Events
Free Flow of Emotions As Top Nigerians Grace Yinka Odumakin’s Tribute Night
By Eric Elezuo
The Nigerian Police College, Ikeja, Lagos, venue of Yinka Odumakin’s Tribute Night was in top notch Thursday as the who is who in Nigeria’s political, social, economic and human rights circle arrived in their numbers to bid the human right activist and renowned spokesman of the Afenifere, a worthy farewell.
The events of the day, which started with the lying in state of the deceased activist, witnessed a free flow of emotions among dignitaries, colleagues, family members and friends alike.
Having taking turns to pay desired respects to the deceased, who was referred to as a fallen hero, special guests also took turns to present heartwarming tributes that eulogised the life and times of the ebullient upholder of justice, who passed on to the great beyond on Good Friday, April 2, 2021 after a brief illness.
Coordinating the tributes, Pastor Jeromi, of the Trinity House Church, assisted stand up comedian, Omo Baba, invited Pastor Tony Oke to presented the day’s bible reading from the Book of John 11: 19 – 29.
In his tributes, Constitutional Lawyer, Femi Falana, went down memory lane, stating how his path crossed with Yinka in 1986 when he was dismissed from the Obafemi Awolowo University, where he was into radical activism. He narrated that Yinka had come to Lagos to seek his boss the late Alao Aka Bashorun’s assistance to return to studies, and he (Falana) was mandated to go and ensure that Yinka and seven others were restored to academic studies. Since then, he said, Yinka has remained a distinguished comrade in the struggle. He lamented amid emotions that ‘Yinka was lost in the peak of the struggle’, and advised politicians to ensure that Yinka’s dreams do not die.
“Yinka was a consistent activist, and the best way to honour Yinka is to rededicate ourselves to be more committed to the struggle Yinka believed in,” he added.
Falana challenged the authorities of the Obafemi Awolowo University, which has said that Yinka was an illustrious alumnus de-proscribe the students union of the institution, which has been in comatose for a while.
He continued: “Yinka dreamt that this country be rebuilt, retaken from those who has messed it up and that the provision of chapter two of the Constitution be put to work so that each of us can live a stress free life.”
Rounding off, he admonished Yinka’s wife, Joe, telling her not to allow people to miss Yinka by keeping up with the struggle.
For the immediate past President-General of the Ohaneze Ndigbo, Nnia John Nwodo, Yinka should be phenomenom to be replicated, asking the audience to emulate the life of the deceased.
“When you live in a country where your children are living below standard, and you keep quiet, you are not Yinka’ when you are afraid to speak about oppression, you are not Yinka; when you live in a country where election is rigged without speaking, you are not Yinka,” Nwodo advised.
He called on everyone to take upon himself a touch of Yinka Odumakin, and went ahead to congratulate Joe for the imprints Yinka left in the sand of time.
At this time, a short document featuring an interview Yinka and Joe jointly granted was presented, showcasing the intricate personality the couple shared, before a former governor of Ondo State, Segun Mimiko, informed the gathering that ‘for Yinka, white is white and black us black’, stressing that he said the way it was not minding whose ox is gored.
“The best tribute to offer Yinka is to recommit ourselves to the Nigeria of our dreams because restructuring is an idea whose time has come,” Mimiko said.
A former Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, who said he breezed into town to offer his condolences, without knowing that the lying in state was taking place, was brief in his remarks, reminding all present that “Yinka will be missed”.
A nonagenarian, who is the president of Afenifere, and one of the mentors of Yinka Odumakin, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, paid glowing tribute to him, calling his courageous, committed and difficult to replace.
“Yinka was realistic, pursuing a course relentlessly and committedly. It is so difficult to talk about Yinka. I hereby urge those who love and believe in him to continue in the struggle,” he said.
The Aare of Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, appraised the deceased for his fearless struggle. He noted that though Yinka never held any political position in his lifetime, the clout he drew even at death is a testament of his importance.
