Michel, My fisrt Boss in AfDB and my second father as my ESTA colleagues witnesses and used to call me Ms. Mouyelo-Katoula. Words cannot adequately express the immense pain I felt upon learning about your passing.
You were not only a dedicated leader and father to me but also a source of inspiration and encouragement and a guiding light who believed in my abilities and constantly motivated me to strive for excellence.
Your positive energy and compassionate nature made our workplace a truly special and supportive space.
Rest well and in power sweet Angel.
Michel was a brilliant and visionary person who achieved national recognition for his work. We will long remember Michel’s energy, tenacity and ability.
May he rest in perfect peace.
Michel, My first Boss in AfDB and my second father as my ESTA colleagues witnessed and used to call me Miss Mouyelo-Katoula. Words cannot adequately express the immense pain I felt upon learning about your passing.
You were not only a dedicated leader and father to me but also a source of inspiration and encouragement and a guiding light who believed in my abilities and constantly motivated me to strive for excellence.
Your positive energy and compassionate nature made our workplace a truly special and supportive space.
REST WELL AND IN POWER SWEET ANGEL.
Rosalie has been an integral part of the Recruitment team and was my first point of contact with the Bank when I received and accepted my offer.
Her professionalism, consistency and upbeat attitude in assisting many of us to navigate the onboarding process made it less daunting. Her patience and encouragement are human qualities we all aspire towards, but few achieve as effortlessly as she did. She was always happy and brought uniqueness to her role - her optimism was infectious - even when delivering "not so great news". She touched many of us and always reminded us that all outcomes remain in the hands of God. My heartfelt condolences to Rosalie's family both at work and at home- May your soul rest in eternal peace!
Doreen Kirabo
Dear Awa,
We shall deeply miss your sense of humor and simplicity. Your warm smiles amidst recruitment pressures would always make a difference.
May the angels receive you with open arms.
Rest well and in power sweet Angel.
"Rosalie Awa Turkson a friend that was extremely peaceful and loving in life, so let us celebrate that life."
Though I am still reeling from the sudden death of my dear sister, friend, and colleague - Rosalie Awa Turkson. I was lucky enough to see and be touched by her time here with us. I left on study leave in 2008 and met Rosalie when I came back to Tunisia in 2010 and we became friends since then. We worked together, shared office space, social life and prayer life etc. It was through Rosalie we got our property when we returned to Abidjan. She was one out of many that fondly calls me “Funmi”. She calls my husband “Chef de Division” while he calls her “Directrice”. She was still at my place mid-2022 promising to come and spend a weekend with us which she never did. I planted “Corosol” fruit in my compound which happens to be her favorite. When she came around, they were not ripe but when they got big and ripe little did, I know that I will take the ripe Corosol to her on sick bed “she said they are big and smells nice, had it been I can eat, I would have finished everything” I wept within me.
When Rosalie learnt that my husband was also hospitalized, anytime I went to visit her at the hospital the first thing she asked was “how is my division manager”. This is to tell you what a sweet, kind and caring soul Rosalie was even on her sick bed. The same way she asked after other colleagues. She was always willing to know about your welfare and render assistance when necessary. I remember sometimes when I do not have my car, Rosalie will go out of her way to drop me at home even when I want to drop at a convenient place to take a taxi. That was the kind of compassionate person she was. Even though Rosalie’s death was sudden, her impact cannot be contained in her short lifetime.
She was a friend to many, and we will all miss her dearly every day. If she was here with us today, I know she’d be smiling.
You left too soon but I am so grateful to have known her.
The Lord gave and He took back when he judged the moment right. Rest in peace beloved son of God.
May you rest in eternal peace, you dear Laston, whom I got to know through your strong interventions on those virtual sessions during the WFH era where I participated.
I'm sorry I never had the opportunity to meet you in person Emmanuel, but I know you were a colleague and the spouse of my sister Mina. My dear sister Mina and all the entire bereaved family, know that I am praying for peace and comfort for your entire family. May the soul of Emmanuel rest in eternal peace.
Dear Laston,
The announcement of your death has been a real emotional shock for us. What a horrible surprise, which reminds us that our life hangs by a thread that can be cut suddenly at any time.
The AFDB HR team has lost a great asset, a highly competent and astute HR professional who always speak with eloquence, pertinence, and objectivity.
We entrust the wellbeing of your family in the care of our Lord. May he’s grace and strength carry them forward. May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace.
Go well and in peace! Amen!
My thoughts and prayers are with your family and loved ones. May they find comfort in knowing how cherished you were by so many of us. Rest peacefully, dear Botty.
It is difficult to write about Botty in the past tense.
Botty was a unique colleague who made sure there was never a dull moment at work.
