18/05/2022
THE BURIAL OF
CHIEF MRS FRANCES OLUFUNMILAYO
ADENIJI
(NEE AKINBODE)
Olufumilayo, the first child of the family of four, was born in Lagos on February 4th, 1946, Into the Akinbode family of ljemo/Ijako Abeokuta. Her father was Chief Folorunsho Akanbi Akinbode, an educationist who later became the Odofin of ljako and her mother was Mrs. Comfort Asake of the Etti family of Lagos Island - both are of blessed memory. She had her primary education at the Regan Primary School, Yaba Lagos and upon successful completion, gained admission into the Regan Memorial Secondary School, also in Yaba under the principalship of Miss Hardy and later Miss Roper and finished in 1964.
As it was in those days, she proceeded to the then Queens School, located at Ede, Osun state for her Higher School Certificate (HSC). In 1967, she gained admission into the then University of Ife, lle-Ife, to study English language. Thereafter, she graduated in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. While at ife, she was involved in a number of students' activities; amongst her contemporaries then, were late Mr. Gbemi Shodipo and Rt. Rev. Adebayo Dada Akinde retired Diocesan Bishop of Lagos Mainland (Anglican Communion).
Also at the university, she met her heartthrob, Mr. Samuel Adeniji and they got married August 26th, 1972, at the St. Annes Anglican Church, Molete, Ibadan and the union was blessed with 2 daughters.
She taught English Language and Literature in many Secondary Schools starting from Remo Secondary School, Sagamu, on to Anglican Girls Grammar School, Akinhanmi Street, Surulere, Lagos.
In further pursuit of academic excellence, she enrolled for and completed the Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) at the University of Lagos in 1974, in 1975, she took up the MA Degree programme at the same university and completed it in 1976.
Upon the transfer of her husband, Mr. Yeni Adeniji to Kaduna, as the Marketing Manger for the Northern Region of Leventis Technical Ltd, she resigned her appointment with the then Lagos State Government in 1978, While in Kaduna, Mrs. Aderij taught at the Government Senior Secondary School, in kawo, for about 12 years on contract, while she ensured that her children settled down
seriously to their academic pursuit. When the children had successfully completed their secondary school education at Federal Government College Bakon, coupled with the outbreak of the Maitasine riot in the north, the family decided to return to the south,
They chose to reside in Abeokuta where she again picked up employment with Ogun State Government. She served in a number of schools in Abeokuta namely St. Peter's College, Olomore, Egba Comprehensive High School, Asero, Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Anglican High School, Quarry Road, and retired as a school Principal, upon attainment of the statutory retirement age of 60, in year 2006.
After retirement, she engaged in a number of trading activities and merchandizing she was later conferred with the chieftancy Title of laran of Egba Christians also in Abeokuta Until her death, she was a member of Cathedral of St. Peter, Ake, Abeokuto and was active in her society Christian Unity Band of Nigeria. It should also be put on record that because of the distance from her residence at ita Ostin to Ake, Mama Adeniji, was at some point worshipping at the Ebenezer African Church Ita Oshin, where she was a member of the Goodwill Women Society and later became the President of the society.
Until her home call in February 2022, Mama Adeniji was also a member of the Board of Trustees (Ebenezer African Church ita Oshin) where she made meaningful contributions to the development of the Church.
She was a loving wife and very caring mother to everyone around her this could be confirmed by everyone who knew her. She was a rallying point in the family - T**i, Tunde and Deji will attest to this, so will Wale and Bola Adeniji. Family meant so much to her, a God fearing woman, exceptionally neat, humble, soft spoken and easy going will be greatly missed by all, especially Yewande and Tola as well as their spouses and children.
Sleep on, our beloved sister, mother, wife and grandmother-till we meet to part no more.
There is never a perfect time to loose a loved one........... we are grateful to God for the opportunity to serve and support families during their grief moments.
# beffitingburial
