BIOGRAPHY
April 18, 2021
Mrs Rebecca Bola Olafare nee Elugbadebo was born on the 31st of March 1944 to Papa Gabriel Elusiyan Elugbadebo and Mama Esther Elugbadebo nee Ogunyemi at the Ile Lowa Ake compound, Ayetoro in the ancient city of Ile- Ife, in the then Western region now Osun state, Nigeria. She was raised in a large tight-knit Christian family and they attended the Cathedral Church of St Philip Ayetoro, Ile- Ife. She was the first of the two surviving children of her Mother, Mama Esther Elugbadebo.
The young Miss Elugbadebo started her primary education at St. Philips Primary School Ile-Ife in 1953. She earned her primary school leaving certificate in 1958 and proceeded the same year to Anglican Girls Secondary Modern School, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria, where she started the initial part of her secondary education and was there until 1959. She then attended Ebenezer Grammar School in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria from 1960 to 1963 where she finished her secondary education and earned her Secondary School Leaving Certificate.
She got married to Mr Kolawole Adisa Olafare from Ojuade compound, Oke-Jan also from Ile-Ife at a Yoruba custom engagement and marriage ceremony conducted by a Priest at her father’s residence in Ile-Ife, followed by the usual pomp and pageantry. She continued and finished her secondary education in 1963 and later settled in Lagos, Nigeria where she worked briefly at the Nigeria Railway corporation until 1965. She joined her husband in 1966 in London, United Kingdom, where he had relocated earlier in 1964. They started life together in the United Kingdom at 3-33 Coningham Road, Shepherd’s Bush, London.
In the United Kingdom, mummy started and did part of her tertiary education at the Chiswick Polytechnic School, London between 1968 and 1969. She also passed the General Certificate of Education(GCE) examination in British Constitution at Ordinary Level in 1969 at the University of London and the Associated Examining Board GCE examination in General Principles of English Law at Ordinary Level in 1970.
She sat the Advanced Level Economics GCE Examination, which she passed in 1970 at the University of London. She proceeded to the West London College, Hammersmith, London, where she obtained her Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Business Studies and was awarded the National Awards in Business Studies and Public Administration in the session 1972/73.
Mummy had started work in 1967 as a Clerical Assistant in the Purchasing and Supply Department of the Post Office at 211 Old Street, London. Whilst working at the Post office, she and her husband were blessed with their first son in 1967 and later their daughter in 1970. She was a devoted wife and caring mother who looked after their beautiful children in addition to working and studying at the time. She continued working at the Post Office until 1977 where she resigned as a Clerical Officer and received an exceptional letter of recommendation highlighting her distinctive conduct and efficiency on the job.
She relocated to Nigeria with her two children in 1977 soon after resigning from her employment at the Post Office to join her husband who had returned earlier to prepare for their arrival. On returning to Nigeria, she was employed by the Federal Government of Nigeria into the Federal Civil Service in 1977 and was posted to the Federal Ministry of Establishments, Lagos, where she worked until 1979.
Mummy and the family were blessed with a son in 1979 just six months before she was transferred to Ibadan, Oyo state and redeployed to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Forestry at Jericho. She and her growing family settled in Ibadan where they were further blessed with two more daughters in 1981 and 1983.
She remained at the Department of Forestry until 1986 and was redeployed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to the Federal Court of Appeal, Ibadan in 1987, where she outstandingly performed her responsibilities and contributed to the overall learning and development of the staff until her retirement in 2004. She retired at the top of the Executive officer cadre of the Federal Civil Service as a Chief Executive Officer and was fondly called “Mama One” by her colleagues.
Mrs Rebecca Bola Olafare was a devoted Christian and member of Bishop Akinyele Memorial Anglican Church, Iwo Road, Ibadan, where she served and was a long standing member of the Church society, Egbe Ife Kristi. Mummy engaged in various charitable deeds and was involved in the Anglican Church activities. Before her demise she worshipped at the St John’s Church of England, Caterham, London, United Kingdom.
Mummy passed on to glory on the 29th of March 2021 in London, at her youngest daughter’s residence. She was a rare gem and will be dearly missed. She was reserved, meticulous, accommodating and had a gentle temperament.
She is blessed with children and grandchildren who love and cherish her and are grateful for the sacrifices she made and beautiful memories she has left behind. “Mum Gudu” as she’s fondly called by her kids, lived a fulfilled and selfless life.
