Author: Ovation Magazine

The famous Elumelu family of Delta State rolled out the drums in a most grandiose manner to honour their matriarch, Chief (Mrs.) Suzanne Elumelu who had just hit the ripe age of 90.

The celebration began with a “Thanksgiving Mass” at the Church of Assumption, Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos, and was attended by a large turn-out of the crème de la crème of Nigerian society. With soul-stirring songs, praises to the Almighty and fervent prayers, the service was very lively.

After the church service, all roads led to Harbour Point, Victoria Island, for a glamorous reception, where guests were treated to good food and drinks of various kinds and lively performances by BeeJay Sax, Elegant Stallion, Onyeka Onwenu and pop star, Phyno, while DJ Sousse was on the wheels of steel.

There was also a very energetic Anioma Dance troupe that was so good that the ever cheerful celebrant could not help but sway to the beat.

The high-point of the celebration was the cutting of the 90th birthday cake by Mama Suzanne, flanked by her children, grand-children and some of the dignitaries.
The celebrant, who is the Adadionchanma of Onicha Kingdom, Aniocha North Local Government, Delta State, is the mother of Pastor Peter Elumelu , Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu, former member of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu and their sisters Agatha and Loretta.

Dignitaries at the colourful event included: Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II, The Otunba Adekunle Ojora & Erelu Ojuolape Ojora, Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Chukwumalieze 1 of Onicha-Ugbo, HRM Obi Victor, Former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Prince Bolu Akin-Olugbade, Chairman Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman Forte Oil, Mr. Femi Otedola, Founder of Love of Christ Generation C & S Church, Rev. Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi, Founder/President of Wellbeing Foundation Africa, HE (Mrs) Toyin Ojora Saraki Chairman/CEO of Skymit Limited, Mr. Tayo Ayeni, GMD/CEO, UBA, Mr Kennedy Uzoka, Former Chairman Skye Bank, Mr. Tunde Ayeni, Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Segun Awolowo, Founder and Pioneer Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Jim Ovia and Chairman Nova Merchant Bank, Mr. Phillips Oduoza.

When business mogul, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, Founder, Elizade Motors turned 80, the city of Lagos literarily shook to its very foundation-and the landmark birthday was celebrated with panache and grandeur.

Fondly called Nigeria’s “Mr. Toyota” and the nation’s numero uno Car Salesman, Chief Ade-Ojo who chose to combine his name and that of his much-loved late first wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Wuraola, to start his adventure into business, used the occasion not to celebrate himself but to thank God and give Him glory.
The wonderful 80th birthday celebration of this entrepreneurial giant began with an event tagged “Prayer Meeting with Pastor E.A. Adeboye” at the Raddison Blu Hotel, GRA, Ikeja.

First to arrive the venue were his children including Mrs Deola Sagoe, Mr. Demola Ade-Ojo and Mr Kunle Ade-Ojo before the celebrant and his gorgeously dressed, wife, Mrs. Taiwo Ade-Ojo stepped into the arena.
Formal proceedings began when famous fashion designer and couturier, Deola Sagoe, who is the celebrant’s first child was invited to deliver the opening prayers.
She was certainly moved by the spirit that morning as she showered praise on God for guiding and guarding her father all through the years.
It was not long after that the day’s special guest, Pastor Enoch Adeboye was welcomed by the Ade-Ojo family into the venue, and the atmosphere was upbeat.

The famous anointed man of God revealed his closeness with the celebrant thus “When he was 60, I was there, when he was 70, I was there, now he is 80, I am here. You are wondering what is so special about this Chief,? Well, let me tell you we met in the 60s in Nsukka (University of Nigeria, where the celebrant graduated in Business Administration).
“At that time, quite a few of us from the West where rascally but he was different, at that early age, you could see quality. So, we have been together since then and we are still together.”

Quoting numerous Bible passages, Pastor Adeboye spoke about heaven being the best place for anyone to aspire to and Jesus being higher than the highest and greater than the greatest.
He noted that the reason people are afraid to die was because they don’t know where they are going. He stated that heaven is so beautiful that children of God should aspire to go there.
He rounded off by inviting the celebrant and family for prayers. According to him “The Ade-Ojo family will know no sorrow, evil will flee from them and they will enjoy tremendous blessing of peace and success.
Thereafter, the celebrant cut a cake after the words: J-E-S-U-S was spelt by the compere.

