MINDSCOPE: Abigail Olowokure

ABIGAIL KEHINDE OLOWOKURE (1934-2019)

By, Seye Adetunmbi

The family of Aina in Iludun-Ekiti was blessed with the birth of a unique set of twins on a special date, January 1^st 1934. Iludun-Ekiti was formerly called Iporo-Ekiti in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti-State. Mrs Abigail Kehinde Olowokure, nee Aina was one of the first set of twins of her mother, Madam Alice Ajayi Fasheyi. The twin brother was Pa Taiwo Rufus Aina. Their father was Joseph Aina of Epe extended family compound in Iludun-Ekiti.

Education

Mrs A. K. Olowokure started her primary school education at St. David’s Primary School, Iludun-Ekiti in the late 1940s. She continued the primary school education at St. John’s Primary School, Iye-Ekiti where she obtained Standard Six School certificate in 1953. She later trained as a teacher at Ekiti Divisional Teacher Training College, Ikere-Ekiti where she qualified as a Grade II Teacher after spending three years in the college.

Working Career

She first taught with her Standard Six Certificate as a pupil teacher at St David’s Primary School in Iludun-Ekiti in 1954 and at St Stephen’s Primary School, Odo Ora-Ekiti in 1955. She worked at Salvation Army School, Idikan, Ibadan in 1956 to 59; Sacred Catholic School, Idikan in 1960; L. A. School Iyana Idere, Ibadan in 1961 to 62 and St Stephens’s School, Ere-Ijesa in 1963 to 1966. Subsequent to her training as a Grade II teacher at Ekiti Teacher’s College, Ikere-Ekiti in 1968 to 1970 she worked as a teacher at St John/Mary Demonstration School, Owo in 1970 to 1975; St Paul’s School, Odo Ado-Ekiti in 1975 to 76; Christ’s Primary School, Ondo in 1976 to 1986 and St Luke’s School, Oka, Ondo where she retired on August 31^st 1986.

Marriage and Her Family

Providence brought the two distinguished “Kehindes” (Baba and Mama Bishop) together in early 1950s when they first met. The Right Reverend J. O. Kehinde Olowokure was a teacher at St John’s Primary School, Iye-Ekiti and Mama; Abigail Kehinde Olowokure was one of his pupils in Standard III and IV. Through the grace of God, the ordained encounter of a lady-twin from Ekiti and a gentleman-twin from Ijesa led to marriage at St. David’s Anglican Church, Iludun-Ekiti in 1954. To the glory of God the almighty, the marriage had been blessed with three successful children: Pastor Mrs Mary Moji McCauley, Pastor Mrs Modupe Adetunji and Mrs Yetunde Ogunrinde.

Diligent and Industrious Woman of Substance

Mama Olowokure was a dedicated and a resourceful school teacher. While she was a teacher at St. John/Mary Primary School, she was the Captain of the Girls’ Brigade in 1966-1973 during which Mrs Mary Moji McCauley; her eldest daughter was one of her students in Primary II and a member of the school brigade. Also she was the teacher of her daughter, Mrs Yetunde Ogunrinde in Primary V. She retired from teaching service when her husband, The Right Reverend J.O.K. Olowokure was consecrated as a Lord Bishop in the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion in 1986. She will go down in his history as an exemplary diligent wife of a clergyman. She belonged to the school of thought that the wife of a priest must work to support the family. She took into aso adire business and trained some of her fellow clergy-wives where her husband served as a priest.

Mummy, as she was popularly called by her husband and children was a pillar of support to her husband in the family. She stood like the rock of Gibraltar behind Daddy Bishop in all fronts in raising the children and contributed immensely to the successful career of the patriarch as a teacher, priest and in his Episcopal ministry. In 1988 and 1998, she joined her husband to attend the famous Lambeth Conference of Bishops which was convened by the Archbishop of Canterbury and held in England. She also attended Canterbury Summer School programme in 1985.

Mummy exemplified motherhood and a virtuous wife in all departments. She was very neat, meticulous and inimitable in her dressing style. She took good care of her husband; daddy in turn reciprocated the caring virtue when she became indisposed and weak. Mummy and Daddy Olowokure were practically inseparable, they made marriage so beautiful and delightful to everyone who moved close them. Mummy and Daddy Olowokure were practically inseparable, they made marriage so beautiful and delightful to everyone who moved close them.

