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30th Remembrance: Tejuosos celebrate late matriarch, Bisoye Tejuoso’s enduring legacy

Thirty years after her death, family members, friends, clergy, traditional rulers and descendants of the late Chief Mrs Bisoye Esther Tejuoso gathered to celebrate the life and enduring legacy of the matriarch, describing her as an exemplary woman whose influence remained evident across generations.

The remembrance ceremony, held on Saturday, was marked by prayers, tributes, nostalgic recollections and celebrations of the late Tejuoso’s contributions to industry, Christianity, philanthropy and family life.

The late matriarch, who died in 1996, was remembered as a hardworking entrepreneur, devoted Christian, philanthropist, disciplinarian and loving mother and grandmother who left behind values that continued to shape her family and community three decades after her death.

At the church service held at the African Church Cathedral of St James, Idi-Ape, the Most Rev. Julius Ogunseye described the late Tejuoso as a quintessential matriarch whose legacies in industry, evangelism and philanthropy remained worthy of remembrance.

Ogunseye said the occasion was not merely to mourn the deceased but to celebrate a righteous life and the enduring impact of her good works.

“Today, we are remembering a heroine. We do not remember a bad person but a good and righteous person whose indelible marks remain in the sand of time. The marks of a bad person will vanish,” he said.

Quoting Psalm 112, the cleric said, “The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.”

He added that although the late Tejuoso had been gone for 30 years, her good works continued to speak for her.

“Late Chief Mrs Esther Bisoye Tejuoso is no more for 30 years now, but her good works are remembered every day,” he said, describing her as a chosen heroine who sacrificed herself for her child and family.

At the grand reception held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State, the wife of former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Mrs Olufunso Amosun, described the late matriarch as an industrious and hardworking woman whose achievements continued to speak for her decades after her death.

Amosun said, “I have heard so much about her. I have heard how industrious she was, how hardworking she was, and I learnt how she built herself up from scratch.

“Judging from her offspring and those that we know, starting from her children and the children who are contemporaries of mine, it is evident that she lived a fulfilled life.

“It is evident that her legacy has outlived her, and it would not be foolhardy to use her as a point of contact to pray that one should have beautiful memories, offspring and accomplishments that trail behind one.”

She expressed delight at the large turnout for the remembrance, noting that the presence of the deceased’s children, grandchildren and other relatives was evidence of the enduring impact of her life.

“Today, we are celebrating 30 years since she passed, and you can see that the hall is filled to the brim. We can see her children; we can see her children’s children. So, what else can anybody ask for?” she asked.

Amosun noted that many people who died only a few years ago had not left behind legacies that continued to attract such gatherings, adding that Tejuoso’s impact had endured through her family and the people she touched.

“She left a legacy behind. She left a capacity, and we all know the family that Kabiyesi has accumulated over the years,” she said.

The former first lady also recalled a family photograph she had seen on several occasions, describing it as a source of inspiration and a personal prayer point.

According to her, the photograph showed the family patriarch surrounded by his children, their spouses, grandchildren and other members of the extended family.

She said, “There is one special picture that I sometimes come across from time to time, and I use that as a prayer point as well.

“I see that Kabiyesi calls all his children together at one point in time. I don’t know, maybe it is one day of the year, and they all come. I believe they come with their spouses, their children and their children’s children.

“Just looking at that picture is enough to feel fulfilled. I always use it as a point of contact. There is a common saying, ‘May our children gather around our table.’ Whenever I look at that picture, I just think, this is the true meaning of children gathering around our table.”

Amosun congratulated the children and grandchildren of the late matriarch, praying that her legacy would continue to endure and inspire generations to come.

“I congratulate the children. I congratulate the grandchildren. I pray that Mama’s legacy continues to live on and that the footprints and the seeds that she left behind continue to germinate like a mustard seed,” she adda

Also speaking,veteran broadcaster, Chief Bisi Olatilo, reflected on his relationship with the Tejuoso family and described the love among its members as exceptional.

“The kind of love amongst them is supposed to be uncommon. They love from their hearts,” Olatilo said.

He recalled that he was in his early 40s when the late matriarch died, saying his long association with the family had enabled him to appreciate the depth of her influence.

“Thirty years later, it is nostalgic to talk about her and remember the many things she stood for. But the most important thing is the love she planted in this family,” he said.

Olatilo expressed happiness that the younger generation of the family was continuing to build on the legacy left by the late matriarch.

“I am happy about what all of them are doing today because they are trying to build on that legacy. The love is too much in this family,” he added.

Speaking on behalf of the Oloris, Olori Omolara Tejuoso described the late matriarch as a woman whose life remained worthy of emulation because of her hard work, discipline, enterprise, religious devotion and love for people.

“Her life was a life to be emulated. She was a very pleasant woman, hardworking, diligent, friendly and a person who loved people. She taught people through her character,” she said.

