HID clocks 96 tomorrow •Communion service holds 7.30a.m

Posted by admin Headlines Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

THE Matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty and Yeye Oodua of Yorubaland, Chief (Mrs) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, will tomorrow mark her 96th birthday at her home in Ikenne.

The holy communion service will be held at the Awolowos’ residence in Ikenne Remo, Ogun State, at 7.30a.m.

Affectionately referred to as the “Jewel of Inestimable Value” by her husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo was graciously bequeathed to this side of existence by the benevolent hands of providence in Ikenne Remo on November 25, 1915, to Chief Odugbemi Adelana, the Ayangbuwa of Ikenne and Baba Ijo, St Saviour’s Anglican Church, Ikenne, and Princess Elizabeth Oyesile Adelana, one of the founders of the Apostolic Church in Ikenne.

Chief (Mrs) Awolowo began her formal education in 1921 at Saint Saviour’s Anglican School, Ikenne, but later moved to Saint Peter’s Anglican School, Faji, Lagos. Between 1928 and 1933, Chief (Mrs) Awolowo attended Methodist Girls High School, located at Broad Street in Lagos. Driven by an unquenchable desire to give back to her school wherein she drank from the fountain of knowledge, she decided to return to her alma mater which she did, and taught there between 1934 and 1936 before moving into the sphere of business.

The year 1937 provided another wonder which the world is today grateful for, as it was in that year that the good Lord united her in holy matrimony with the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The union received the unalloyed approval of providence as it was blessed with children.

Chief Mrs Awolowo’s sense of piety and reverence for the things of God began to deepen and which of course was noticed as she was made a class leader at Agbeni Methodist Church in 1940 after years of devoted attendance. She equally was made the first matron of Agbeni Youth Progressive Association when it was founded 62 years ago. The various positions she held gave abiding credence to her unwavering faith in her Saviour which was seen in her being the president of Agbeni Youth Women Christian Association (AYWCA) for several years and chairperson of the Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) International for the Western region.

Her devotion to her husband through thick and thin and the fulfilment of her marital vows came to the fore when she stood unfalteringly beside her husband during his political vicissitudes, especially when the going was truly tough for the sage during the alliance formed between the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) and the Action Group (AG) called United Progressive Grand Alliance, while Chief Awolowo was held as a political prisoner.

Nothing could have placed her on the platform of honour than her innumerable roles, both at the national and international fronts.

The depty of reverences which she today commands is as arresting as it is humbling. She is not just the matriarch of the Awo-lowo dynasty but a living legend.

Apart from being made the Mojibade of Ikenne, Iyalode of Remoland, Yeye Oodua of Yoruba-land, she was also bestowed with the prestigious national award of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).

Among other awards, HID was awarded the Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) of the University of Calabar and the Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University).

On Wednesday, September 5, 2009, she received the award of the Fellow of Academy of Religion (FAR) by the Nigerian Association for the Study of Religion (NASR).

This was done in recognition of her unique and unwavering contributions to the advancement of humanity and her role in the employment of religion as a veritable tool both in national and global development.

-Tribunewp_posts