A tribute more than a decade in the making, unveiled amid birthday celebrations, a football tournament, and the 7th OJN Annual Symposium
Oladele John Nihi, popularly known as OJN, has named the headquarters of the OJN Foundation after his late father, Chief Joshua Olorundare Nihi, in a personal tribute unveiled as part of activities marking his 38th birthday.
The announcement was made alongside two other major events on the OJN calendar: the OJN Football Talent Tournament and the 7th OJN Annual Symposium. Amid the festivities, OJN set aside a moment to honour the man he credits with shaping the values behind his foundation’s work.
“This is my own little way of immortalising a man whose life, values, sacrifices, and unwavering commitment to family and community continue to inspire me every single day,” OJN said of the decision.
Chief Joshua Olorundare Nihi died on Wednesday, 12th November, 2014. Now, more than ten years later, OJN says his father’s wisdom, discipline, and simplicity remain part of daily life for the family.
“Though he is no longer physically with us, his influence remains alive in the choices I make and in the life of service to which I have dedicated myself,” he said.
OJN also recalled the tribute he wrote in the immediate aftermath of his father’s death — published by Kogi Report under the title “Tribute to Late Chief J. O. Nihi.” Revisiting that piece today, he said, was a reminder that grief may soften with time, but a good father’s impact never fades.
According to OJN, the OJN Foundation itself was built on the principles his father embodied: integrity, compassion, hard work, selfless service, and a firm belief in empowering others. Naming the Secretariat — the building at the centre of the Foundation’s operations — after Chief Nihi was, he said, a natural extension of that inheritance.
“From today, this edifice will stand not just as the headquarters of the OJN Foundation, but also as a lasting reminder that true greatness is measured by the lives we touch and the legacy we leave behind,” OJN said.
OJN closed his announcement with a direct message to his late father: “Thank you for giving me a foundation upon which I continue to build. Your name will forever be etched not only on this building but also in the hearts of all those whose lives will be transformed through the work of the OJN Foundation.”
He ended with a prayer: “May your gentle soul continue to rest in perfect peace. Your legacy lives on.”
