Adetunmbi

MAMA
Chief Mrs C. M. Adetunmbi 1931-2017

By

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

Service of Songs: Thursday November 23rd, 2017 

 

Friday November 24th, 2017

Arrival of The Body

Departure from Bell funeral Home, Ado-Ekiti

Arrival of the body at home in Ifaki-Ekiti

Christian Wake Keep

Grandchildren

Grandchildren

Grandchildren

Funeral Service: Saturday November 25th, 2017

Grandchildren

Interment

Reception

Grandchildren and a great-granddaughter

Onafowokan

SERVANT OF THE LORD WELL DONE: A SALUTE TO CHIEF MRS V. A. ONAFOWOKAN (1931-2008)

By

Seye Adetunmbi

Chief Mrs Victoria Abimbola Onafowokan

One of the things evident in those who truly worship and serve God in faith is inner peace with visible very pleasant disposition to people and situation around them. This class of people naturally serve and worship God for what He is and not because of what they have acquired or things desired but to just give to the God almighty His dues. Chief Mrs Victoria A. Onafowokan could be seen from this perspective considering her verifiable lifetime activities in the Christian fold which epitomized a contemporary servant of God in the true sense of it. Her remarkable disposition in life must have had foundation in her Christian and privileged family background.

   She was born on July 28, 1931 to the family of Chief Daniel Ogunlesi, the Balogun of Makun, Sagamu and Madam Comfort Efunsola Ogunlesi. Her father was one of the early Christian converts in Remo district who invested in his children through good Christian upbringing and educational pursuits. Mama Onafowokan, a brilliant student in her school days and a product of the prestigious Queens College, Yaba and University of Ibadan Arts department, passed Cambridge School Certificate with distinction and gained exemption from London Matriculation in 1949. She was one of the few early graduates among her peers in Sagamu in 1954. Her career as a teacher culminated to serving as the Principal of Eva Adelaja College and Methodist Girls High School, Yaba, Lagos. She earned British Council scholarship for further studies in English as a second Language in Edinburgh 1959-60 and University of California in Los Angeles, USA sponsored by the American University Women Society in 1972. She served 1991-1999 as the Chairman of the board of Governors of Queen’s College.

Mama on her 70th birthday anniversary in 2001

Mama's notable lifetime will linger in the memory most of most of us who had the benefit of various encounters with her. For me, I can't forget the virtues learnt from her deep and elderly contributions at Parish Church Council (PCC) meetings of the Anglican Church of Ascension. I met Mama in the Parish Council, while I served for 10 years she continued in her serving capacity. It was indeed a privilege having her and other respectable elders like General Henry Adefope and Chief (Mrs) Ade-John adding value to parish deliberations on best ways to advance God’s work in the Anglican Communion. At PCC retreats, Mama participated fruitfully. Likewise the annual vestry election in which Mama was always polling the highest votes for many years is one phenomenon the parishioners may not forget in a hurry. When Mama was no longer contesting to be elected as a parish councilor, the vicars in charge were always picking her as one of their nominees. It was indeed a testimony of her worthiness in the house of God. Therefore in the Church of Ascension, Omodara Street, Opebi, Lagos that was established in 1983,  Mama must have served for over 15 years in the PCC and represented the parish at the annual synod for some years too. Over the years, Mama worshiped and served the parish under the stewardship of Rev. Canon E.O. Onanaye, Venerables J.A. Ogunleye, Engineer P.B. Oyebolu, R. Olu Oshewa, L.L. Eso, Adeleye and Adebiyi the incumbent vicar.

  

Baba & Mama when her husband marked 80 years birthday anniversary

   For years when I was a bachelor and a member of the Parish Council, I had my best meals (lunch) on the days the PCC meetings were held from the food that will go round over 20 people which Mama was always providing for the PCC members throughout the year round in gratis every first Sunday of the month. The dutiful and selfless woman of God would also gently be involved in serving everyone. I often marveled at her energy in such an old age. When it came to few naughty issues, by the time Mama interjected, the matters were resolved. On a spiritual note, she encouraged me to go for Lay readership course. The first prompting came when Mama and I were among the 7 parishioners chosen by Venerable P. B. Oyebolu to preach for 15 minutes on the words Jesus Christ spoke on the cross at Good Friday church service in 1996. When some new Lay readers were inducted at the Ascension Church, Mama still said she was looking forward to mine. She was indeed a mother in Israel. Certainly, Chief Mrs V. A. Onafowokan was the de-facto Iya-Ijo of Anglican Church of the Ascension. As she was active in Lagos where she lived, her impact was also felt at her home-town parish. In 2007 St Paul Anglican Cathedral Church, Sagamu formerly installed her as their Iya-Ijo.

   Coming to Prince Dr B. A. Onafowokan, Baba and Mama Onafowokan who got married on 6th August 1956, they made marriage in old age fascinating for young ones. Apart from home front, Mama stood by her husband in all his business endeavors. She was actively involved in the running of their family business after a fulfilling career as a teacher and school administrator. An assignment Baba gave to me in the 1990s revealed how most supportive Mama was to her beloved husband. She brought to bear her wealth of experience to the entrepreneurial efforts of their family business. They planned and toiled together through thick and thin. The Christ in the distinguished couple sustained them in all their challenging moments. Their graceful synergy, carriage and dedication to honorable ways are very much worthy of emulation. They were hardly late for Church service and the duo will come and worship together at 10 am service. May Christ be the companion of Baba for the rest of his life and fill the vacuum created by the exit of his beloved wife who was indeed a blessing to their family.

   Those who worshiped with her at the Ascension Church on Sunday 17/2/08 could not believe it when they heard about the transition of the woman of substance on 19/2/08. Such is the Christian parting hour, so peacefully she rested in the Lord. Servant of the Lord, well done (Iranse Oluwa seun). To God be the glory, she was survived by successful children. Farewell Mama ‘daadaa’ as her remains interred at Ikene, the hometown of Dr B.A. Onafowokan on April 5th 2008.

Prince & Chief (Mrs) Babatunde Adedapo Onafowokan and their children