Mummy abhorred lying. If you lied before her and she detected you would fall out of her favour. She would not tolerate intolerance. She was very blunt in her approach to matters. Market women during the reign of the Late Oba Taiwo Aribisala approached her many times to help them speak to him whenever they had any dispute with the Oba because they knew that the Oba had great respect for her. This she did with success many times. She prevented the breakdown of some family homes by setting their naughty dispute amicably.

Mummy Abigail bonded well with her husband’s identical twin brother, Professor Taiwo Olowokure and his family. She had her story to tell of the exemplary identical twins in the early days of her marriage. She was engaging Taiwo in a discussion and the identical twin brother was calm, when his identical twin brother, Kehinde came in, he then smiled and told mummy to continue her discussion with her husband. Mummy said, since then she mastered identifying her Kehinde husband. In retirement, the two couples lived together in the same compound. They worshipped together in the family chapel inside the residence of the Lord Bishop every day whenever they were all around. They alternate having meals together in their individual apartments. No doubt, mummy will be missed in the family with her exit; the daily routine would no longer be the same any more.

Mummy Kehinde Olowokure was an industrious lady of substance. Her venture into adire and aso-oke trading business in her active days was very successful. She loved farming and rearing of animals. During harvest season, visitors are likely to leave some maize from her orchard. She was noted for accountability and bluntness. She was a disciplinarian as a mother, as a teacher and as a priest’s wife. Those not inclined to uprightness hardly got along with her while she was the most pleasant to be with, in her elements with her generous and sincere smiles. Mummy was very modest and contented. When HRM Oba Aribisala, the Elegboro of Egboro Land in Ijebu-Jesa wanted her to accept honourary chieftaincy title from his kingdom, she politely said that the Iyawo Alufa title was adequate for her.

She also had a remarkable caring heart and was a family woman to the core. She brought up many children beyond her biological ones. She was always looking out for the interest of the children of her siblings and any other person in need. With discipline and love she raised every child under the family’s care like her own. With Daddy Bishop on her side, they jointly gave the wards in their care good education which all the beneficiaries appreciate forever and everyone of them turned out well today to the glory of God.

The Best Godmother in The World

My cherished relationship with Mummy Olowokure started in 1962 when Daddy Bishop, The Right Reverend J.O.K Olowokure became the first ordained graduate priest to serve at St. Michael’s Anglican Church, Ifaki, the home parish of my parents, Chief and Mrs D.O. Adetunmbi of blessed memory. Mummy A. K. Olowokure and my mother attended antenatal together that very year they got to Ifaki. I was born on July 21^st while Yetunde her last born was born two weeks after on August 5^th. At my baptism, The Rt. Reverend and Mrs J.O.K. were my godparents. That was the root of my bond with the family of Baba and Mama Olowokure.

My parents told me about them when I have come of age and I was always happy to see them whenever they visited us at Ifaki or when we met at family functions. I noticed that they were always at our family function, distance was never a constraint. I naturally developed special interest in my godparents and was always looking out for them. They came for my wedding ceremony in Lagos. At every opportunity, I visited Daddy and mummy at Ijebu-Jesa after their retirement.

They often asked after my welfare and that of my siblings. They were there for us when my father joined the saints triumphant in 1990 and my mother in 2017. My family spent weekends with them at their Ijebu-Jesa residence during which mummy spoilt us and packed items for us to take with us back to Lagos. We were always looking forward to every opportunity to spend time with my amazing godparents. I particularly cherish the morning devotion at the family chapel during my visit. His twin brother and wife, together with everyone at home were part of the daily worship and prayer session.

If I didn’t want to eat whenever I wanted to stopover on my way to or from Ekiti, then I would deliberately not inform mummy or daddy that I was coming, otherwise, special meal will be available for me as soon as I get to their house. Mummy was very caring and loving. I was always excited seeing her and Baba Bishop. Her deep and sincere smiles encapsulate the warm reception I receive every time which often make me look forward to the next opportunity of a memorable visit. I also loved to see her and my mother in their elements whenever they saw one another.

When the time of Mama Abigail Kehinde Olowokure came on September 1st 2019, the family members and her other loved ones took it with heavy heart yet with thanksgiving to God. She was survived by her beloved husband, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, siblings, nephews, nieces and numerous cousins. May God console Daddy on the transition of his beloved wife. Bi o se wu Olorun lo se nse ola re. We take solace in the fact that God takes away His loved ones at a point considered best for them. O digba mummy. Sleep well and fare thee well ma, the best godmother in the world.

Eternal rest grant mummy oh Lord.

FINAL RITES

Wake Keep