“He was very present at every facet of my life” – Adetayo Celebrates her Favourite Person this Father’s Day

We asked BellaNaijarians to share their favourite stories about their dads on this Father’s Day with us.

Although Adetayo appreciates all her mother’s done for her, her father is without a doubt her favourite person.

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As much as I appreciate my mom for all she’s done and is still doing, my father remains my favourite person of all time.

Where do I begin? I’ll try to go back to the very beginning…

He was very present at every facet of my life. The drop-offs at school weren’t easy, being a school hater. He constantly had to convince me to get out of the car as far back as when I was in playgroup. I remember always wanting to follow him to work.

One memory I’ll never forget is when I had to sit for common entrance and I somehow left the examination slip at home. He had to rush back home to get it.

On his return, after convincing the examiners to allow me start without the slip, promising to return shortly, I could see his eyes laden with tears as I watched appreciatively from the windows as he attended over the slip.

After the examination, he mentioned that he missed his dad who passed on early when my dad was still little.

My father was also very quick to take me to the hospital at the slightest discomfort. I remember an incident wherein he saw rashes on my face and for fear of it being measles, we visited the doctor who laughed so hard at my dad for fretting over rashes more like pimples.

I can’t count the number of times he visited while I was in university. He would casually call that he was around, claiming he had business in the state different from where we live.

More recently, he cried a day after I got married. I guess it dawned on him that his little innocent girl is no longer little, nor innocent ?.

My mom called to tell me he was crying, and asked to make sure I visited before embarking on honeymoon.

My dad frets each time I travel that I’d rather not tell him, as he’d call a million times to make sure I’m okay. He once asked a driver of a cab if he serviced his car and if tyres were gauged.

Each time I visit, he insists I make his meal, and I would do anything for the man who I am honoured and privileged to call my father.

It will take eternity to begin to recount all my father has done to make him the number one father of all time.

I love you, dad, and pray God keeps you in sound health and mind.