A few days ago, Osogbo the capital of Osun State came to life, as it received the entrance of dignitaries across the world for the 80th birthday celebration of Mrs. Elizabeth Olanrewaju-Ojo aka Mama NEPA. Clocking the age of 80 and beyond does not come easy. It is the wish of many people to live up to the age, but not everyone will receive the grace of hitting that land mark age. This is why children usually celebrate it for their beloved parents who are privileged enough to be alive at 80. The age itself comes with lots of experiences. The celebrant of the day in an interview with City People’s JAMIU ABUBAKAR (08085185886) was grateful to God for the gift of life at 80. She however revealed the many lessons of life, as she celebrated God’s mercy and grace upon her life. Below are excerpts:
Congratulation for celebrating the landmark age of 80. How do you feel?
I feel so happy I thank God for keeping me here today because it’s a Glorious day. To reach the age of 80 years is no joke. I thank God for everything because it is God that has the glory.
Tell us a bit about your background?
Elizabeth Olayemi Olanrewaju-Ojo, is a relative of Iree in Osun State. I was born in 1944. My late father was Samuel Laditan of Iree. My mother is Deborah Laditan of the same Iree. I thank God for everything in my life because it is through God that I am able to reach the age of 80. It’s a glorious day and I thank God for everything.
Can we know a bit about your growing up days, school attended and the likes?
At the age of 6, I attended Baptist Primary School in Iree. After the primary school, I went to Baptist High School, Osogbo, for my elementary school. After leaving there, I went to Yabatech for my OND and HND in Management. After that, I got married to my late husband.
From that time, when I left the higher institution, I started my career journey with NEPA which was called ECN then. That was around 1964 or so. I worked throughout my career path which saw ECN change to NEPA. At least, I ended my career in NEPA.
How do you feel celebrating at 80?
I thank God for everything. To reach 80 years is the Grace of God. It’s not by my power but it is through God’s grace that I was able to spend 80 years. In those 80 years, a lot of things have happened. I met so many problems and difficulties on the way but I thank God for seeing me through. I’m so glad today that I can reach the age of 80 years. It’s a glorious year in my life. I thank God for that.
I must say you don’t look 80 at all. What’s the secret behind this?
It’s the Grace of God. It’s not by my power. I don’t have any power. It’s God’s Grace that made me reach 80 years. I thank Him for that.
Are there health tips that are responsible for that ma?
The only thing the young people can do is make sure that they know God. God is the one who created us. By knowing Him, we should be thanking Him every time for His blessings, for His protection, for whatever He has done in our lives. Without God, we can’t do anything. He is the one who sustains us. We should give Him thanks every time. We should even draw near to Him. From my own background, my father was a farmer. He taught us how to farm. Going to school alone cannot give us what we need. In my own time, they say learning without farming is not complete. But nowadays, people are going to school now. A lot of people don’t want to do anything again. We should make sure that when you go to school, you should have something you can do so that all these things will make you strong. And to have your own future for your own life, one should have a vision. That vision will carry you for a long time. That will help you to know the will of God for your life. That’s the only thing. One should be hard-working. In our early stage now, we don’t look for money. We first of all look for the ability to work, to be honest in whatever we do. That’s what’s helped us so far.
What are the lessons of life you have learnt at 80?
What we learnt is that it’s God who can keep us to live up to more than 80. My mother died at the age of 105. And she was so hale and healthy until she died. So maybe that’s what I’m enjoying it to. And I pray that God will keep me to live up to 90 years, 100 years. If possible, 120. Then 120, I can say okay. I’m done.
Looking back, what would you say is the most remarkable day of your life?
Well, the first remarkable day in my life was the day I got married. It was a great joy in my life. That was in 1978. So it was the day I got married, that God gave me a good husband. I said, well, God, I thank you for the journey so far. And we prayed together that God will help us to live long. I can remember that it’s a joyous day in my life that. I should leave my father’s house and join my husband. And the two of us, we begin a new life. So it’s a good day in my life.
What’s your advice to everyone who looks forward to tapping in the Grace of God in your life at 80?
My advice is that we should turn back to God. God bless Nigeria. But we need to change our attitude to whatever is happening today. Our attitude is not right. We believe that Government will do everything for us. No. There is a little thing that the government can do. Our own personal attitude to life is the most important. We came to the world for a purpose. And that purpose, we have to try as much as possible to fulfil the purpose that God has for everybody. God has a purpose for each individual. We should make sure that we remain steadfast. I pray to God that He should fulfil the purpose that God brought us to life. We should be hard-working. We have the time to pray so that we can even achieve God’s purpose in our lives. So that’s the essence of our coming to the world. But what we are seeing now is that a lot of people just want Money by all means. And that cannot sustain us. Hard work will bring money. Hard work will bring Glory. Hard work will bring us a fulfilled life. And while we are working hard, then we should pray for God’s blessings. And we should also train our own children. At least to be able to do things rightly. So, by doing all these, things will continue to change for the better and our country will be great again.
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