•How She Produced Many Prominent Nigerians
On Sunday 20th, June 2021, the former Principal of Remo Secondary School, RSS Sagamu, Chief Mrs Olufunke Akanke Wilde celebrated her 80th birthday in style.
She had a Thanksgiving at The Cathedral Church of St. Paul (Anglican Communion) in Sagamu Remo, Ogun State, where she is the Iya Ijo. And a reception followed immediately within the church premises. She is a great educationist who has produced very many distinguished Nigerians in all walks of life. She was the Principal of RSS, Sagamu for many years.
Chief Mrs Olufunke Wilde came to church, with her husband of 57 years. They got married in 1964. Because of her commitment and dedication to God’s work, at The Cathedral Church of St. Paul, she was hugely celebrated by the Principal Officers of the Church. They include Rev. P.M. Adelabu (Cathedral Chaplain), Rev. Canon P.O Akinpelu (Canon in Residence), Ven. E.A Adegbuyi (Dean of the Cathedral) and the Most Revd. Dr. M. Olusina FapePh.D (the Diocesan Bishop of Remo). They all had nice things to say about the celebrant. Rev Adelabu in his words described Chief Mrs Olufunke Wilde as a woman of Virtue and also revealed many of her good deeds in the church of God “I have known Mama for years. Right in this church, she sat by my side and at the time, I had a jotter and was writing the sermon I was listening to. Mama saw my wrong spelling and helped me spell the words correctly. That was when she became significant to me.
When I was growing up we were opportuned to elect her as our matron and she took us as her children. I was very happy when this was announced. She worked in the Anglican Church to the national stages. She is well recognised all around the Anglican for not leaving behind her husband. I cannot talk about mama without talking about Baba.
I also remember when my wife was about to have her first child and the doctor declared that the baby was breeched. I told Baba about the doctor’s report and he declared that she would deliver the baby in 2 weeks; she delivered on her own with God by her side. There was also a time I joined in the launching program in the church, I was young and I jumped into the pickup meant to help us move the chairs around. I got injured and I was later rushed to the general hospital where the doctor declared that I will go through an operation. I ran to Baba and he recommended some drugs and injections. I was saved because it was later we realized that the Doctor at the general hospital was a quack. I thank God for Baba’s life. I am sure mama wanted to celebrate this birthday in a grand way but circumstances made it this way. I am also very sure by God’s that she will be celebrating 90, 100 and more.
I am standing here on behalf of the committee to thank everyone that has supported this Cathedral till today. I would also like to thank mama’s children for their tremendous support towards toward the Cathedral. Mama is a good woman; she is always active every time she is around, be it in the Sunday school or anywhere. She thinks so much about the Cathedral that she thought about this church having a bus and so with this birthday she wants this church to have a bus by donating the sum of N250 we got a bus and then it developed a fault with its brain box. Mama came to me and told me about getting a new bus even if we don’t have a standing committee for it yet. So mama as put it upon herself to donate her thanksgiving offering by encouraging friends and guests to buy a new bus. With that bus we can easily propagate the word of God when it is driven around with the word of God pasted on it”.
Although the 80th Birthday Thanksgiving was low-key because of the situation of things in the country, it was very classy, as the celebrant made arrangements for all guests and church members to be served and entertained.
Many prominent guests attended the birthday party like HRM Oba M. Oyewole Oyediran, the Olulamokun of Yakooyoland, (Ife North L.G. Osun State). The Chairman of the reception was Olootu Omoba M.O. Oyedele. At the reception, many of those who have had interactions with Chief Mrs. Wilde over the years spoke glowingly about her.
According to Bishop Michael Olusina Fape, Mama is a vessel unto honour “Mama is a loving woman married to a happy husband. She is also a dedicated worker. In the city as a teacher and principal she has on several account be appreciated by people. An example is a doctor who was her student 48 years ago and had not seen her for a long time but only heard about this celebration and travelled down to be here. This is one of the outcome of the good works of mama. She is a vessel unto honor I have known her for the past 20 years ago as the secretary of the church of Nigeria and I was the clerical secretary of the church of Nigeria. We worked together for 2 years before I was appointed as a Bishop to a church in Remo. Mama I would like to appreciate your husband. You have a good husband. A man who has left you to do the work of God, he is a man of honor, a man who loves you and a man who could die for you. I knew about this program just last week and I took it upon myself to be here. I want to use this opportunity to thank your husband for allowing this to happen. May God bless you; I also want to say you have wonderful children, Brother Tunde, Segun, Soji and sister Yemi. I pray that God continues to keep you as you have stayed strong by Mama’s side. At age 100, your children will not die before you. I also in the name of church of Nigeria to say you are a woman of Valor, a woman of integrity, a dedicated woman a woman who loves to serve the Lord and you have been serving him in the best way you can”.
She cut her 3 Layer birthday cake during the reception. The 1st Layer was labeled running a School 101, the 2nd was Being A Wife & Mother 101, and the 3rd and last layer was Living In Christ 101.
Many commended Mrs. Wilde for looking refreshingly young at 80. Many gathered from far and wide to celebrate this icon that spent her entire working lifetime as a consummate educationist, teaching and liberating hundreds of successful, well achieved brilliant Nigerians who are today serving the nation in various capacities.
–SUNDAY ADIGUN
