My mother, my friend, my confidante. You were many things to me, because you wore many different hats as we engaged in our mother-daughter relationship in the sojourn of life. Always, you were there for me, right from the sowing of the seed that became me, when I knew not. You observed me growing in you, nurturing me through the thick and thin of uncertainties of the trimesters till my delivery and till the moment you breathe your last, when we had become partners in caregiving. The same unpaid service, you extended to all of my children, your grandchildren and their children, your great-grandchildren. My mother!
You kept watch over me, almost micro-managing me, doting about me. When I became the woman and granny that I have become, and I arise to keep the vigil in orison at night watches, much as I would abhor disturbing you, the sound of my tambourine stirs you from sleep to join me. Your voice echoes in my essence: “Aduke, ma a worry, sa a tepa mo ise”, you would always say. The Queensland Academy story is incomplete without you: The nights of staying up in prayers and meditation, while it was in the building process. While we had our share of teething problems growing the school and unable to pay salaries, you emptied your savings to support us. You were ceaseless in your prayers to see me break
through the barriers of business and life in every area. My Mother!
But for the Almighty God and HIM using you as a tool, Queensland Academy would not have been in existence. “Maa mi, Iya Aduke”, I cannot over say it that you emptied yourself to make me a thriving brand both personally and otherwise. Too many thoughts invade my mind that I lack the skill, patience and dexterity to rightly place in perspective because of the demands of the moment.
The tutelage to always trust in God in everything was a bequeathal from the foetus and I grew up in your arms and all through life knowing no other way. I remember how you would make me go on a fast from the young age of 8 years as you insist that I pray and render my avowed service to God. You instilled these intangible values in me. You raised me in the way that I could not depart from, my Mother.
Your life was dedicated to see me grow and transform from a goodly child to a great woman. It was your sacrifice. You put a pause to your own life that I may have life. Sweet and evergreen are the memories of a Great Mother. They fade never.
As a bridge builder, you built the next generation, making yourself the sacrificial substance for almost everyone that came across your path. Your loving and caring nature was wrapped in the package labelled discipline. My memory would never lose hold of your constancy as you cautioned, chided, rebuked, corrected and cuddled. The aggregate of all of it is what I have become today. Abiyamo toto: You gave your all, you sacrificed
all.
Your exit from this ephemeral space means that I must double my efforts in prayers and caregiving because prior to the brief illness that took you on this transition, you never ceased to spend quality hours praying for your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; touching every member of your immediate and extended families, friends, men, women and people of God, both known and unknown. Yours was a life dedicated to your heritage and the heritage of God. Those shoes are big for me to step into; but you have prepared me, and I promise not to
disappoint you.
This is yet like a dream to me. Is life itself not like a dream? Where do I start from? I guess that situations would dictate that; but to imagine that you were proactive and detailed is one big jolt to me. Let me console myself with the legacies you have left behind: Your selflessness, perseverance, trust in God, discipline, and more, are worthy of emulation. I crave each earnestly. You bequeathed to us all the value of adopting other people’s children from a tender age to give them quality education and livelihood. My Mother.
You always admonished me not to pay attention to the pecuniary, but to focus on doing only those things that are pleasing to God, balancing it with your tutelage of never to be reckless. You always told me that money is like a baby bird; that if held too tight, dies, and if too loose, flies away. Such wisdom was too wonderful for me, my Mother, but now, I understand. Many plans we had yet to execute. How come it did not strike in my subconscious that you were close to your Jordan? How come I did not ever
imagine we would see this year to its end? I have too many questions to ask yet, but I guess your legacies would unveil them in my memory as we take the baton and run with it.
Our Epitome of Beauty is now with the Lord. A mother in multiple millions, A pride of motherhood, best example who a mother should be, Aya olope bimo wewe leti Ora,Aya Olope bi mo jegure, ibi an be ope lori omi ki obinrin fi lo lule Risawe opintan, Risawe opitan gbese bi egigun, egigun dagba isire,Isida ni an bi lesije.Aya lesije meko raiye orun reooo.
Sleep on my dearly beloved Mother, Friend, Pillar, Confidante and more, till we meet at the feet of Jesus Christ, never to part forever again.
Sun re o Aweke…Oriki… Sun reo
Your beloved daughter Adenike Aduke