“He followed what he believed and followed it through to the end,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to live with that attitude, and lauded him for his ideology, saying that the deceased was always on the same page with him. He sympathised with Joe, and promised to always keep in touch with the family.
Lending his voice to the avalanche of tributes, Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said Yinka was a member of the Southern and Middle Belt Region where true federalism issues were discussed, and acknowledge him for his overlapping roles, which form the reason a great crowd turned out in his honour.
Yinka wanted the best for Nigeria, for the Yoruba nation, and was completely detribalised. Until the very end, he kept going on, working hard for a Nigeria that will reflect true modern federalism. He was a fighter who fell in his prime. We will continue to hold on to the legacy he believed in. I call on comrades of like-mind to continue to push on as regards what Yinka believed in, lived for and died for,” Sanwo-Olu said.
In his tribute, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, said though he never knew Yinka at close range, but his knowledge of him from a distance was that of admiration.
“He was a man who has been through the vicissitudes and turns of life and came out unscathed. We are not here talking about his school or circumstances of life, but his service,” he said.
The Speaker urged everyone to look back to the documentary, and ask himself what he want to be remembered for at the end. He condoled with the wife and praised her for being with the husband in trenches, and asked God to give her the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
It was a moment of high octane emotion as the chief mourner and wife of the deceased, Joe Okei-Odumakin, took the podium to deliver her tribute.
“I’m keeping a part of him, promising it will never grow cold. He was an encyclopedia of positive activism,” she reeled out from a voice ladened in suppressed sorrow.
The woman, who first had an encounter with the man that later became her husband in a prison yard, where both were detained for activism, concluded her message with a song, singing “When I remember Yinka, water run away me eye…”
Presiding Pastor of Trinity House, Ituah Ighodalo, who said he was representing Pastor Tunde Bakare, noted that Bakare could not come because he was highly emotional of Yinka’s death, and was tending to another assignment.
Taking the theme of his sermon from Psalm 49, Ighodalo admonished those who trust in their riches to desist from it, adding that Yinka ran his race and was committed to his struggle even in his sick bed.
“All will die…the rich and poor,” he warned, and told illustrative stories of the mortuary, hospital and prison and the grave yard as where people ought to visit to become more humble. He admonished that it is vanity to strive, fight to acquire what we did not bring to the world, nor would take away at death.
‘One day we will all lie down like Yinka in death and leave everything behind’
He noted that somethings are more important than money, which has become a synonym for idol worship, mutual distrust, divide and rule, greed, selfishness and dependence on self. Those thing, he said are wisdom , contentment and eternity among others.
“To Joe, through the love of God our saviour, all will be well. Though Yinka will not be replaced but he will be reproduced. Nigeria will be great again,” he concluded.
After an altar call, Ighodalo prayed for Joe, Yinka’s immediate family, the Afenifere family and other dignitaries.
The corpse was thereafter escorted to the hearse as the hymn Abide with Me rent the air.
Other dignitaries whose presence were felt at the event were Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, Senator Ade Tumobi, Chief of Staff to Lagos State governor, Taiwo Ajide, Demola Oyinlola, Senator Tokunboh Afikuyomi, Comrade Ayodele Adewale and Pastor Tony Oke.
The African Women in Leadership Organisation (AWLO) Rivers State Chapter was officially relaunched on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at the prestigious Osborne La Palm Hotel, in a vibrant ceremony marked by leadership renewal, recognition of excellence, and a renewed commitment to advancing women’s leadership across the state.
The landmark event welcomed dignitaries, leaders, policymakers, and community stakeholders from across the region.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the decoration of Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Distinguished Senator and former Deputy Governor of Rivers State, as AWLO Life Patroness. This prestigious honor recognizes her decades of unwavering commitment, advocacy, and remarkable achievements in advancing the cause of women and community development.
