It was one burial which shook Ibadan. The burial of Madam Olukemi Caroline Ayoka Ogunsola JP was classy. The service which took place at Christ Anglican Church, Mapo, Ibadan was held on Thursday 13th July, 2023. Her burial was a celebration of a fulfilled life.
Let’s tell you a little about her. Mama Caroline Olukemi Ayoka Ogunsola (J.P.) was born on April 7, 1934 to the family of Pa. Tokun and Mrs Adefunke Olajide in Akinyele village near Ibadan in Oyo State. She was the third of the four children of her mother.
Mama Olukemi Ayoka did not attend a regular school due to the early death of her father. Her mother, who happened to be a trader, did not leave her untrained, but trained her in the art of trading which became her career later in life, which took her to different parts of the country and even beyond.
In 1953, she met her husband, Pa Emmanuel Adegoke Ogunsola. Within this union was born Engr. Aderemi Ogunsola, Pastor Adegboyega Olusola, Adewale Ogunsola, Gbemisola Olatunji and Olaitan Adedoyin.
Mama Olukemi, even though a sociable person, was a disciplined, God-fearing, dedicated person.
These virtues and many others that were found in her reflected in the lives of all her children. She taught all her children the beauty of hardwork, transparency, godliness, patience, consistency, honesty and above all, contentment and good living. From Mama, you could hear, “Kosi ohun ti a mu wa saye, ko si ohun ti a maa mulo” Meaning; We brought nothing into this world and there is nothing we will take along when we are leaving”. Perhaps it was this kind of perception about life that made her to instill the life of contentment, generosity and kindness in all her children. In fact, Mama Olukemi Ayoka so principled herself to the point that hardly could anyone of fend her to the point of unforgiveness. She would rather say, “Sebi eeyan ni” , meaning, afterall, she is human being. She understood life to the point that no one is perfect, but perfection is only found with God.
Mama was a unifier. Even in her matrimonial home a polygamous setting, she unified all. In every community where she ever lived she was seen as Mama, grandma and sister to all. She accepted everyone into her home and even would want her children to be friends to all her friends and even the children of her friends. In her lifetime, she mended many broken and breaking relationships.
Mama was so exemplary in her disposition to life that she taught herself to be contented with whatever God gave unto her. The children once suggested building her a personal house, she declined, but rather asked them to do so for somebody else she had nursed in her heart to help all her life.
Mama abhorred laziness, filthiness, selfishness and injustice. She was an epitome of self discipline and diligence. Until April 1996, when she travelled to the U.S., she was still trading not because she loved to amass wealth or acquire anything for herself; it was because she never liked to be idle. She had a shop in Bodija Market where she went to sell few things and keep herself busy.
When Mama got to the U.S. she carried along with her all her lifestyles in Nigeria which made her mother, grandmother, great grandmother even to children that were not biologically her own. She believed and preached the tradition of peace, unity, giving, oneness and love wherever she came all through her life.
As a Christian, she was devout, as a mother, Mama was exemplary, as a giver, she was outstanding and as a peacemaker, she was an apostle of peace. She loved and respected people of God. Many clergy were attracted to her both in Nigeria and abroad. She always looked for a way to support the work of God wherever she heard about it. In her home Church, Christ Anglican Church, Mapo, she was a member of “EGBE INAOLORUN TAN KEJI” until she passed into glory on May 17, 2023 at the ripe of age of 89 years.
God has highly rewarded her by giving her good, and God-fearing children; God has been faithful.
Mama will be missed by all, not only by her biological children but also her relatives, Mrs. Ogunsola (Mummy Iwo), Mrs Bunmi Gbenro; her niece, Mrs OIunihun Alabi and her only surviving bosom childhood friend, Mrs Sanda. We all must take consolation in the fact that Mama Caroline Olukemi Ayoka‘aya Ogunsola’ has gone to meet her Lord and will rise with the saints on the resurrection day.
Good night Mama until we meet to part no more.
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