BIOGRAPHY OF OLORI CECILIA ADEOLA AKANKE ADEMILUYI

Olori Cecilia Adeola Akanke Ademiluyi (nee Mayomi Williams) was born on 23th June 1935, in Ile-Ife, Osun State. She was the third born and only daughter of late Pa James Mayomi Williams, the foremost court bailiff and madam Victoria Ige Williams (nee Bamgboye).

She with other siblings were nurtured in Ile-Ife and resident at No. 37, Ayeyemoro street, Iremo, ile-Ife.

            Olori started her primary education at S.S Peter and Paul RCM Primary School, Iremo Ife where she completed her standard six in 1946. (She proceeded to St Clare’s Teacher Training College, Osogbo between 1955 and 1956 where she qualified as a professional teacher under the tutelage of (Rev. Sisters). From 1946, she was an apprentice to her mum who was versatile in cloth selling and tailoring and having gotten the initial pedagogic principles, was sent to be thoroughly trained by one of the daughters of Ooni Aderemi, a sewing mistress, who trained abroad and later settled her business in Ife. She cut a sheer knowledge in kneading, and fashion. She became attractive to the fashion industry and was one of the favourites of the town.

She became a pink in the society, admired and adorned. She was widely known and called Peacock by her admirers and suitors. In her thirst for further studies and to follow her passion and her hallmark character of caring for children, she was mentored by Rev Sisters in the teaching profession.

WORKING EXPERIENCE AND CAREER

Olori C.A. Ademiluyi started her teaching career early in life. As a favourite of Rev. Sisters (she was born a catholic), she enjoyed a priviledge of career choice dangled in front of her to either be trained a teacher at Osogbo or a nurse at Onitsha. She willingly embraced being a teacher because in those days, teaching was one of the most prestigious professions and teachers were role models. As was the vogue, Olori stepped graciously into teaching career on January 1st 1953 as a class teacher. Her first teaching appointment was at St. John RCM Primary School, Oke-Atan, Ilode, Ife where she taught for two years. By 1957, she was transferred to S.S. Peter and Paul RCM Primary School, Iremo, Ife where she taught as a class teacher. By 1960, she relocated to Ibadan and was gainfully employed at St. Patricks RCM Primary School, Abebi, Ibadan between 1960 and 1966 where she taught as a class teacher. Also she taught at St. Michael’s RCM Primary School, Yemeta, Ibadan between 1967 and 1975. Immediately after graduating from Local Authorty Teacher Training College (L.A.T.T.C), Ibadan in 1976, she relocated to Ile-Ife and taught at St. Michael’s C & S Primary School, Ogbon-Agbara, Ile-Ife between 1977 and 1981 where she voluntarily retired from active service on May 1st 1981.

Through diligence and hard work, Olori spent twenty eight years (28 yrs) as total length of service from 1953 to 1981. Being an astute teacher, Olori was an emeritus Primary 1A teacher. At St. John’s RCM Primary School, Oke-Atan, Ilode, Ife where she started her career in 1953, Mr. Adeniyi, the Headmaster placed her in primary 1A. Ditto for S.S. Peter and Paul and St. Patricks Abebi, Ibadan. At St. Michael’s RCM Primary School Yemetu, Ibadan under Mrs. Makinde, Olori taught in primary 1A for close to eight years. She equally retired in 1981 as a primary 1A teacher under Mr. C.A. Fasola, the headmaster.

She held many administrative positions and partook in extracurricular activities. She was constantly with her pupils on the field training them in all areas of gymnastics. While at St. Michael’s Primary School, Yemetu, she was reliable and punctual that the Headmistress, Mrs. Makinde, always appointed her food inspector before food was sold to the pupils. In fact, every vendor produced best and sumptuous food for pupils, knowing full well that she would disregard poorly prepared food from reaching the pupils. Olori also had a clean slate of duty performance from all her various postings that she was given recommendation letters to that effect clearing her of any form of misdemeanors.

CAREER

Olori was ever very punctual in school. Whenever she lived, she would arrive school before 7:30a.m. She was never late to school. She woke by 5:00am daily and prepared breakfast for all her children before leaving for school. Some of her colleagues and friends at the different schools she taught were: Mrs. Alao, Mrs. Animasahun, Mr. Onipede, Mrs. Bamigbetan, Mrs. Adekanbi, Mrs. Soroye.

Good night, Iyaafe, a jewel of inestimable value. May your soul continue to radiate with angels in heaven.

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LIFE

Adeola Akanke was twenty one years when she lost her father who was very dear to her. This unfortunate incident reposed the prerogative to nurture her on the mother. Adeola got married to the love of her life – Prince Emmanuel Taiwo Ademiluyi on December 1st 1959. Their marriage is blessed with seven lovely children and grandchildren. Elders of Royal Ademiluyi dynasty nicknamed her after her profession. She was popularly referred to as ‘teacher’. After the death of her husband, and as she aged gracefully, she lived with her-children in Ile-Ife, Ilesa, Warri, and Lagos till she departed peacefully on Tuesday 2nd February, 2023 after a brief illness.

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES

Olori Cecilia Adeola Akanke was a born Catholic, trained and nurtured by the Catholic. She was very active in church activities and deeply religious. She was an active member of St. Mary Society in Ibadan until she relocated to Ile-Ife where she joined St. Theresa’s society of SS Peter and Paul. She was a prayer warrior who prayed regularly for her children like Job. She was always irked by lies and liers.

Mama had a jotter where her special songs were recorded most especially, “Ope lo ye o”, “O mu mi wa laye o seun o” “agbara esu da ni bi ti Jesu ti njoba”, “mo sun layo, mo ji layo” and many latin songs. Olori committed her life to doing good to all knowing full well that life is just a walking shadow. No wonder she wrote in one of her jotters, “I shall pass through this world but once, therefore any good that I can do, any kindness I can show, let me do them now for I will not pass this way again”.

LIFE AT RETIREMENT

Upon her retirement, she became a licensed distributor of products manufactured by Lever Brothers Nigeria Limited for over a decade. She gave her children all she had and extended largesse to anyone she came across. Again she had the license to distribute products of Coca Cola Plc at Asejire, all sorts of assorted bear from brewery Ilesa and through a dint of hard work, purchased a utility vehicle used to traverse the whole length and breadth of Ekiti State. She became wealthy.

She was a devoted mother. Her influential life and unfading memory will forever be cherished and celebrated in the lives of her children. As a loving matriarch of the Mayomi family, her noble life is celebrated by a host of nephews and nieces who all join in grateful thanks to God for a life well lived.

A fe o sugbon Jesu fe o ju, to our much loved and greatly missed mother, grandmother Olori Cecilia Adeola Akanke Ademiluyi (nee Mayomi Williams) we say Good Night.