Next event for this uncommon giver whom some fondly call “Mr. Philanthropy” was a thanksgiving service tagged “Unlimited Praise”
Held at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotel & Suites, the event was attended by such personalities as Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Osile of Oke-Ona Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuosho and his Oloris, Chief Samuel Adedoyin, Dr. Amos Akingba, Chief Sunny Asemota and wife, Ireti, Prof. Pat Utomi, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Ondo State Governor, His Excellency, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu , Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and wife, Florence, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service, Dr. Babatunde Fowler, Prophet S.K Abiara, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Michael Ponle, Professor Wale Omole, Chief (Mrs.) Bola Obasanjo, the Osile Oke Ona of Egbaland, Chief Kenny Martins and Retired General Ike Nwachukwu.
Celebrant’s son, Mr Demola Ade-Ojo kicked off the event with an opening prayer. After that, there was no dull moment as seven gospel artistes took turns to thrill guests. The performers: Gbenga Gbenjo, Bois Olorun, Erujeje, Telemi, Demola Olota, BJ Sax and Tope Alabi were all superlative.
The day’s compere, Pastor Dele Balogun also conducted a quiz where guests had to indicate how much they knew about the celebrant. A couple of guests smiled home with gifts.
It was Pastor Tunde Bakare, who attended the event with his wife, Olayide that preached the day’s sermon. He described the celebrant as a man who radiates a rare level of humility.
He noted that he was happy that Chief Ade-Ojo had put God first in all aspects of his life as exemplified by the nature of his birthday celebration.
According to Pastor Bakare, who spoke about gratitude “instead of whining and complaining about your lot in life, stop and thank Him for what he has given you already. If we count and blessings and name them one by one we will amazed what God has done in our lives”
He urged all guests to emulate the celebrant’s passion for the word and his expression of immense gratitude to God for keeping him till 80”

What can be considered the highest point of the ceremony was when the celebrant mounted the stage and backed by Tope Alabi’s band; sang and danced to two songs. He rolled back the years with his deft dance steps, looking so young and agile. He was certainly wrapped in bountiful joy.
He was soon joined by his children and grand children, and as one big happy family, they all praised God in unison. Kunle Ade-Ojo’s closing prayer rounded off what was a pulsating, spiriting-lifting and inspirational occasion.
Hours later, guests were treated to a sumptuous reception at the 10 Degrees Events Centre, Oregun, Lagos.
Top Comedian,Gbenga Adeyinka1st was the compere while Wizkid and King Sunny Ade provided quality musical entertainment to the delight of some celebrated Nigerians who came to honour the great icon. Guests who came included: Otunba Michael Subomi Balogun, Sir Kessington Adebutu, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola,Chairman, Ovation Media Group, Bashorun Dele Momodu and former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

Others were Senator Daisy Danjuma, Erelu Abiola Dosumu, Erelu Bisi Fayemi and Retired General Ike Nwachukwu and Nollywood actor, Kunle Afolayan.
Born June 14, 1938 at Ilara-mokin, a town in Ondo state, into the family of the late Chief Solomon Ojo and Mrs. Beatrice Ademolawe Ojo, Chief Ade-Ojo is one of the few untainted Nigerian businessmen who believe that a good name is worth more that a billion naira.

Days after the celebrations which included a service at Archbishop Vining Memorial Anglican Church, Ikeja and a Golf Tournament, Chief Ade-Ojo had an engaging interview at his Lagos home with our team. Excerpts.

It was an evening of fun, laughter and networking as the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Party (QBP) was hosted at the British Deputy Commissioner’s residence in Ikoyi, Lagos. British citizens and guests were personally welcomed by Mr. Paul Arkwright, British High Commissioner and Ms Laura Beaufils, Deputy High Commissioner at the event.
This year, the party was held under the theme “GREAT Friends” and celebrated the close relationship between United Kingdom and Nigeria. The event showcased UK excellence in the areas of innovation, culture, literature and sport.
Mr. Paul Arkwright addressed the audience and spoke about the great friendship between Nigeria and the UK, about shared values and objectives between the two countries, and about British excellence in the four areas. He then rounded off “I want to thank all of our close partners who are here this evening for your support, friendship and co-operation over the past year”
Later, the High Commissioner assisted by his Deputy and two children cut a special cake and they raised a toast to the health of Her Majesty the Queen.

