Muslim clerics, family and friends will gather in Ibadan this morning, Monday, December 16, to hold special prayers and bid farewell to the late wife of former Oyo State Governor, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, Olori Tinuade Mathilda Ladoja (nee Ayamolowo).
The prayer session, billed for her husband, Otun Olubadan’s Ondo Street, Bodija residence, Ibadan, between 8 am and 9 am, kickstarts a weeklong funeral programme for the departed Ladoja family’s matriarch who passed away on October 14 after a brief illness. She was aged 71.
Later at 11 am, a service of songs will also be held for the deceased, a foremost Christian, woman leader, businesswoman and philanthropist at the Celestial Church of Christ, CCC, Worldwide, Rehoboth International Family Cathedral, Oke Ado, Ibadan, according to a funeral programme issued on behalf of her family at the weekend by Titilola Idakula and Bolatito Egwumba.
The Pastor/Spiritual Head, CCC Worldwide, Rev. Mobiyina Friday Oshoffa and other church ministers from across the world will officiate at the event slated to commence by 11 am.
Olori Ladoja was until her demise, a high-ranking member of the CCC and the only woman to sit on its Council of Pastors, one of the church’s highest decision-making organs.
She was also the Woman President of the Aladura, a conglomerate of the charismatic white garment churches.
Similar services of songs will take place at the Salem Evangelical Christ’s Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Ilupeju-Obanikoro, Lagos at noon, tomorrow, Tuesday, and at the CCC Agidingbi parish, Lagos at 5 pm on Wednesday.
A Christian wake-keep/night of tributes follows on Thursday at the Police College, Ikeja by 5 pm, while internment holds the next day after the lying-in-state of the body between 8 am and 9 am and the funeral service at the Bemil Chapel of Epiphany on Bemil Road, Ojodu-Berger, Lagos,
the same day.
Activities will be rounded off on Sunday with a thanksgiving service at her main church, CCC Unity, Ikeja, Lagos.
An astute business entrepreneur, philanthropist and woman of incredible faith and evangelical passion, Olori Ladoja was held in high esteem within her church and the Aladura Movement for her commitment, contribution and services towards the growth of the church.
Called Prophetess Mother Celestial, she surprised many when, at age 60, she went into the seminary and bagged a degree in theology.
A widely travelled and professionally trained secretary, she had a stint working as Secretary at the Southern Atlantic Oil Services before settling into a career working in diplomatic service including serving at the Nigerian Embassy in Cotonou, Republic of Benin in the course of which she met her husband.
She had three daughters of which two were through a previous marriage.