A memorial mass was held at St Joseph Catholic Church in Oke Ado, Ibadan hosted by Father Joseph Akinbinu and myself an alumni of the school.
Students, staff and old girls came and we reflected in this one hour mass on a great lady and her service to the nation. Below is the complete text of the speech I read on Friday October 23rd 2015 the 10th anniversary of her death. To see a complete album of the activities, pls go to Facebook.com/STCIbadan, the official page which I created and admin.
Biography of Mrs Stella Obasanjo on the 10th Anniversary of her death 10/23/15
Ten years ago we lost a gem. The Late Mrs Stella Obasanjo was born in Irukpen, Esan West in Edo state, Nigeria. She attended Our Lady of Apostles primary school and later enrolled in St Teresa’s College, Ibadan, Nigeria our school and graduated in 1964. She later got her University education at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ife before receiving degrees at Pittman College in the U.K. She married former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1976 when he became the Head of State after the death of Gen Murtala Muhammad. She officially became the First Lady of Nigeria in 1999 when Obasanjo became president. She campaigned heavily for his release when he was in jail. She contributed immensely to our school helping fix infrastructure and building self esteem within our girls. Many of you students here today don’t know her or were too young to remember her, she did lot for Nigeria. Mrs Obasanjo led a campaign against female genital circumcision to outlaw this barbaric act. We will forever remember her as a mother of Nigeria. Please keep her and her family in your prayers daily. When I was in STC in 1975, our long-time principal, Sister Agnes Hassan once said that our school will produce two first ladies and a President. We already have the two First Ladies. Mrs Stella Obasanjo was one of them and Mrs Lam Adesina. Up next is a President and this school will produce one by the grace of God. Mrs Obasanjo always told us to believe in ourselves. She died October 23rd 2005 during surgery in Marbella, Spain. May her soul continue to rest in peace...AMEN
Thank You for listening.
Written by Madam Kemi Omololu-Olunloyo
STC Alumni Class of 1980
October 23rd 2015