In addition to her decoration, Senator Banigo was unveiled as the Face of the 2026 AWLO Magazine, which was officially launched during the event.
The magazine celebrates impactful women leaders and chronicles inspiring stories of transformation and service across Africa.
The event was graced by the First Lady of Nigeria, Her Excellency Sen. Oluremi Tinubu; the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara; and the Wife of the Rivers State Governor, Her Excellency Lady Valerie Fubara all ably represented by the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Her Excellency Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, whose presence underscored the state government’s continued support for women’s leadership and inclusive governance.
Further underscoring AWLO’s commitment to inclusive partnership and male allyship in advancing gender equity, four distinguished gentlemen were formally recognized and decorated as AWLO HeForShe Champions. They include:
•Sir Siminalayi Fubara; Executive Governor of Rivers State
•Chief Nabil Saleh
•Dr. Emmanuel Emefienim
•Ambassador Clinton Fubara Snr.
This special recognition celebrates their outstanding support for women’s leadership, advocacy for gender inclusion, and demonstrated commitment to policies and initiatives that empower women across professional, civic, and community spaces.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Elizabeth Ekole charged women to embrace visionary leadership, resilience, and collaboration as catalysts for sustainable development. Her address emphasized the importance of strengthening networks that empower women economically, socially, and politically by strategically nurturing their health and wellbeing.
The ceremony also witnessed the formal admission of new leaders into the AWLO community, reinforcing the organisation’s mission of nurturing transformative female leadership at local, national, and continental levels.
The Honourable President and Founder of AWLO, Amb. Dr. Elisha Attai, described the relaunch of the Rivers State Chapter as “a strategic step toward deepening our impact and building a stronger ecosystem for women leaders in Rivers State and beyond.” He reiterated AWLO’s commitment to capacity building, mentorship, and strategic partnerships that elevate women into positions of influence and impact.
In attendance were esteemed members of the AWLO Executive Council, including the Dean of the AWLO Executive Council, Mrs. Theodora Ajegwu, as well as the State Chairperson of AWLO Akwa Ibom Chapter, Madam Elizabeth Etebom, who lent solidarity and regional support to the relaunch.
The relaunch marks a new chapter for AWLO Rivers State, positioning the chapter to expand its programs, foster cross-sector collaboration, and champion initiatives that advance gender equity, leadership excellence, and community transformation.
As AWLO continues to build a formidable network of women leaders across Africa and the diaspora, the Rivers State relaunch stands as a testament to the organisation’s enduring vision: empowering women to lead with integrity, competence, and purpose.
By Eric Elezuo
Two highbrow venues, the African Cathedral Church Ifako-Ijaye, and the Balmoral Convention Centre, Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, were ingeniously ignited on Saturday, when high society, led by immediate family members and friends, celebrated the enviable life of Princess Olufunmilayo Omisore Nee Ademuliyi as she joined the octogenarian league in grand style.
The events, a pot pourri of celebrity gathering, drew together men and women of timbre and calibre, who saw the need to give God unadulterated thanks for His faithfulness over the life of the matriarch of the Omisore family, as she graciously turned 80.
With steady and sure steps, Princess Omisore, glad in a mixture of red and dark asoke attire, with gele to match, arrived the African Cathedral Church, personally carrying her things in a show of agility and divinely procured youthfulness and strength, and into the waiting show of love by Omisore Family, friends, fellow community leaders, well wishers and the general public, who made their way to the venue to be part of the marathon thanksgiving service. She was trailed in quick succession by her sons and daughters including the Senior Special Adviser to the Osun Governor on SDGs, Hon Bankole Omisore and his wife.
Following her arrival were arrivals of notable dignitaries including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, whose fanfare entrance initiated the royal song of oba ooo, oba lashe, oba…, and the Executive Governor of the home state of the celebrant, Osun, Senator Ademola Adeleke. The governor’s arrival as expected, charged the atmosphere as everyone stood at alert for the very moment the dance would ensued while a great many shuttle their feet in joyful admiration as they exchange banners with the governor and his entourage.
