INSIGHT CELEBRITY: Showers of encomiums as Granny Monilola Oke celebrates 80th birthday (PHOTOS)
Femi OGUNLANA
Eden Event Centre, Odo-Alamo area, Ogbomoso, Oyo state, Saturday, June 3, played host to the Okes of Oguro-Olokuta compound, Akunko area, Ogbomoso, also to friends from all over the country, in-laws, church members and neighbours as matriarch of the family Mama Monilola Abigail Oke, celebrated her 80th birthday amid pomp and pageantry.
Granny Oke, born in Ikolaba Ayoola family of Ogbomoso, with her husband, a retired top civil servant in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, who in April celebrated his 91st birthday, equally radiated warmth and love as people rejoiced with them.
Anchored by their church Antioch Baptist Church, the glorious event featured praises, tributes, exhortation, gifts gifting, merriment and lots of fanfare. Gbenga Dynamic Music Band from Lagos and Asiwaju Ojo Oluwatanna added pep with their lyrical renditions. Ojo Oluwatanna in addition rendered the celebrant’s cognomen.
Pastor Moses Ayantoye an associate pastor at Antioch Baptist Church with text from Psalm 150 and 11Samuel 22: 2 – 24, in his exhortation emphasized the essence of praise stressing it is something that exhilarates God.
“We know the celebrant and our Baba have come in contact with the power of God hence our praises today,” Pastor Ayantoye added while urging the congregation to forsake sin and return to God.
Granny Oke was described by the few allowed to give testimonies, as a generous, loving and warm personality.
“I am her brother in-law, l was in primary school when she married our eldest brother so we used to go to her house during holidays. As wife to our eldest brother you can imagine the responsibility she bears,” Mr. Peter Agboola Oke said.
Continuing, Mr. Oke heaped encomium, “She is a good manager, she manages other wives well and she is a good project/event manager. I thank God for her life.”
Her first child, Dr Adenike Adeyemo, said of her, “She is hardworking and loving. She is caring and always available. She taught us many good things, and led us to Christ.”
Olori Oladunni Adewuyi, wife of immediate past Alayede of Ayede Oba Akanni Adewuyi, described her “as kind, accommodating and generous.”
Pastor Ayantoye underlined, “She is an epitome of humility.”
A peep into her life
She was born on June 2, 1943 to Deacon Solomon and Mama Tejuola Oladeji. She attended Idi-Aba Baptist Girls’ School, Abeokuta, Ogun state and Osogbo Baptist Girls’ High School, Osun state, where she graduated in 1965. She later attended Borno State College of Education to study Geography and History.
In 1967, she married Dn. Samson Bamidele of Oguro Olokuta compound, whose father subsequently reigned as Ologuro of Oguro.
Mama worked as a teacher in Kafanchan, Kaduna state, St. Louis Girls’ Grammar School, Akure, Ondo state and at Orita-Mefa Baptist Secondary School in Ibadan, Oyo state, where she retired in 2005.
Bound to their hometown they later relocated to Ogbomoso, to spend the rest of their lives.
Insight Celebrity wishes them long life, sound health and prosperity.
