Mrs. Bolanle Christopher Ayeni (nee) Olaosebikan speaking at her mother's burial service
Eko Hot Blog reports that the four children of Omolewa Fausat Onitasin Olaosebikan, the Iyalode of Epe, Lagos State, have remembered their mother fondly describing her as a devoted mother who did not make them lack.
The children spoke on Sunday, June 30, 2024, at the burial service for the Iyalode in Houston, Texas, United States (US).
The service followed Mrs. Olaosebikan’s demise on Saturday, June 29, 2024, in Houston.
Iyalode of Epe, Omolewa Olaosebikan laid to rest in Houston, Texas
Born on February 13, 1952, in Epe, Lagos State, she was 72.
In an interview with Eko Hot Blog, her eldest child, Mrs Christopher Ayeni (nee Olaosebikan), described her as a devoted mother who lived in service of her children.
She said, despite her mother’s little education, she wanted her children to get education from the best schools in the US.
“I give glory to God, its sad she is gone but she is going to rest,” Mrs. Ayeni said.
“An amazing mother who lived the essence of her name, her name is Omolewa which means your children are your beauty and glory. And she lived her life working and serving her children.
“Omolewa Fausat Onitasiola Olaosebikan only had primary education, but after if was born, she wanted me to attend a private school.”
She also spoke about the struggle her mother went through to enroll her in the best school around.
“What she did that day is a result of who I am today and the trajectory that my life has taken and I will be eternally grateful to her,” the deceased’s daughter noted.
“My mother was an amazing woman and not a bad word in my 54 years with her, never a bad word about anybody, never encouraging a fight, always ready to help, bringing strangers off the street to our home, pregnant people, people fighting in the market, feeding people.
“No one came to our home without eating, no one came with a tear without leaving happy.”
Similarly, Mrs. Olaosebikan’s second born, Mrs. Oyinkan Alakiu (nee Olaosebikan) described her mother as the toughest and strongest woman she knows.
“My Mum, she is the toughest woman I know, and how she did so effortlessly still amazes me till now,” she said.
“My mum will take all of us to London, go into Harolds and just go crazy, and buy everything.
“And I can’t even imagine taking all five kids on a trip all at once, but she did it, and she did it at a very young age.
“She never complained, she just said if I didn’t do more than Primary 6, but my kids must go to the best school.”
Mrs. Alakiu said her mother vowed to herself to ensure that her children are always seen wherever the children of rich people are present and she was successful in that regard.
“From my mum I learnt it didn’t matter what a man brought to the table, she was the table,” she added, noting how strong her mother was.
“When I think of my mum, I think of a 100 men, she was just that strong by herself, then when I feel weak, like I am not good enough, I remember my mum.
“If she can do it, then I can do it. It is a privilege to be her child.”
Likewise, Pamilerin Olaosebikan, the deceased’s son, hailed his late mother’s audacity to dream to go to America when she did not come from a privileged background.
“The first thing I want to say about my mum from the upbringing she had, if you had told her do you know one day you will go to America? Everyone would have laughed so hard like who gave you the audacity to even dream that you will go to America, but here she is today, she is being buried in America, all four of her kids are in America,” he said.
“This lady there, there are so many things I can say about her, she is just a G. I asked her, ‘mummy how did you have the audacity to dream?’
“She said, ‘I have been doing business since I was young’. I asked what do you mean you have been doing business since you were young?
“She said, ‘when I was in primary school, I used to hawk goods’. She said when she when she was in Primary school, she will sit and watch everybody, and anyone that didn’t buy from her, she will hunt and beat the person up.”
“I said mummy that’s not business, that is mafia lifestyle,” he added jokingly.
Mr. Olaosebikan further spoke about his mother’s drive to provide everything and ensure that her children never lacked.
“There are three parts of life, which is not having enough of something and having too much of something, then there is a space in the middle for something to fit,” he said.
“What made me talk about this is my mum, she over spoilt us as kids, and the reason for that is she told me that when she was younger, when she sees little kids in the street, she said ‘me and my kids are going to get to that London and America. I don’t care what these kids are wearing, my children will also wear them too’.
“So for her, her life mission is, ‘my kids are going to get the best’.”
Mr. Temilorun Olaosebikan, the last born of the Iyalode of Epe, said he was glad that his mother was no longer suffering and is now resting.
He urged those at the burial service to always stay positive because life is short.
“This is a reminder for us that life is short. So, whatever is going on right now, just roll your shoulders up and tilt your nose up in the air and just try to find some peace because you don’t want to live a life where you’re always angry,” Mr. Olaosebikan said.
“I’m glad she’s at rest now and not dealing with the pain anymore. It was a struggle to see all things she had to go through in the latter part of her life.
“So, I just want to let everybody here know that life is short, whatever you can do with your life to stay positive, you all should do that.”
Mrs Ayeni’s husband, the deceased’s son-in-law, also spoke glowingly of his late mother-in-law and her incredible positive impact on people close to her.
“Only today, someone called from Lagos and was talking to Bola, Toyin and her husband,” he said.
“Toyin was telling me how it was mummy that taught her how to cook, how to clean, how to be a woman. And her husband was attesting that it was mummy that taught him how to make money.”
Mr. Ayeni, the son-in-law of the Iyalode of Epe, Omolewa Olaosebikan, and his wife at the burial service
Additionally, Mr. Ayeni commended the Iyalode of Epe’s kindness and generosity.
“Listen to this, mummy will pick up a person from the street, she does not know the person and bring her home to be raising,” he said.
“Sometimes I will be like mummy you don’t know this person, she will just smile.
“Pregnant couple in London, she will pick them. She has a way of picking them up and just take care of them.
“We did some printing business together, we drank stout together, and she liked my food.
“I am going to miss her and no questions about it, and it’s a shame that this had to happen.
“What gives me comfort is that a lot of people look at death as the end of the road, but I see it a little differently, it is a liberation really for everything.”
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