Society should use the same zeal and haste shown by the murdered schoolboy, Damilola Taylor (10), during his life to make the world a better place, Pastor Olukayode Owolabi said at his funeral in London yesterday.
The pastor was speaking during the service at All Saints Church, Plumstead, south-east London, which was attended by up to 300 family members and friends of the schoolboy, who bled to death near his home in Peckham last November after he was stabbed in the thigh.
As the schoolboy's small white coffin was carried into All Saints Church and the service was broadcast on loudspeakers to those outside the red-bricked building in Plumstead, south east London, police officers sobbed.
Pastor Owolabi told mourners that Damilola's death raised many questions. "What is the future of the young?" he asked. "What changes do we have to make to the morals and values of this country? Damilola must not be forgotten." He said Damilola had moved to Britain to help his sister and wanted to make the world a better place: "Dammy had a destiny. He began to read, use a computer, the Internet to access lands far and wide; he began to go to school and would go to the library. Unfortunately, his journey was cut short."
The boy's father, Richard, broke down during the ceremony as pictures drawn by Damilola depicting himself as David slaying Goliath were shown to the congregation.
Leading the service, the Rev Harry Owen urged those responsible for Damilola's death to search their consciences. "We dare to pray that the conscience of those responsible may be touched, filled with remorse and willing to admit the wrong that has been done," he said.
Officers leading the investigation into Damilola's death attended the service as did the Home Office Minister, Mr Paul Boateng, the Shadow home secretary, Ms Ann Widdecombe, the Nigerian High Commissioner, Prince Bola Ajibola, and the former Wimbledon football player and fellow Nigerian, John Fashanu.