Within moments of exchange of pleasantries and casual, but meaningful networking, the service dovetailed into a heartwarming, joyful and spirit-filled praise and worship session that proved to be a worthy backbone of the entire service.
With the praise and worship session concluded, the thanksgiving service, which was officiated by The Most Revd. S.O.B. Ojumu, and assisted by other eminent spiritual leaders, including Most Revd A. A Adetubo, The Most Revd E. Ademola and other ministers of God, took shape as the officiating minister recognised eminent personalities seated, and set the activities in motion.
In his sermon, shortly after the prayers, hymn renditions and goodwill messages have been given prompt attention, Revd Ojumu extolled the virtuous qualities of the celebrant, thanking God for sparing her life to witness eight decades of wealth and health and counting.
He further admonished the congregation to pick a leave from Mama’s existence, as her sterling qualities have made her a reference point in morality, leadership and parenting.
As the service winds down, the Minister encouraged the guests to give, to celebrate Mama just as Governor Adeleke further eulogised the octogenarian, noting that she deserved the title of ‘mama’ in the real sense of the word.
A prayer session was thereafter organised for the celebrant where the ministers took turns to speak life into her existence as she was surrounded by her loved ones.
Just before the service concluded, Princess Omisore received the first physical gift of the day, when a group of Elders of the African Cathedral Church, Ifako-Ijaye, presented her a portrait of herself to set in motion a day typically designed for sharing of love and affection.
Among dignitaries that showed solidarity with the celebrant at the church were the Osun State Governor, Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke, Deputy Governor of Osun State, Prince Kola Adewusi, Osun State FirstLady, Titilola Adebusola Adeleke, Wife of former Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, Former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, and Olori Ronke Ogunwusi.
With more photo ops and healthy networking among guests, ministers and attendees, the party quickly shifted to the Balmoral Convention Centre, at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, where a mother of all grand receptions was held.
The arrival of guests to the reception avenue assumed the guise of another funfair with a crowd of guests and attendees turning up in royal apparels, distinctly tailored attires and spotless garments of impressive makings. This is in addition to the sounds of greatness each of the guests assessed the venue with. As usual, the Ooni was vocal in his arrival as well as the governor, who at this time, has transformed into a green agbada as a against the brown one he wore at the church. The governor, in his simplicity, is always in the habit of joining in whatever asobi uniform prevalent in every occasion he attends. Adeleke is that free!
Kickstarting the reception, the anchor, who is a standup comedian, MC Super, called the event to progress, acknowledging the presence of the dignitaries in attendance, as well as reeling out the standpoint that make the celebrant thick.
He subsequently invited the General Overseer of Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, for the opening prayer, thereby setting the mood for the occasion.
With speeches and goodwill messages of the splendid nature of the celebrant from more than one guest and family member rending the atmosphere, the celebrant conscientiously nodded in appreciation and approval. And once in a while spreading her lips in joyous acknowledgement of the mercies God has shown her in 80 years.
The cutting of the cake was a royal convergence of some sort, with the two wives of the Ooni positioned as supervisors. A celebrant beaming from ear to ear, and now dressed in complete green asoke with gele to match, stood before her three-step giant cake as the duo of Olori Ashley Ogunwusi and Olori Aderonke Ogunwusi, led the guests through the process as the celebrant cut the cake amid loud Ovation.
The duo of Shina Peters and Labi Obey were on hand to ensure that guests as well as the celebrant shuffled with gait and splendour to evergreen sounds just as continental and local dishes as well as choice beverages made ceaseless rounds on every table.
Other guests that joined the soiree were Aare Dele Momodu, and wife, Yeye Aare Mobolaji Momodu, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye and Hon Ipoola Omisore among many others.
Photos: Funmi Ilelabayo
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