that day.

The death of Alhaja Kuburat Ayoka Balogun could not be celebrated, when she died due to COVID-29 pandemic that took the whole world by surprise then.

The one year rememberance ceremony kicked off with Islamic prayers, where the children, family members and well-wishers offered prayers for the repose of the soul of Alhaja Kuburat Ayoka Balogun.

Assorted foods and drinks were later served at The Grand Suites, CMD, Magodo, Lagos venue of the event, where guests were treated to lavish reception as Juju music star, Dele Taiwo treated them to unforgettable moments with melodious song.

In a chat with Nationalsketch.com shortly after the ceremony, Bobby of London said that his mother was worth celebrating one year after her demise.

“After God, the next person I depend on was my mum.

“Anytime I came to Nigeria, I relied on her. I know it is only God that could secure everyone’s life, but after God, it’s my mum, there’s no one else.

“Whenever I came to Nigeria when my mum was alive, I depended on her for my security. But now, I had to get mobile police or regular police men to be with me once I come around.

“I give God all the glory. My mum was a wonderful woman. We cannot get that kind of woman in this century anymore. But we take solace in the kind of wives God has given us her children.

“Talking about my upbringing, I depend solely on my mother.

“She was very nice, she was really in money. Whenever I needed money, I would just go to her wardrobe and take any amount of money I needed and no one would ever ask me why I took the money.

“One day, my mother asked me if I wanted to go London, and I asked her what I needed in London that was not available in Nigeria.

“However, I wanted to go the United States of America, but I ended up in London.

“I thank God now, I am a property consultant and developer in the United Kingdom. I am also a promoter there.

“I have various businesses there. To God be glory, I am one of the most successful businessmen in the UK,” he said.

Bobby of London said further that God has been using him for bring his siblings and family members together since the demise of his mother.

“No matter what the situation is, I always bring them together. It’s not me, but God has been using me to talk to everyone of them, guide and bring them all together and they all listen to me.

“It is important to state that I am in the middle by birth. We are eight in number, and I am the 5th child.

“I have been in property business since 2001. I started the business when I first bought a property for myself and ended up getting about 50 properties.

“I thank God, it is not all Nigerians that can achieve what I have achieved in London, or get to the position I have attained in London.

“Even when COVID-19 broke out and we were locked in for almost one year, I was one of the people that survived the pandemic. A lot of businesses went down, but I was able to overcome and God helped me. I really thank Him for that,” he said.

In memorable tributes, which Bobby wrote for his late mum, he says, “I thank you for the love you showed me.

“You are my pillar and the love of my life. I never gave you chance to say goodbye because I didn’t want to believed you would leave me one day and I never believed I could do without you. Haaaaa, “o ma se oooo,” I love you.mum, but God loves you most.”

The late Alhaja Kuburat Ayoka Balogun Shittu was born in 1928 to a wealthy family of the late Mr & Mrs Babatunde Johnson (Baba Kekere) of No 2, Adu St. Lagos Island.

She attended St. Mary Primary School, but she could not finish her primary education due to the love her mother had for her.

After that, she started living with her aunt (Iya Onigo) in Adesina Street, Odi-Olowo, Mushin, Lagos where she learned trading.

She later married Senior Apostle Kotoye Ogunsuada, but because he was transferred to the East, her parents did not allow her to go. That was when she married Alhaji Ganiyu Shittu of blessed memory.

Mama was good and successful and she impacted everyone around her with good moral values. She was a quiet, easy going, and amiable personality.

She was God fearing, graceful, beautiful, kind, dutiful, patient and a deeply prayerful woman.

She treated everyone around her equally like her children.

Mama was a successful trader in Mushin rail-line area, where she was nicknamed “Alhaja Araokanmi.”