Mama HID. Awolowo was born in ikenne Remo on 25 November,1915 to the late chief Mose odugbemi Adelana and late Deaconess Elizabeth (neeOyesile), She was of royal Descent on both her paternal and maternal sides, and the only survivor of her mother's seven children. Her maternal grandmother, Erelu Adebowale Oyesile, belonged to the Ijagba Ruling House ,Sagamu. her paternal grandmother Sadeke belonged to the Obara Ruling house in ikenne while her paternal grandfather belonged to owobagbe Royal family of the liyangu akarigbo Sagamu. She was head of the Liyangu Ruling house
Mama started school at saint saviour (Anglican) School ikenne in 1921, and later moved to Saint Peter's (Anglican) school,faji Lagos from where she proceeded to Methodist Girls High school (MGHS), Lagos for her secondary education. She passed out of MGHS in 1933, and Returned to ikenne to teach at her alma mater from January 1934 to December 1936.
Thereafter she took up trading, the traditional occupation of her mother and grandmother.On 26 December, 1937 she was joined in holy matrimony to Chief Obafemi Awolowo after three years of courtship.
Their very happy marriage was richly blessed with five children-OLUSEGUN, OMOTOLA ,OLUWOLE ,AYODELE and OLATOKUNBO and many grandchildren and great grandchildren....
Unfortunately Papa Awolowo passed on in 1987 six month shy of their golden wedding anniversary, and Segun, Ayo and Wole also predeceased Mama. These very tragic and untimely events caused great pain and sorrow, but Mama was granted the grace to bear them with exemplary Christian fortitude.
At the instance of PAPA, Mama gave up trading and became a full-time housewife after the arrival of Segun in January 1939. However, some five year later, when Papa traveled to London to study law, she resumed
trading. this was not a manifestation of disobedience but, rather, a realistic response to her circumstances with three children and the fourth on the way -to care of. Her business prospered, and she was even able to send money to her husband occasionally.
Mama became a prosperous, reputable and renowned business woman. she was the first Nigeria distributor appointed by the Nigeria Tobacco Company; she also became a distributor of goods to many manufacturing companies. Her companies, Dideolu store Ltd and ligu Distribution Services ltd became major players in the retail and wholesale business, with branches in ibadan, Sagamu Lagos and ikenne. She was the Matron of the National Association of Nigeria Women in Business (Ogunstate chapter) She was recipient of a Special Merit Award by the Remo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, mines and Agriculture.
Mama was always there for Papa through good time and turbulent periods.she did so not by ensuring a happy, loving and peaceful home but also by active participation in political campaigns and activities.
indeed while papa was away in Calabar she contested the 1964 Federal election as Action Group candidate in papa's traditional Constituency.Papa acknowledged her invaluable contribution when he attributed his Success in life to three factors-the grace of God, a Spartan self-discipline and a good wife. He went on to describe her as his "JEWEL OF INESTIMABLE VALUE "
After Papa's transition, Mama not only sustained but also expanded the scope of his political legacy so much so that a courtesy visit to her at ikenne became a rite of passage
For aspiring and incumbent political leader from all the geopolitical zone of Nigeria .A powerful endorsement of her exalted national status was given by a huge and highly influential delegation of the Arew a Consultative forum which Visited Ikenne and proclaimed her Mama Nigertia .
Another important legacy of papa Awolowo which she successful strove to sustain is the African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc (ANN Plc). She and Papa were co-founders of the Tribune Newspaper in November 1949. Over the year the stable expanded, and the titles published by ANN now include the Nigeria Tribune, Saturday Tribune and Sunday Tribune which are among the leading national Newspaper in Nigeria. Until her Transition Mama was chairman of the ANN and its sister company, the African press limiwith
Mama was born to devoted Christian Parents and remained a committed and practicing believer all her life. At Ibadan she attended Agbeni Methodist Church with
Papa.from their inception till her transition She was a generous philanthropist.Among other she donated a well-equipped children's ward to ikenne community hospital in 1980,
an administrative block to the obafemi Awolowo College of Health Sciences, ikenne campus in 2001, and built
the obafemi Awolowo memorial Anglican church ,ikenne in memory of her husband in 1990. in turn Papa built Dideolu Specialist Hospital
Sagamu was sponsored and built In her honor in 2012. Mama was the Chairman of the board of Dideolu Specialist Hospital and
Mama deserved and was conferred with many honours both Life Time and in absent, she held the chieftaincy titles of Mojibade of ikenne Yeye OBA of Ife, iyalode of Remoland and Yeye Oodua of the Source.
Am very sure you all enjoy MAMA H.I.D AWOLOWO Documentary join me same channel next week Thursday for Episode 2 of The Mama H.I.D AWOLOWO Documentary thanks for your time. I remain your Host Olawoyin Smile
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