In a time when public life often celebrates wealth and power, the memory of a woman whose greatest currency was kindness offered a refreshing lesson in legacy. The 7th Annual Ramadan Lecture and Iftar organised by the Taibat Garbadeen Foundation in Epe on 28th February, 2025, was not merely another gathering of faithful Muslims observing the holy month. It was a solemn reminder that the most enduring monuments are not built with bricks, but with compassion.
The event drew a remarkable mix of attendees: community leaders, clerics, the elderly, the less privileged and residents from different neighbourhoods across the Epe Local Government. Beneath the atmosphere of Ramadan devotion, the gathering carried a deeper purpose: to reconnect with Almighty Allah and to reflect on the life of a woman whose generosity continues to echo long after her passing.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Duke Olabode Garbadeen took the audience on a heartfelt journey into the past. He described how their late mother, Alhaja Taibat Garbadeen, lived a life defined by charity, warmth and open-hearted hospitality. According to him, the foundation itself was born out of a simple desire, to ensure that her spirit of giving did not fade with time.
Her children, he suggested, are themselves the reward of a life lived in goodness. Their commitment to service, in different capacities, stands as living testimony that sincere acts of kindness never truly die. The lesson was simple but profound: plant seeds of goodness today so that generations yet unborn may harvest the fruits.
Adding another voice to the reflections, Mrs. Kemi Garbadeen-Adedeji, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Audit Service Commission, called on the gathering to join her in thanking Almighty Allah. She recalled that when the event was hosted the previous year at Ogunmodede Club, she had not yet attained the position she now occupies.
According to her, the appointment that came this year stands as a testament to divine grace, one of the best positions that could be bestowed on any Lagosian. She also highlighted the careful choice of the Guest Lecturer, describing the Chief Imam of the Alausa Secretariat Mosque, Sheikh Dawud Al-Arudy, as a plain-spoken and straightforward cleric whose reputation for truth, discipline and firmness mirrors the values cherished by the Garbadeen family.
The message resonated even more strongly in the words of the Guest Lecturer, Sheikh Dawud Al-Arudy, the Chief Imam of the Alausa Secretariat Mosque. Known for his plain, firm and uncompromising approach to truth, the cleric reminded the gathering that every deed, good or bad, carries its reward.
For Sheikh Al-Arudy, the very success of the Garbadeen children and the continuity of their mother’s charitable works is itself evidence of divine recompense. He urged the audience to embrace charity and benevolence as enduring acts of worship, particularly during Ramadan. Beyond personal devotion, he also called on Nigerians to use the fasting period to pray for the nation and remain hopeful about its future.
If the lecture offered spiritual clarity, the testimonials from guests provided living proof of the late matriarch’s impact.
Chairman of the occasion, Hon. Adeniyi Saliu, recalled encountering Mrs. Adedeji during humanitarian engagements under the SOCU programme. He spoke of her compassion and tireless efforts to connect communities with local council leaders in Epe. To him, her continued involvement in charity and social service was not surprising, it was simply the continuation of a legacy she inherited.
Perhaps the most touching tribute came from the Mother of the Day, Justice Adeyemi. Speaking with emotion, she revealed that she had personally benefited from the kindness of the late Alhaja Garbadeen during her teenage years. Her recollection painted a portrait of a woman who was remembered not for wealth or status, but for the lives she touched.
“Many people live long,” she observed, “but only a few live meaningfully.”
In her words, Alhaja Garbadeen lived such a meaningful life, one marked by generosity, compassion and genuine concern for others. Her open hands and warm heart, she said, changed many lives, and the foundation bearing her name stands as proof that goodness never truly disappears.
The gathering in Epe therefore carried a powerful reminder: the greatest inheritance anyone can leave behind is not material wealth but the blessing of humanity. Through acts of charity, kindness and faith, the legacy of Taibat Garbadeen continues to speak, long after her voice has fallen silent.
And perhaps that is the most fitting tribute of all: a life that continues to give, even in memory.
