Deaconess Dorcas Ogundipe was born into the family of Shofoluwe on the 14th of August, 1947 in Abeokuta Isale Ake town of Egbaland. She went to Alafia Primary School, Lantoro, Abeokuta. She was born into a Muslim family and got married to her late husband, Pa. Suleiman Adisa in 1973. She gave birth to 7 children whose names are detailed accordingly Prophet Isreal Oladele Ogundipe Oluwabunmi Gbadamosi (late) Oluwakemi Suleiman (late) Oluwabukola Ogundipe, Babatunde Light Ogundipe, Abisola Dosumu and Oluwaseyifunmi Maria Ogundipe.
Mrs. Dorcas continued her marital journey with her husband down to Lagos from Abeokuta in search of greener pastures. They started their journey in a face-me-I-face you room apartment at Oshodi Brown Street, Lagos where she was known as Risi Alata (Pepper Seller). Things were very tough for Mama and her late husband, they both indulged in different kinds of work just to make ends meet. The struggle continued in one room apartment until her husband who later became a printer got a plot of land at Jankara Ijaiye where they built seven rooms for tenants and had one to themselves. It wasn’t a smooth journey though but Mama stood by her husband againts all odds.
Overtime Mama got converted to a Christian from Islam and her good deeds was able to convert her husband too and they served the Lord diligently with her household as full blown members of CGAC till date. She was so committed that a member challenged her, saying that despite her level of commitment she is still as poor as a church rate just because she wore a dress for a whole year. They taught their children in the way of the Lord and built up their faith only in the Lord. In times of abundance and needs and believing only in God’s timing for everything, there were times that there won’t be anything to survive on. Instead of giving up, she would rather call her children together and encourage them to sing along with her in her dialect.
“Put your hope in Him, he will deliver you and you won’t be put to shame”. And before the day runs out God will manifest Himself. As if that was not enough as a test of their faith, sometimes there won’t be anything to eat during festive periods, Mama would put stove on fire to boost her children’s faith and wait upon the Lord and some how God will not fail to prove himself according to his word: Those who wait upon the Lord, he will renew their strength from nowhere, help will come forth. It went on in this manner and amagingly Mama’s faith never wavered and she carried her household along in the way of the Lord. Wherever she is watching Ayinde (K1) performing, she will touch the TV screen with her first son’s hand and pray that God will also elevate her son’s namesake Wasiu, that God will also elevate her Wasiu and because the fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much, God answered those prayers and it came through for the Ogundipes.
Mama in her words always advises everyone that in whatever we do, we should always consider heavenly Jerusalem for that is our orginal home. She is a total woman leaving no stone unturned and she kept impacting her family and everyone that she came across.
Mama is a true definition of a virtous woman, she was a good wife, she is a great mother who has transfered her good virtues into her children and every child that comes close to her. Her life is so far a lesson, a gift and a guide for many to learn, appreciate and emulate.
Prophet Isreal Oladele made the guests understand, he had a reason for choosing Alakuko as the venue of his mum’s 70th year birthday celebration. It has a significant reason. His mum Deaconess Dorcas Ogundipe hawked vegetable and other things around that same neigbourhood in the past to make ends meet and also feed her children, so he also arranged for her to ride on a stretch limo on the same streets and areas she once trekked to make peanuts.