We would have preferred to have her for much longer on this side of heaven to enjoy more of the fruits of her labour, but we take solace in knowing that she is in a better place and resting in the bosom of the Lord our maker.
She is survived by her husband, children, grandchildren, sisters, cousins, nieces and nephews.
May His peace be with you till we meet to part no more.
Sleep on Mum.
Sun re o.
The young Miss Elugbadebo started her primary education at St. Philips Primary School Ile-Ife in 1953. She earned her primary school leaving certificate in 1958 and proceeded the same year to Anglican Girls Secondary Modern School, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria, where she started the initial part of her secondary education and was there until 1959. She then attended Ebenezer Grammar School in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria from 1960 to 1963 where she finished her secondary education and earned her Secondary School Leaving Certificate.
She got married to Mr Kolawole Adisa Olafare from Ojuade compound, Oke-Jan also from Ile-Ife at a Yoruba custom engagement and marriage ceremony conducted by a Priest at her father’s residence in Ile-Ife, followed by the usual pomp and pageantry. She continued and finished her secondary education in 1963 and later settled in Lagos, Nigeria where she worked briefly at the Nigeria Railway corporation until 1965. She joined her husband in 1966 in London, United Kingdom, where he had relocated earlier in 1964. They started life together in the United Kingdom at 3-33 Coningham Road, Shepherd’s Bush, London.
In the United Kingdom, mummy started and did part of her tertiary education at the Chiswick Polytechnic School, London between 1968 and 1969. She also passed the General Certificate of Education(GCE) examination in British Constitution at Ordinary Level in 1969 at the University of London and the Associated Examining Board GCE examination in General Principles of English Law at Ordinary Level in 1970.
She sat the Advanced Level Economics GCE Examination, which she passed in 1970 at the University of London. She proceeded to the West London College, Hammersmith, London, where she obtained her Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Business Studies and was awarded the National Awards in Business Studies and Public Administration in the session 1972/73.
Mummy had started work in 1967 as a Clerical Assistant in the Purchasing and Supply Department of the Post Office at 211 Old Street, London. Whilst working at the Post office, she and her husband were blessed with their first son in 1967 and later their daughter in 1970. She was a devoted wife and caring mother who looked after their beautiful children in addition to working and studying at the time. She continued working at the Post Office until 1977 where she resigned as a Clerical Officer and received an exceptional letter of recommendation highlighting her distinctive conduct and efficiency on the job.
She relocated to Nigeria with her two children in 1977 soon after resigning from her employment at the Post Office to join her husband who had returned earlier to prepare for their arrival. On returning to Nigeria, she was employed by the Federal Government of Nigeria into the Federal Civil Service in 1977 and was posted to the Federal Ministry of Establishments, Lagos, where she worked until 1979.
Mummy and the family were blessed with a son in 1979 just six months before she was transferred to Ibadan, Oyo state and redeployed to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Forestry at Jericho. She and her growing family settled in Ibadan where they were further blessed with two more daughters in 1981 and 1983.
She remained at the Department of Forestry until 1986 and was redeployed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to the Federal Court of Appeal, Ibadan in 1987, where she outstandingly performed her responsibilities and contributed to the overall learning and development of the staff until her retirement in 2004. She retired at the top of the Executive officer cadre of the Federal Civil Service as a Chief Executive Officer and was fondly called “Mama One” by her colleagues.
Mrs Rebecca Bola Olafare was a devoted Christian and member of Bishop Akinyele Memorial Anglican Church, Iwo Road, Ibadan, where she served and was a long standing member of the Church society, Egbe Ife Kristi. Mummy engaged in various charitable deeds and was involved in the Anglican Church activities. Before her demise she worshipped at the St John’s Church of England, Caterham, London, United Kingdom.
Mummy passed on to glory on the 29th of March 2021 in London, at her youngest daughter’s residence. She was a rare gem and will be dearly missed. She was reserved, meticulous, accommodating and had a gentle temperament.
She is blessed with children and grandchildren who love and cherish her and are grateful for the sacrifices she made and beautiful memories she has left behind. “Mum Gudu” as she’s fondly called by her kids, lived a fulfilled and selfless life.
We would have preferred to have her for much longer on this side of heaven to enjoy more of the fruits of her labour, but we take solace in knowing that she is in a better place and resting in the bosom of the Lord our maker.
She is survived by her husband, children, grandchildren, sisters, cousins, nieces and nephews.
May His peace be with you till we meet to part no more.
Sleep on Mum.
Sun re o.