Nigerians eulogise Olayinka at Service of Songs

Lolade, Lamide and Yeside, daughters of the late Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, with their Father, Architect Lanre Olayinka and the wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi at the Service of Songs in memory of Her Excellency Mrs. Funmi Olayinka,held at The Havens, GRA, Lkeja, Lagos.

The week-long activities lined-up for the funeral of the late Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, began yesterday with a Service of Songs at the Haven Events Centre in Ikeja, Lagos.

It was attended by the deceased’s family, friends, colleagues and associates, who described her as a mother, sister, wife, friend and Ekiti’s brain box.

Others described her as an Amazon of Christ and a rare gem, who served God quietly.

The Anglican Church of Ascension, Opebi, Lagos, where the late Mrs. Olayinka, her husband, Lanre and their children, Lolade, Yeside and Olamide, worshiped said the deceased served the church diligently.

In its tribute, the church said: “She had an impeccable dress sense and was a fashion icon of sort. Mrs. Olayinka sacrificed her leisure for the love of God. She was a licensed lay-reader before her political appointment and never missed her schedule to serve. Her demise has left a vacuum in the church. She was very humble and accommodating.”

For the people of Ekiti State, she supported the governor in poverty alleviation and to attain the state’s 16-point agenda. They described the late Mrs. Olayinka as “a bold and courageous woman, who death took at the prime of her life and when the state needed her most”.

People wept as gospel artiste Lara George sang the Yoruba song titled Ijoba Orun.

In attendance were Fayemi; his wife, Bisi; wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola; Senator Femi Ojodu; Lagos State Deputy Governor Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; her predecessor, Mrs. Sarah Sosan; wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi; former Ekiti State Governor Niyi Adebayo and his wife, Angela; Senator Oluremi Tinubu; former Secretary of Health Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi; activist lawyer Femi Falana; Chief Jimi Agbaje; former Defence Minister Demola Seriki and Ekiti State House of Assembly Speaker Adewale Omirin, among others.

There will be a commendation service for the late Mrs. Olayinka at the Anglican Church of Ascension, Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos, today before her remains would be taken to Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

Last modified: April 24, 2013