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Chairman, Ovation Media Group, Bashorun Dele Momodu brought his years of experience, clout and connection to fore at the public presentation of three books in Lagos: “Pendulum 1 The Writings of Dele Momodu”, “Pendulum 2: The Writings of Dele Momodu”,  and “Fighting Lions: The Untold Story of Dele Momodu’s Presidential Campaign” authored by his campaign manager in 2011, Ohimai Godwin Amaize.

The A Star event saw the venue, Main Hall of Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) filled to its capacity with quality guests from all walks of life. The event which was very emotional and intellectually-stimulating, began with an opening prayer by good friend of the author, Pastor Dotun Ojelabi. This set the stage for the Master of Ceremonies, top Comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka 1st to invite the Keynote Speaker, the Serving Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare to make his presentation.

According to the straight-talking man of God “Over the centuries, the phrase ‘the pen is mightier than the sword’ has come to define the power of the written word in statecraft. Those words have since stepped out of the pages of Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s The Conspiracy, a play written in 1839, to become words on marble.

“At the heart of this notion of the might of the pen is the idea that the course of a nation or people can be determined at the stroke of a pen.

“Nations can be built, and nations can be ruined; generations can be made great, and generations can be rendered wasted; civilizations can be birthed, and civilizations can be buried-at the stroke of a pen! At the stroke of a pen, millions of Africans were “legally” transported across the Atlantic and Mediterranean and became the property of slave owners. At the stroke of a pen, the slave trade was abolished centuries later and emancipation was proclaimed to former slaves, thus formally criminalising an immoral enterprise. At the stroke of a pen, the kingdoms and city states of Africa were partitioned and transformed into the estates of European monarchs. At the stroke of a pen, cultures were dismembered, nations were balkanised, and territories were amalgamated into colonies and protectorates. Decades later, colonies and protectorates became independent states-at the stroke of a pen.

“The likes of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Kwame Nkrumah, and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, armed with no other weapon, mobilised the Queen’s language in the struggle for independence from the Queen. They fought their battles through such media as West African Pilot, Accra Evening News and The Tribune. Decades after independence, when free, fair and credible elections were annulled, and a tyrannical dictatorship held sway, the Nigerian press took up the baton and contended against the sword of oppression by deploying the armoury of vocabulary. I am so glad that the labours of these pen warriors and all others who fought for the democracy we enjoy today have not been in vain after all.

“From now on, any time the name Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola GCFR-Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic -is mentioned with full honours, it is an honour first to the man who paid the supreme price to pave the way for Nigeria’s democracy, and then to the heroes and heroines who stood up behind him, including those in the Fourth Estate of the Realm who marshalled the written and spoken word against tyranny. Indeed, the members of the press who fought for the June 12 mandate were fighting not just for democracy but in defence of one their own, for, amongst his many endeavours, Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola was a media entrepreneur and founder of the African Concord, where Dele Momodu, the man at whose behest we are gathered here today, cut his teeth as a journalist. I totally agree with Ralph Waldo Emerson that “talent alone cannot make a writer: there must be a man behind the book.”

Bashorun Dele Momodu and his ilk have proved themselves over the years to be real men. In addition, by deploying their skill against tyranny, the members of the press have aligned themselves with a biblical truth that recognises authorship as an instrument of battle, because the same God who is militarily presented in Psalm 18:2 as “the horn of salvation” is revealed in Hebrews 5:9 as the “author of salvation.”

Pastor Bakare maintained that “the writings of Dele Momodu has over the years addressed the fundamental issues facing our nation, stating that he was confident that the likes of Momodu will intensify efforts to ensure that the welfare and security of the people as well as the overall development of our people becomes the main discourse at this pivotal moments. He went on to refer to Bashorun Momodu as Pen Prophet.”