He was always willing to assist when it was required.
Rest in peace, grand frère.
Emeka
Besides being a great team member, Botty was such a caring colleague who made me laugh a lot. I will cherish the memories I have of him, particularly during our time at HQ. He is so missed. May he rest in perfect peace.
My dear Talumba,
very difficult to write a few words specially because we will not hear form you anymore...this is just painful!! What a shocking news this wednesday morning. I can imagine how your kids, husband, family and friends are feeling today.
May The Almighty and Sovereign Lord God welcome you in his House as an Angel.
May your beautiful Soul rest in perfect peace.
Bardi, gone really, for good? Hmm. We spoke and you shared very good news with me and the next week you were gone. My friend, what a mystery? You were so optimistic about the future! Your good mood, your laugh and jokes will be missed. My heart is broken. You leave an empty spot in our hearts.
Lord, You only understand your plans. May He sustain what you built for Hanane, Moussa, Nourredine, Chafardine and Latifah. You will always be part of it. I let you go, my good friend.
Bardi, my brother, my friend! Eh! How can you leave so soon? So unexpectedly? So abruptly??? Why? You called me on December 27 and we spoke for about 20 minutes. we discussed life, plans, projects, work and family. You were fine then. Then this? I will miss you, my brother. I will always remember the good times, the fun times, the challenging times and the hard times. We stuck together and held each other up. I will miss the pep talks we gave to each other. You are gone, but never forgotten. Godspeed, my brother, my friend. May Allah receive you with open arms. We shall continue on....
Whoever loses his life, one day will find it.
A fallen tear will remain of you,
A smile sprouted on the eyes of your heart.
What you sowed will remain of you
I met Sonia when I joined the OpsCom Secretariat in 2013. Beyond her impeccable work ethic, what impressed me most during the seven years I worked with Sonia were her human qualities.
Sonia had an unmatched empathy. She had an ability to put herself at the service of others and to make their problems her own. Sonia never missed an opportunity to wish my wife, my children and me the best; there was always a message for Mother's Day, Father's Day, or Muslim religious holidays.
Sonia had a maternal streak that made her endearing. With an unwavering faith in her Lord, Sonia showed courage and good humor despite illness and suffering.
In mid-August, Sonia called to remind me to come by the office to pick up my things for the HQ move. As usual, Sonia gave me advice that made the process easier. We went on to talk about her health, her job prospects, our children who had been homebound for months and would soon be going back to school... Little did I know that would be our last conversation.
Rest in peace mom Sonia, the Lord watch over Julia and Joshua and comfort your mom and Pastor Jacques. You remain in our prayers.
An exceptional colleague
It is an honor to write this short tribute to SONIA, although with great sadness over her unimaginable loss. The few weeks spent as her teammate make me appreciate how brave and committed to the work delivery she was, no matter what and despite her health challenges. When I heard about her sudden death, I understood I will never be able to contribute to her career development. Indeed, we had a long zoom discussion on July 3, 2020, when I joined the Operations Committee Secretariat. Her wordings still resonate in my ears. Unfortunately, I got a better sense of her points only now. Rest in Peace SONIA. You will always be in my heart. I am confident that the Lord will protect your husband and children.
It wasn’t just being a Team member that made Sonia special. It was her presence always the thing that stood out to me the most about her. Indeed, Sonia was a great person to be around. Her bright smile and the twinkle in her eyes were contagious. Even when sick her presence and state of mind did not change. Playful yet reserved, Sonia had dignity in the face of adversity. She was selfless, eager to lend a hand and help others, a gentle spirit. “Mama Sonia” as I affectionately called her was a trusted and dedicated assistant to me and the master organizer for all get togethers for the Team. She was always quick to respond and organize last minute office parties to everyone’s delight. She was dependable. I will forever be thankful to Sonia for skillfully organizing the 2020 retreat for the Operations Secretariat Team. As my teammate during some of the Retreat events, I came to appreciate Sonia’s endurance. We were not the first to arrive, but she made sure we finished every course. Sonia had strong was gifted with capacities well beyond her position as Team Assistant. Her strong communication skills, and attention to details led me to designate her as “Editor in Chief” for the OpsCom Annotated Agenda and the Flash Report to the President, which she carried out with diligence and pride.
In addition to her boundless love and dedication to her children and husband, Sonia found time to support others in need and further her education. Indeed, Sonia was preparing a master’s degree with the hope to advance her professional career. She was so close to realizing her dream. It would have been a moment to be remembered. Like a shooting star, you have passed through. I am grateful to have known you and to have shared a small part of your life. May your gentle soul rest in eternal peace “Mama Sonia”! May your family find comfort in the children you have had and the lives you have touched.
