I was born sometimes in June 1934 to the family of Late Chief John Oke Akintunde and Late Mrs Florence Ayeyemi Adeoti Olagbaju. I had no opportunity whatsoever to be given any form of training either in Western Education, Vocational or Trading. Rather, I was made to live with my Paternal Grandmother – Mrs Oragbolabo Olagbaju,a devotee of Osun goddess.
I served my Grandmother for years going to farm and on other errands. It was while staying with her that I learnt a little about herbal medicine. After her death, I was sent to live with Mrs ‘Diwura Durojaiye (of blessed memory) and I served her for years before being introduced to trading by a woman. I was involved in selling Rice which we used buy from Ondo and I recalled treking to Ondo from Oke-Igbo on one occasion.
I later shifted from Rice to Metallic Plates being bought from Ondo and later, I learnt that it can be gotten at a cheaper rate from Osogbo. Let me place it on record here that I never had any savings on my Rice business as all were taken away by my guardian who only gave me pittance. It was while I became involved in selling plates that I started having savings.
The desire to expand this business led me to Ibadan. My first journey to Ibadan was one I still remember with nostalgia. I missed the woman I was to travel with in Ile-ife and so I decided to go alone thinking Ibadan was a small town and with the belief that I will ask for the description to the house of my brother and will be taking there easily in Ibadan, how mistaken I was! I arrived at Ibadan and alighted at ‘Beere’ from where I started asking for the directions to my brother’s house (Brother Bawo – Gabriel Omodojo Olagbaju of blessed memory).
Through Providence and Divine intervention,I got to his house in ‘Agbokojo’ and to my shock and that of everyone in the house, the woman with whom I was to travel had just arrived.
I bought my goods (metallic plates) and headed back to Ifewara. All these while, I was having several suitors but the situation of my life was too overwhelming for me that I did not even bother to give marriage any thought. I was focused on my business.
Sometimes in 1955, a tragic incident occurred. We got a message that my father, John Oke Akintunde, had an accident and the burden of locating him fell on me. I traveled to Ilesa on foot and located at the then General Hospital. He escaped death by whisker. I stayed with him for some days and with the help of Rev’d Oyinlade who had served at St. Stephen’s, Ifewara. We were later referred to Ibadan where we stayed for more than three months (my late sister who also shared the same fate with me, Mrs ‘Yoade Adewole came to join me in Ibadan to take care of our father) before finally returning home.
It was after this that my husband, Jacob Olajide Oluitan, came to ask for my hand in marriage from Mama ‘Diwura Durojaiye in 1956 (at the age of 22) who in turn took him to my father but when he was told that I have been rejecting suitors, he took me straight to the Priest in the Church Rev’d Ajumobi, who prayed for me. I got no Parental blessing but I got Pastoral blessing and this no doubt was to work in my favor in my journey to a polygamous life. As soon as the Priest ended his prayers, I was taking to a waiting vehicle straight to Ilesa where I lived with my husband who was a business man dealing in textile and other stuffs as his fourth wife at the tender age of 22 and into a “polygamous warfare”.
This was how I was married off without any form of ceremony or celebration but thanks to God for the Pastoral blessings as I really experienced a lot of challenges in my “marriage” which I couldn’t have been able to handle with my inexperience and naivety.
I gave birth to my first child after several attempts at conception but died the same day after crying for several hours. To the glory of God, however, in 1958, God visited me and I gave birth to my surviving first son, Noah Abimbola. In all, God gave me seven Children (six males and one female).
I will love to place it on record that my late father begged for my forgiveness for not giving me any form of Education or Training and I told him that he has been forgiven with all my heart. What occasioned this was when I traveled to Aba in Abia State in 1987 to visit my second son who was doing his NYSC program there. My father was surprised that I could navigate my way from Ifewara to Aba without stress. He then said “How would it have been if only I had trained you even if it’s only up to Primary 6”? He didn’t send me to School or given any form of training not because he couldn’t afford it or because of my gender but according to him, “because of the powers that be which are beyond my control”. At least, I have some other female siblings that were either sent to School or given Vocational training.
In spite of this however, I was able to give him the best of care till he was called to glory in 1989.
Well, I thank God that though I was not opportune to be trained by my parents, through the help of God and determination that none of my children will suffer the same fate I suffered, I was able to give the best of Western Education to all my children.
Today, to God’s glory, I am a proud Mother and Grandmother. I am indeed a product of God’s Grace, Mercy and Faithfulness.
This is my Story!!!!
This is a transcription of the audio recording she did on 16th June,2023 at Ilesa and was published at her 90th birthday celebration on 29th of June, 2024