Bakare’s pwerful paper gave way to a short interview with the man of the moment, Dele Momodu, conducted by veteran broadcaster and founder of WFM, Nigeria’s first Women Station, Mrs Toun Okewale- Sonaiya.

Bashorun Momodu took time to explain the person behind MKO Abiola, his vision for the Nigerian people and everything he stood for, thanking the many that stood behind the enigma as the June 12 crisis lasted.

Afterwards, seasoned journalists were then invited to review the books before they were publicly presented. Taking his turn first was the Chairman, Editorial Board, ThisDay Newspapers, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, who went down memory lane, bringing to fore the life and times of Dele Momodu. He was followed by Mr. Simon Kolawole, Publisher, TheCable, who reviewed the second book, Pendulum: The Writings of Dele Momodu 2 while the Managing Director, Arise News Channel, Ms Ijeoma Nwaogwugwu did a thorough job in the deconstructing the third book, Fighting Lions: The Untold Story of Dele Momodu’s Presidential Campaign. Nwaogwugwu revealed the frustrations, Momodu suffered while attempting to become the President of Nigeria in 2011. One painful one being the part played by his primary constituency, the media, which wrote him out of contention.

The highlight of the event was the short speech presentation by the Chairman of Forte Oil, Mr. Femi Otedola, where he highlighted the sure steady steps that brought Dele Momodu to his present status. The billionaire business also used this rare speaking moment to make some revelations about his encounters with the late Pillar of Sports.

“I have studied Chief Abiola’s life in politics, philanthropy and most importantly building people and his doggedness, fairness, wisdom and good heart are traits that should be emulated. He was a man for all seasons” “As a young entrepreneur I had a taste of Abiola’s magnanimity and kindness. I developed the idea for an Papa Awolowo Memorial Concert which I shared with my good friend and papa Awolowo’s grandson, Segun who went to see Chief Abiola on our intention to have him as the chairman of the event and despite his political difference with Pa Awolowo in his lifetime, he not only showed up but arrived with his late wife, Alhaja Simbiat Abiola and they danced to the various artistes especially Sir Shina Peters. The highlight for Segun and I was the NGN100,000 cheque he gave us at the event. A huge amount back then and we admired it all the way to the bank.

“In 1991, I sold the idea to run for the governorship of Lagos state to my late father, Sir Michael Otedola and he dismissed it saying politics is not for Omoluabis and he also made a reference to the travails of Chief Abiola with the NPN leading to his much-publicized retirement from politics. After much persistence, I succeeded in getting him to run and the rest is history. He also revealed how he tried to get MKO released.

“A sad reminder of his arrest in 1994 was the picture of him alighting from a Black Maria. Upon seeing this, I called Ibrahim Abacha ( who later died in a plane crash) and requested to see him and we met at the South-West Ikoyi residence of Mr. Peter Igbinedion, the then MD of FAAN. I told Ibrahim to tell his dad to release MKO as it was not fair for a man who has been denied his mandate to be so humiliated by being put in a Black Maria to which our host, Peter, interjected by saying who is this and he swiftly walked me out of his residence.

“I later ran into Mr. Igbinedion at Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s London residence in 2013 and he was begging for my number. How the tables have turned! He then revealed another encounter with the Great MKO “After my father’s victory at the polls and seeing the need to rest, the then governor of Lagos State, Brig. Gen. Raji Rasaki Rtd, advised him to rest for two weeks and restricted visits and provided the LASG Guest House by Joel Ogunnaike Road Ikeja for the purpose.

“After a week there, I went to see my late father to around 7.30am and lo and behold, I met Chief Abiola and Alhaja Simbiat waiting to see him in the living room and when he saw me, he said Great man, where is your daddy?A great man referring to me as a great man struck a chord in me.”

He also used the occasion to pour encomiums on Ovation Publisher, Dele Momodu. The book launch proper was another exercise in professionalism as personality after personality stepped out boldly, made a short speech and launched the books.

