Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has described the late Mama Ajoke Nimota Ipaye as a woman of exceptional virtue whose life of sacrifice, generosity and service left an enduring legacy on her family and community.
Governor Abiodun stated this in a condolence message delivered by the Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi, at the 40th-day Fidau prayer held in honour of the deceased.
The Governor described Mama Ipaye as a pillar of her family and community, noting that her impact extended beyond her immediate household to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
According to him, the late matriarch lived a life characterised by humility, selflessness and generosity, making profound sacrifices for the wellbeing and success of those around her.
He noted that Mama Ipaye’s life was a reminder that some of the greatest sacrifices are made quietly, without recognition or public acclaim, adding that the foundations she laid would continue to endure through the lives of her children and generations after her.
The Governor said the deceased understood that the greatest treasures of life were not material possessions, but the success, happiness and wellbeing of loved ones.
Also speaking at the gathering, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, commended Mama Ipaye for her dedication to raising and supporting her children despite her humble background.
Disu described her as a woman who served her family and community conscientiously until her death, adding that her commitment to her responsibilities remained worthy of commendation.
For her son, Dr Babatunde Ipaye, former Commissioner for Health in Ogun State, the occasion provided an opportunity to reflect on the extraordinary sacrifices his mother made for her children.
Recounting one of the defining moments of his life, Dr Ipaye recalled how his mother sold one of her best necklaces to raise money for his university education after he gained admission to study medicine.
According to him, the sacrifice demonstrated his mother’s determination to give her children opportunities that would enable them succeed in life, despite the family’s financial challenges at the time.
He said the necklace, which represented years of his mother’s labour and personal sacrifice, ultimately became a symbol of her commitment to his future.
Dr Ipaye noted that, as he reflected on his career in healthcare, he had come to appreciate that the lives he had touched as a medical doctor were, in many ways, an extension of the love and sacrifice his mother invested in him.
The 40th-day Fidau brought together family members, friends, political leaders, government officials and other well-wishers who gathered to pray for the repose of the soul of the late Mama Ajoke Nimota Ipaye and celebrate the legacy she left behind.
