The remains of Chief Mrs Felicia Arinade Oladipo JP, the mother of the National Co-ordinator of Next-Level Consolidation Forum, Barrister Oladosu Oladipo GCFF, was committed to mother earth on Friday, May 12, 2023 at Oke Afo, Ikirun, Osun, Southwest Nigeria.
The ancient town of Ikirun came alive as creme de la creme including politicians, business mogul, religious leaders came in large numbers to pay their last respect to the deceased and honour Barrister Oladipo and other children.
The Oladipo matriach, who was the Iya Ijo of the African Church, Holy Trinity Parish, Oke-Afo, Ikirun died peacefully in her home on Thursday, March 30, 2023 at the age of 106.
The Christian wake keep was held for her on Thursday, at Holy Trinity Secondary School Field, Oke-Afo, Ikirun.
In his sermon, at the wake keep service attended by the children, grand, great grand children and sympathisers including friends and associates, the Bishop of Ikirun Diocese of African Church, Rt. Rev. E. O. Oduleke, said there were many things to emulate in the life of Mama Oladipo as she lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation and urged all to emulate her good virtue.
“God owns our beginning and the end. She had impacted much in the lives of the people positively and her life was worthy of emulation,” he said.
At the church service on Friday, May 12, 2023, held at African Church, Holy Trinity Parish, Oke-Afo, a large numbers of community leaders, top politicians, industrists, government functionaries and host of notable members of the society were in attendance.
Delivering the sermon, the Primate of the African Church, His Eminence J. O. O. Abee urged the children of the deceased to be happy and thankful to God for the life well spent of their mother.
In his sermon titled “Trusting in the Lord” Primate Abe said, “Mama during her sojourn on Earth, served the Lord and walked with Him prayerfully”.
Drawing his lesson from the book of Genesis 18 vs 19, he emphasised that like Abraham commanded his household to keep the way of the Lord, so also as Mama Arinade Oladipo, as the backbone of her children also put their feet on the path of Christianity before she died.
The Primate charged everyone at the funeral service to examine his or her life and asked whether God can trust him or her.
The service at the church ended around 12:30 pm, after which, the body of Mama Oladipo was taken to her final resting place where she was lowered into the grave.
At the grave side where she was buried, the cleric offered prayers for the repose of the soul of the deceased while Barrister Oladosu Oladipo and his siblings performed the final rite for their lovely mother.
After the burial, attention was shifted to the Akinorun Grammar School, Ikirun, where the family entertained visitors.
Speaking with our correspondent, after the burial of his mother, Barrister Oladipo described his mother, as a successful trader, a good mentor, compassionate, who taught her children, grand children in the way of the Lord.
Among the dignitaries at the burial service were former governor of Osun state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, two former deputy governors of the state, Mrs Titilayo Ponle and Alhaji Sooko Olawoyin, former deputy governor of Oyo state, Barrister Iyiola Oladokun, Alhaji Shuabu Oyedokun, former State Secretary of Government of Osun, Alh. Fatai Akingbade, Chief Tunde Ponle, Chief Bayo Oyero, Alhaji Nureni Akanbi (Iba Oluyole), Dr. Lagun Adeyemi and DIG Adewale Lawal.
Others were Special Adviser to Ogun state govenor on environment and Southwest Co-ordinator of Next-Level Consolidation Forum, Hon. Popoola Adesina, Oyo state chairman of Next-Level Consolidation Forum, Hon Afeez Adio, Chief Adeleke Adewoye, former chairman of Egbeda Local Government, Hon Oke, Mr Ezekiel Kolawole (representative of Chief Bisi Akande), Prince Bamidele Ademola, Otunba Sola Arowosafe, Publisher of Scores Express, Prince Adebisi Gbadegesin and Youth leader of Next-Level Consolidation Forum, Hon. Kayode Lawal.
Lagos and Ogun states governors, Babaji Sanwo-olu and Rotimi Akeredolu respectively sent representatives to the event.
