Family, friends celebrate Mama Florence Atiba, an 'icon of love and discipline' @ 80

ßFamily, friends celebrate Mama Florence Atiba, an ‘icon of love and discipline’ @ 80

Jeremiah OYELEKE

The 80th birthday party of Madam Florence Olalonpe Atiba last Saturday (October 25) at the Bethel Event Centre, Olomi area, Ogbomoso, is an event that will re-echo till eternity. Family, friends and well-wishers all gathered to celebrate a woman described conclusively as “an icon of love and discipline.”

She was exceedingly eulogized for her incredible virtues. It’s a day of bountiful harvest, of the good deeds she had done.

Pastor Olu Victor

Pastor Olu Victor of the Olu Victor Ministries International in his exhortation titled, “The mistakes of King David that destroyed his legacies,” taking his text from l King 2, emphasized the existence of the heaven and hell, urging, “We should be mindful of this.”

He recalled some past experiences in dreams and visions which he noted proved to him that “there is heaven and hell. We should work to inherit the Kingdom of God.”

Pastor Olu Victor urged the audience to own up to their mistakes and not hide them asserting they destroyed the good legacies of King David. He noted, “Particularly we should let our children know of our mistakes so they won’t make the same mistakes. Our children and grandchildren should be told of the mistakes because if they make the same mistakes, we have disappointed God and failed them.”

During testimonies her character was unveiled. Her daughter, Mrs Adeyoyin Atiba said, “She is my mother, the best mother in the whole world. Very lovely and a counselor.”

Her immediate younger brother Pa Nathaniel Oyetunde Ajagbe declared, “She is my good sister per excellence. We returned to Nigeria (from Ghana) in 1953 and ever since she has been like a mother to her junior ones. She is very meticulous and a disciplinarian. She loves education, that is why all her children are well educated. Apart from that, family members, both nuclear and extended, she encouraged all of them to go to school.”

The celebrant with her brother Mr. Nathaniel Ajagbe

He also described her as “a perfectionist, furthermore she holds together the fabric of the family.”

Pa David Babalola Ajagbe, also her younger brother, stated, “She is more or less my little Mama, because she is my senior sister, she is the one that brought me up. She took care of me, ensured l went to school. My sister is just a loving person. Her husband and her were instrumental to my growth and in getting scholarship. Right now l am in the US and l have been there for over forty years.”

With Brother David Ajagbe

Others described her as a good child of God, a true worshipper, someone who supports the growth of the church financially, a good caring mother, a lover of education, accommodating, an encourager, devoted to her teaching career though the pay was poor, a generous giver, very neat, and abhors those who are dirty. ”If she peels yam she will still wash it with sponge. She gave us good memories and that is why we have come to celebrate her,” another of her daughter said.

BIOGRAPHY (as contained in the programme brochure)

Deaconess Florence Olalonpe Atiba (nee Ajagbe]) was born on September 30, 1945 in Kumasi, Ghana (formerly known as Gold Coast). Her parents were Late Pa Timothy Bolaji Ajagbe of Ile Oniyewa, Ita Olola, Ijeru, Ogbomoso and Late Mama Alice Bamidele Abeo Ajagbe [Nee Farinade] of ile Gbayike, Baaki Abogunde, Ogbomoso. She is the first born of five children.

EARLY LIFE

In 1953, her parents relocated from Kumasi to Ogbomoso along with her two younger brothers – Nathaniel and David. At Ogbomoso, Olalonpe was sent to ile Gbayike to live with her maternal grandmother (Mama Abebo Farinade). She started her primary school education at that some year.

Growing up was rough because her parents had to move to a village called Idi-Ogun, which was in Ile-Ife area of old Western Region to start cocoa farming. As the gestation period of Cocoa from planting to harvesting takes about three to four years, there were serious financial constraints for her parent. In addition to this, her maternal grandmother with who she was living suddenly died and had to be brought back to Ile Oniyewa under the care of her paternal grandmother – late mama Olateju Alari Ajagbe a.k.a Iya Alaro.

EDUCATION PROGRESSION

Deaconess F.O. Atiba attended Baaki Baptist Primary School, Ogbomoso from 1953 to 1959 where she obtained her primary school leaving certificate.

In 1962, she moved to Iwo to stay with her uncle, (now late) Deacon Kehinde Olayide Ajagbe where she attended the Baptist Modern School from 1962 to 1964 and obtained the modern three school living certificate. Her stay with her uncle had a great impact in her life as she was able to gain admission to the prestigious Baptist Women College, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta in 1966, from where she obtained grade 2 Teacher’s certificate in 1968.

In 1980, she obtained the Associateship Certificate from the University of Ibadan and finally the National Certificate of Education (NCE).

CAREER PROGRESSION

She started, continued and ended her professional teaching career in the following schools:

1. Ori Oke Baptist Day School, Ogbomoso (Jan. 1st 1969-Oct. 31st 1975)

2. Ode-Oje Methodist School, Idi-Araba, Ogbomoso (Nov. 1st, 1975 – Aug. 31st 1977)

3. St. Stephen Anglican School, Atala, Ogbomoso (Sept 1st 1977 – Sept 30th, 1980].

4. Areago D.C School, Ogbomoso (Oct. 1st, 1980-Aug. 31st, 1982)

5. C.A.C Primary School, Ogbomoso (Oct. 1st 1985 – Feb. 28th, 1993)

6. Soun D.C School, Ogbomoso (Mar. 1st, 1993 Jan 27th, 1999)

7. Ayegun Baptist School I, Ogbomoso (Jan. 28th 1999 Dec. 31st, 2003).

It was at the last school that she honorably retired from active service as the head mistress on December 31st 2003.

MARITAL LIFE

Deaconess F. O. Atiba got married to Late Mr M.A Atiba on February 12th, 1970. The marriage is blessed with wonderful children.

SPIRITUAL LIFE

During her teenager years, she was a prominent member of the choir of Oja-Oba Baptist Church, Ogbomoso. Following her marriage, she became a member of Baaki Baptist Church in 1970 and was ordained a Deaconess in the church on November 19th, 1994.

After the demise of her husband, she joined the Jesus Assembly of All Saints, Randa area, Ogbomoso. As she progresses in age and for proximity reason, she currently worships at the Olorun Sogo Baptist church, Oke Alapata, Ogbomoso.

SOCIAL LIFE

She is an active member of the following bodies:

a. Binukonu Sisters’ Club, Ogbomoso

b. Idi-aba Old Students Association, Ogbomoso branch.

In conclusion, in all the journey of her life and through various challenges, the almighty God has been very faithful and to Him she gives all the glory.