The book launch was attended by the cream of Nigerian Society such as Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Pastor Tunde Bakare and wife, Alhaji Rasak Okoya, Mr Peter Obi, Former Governor of Anambra State, Hajia Bola Shagaya, Mrs. Modupe Oguntade (wife of NIgeria’s High Commissioner to Great Britain), Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi, Mr Fola Adeola, Mr Jimi Agbaje, Engr Rotimi Fasakin, Dr Dakuku Peterside, Rev. Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, Olori Ladun Sijuwade,Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Chief Dayo Adeneye (representative of Ogun State Governor), Hon. Kehinde Bamgbetan (Representative of Lagos State Governor), Mr Andrew Okeleke and Arinze Anapugars (Representatives of Globacom Chairman, Dr Mike Adenuga Jnr.), Sir Tony Chiejina (Representative of Alhaji Aliko Dangote), Mr Idowu Ajanaku, Habib Aruna, Pastor Dotun Ojelabi, Mrs. Betty Irabor, Dr Kayode Are and wife, Ngozi, Amb. Toye Okanlawon, Prince Damola Aderemi, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Siji Ogundele (Sujimoto), Princess Toyin Kolade, Mrs. Oyinkan Badejo-Okusanya, Mrs. Toyin Seriki, AIG Tunji Alapini (rtd), Mr. Kunle Bakare, Sir Gbenga Badejo, Ohimai Godwin-Amaize, Femi Akintunde-Johnson,Mr Abisoye Fagade, Mr Dayo Adedayo, Ms Joke Sogunro, Dr Reuben Abati, Simon Kolawole, Segun Adeniyi, Chief DonatusMs Ijeoma Nwogwugwu, Azuh Arinze, Biodun Oshinibosi, Omolara Wood, Mrs Toun Okewale-Sonaiya, Wale Oluwaleimu, Mr. Mayor Akinpelu, Mr. Tito Okpaise, Mr. Gboyega Okegbenro, Mr. Mr. Gbenga Olunloyo, Biodun Ponle, Messrs Lanre and Kayode Alfred, Ms Kemi Akinyemi, Chris Kehinde Nwandu, Ms Azuka Ogujuiba, Mr Adewale Jafojo and members of the Abiola family.

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There is nothing as sweet and lovely as spending the rest of your life with your friend with whom you share a special bond and this was the case when Medical Director of Gracevalley Medical Centre, Dr. Barth Ufoegbunam wedded Ijeoma Ezike at a lively ceremony in Lagos. The wonderful couple began their special day in the presence of the Lord when they had their solemnization at the St Peter Claver Catholic Church, Ajao Estate, Lagos.
It was a very fun-filled service with loads of songs and prayers before the couple took their vows, they said “I DO” promising to live together as one forever and then rounding off the session with exchange of rings.
When that session ended, there was great applause from friends and family who had come from far and near to witness the occasion. Later, the couple hosted guests to a sumptuous reception at the PEFTI Hall. There, everyone savoured good music, nice lunch and assorted drinks.
The couple also played a wonderful game that elicited laughter, cut their cake, fed each other and danced. This was certainly a memorable occasion that will linger on many hearts for years.

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Most funerals are embodiment of sighs, regrets and loud wailings. But not that of Madam Abigail Eebudola Bakare, mother of the serving Overseer, The Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, as she passed on at the ripe age of 108.

Consequently, the crème de la crème of the society converged at Victory Life Bible Church, Ajebo Road, Abeokuta Ogun State to celebrate her life and thank God for showering her with blessings. Prior to the service of songs was a night of tributes held in her honour at the Latter Rain Assembly, Ogba, Lagos.

Having spent over a century on earth, the family led by the vocal preacher, heaped encomiums on her for a life well lived, and for affecting their lives positively. It was an atmosphere of wholesome joy and thanksgiving.

Dignitaries at the night of tributes included Rtd. General Alani Akinrinade, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Mr. Biodun Shobanjo, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, Rev. Wilson Badejo, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) Chika Uwazie among others. The service of songs which took place at The Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, Ogun State also had notable personalities in attendance such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Dr. Wale Babalakin SAN, Senator Femi Okurounmu, Pastor & Mrs. Chinedu Ezekwesili, Mr. Dapo Adelegan, Otunba Gbenga Daniel among others.

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The service of songs was followed the next day by the funeral service at the Victory Life Bible Church and was officiated by notable gospel preachers including Apostle Lawrence Achudume, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Rev. Wilson Badejo and Rev. Yomi Kasali.

