The remains of Dr. Segun Nezar Keyi have been laid to rest after a funeral service held at the Cathedral of St. Peter, Ogori, Diocese of OgoriMagongo, Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion*.
Dr. Segun Nezar Keyi died at the age of 72 after what family and community members described as a fulfilled and impactful life dedicated to service and humanity.
Speaking with newsmen after the interment, his brother, Dr. Matthew Dada Keyi, said the family is grateful to God for the life of the late medical practitioner.
“We want to thank God for his life. Dr.Segun Nezar Keyi died at 72 and he lived a very fulfilled and impactful life. As I often tell people, he really inspired and influenced people by his way of life,” he said.
Dr.Mathew Dada Keyi described his late brother as one of the “unknown intellectual giants in Kogi State.” He recalled that as far back as 1974, Dr. Nezar Keyi made an aggregate of six subjects in his examinations, a feat that drew wide admiration at the time.
According to him, Dr. Keyi was a leader right from his student days and later became a vibrant and strong member of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA. His dream, he said, was to become a Professor, but he chose instead to invest in younger ones.
“His dream was to become a Professor, but he felt that there were younger ones coming up and decided to invest in them to have a brighter future. As university students in those days we struggled a lot and he never failed to encourage us. Through that I developed special concern for self-development,” he added.
Dr. Mathew Dada Keyi also highlighted his brother’s commitment to community service and medical care. He noted that Dr.Nezar Keyi established the first private hospital in Abaji town 1985 over 40 years ago, yet residents still came from Abaji to attend his burial.
“If you enter his hospital he would not ask for money before commencing treatment. Beyond money, he was concerned about investing in humanity. A lot of people attested to that during the wake keep in Ogori,” he said.
He said the massive turnout at the wake-keep, mostly by local people, showed how close Dr. Keyi was to his community. “He hardly missed events whenever he was at home,” Mathew Dada Keyi stated.
The family expressed appreciation to all those who attended the burial and other funeral rites.
“May God Almighty bless all of you abundantly for honouring us by attending the burial ceremony of our dear late brother, Dr. Nezar Segun Keyi,” he prayed.
Tributes have continued to pour in since the passing of Dr. Nezar Segun Keyi, with many acknowledging his contributions to healthcare, education, leadership and community development in Kogi State and beyond.
