On March 4, 2025, the Nigerian community was shaken by the tragic loss of Adetunji Opayele, known affectionately as Teejay. He had left Canada for Nigeria to kick-start his dream.

He was a 31-year-old visionary, Teejay was the Co-founder and Chief Technical Officer of #Bumpa — a startup that revolutionised retail operations for small businesses and processed over ₦160 billion in transactions for 60,000 SMEs. His journey from a talented software engineer to a respected entrepreneur embodied the spirit of Nigeria’s ambitious youth.

Born on December 20, 1992, in Lagos, Teejay had an illustrious academic and professional background. After completing his secondary education at Lagos State Model College Meiran, he gained admission to study Law at Obafemi Awolowo University.

However, his passion for technology led him to pivot into software engineering—a field in which he truly excelled. His career spanned roles in both Nigeria and the United States, and he even founded HostCabal, a successful web hosting company, before co-founding Bumpa.

In 2022, Bumpa secured $4 million in seed funding, and the company now employs over 40 individuals.

On what should have been an ordinary evening, Teejay’s life was abruptly cut short. After a long day at work and a visit to the iFitness gym in Victoria Island, he set off on his power bike along Ozumba Mbadiwe at approximately 10:20 PM.

Despite having the right of way, Teejay’s journey ended in catastrophe when a vehicle driven by Biola Adams-Odutayo—license number LND 418 JR—merged unsafely onto the expressway. The collision left Teejay unconscious and critically injured.

In the aftermath of the crash, bystanders rushed to help, but the response from the driver was chillingly indifferent. Biola Adams-Odutayo, a healthcare professional and Head of Health at an insurance brokering firm, remained in her vehicle for over 30 minutes on a phone call, despite pleas from witnesses to assist.

Desperate efforts by onlookers to transport Teejay to hospital were met with numerous challenges, and despite the urgent attempts to secure medical care, he was ultimately declared dead shortly after midnight.

Teejay’s untimely death has not only deprived his family and community of an irreplaceable talent but also raised deep concerns over road safety and accountability. The circumstances surrounding the incident underscore a complete disregard for human life and the severe consequences of negligent driving.

His loss has left his family, friends, mentees, and the wider community in profound grief, mourning a bright future that was brutally stolen away.

The story of Teejay is a stark reminder that every life lost on our roads represents not just a statistic, but a vibrant spirit with dreams, ambitions, and an enduring legacy. His contributions to technology and entrepreneurship, and the promise he held for Nigeria’s future, will forever be remembered.