At the church service, which saw the General Overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church, Rev Wilson Badejo, praying wholeheartedly for the family of the deceased, the choir held the worshippers spellbound as it dished out one soul lifting song after another to the dancing pleasure of all present. Afterwards, everyone moved to DLK Event Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State for a grand reception where guests were thrilled by the ageless Evangelist Ebenezer Obey, and rising star, Korede Bello, with first class comedian, Tee A as master of ceremonies. Their performances were superlative.

In attendance at the glamorous event were the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and wife, Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola , Ogun State Chief of Staff, Chief Tolu Odebiyi, Mr. Segun Awolowo, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Mr. Tunde Ayeni, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Hon. Bimbo Ashiru, Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, Former Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Kayode Fayemi, Former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, Mr. Tunde Lemo among others.

Madam Abigail Eebudola was born on the 28th of October, 1909 to Chief Kilani Afuwape and Madam Banjoko Afuwape in Oba Village, Abeokuta, Egba Kingdom. Her father was a successful produce farmer who owned vast cocoa and kolanut plantations. He also owned a forest of palm trees and founded a successful palm oil manufacturing business. Her mother was a trader involved in marketing the produce from her husband’s farm. The family relocated to Balufe compound, Ago Oba , Abeokuta, when her father became the Balogun of Oba just before Mama Eebudola’s 18th birthday. She was one of the eight children by her mother for her father and the first daughter, with five brothers preceding her and a sister and brother born after her.

Mama spent her early life assisting her mother with her trade. While her brothers were enrolled in school, the long, daily trek was a deterrent to Mama who concluded that what those who went to school earned as wages was not worth the trouble. At About twenty-one, the very year the centenary Hall was opened in Abeokuta, Mama Eebudola switched gear from selling farm produce to selling imported chinaware-awo tanganran-which she sourced from Lagos. According to her, the journey to Lagos took her and fellow traders three days by foot, but , upon returning, her turnover made the arduous journey worth her while.

She made sufficient money from her trade to eventually acquire two mammy wagons to transport her wares. Mama was so successful in her business that men her age were too intimidated to approach her with a marriage proposition. However, she eventually settled for a man popularly called Baba Ajura. Mama acquired several plots through him and built her first house. This first marriage did not last very long because Mama was barren; she eventually opted out of the marriage when her husband and his family alleged that she had sacrificed her “eggs” in exchange for wealth. In agony , she left the house for Baba Ajura, sold some of her land , gave some to her friends, and returned to her father’s house as the reproach of barreness caused her significant grief and sorrow as well as subsequent business setbacks.

In 1994, during one of the Muslim festivals, Chief Sanni Adekunle Bakare, the Anibi Juwon and Otun of Iporo Sodeke Muslims, and the first son of the first Chief Imam of Iporo Sodeke mosque, visited his friend , the Balogun of Oba , Chief Kilani Afuwapa – Mama’s father. Chief Sanni was served a sumptuous meal cooked by mama for the guests at the occasion. In the course of their discussion, Chief Sanni expressed his interest in marrying Eeebudola whose father had told him of the circumstances surrounding her failed marriage .

Marriage rites were concluded within that year and Mama was given a new name, Wulaimot, amidst an outpouring of prayers and hope that her barrenness would be reversed. Mama was well-received in her new home and she became the “official chef” to a wealthy farmer with vast cocoa and kolanut plantations in the South as well as a large farm in Sokoto, Northern Nigeria, which earned hin the nickname Sanni Arewa.

In spite of the turn of the tide in her favour, the reproach of barrenness remained for another eight years, after which she gave birth to her first child who passed away shorthly after delivery. She contemplated returning to her father’s house once again due to the excessive sorrow and humiliation, but she had nowhere to go because her father died around the same time. This was a particularly difficult period because her father was her formidable pillar of strength.

However, like Hannah of old, God had mercy on Mama, turned her sorrow into joy and her mourning into dancing by opening her womb again and blessing her with a son, Gbolahan Babatunde Bakare, the 22nd and last child of Chief Sanni Adekunle Bakare, born on the 11th of November, 1954.