Chief Oludolapo Akinkugbe and his wife Janet, both 97, died 11 days apart in September 2025 and were buried together in Ondo, capping a marriage of nearly 70 years. Janet Oladunni Akinkugbe died on September 11, 2025, and her husband, Chief Oludolapo Ibukun Akinkugbe, followed on September 22. Their joint burial, with coffins placed side by side, drew tributes online and from family.
Deaths 11 Days Apart End a Seven-Decade Marriage
Janet died on September 11, and her husband died 11 days later on September 22, both at age 97. The couple, who were born in the same year, died in the same year, just 11 days apart. Their granddaughter, Dolapo Akinkugbe, described their marriage as an example of “long-lasting, unwavering love” in a tribute shared after their deaths.
According to BusinessDay, Akinkugbe regarded Janet as his partner in everything and credited her support for his achievements. After Janet's death, he lived for only another 11 days before dying peacefully in the early hours of September 22. THISDAY reported that their coffins were placed side by side as family, friends, and mourners gathered to say goodbye in Ondo.
Online Tributes Recall a Wholesome Love Story
The unusual timing of their deaths prompted reactions on X (formerly Twitter). User @Tomi_Tomero shared a newspaper clipping with the caption: “Saw this in the newspaper today, proper lovebirds? Born in the same year, died in the same year, 11 days apart?”
Another user, @_DeejustDee, identified the couple as his uncle and aunt, writing: “That’s my uncle and aunty. Wholesome lovebird through it all.” He recalled how they used to drive to Ondo when he was a child, describing their life as “really pleasant” and saying they “lived gracefully.”
@iyanunimi99 remembered the reaction in church after Janet's death: “I remember when mama died last year, and church went to greet the family, only to hear about baba days later. Church was like, 'Baba should have told them he’s going to die too.'” The user described their relationship as the kind that even death couldn’t separate.
@CrownThirst wrote: “You just know he loved her so dearly. 11 days after, his old heart couldn’t take it.”
A Life of Service and a Granddaughter's Memories
Chief Oludolapo Akinkugbe was born in Ondo in 1928 and studied pharmacy at the School of Pharmacy in Yaba, Lagos. He founded Palm Chemists and co-founded Spectrum Books. His corporate career included roles as director or chairman of Barclays Bank of Nigeria, R.T. Briscoe, Nigerian Tobacco Company, Fan Milk, and others, earning him the nickname “Chairman of Chairmen.”
Dolapo Akinkugbe remembered her grandfather as a kind and intelligent man who always put his family first, and her grandmother as the “brightest light” in the family. She recalled that as her grandfather's eyesight faded, Janet would read the newspaper to him almost every day for many years. She also noted Janet's generosity, saying nobody could visit her home and leave with an empty stomach, and that her jollof rice recipe is still followed by the family.
“She always taught us to be grateful, to look out for others, and above all else to enjoy life,” Dolapo wrote. The couple's story has resonated widely, with many seeing the timing of their deaths as a fitting final chapter to a long marriage. After living side by side for decades, they were laid to rest side by side in Ondo.
