MINDSCOPE: Adetunmbi

MAMA
Chief Mrs C. M. Adetunmbi 1931-2017

Seye Adetunmbi, first written in 2011 to mark her 80th birthday anniversary

There are some things one took for granted as a little child while growing up. Not out of negligence or indifference but must have been essentially as a result of the little, one's innocent mind could appreciate or comprehend of the situation then. Looking back now that one is a father of children and struggling to manage a relatively smaller family compared to my parents who looked after a far bigger family of their own biological children, together with the children of extended relations and family friends; one is able to appreciate better how lucky one had been to have such a blessed and resourceful mother in the household.

Mama sitting with Dayo 3rd from left with her mother, siblings, nieces and nephews on January 1st, 1960; her father 1st from right

Family of DOA in 1960. L-R Yetunde, Mama & Adenike, Miss House & Adedayo, Baba & Olubunmi

Her Family in 1964, L-R: Adedayo, Adenike, Baba, Seye, Yetunde, Mama & Olubunmi

Abuja

Indeed except God build the house those who labour, do it in vain says the good book. Apparently, good health through the grace of God must have helped the diligent Chief Mrs Comfort Modupe Adetunmbi (a.k.a. Mama) a great deal to cope with her domestic home front and business needs. In the 1960s and 1970s she woke up very early to make Ibadan a day trip most often from Ifaki-Ekiti. After doing her shopping in the old Dugbe and Oje markets in Ibadan, she would return home to the warm embrace of her family that would be waiting for her in the balcony after dinner. Her business traveling, either to replenish her stock in the shop or to meet the supply orders of secondary schools and teacher training colleges were done with public transport. This was when the route was notorious for highway robbery (dana-dana, as it was popularly called in those days). She was in her 30s and 40s at the peak of her business activities and God in His infinite mercy preserved her to become an octogenarian in 2011 to the glory God she remains her strong self while aging gracefully.

Mama when she was installed Iya Ijo of St Michael’s Church, Ifaki-Ekiti in 2006

The industrious mother of substance complemented her dedicated career teacher and respected community leader husband, in bringing up their biological children and wards uniquely in the part of Nigeria where they have both settled since 1953. The exemplary upbringing was not only distinct where they dwelled and its environs, it equipped their children conveniently for their interpersonal relations with wide range of people with diverse profiles within and outside where they grew up without losing focus of the lasting societal values.

Mama on her 82nd birthday in February 2013

Like a typical mother hen and the chicks, no personal deprivation was too much for the archetype Mama to bear for the family. Very caring Mama gave her children the best at her disposal. She is one of the few hard working and enterprisingly endowed women who bought cars for the convenience of their children in the University. The nature of her business did not take her away from her children for too long. A beloved mother in a million who would not toy with any of her children. At every point in time, there was always at least an elderly reliable person living with the family to look after the children if she ever had to travel or leave the house. The grown up assisting her may either be her relation or that of her husband's extended family members supported by hired house help.

Mama in Florida at her grandson’s wedding in 2007

Mama with Otunba Niyi Adebayo at Anglican Church of Ascension Opebi in November 2010 and with Dr Itsueli at Ifaki in 2016

Over the years, the God fearing and perspective Mama had been committed to her husband's people, culture and tradition with a passion, her not being a native of his town notwithstanding. Her patriotism to the development of her husband's community is evergreen, commendable and pace setting. When it was in vogue for people to build houses in Ado-Ekiti or generally perceived real estate commercial spots and wives from communities different from their husbands built houses in their home towns; the woman of virtue put her only building structure at her husband's home town. Mama as an exemplar stands out as a devoted family woman in her contemporary environment.

Mama (sitting right) with Nike her 4^th child, surrounded by her apprentices during graduation of one of them in 1961

She was a pupil teacher shortly before she got married which later gave way for her to face home front full time as a nursing mother. By 1957 when her husband at the instance of his community had to co-start Ifaki Grammar School, she started a flourishing sewing outfit which paraded over 10 adult women apprentices at the peak of the business. It was first of its kind in the environs which made her to be on top of the making of bulk female school uniforms contracts in the 1960s.

Mama was born on February 12th, 1931 to the family of David Adelusi Ojo "Onilepanu" fame in Ilupeju-Ekiti. She's the 3rd child of Pa D. Adelusi Ojo who served in the colonial civil service as a senior staff of the post and telecommunications Ministry and Madam Ruth Hadiza Adelusi, a native of Ibi in Taraba-State. She started her primary education at Ilupeju-Ekiti in the late 1930s and attended Ayedun Methodist School where her eldest brother, Barrister Albert Adelusi (1920-2005) was a teacher fresh from Wesley College, Ibadan. She later lived with him in Akure where she schooled briefly. Not many communities had complete stretch of Standard I to VI school program in their time. This made her to attend Methodist School, Ifaki in Standard V where she was exposed to home economics and acquired basic sewing skills which she later applied in her private business. She completed her Standard VI at Ode-Aye in 1950 where her older brother, Pa D.O. Adelusi (1925-2007) another Wesley College trained teacher was teaching. She worked briefly at Federal Inland Revenue, Oko-Awo in Lagos-Island before joining teaching service in Kwara-State at Obo-Ayegunle Primary School as a pupil teacher. She got married to Chief David Opeyemi Adetunmbi (1919-1990) on August 10, 1952 and the marriage had been blessed with three males and three females. Mama was installed the Iya-Ijo of St Michael's Anglican Church, Ifaki-Ekiti in 2006. No doubt, there is cause to give thanks to God who has kept the great-grandmother and all her children and every reason to celebrate her as an octogenarian. May the grace of God continue to be sufficient for the family in Jesus name. Amen.
Mama passed-on in the early hours of Saturday October 14, 2017. Eternal rest grant my beloved mother oh Lord, and let the light perpetual shine on upon her in Jesus name, amen.

FINAL RITES FOR MAMA