In Yoruba culture, the bond between a mother and her children is a sacred cord; elastic enough to stretch beyond time, yet strong enough to anchor generations. It is this eternal affinity that the Olulade and Odelana families prepare to honour as they mark twenty poignant years since the passing of their matriarch, Chief Mrs. Fatimo Ayinke Folorunsho Olulade (née Odelana); a woman whose memory has grown into a legacy, and whose legacy has become an inheritance.
Fondly known across Lagos as Iya Taju, she was a woman whose reach went far beyond the thresholds of motherhood. A respected political figure during the transformative eras of the NPN, NRC, and later AD, she held her own with grace and influence in Lagos’ evolving political landscape. Her philanthropy was equally commanding; she took responsibility for raising many children who were not biologically hers, offering them guidance, shelter, and the warmth of a mother’s care. In every sense, her life was a reflection of public service and private generosity; a blend that endeared her to both family and community.
On Sunday November 16, 2025, the quiet, historic community of Ejinrin in Epe, Lagos State, will hum again with familiar warmth as children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, relatives, neighbours and well-wishers gather at the Olulade Compound to celebrate a woman whose life touched many more than her years could count.
Chief Mrs. Fatimo Ayinke was more than a mother; she was a soft-spoken force whose compassion shaped homes, whose wisdom steadied younger feet, and whose presence once stitched the fabric of family unity. Two decades after her transition in 2005, her name still sits gently on the lips of those she nurtured, her stories are still told in parables, and her virtues remain the compass by which her lineage finds its way.
This 20-year remembrance is not merely a celebration, it is a homecoming of memories. A reminder that in African tradition, to remember a mother is to honour the very essence of existence.
The ceremony will begin on Sunday at 12:00 p.m., welcoming guests into an atmosphere of reflection, gratitude and celebration. Adding rhythm and colour to the day, the internationally acclaimed Dr. Adewale Ayuba is billed to serenade attendees, ensuring that the remembrance carries not only solemnity but the joyful spirit of a life beautifully lived.
The families invite those whose hearts were touched by IyaTaju to join in this milestone commemoration; a moment to reflect, reconnect, and rejoice in the timeless imprint she left behind.
RSVP includes Odelana Hakeem Adewale: 07064056712 (WhatsApp only) and Olulade Lookman: 07037920953
As the sun rises over Ejinrin on that Sunday, it will shine on a story twenty years long with a beloved mother remembered, a legacy renewed, and a lineage forever grateful.
