On Friday 17th January, 2025, children, family, friends and well-wishers were all gathered together to hold a special birthday thanksgiving service and reception for the matriarch of Opayemi family, Deaconess Ruth Olubunmi Adebisi Opayemi.
The birthday celebration was held at St. Leo’s Catholic Church Hall, in Ikeja from 12 noon.
The celebration was full of the testimonies of the benefits gained from the love, kindness and caring disposition of the celebrant.
Leading in the harvest of testimonies, the octogenarian reading without glasses opened up with a number of songs, to show how happy she was. Mama must be a very good singer.
She later showed her appreciation to God saying, “God has preserved me in good health and sound mind. I give glory to God for the salvation of my soul, also thanking her children and their spouses, who she said, were “treating me as a mother and not as a mother in law.” She also thanked her siblings, friends, and church members.
In his sermon at the event Pastor Felix Olusayo Komolafe, one of the in-laws rejoiced with mama and gave thanks to God for the much anticipated event.
He told the congregation to learn how to give thanks to God quoting from Psalm 103, he noted, “Forget not His benefits.”
“That Mummy is 85 years today is part of the benefits we can enjoy from God. It is a benefit from God, and we should not fail to appreciate the benefits from God,” admonished Pastor Komolafe who urged the congregation to have faith in God.
To the celebrant, the preacher said, “You have chosen the best and the rest of your life shall be the best and you will see how God will surprise you. Believe that your future is in the hands of God, and it shall be well with you,” he prayed.
The message was followed by another session of testimonies when family, associates and beneficiaries pour encomiums of Mama Opayemi for her kind gestures and love extended to them and humanity in general.
The testimonies came from all walks of life, the family was well represented as the children and the in-laws came from different parts of the world, Mama Opayemi’s siblings were there, church members and well-wishers from their neighbourhood as well as those who have had one thing or the other to do with the celebrant who is a wife to the late Commissioner of Police Alfred Opayemi.
To Pastor Adaeze of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Mama Opayemi is a mother to all. “She is a mother so meek and understanding, a well organized and peaceful woman, she loves God, highly devoted as if she is just 18 years. She is a prayer warrior.”
For Mama Dosumu “Mama Opayemi is a very friendly person. She is a lover of the youth, very humble, kind and loving” ,as Pastor Niyi Shoole saw Mama as “an asset to all who come across her”, one of which was Barrister Ogundowo who testified to how Mama Opayemi took care of him from his young age and ensured he grew to a responsible adult.
His Royal Highness Tunde Rahman who saw himself as a son of the celebrant described Mama Opayemi as a rallying point for the entire family of the Opayemis.
“Our uncle was her husband, if one could see Baba Opayemi as a caring and loving person, no man can be so caring without the support of his wife. Mama was even more caring than her husband. We used to call her Mummy Ibadan. She would go the extra length to satisfy everybody. I lived in Opebi for 16 years after my NYSC and I stayed in 2-bedroom flat without paying a kobo. Almost all my children were born there. Mummy took care of them all.”
Elder Sammy from MFM headquarters in his own tribute described Mama as very active and punctual leader when it comes to the programmes of the Church and the Elders. “She is a blessed woman of God,” he said, as he showered prayers of continuous good health for the celebrant.
Another testifier, Sister Foluke Bisiri who said Mama was not only a Sister in law but acted the position of a mother to her., and Young Timilehin Ogunleye described his grandmother as everything a grand mother could be, saying we learn a lot from her as a lover of children, she is very caring for us and others who come her way.
“Mama is always ready to help. She took care of my children,” affirmed Pastor Mrs. Ajayi, as Hon. Opayemi believed God used her to help him know God.
The list of all the VIP s drawn from all walks of life included, representatives of the General Superintendent of CAC worldwide, Pastor Emmanuel Odejobi, Elder and Mrs. Ajibade Ilesanmi, AIG Kehinde Longe, Pastor Fayode, Elder and Mrs. Ijitimehin, Barrister Supo Osewa, Barrister Femi Aladekoba, Pastor and Mrs. Julius Adegunna, Barrister and Mrs Olaitan Olabode, Pastor and Mrs. Sanya Olawole, Pastor and Mrs. Agbemeyede Lawrence.
Others were Elder and Mrs Falade, Pastor and Mrs Ogunleye, and Pastor Gabriel Adeniyi.
The celebrant, wife of the late Commissioner of Police, Mr. Alfred Babajide Opayemi was born on the 17th of January 1940 to the family of Pa John and Mrs. Mary Sanya in the city of Lagos. Her Father was from the Ilado and her mother was from Jobore, both in Ogun State.
She attended Reagan Memorial Baptist Girls’ School for both her primary and secondary education. She later came to the United Kingdom in 1964 to join her husband the late Commissioner of Police, Mr. Alfred Babajide Opayemi. While in the United Kingdom, she attended North London College, where she studied Telecommunications.
She relocated to Nigeria in 1969, and on her return, she taught Mathematics at the Asoro Grammar School, Benin City.
In 1982, she rededicated her life to Christ and has since been a lover of God. She is blessed with beautiful children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Happy birthday to Grandma Opayemi.
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