Olori Omolara recalled that the late Tejuoso was an early riser and a tireless worker who demanded the same level of commitment from those around her.

“Mama was so hardworking that even if you woke up at 5am, Mama was already out of the house. If you met her at 7am in the compound, you should know that she had gone to the factory and was only back for the first round before going again,” she said.

“You cannot be lazy around Mama. She was somebody who looked for details, somebody who knew what she wanted and went for it. If you were a delinquent child or worker, you were in trouble with Mama. She wanted people around her to have sharp brains.”

She also recalled the late matriarch’s exceptional business instincts, saying she had the ability to identify opportunities where others saw nothing.

“Mama could see opportunities very far away, things that we did not see. There was a time we came from Abeokuta and saw the hides of cows that had been slaughtered in the market in our compound at the back.

“I said, ‘We did not know that what we neglected was money.’ Mama could see opportunities where others could not. Her eyes saw, she acted and she conquered.”

According to her, the late Tejuoso’s home was also a centre of activity, hospitality and religious fellowship.

“If you came to our house, it was like a Mecca. Everybody was trooping in and out, doing one thing or another,” she said.

Olori Omolara also highlighted the late matriarch’s strong Christian faith and close relationship with the clergy.

“Mama was very close to pastors. She accommodated them, loved them and supported their programmes. Whether it was the Synod, St Jude’s, St Michael’s or St David’s, Mama was always there,” she said.

“Sometimes I wondered what time this woman had to rest. I don't think Mama slept more than three or four hours a day, yet she remained strong and agile.”

She added that the late matriarch supported church programmes and assisted clergy whenever they embarked on projects.

“When any of them wanted to do something, Mama would be there in full force to help and make the place glorious for them,” she said.

The senator representing Ogun Central, Senator Lanre Tejuoso, and Kayode Tejuoso, also recalled their childhood memories of their grandmother, describing her as a “mother in a million.”

They said the late matriarch was affectionate and generous towards her grandchildren, often pampering them when they were younger, but would not hesitate to discipline them whenever they crossed the line.

According to them, her love for the grandchildren was matched by her determination to ensure that they grew up with discipline, good character and a sense of responsibility.

In her remarks,the Iyalode of Oke-Ona, Chief Mrs Irene Kokumo, described the late Tejuoso as a God-fearing woman and one of the pioneering female industrialists in Nigeria.

Kokumo said the late matriarch's achievements were particularly significant because of the period in which she operated, adding that she was also remembered as the mother of the Osile Oke-Ona Egba.

“How do I even rate her? She was God-fearing, and she was one of the first female industrialists in Nigeria,” Kokumo said.

“She was the beloved mother of our dear King, the Kabiyesi, Osile Oke-Ona Egba. In her time, she was very godly and kind to a fault.”

Kokumo described the late Tejuoso as a great woman whose contributions to the growth and development of the community remained worthy of recognition 30 years after her death.

Asked which aspect of the late matriarch’s legacy she would want to see continued, Kokumo identified godliness and empathy.

“Godliness and, of course, empathy,” she said.

A United States-based cleric, Pastor Jame Ademuyiwa, also paid tribute to the late matriarch, saying her memory continued to live in the hearts of those she touched.

“The legacy that Mama left behind and her memory continue to live in our hearts. I am very grateful that I am here today to celebrate the remembrance of Mama after 30 years of her departure,” he said.

Ademuyiwa said he was pained that he could not participate in planning her funeral three decades ago, but expressed gratitude for the opportunity to join the family and friends in celebrating her life.

He added, “I learned a lot of business ideas from her. I pray that the Lord will continue to keep the family and help us to emulate the good life that Mama lived.”

The cleric also expressed pride in the national recognition bestowed on the late matriarch.

“A grandma who was on a national Order of the Niger, that is a big one. I am proud of her". Ademuyiwa said.

Veteran musician, Commander Ebenezer Obey, described the late Tejuoso as a woman of sterling qualities who was full of love and committed to the service of God and humanity.

“She was a woman of sterling qualities. She was full of love. If she had been here today, I would have loved to hear the testimonies of the good things she had done that people are talking about,” Obey said.

He recalled her philanthropic activities, particularly her support for evangelism and the less privileged.

“She was an exemplary mother who loved God and humanity. She sponsored evangelism programmes on radio and was a philanthropist who donated to the less privileged, including the lepers’ colony that we used to visit together.

“Her life was fulfilled in all ramifications. We should all continue to emulate her and uphold the legacy she left behind,” he added.

Speaking on behalf of the grandchildren, Adebimpe Moriolayo and Bisola Lekan-Alabi, also paid tribute to the late matriarch, highlighting her industrious nature, religious devotion and profound care for her grandchildren.

The Iya Ijo of St James African Church, Idi-Ape, also joined other speakers in celebrating the late Tejuoso’s commitment to the church and Christian faith.

Ambassador Adeyombo Oyetola described the late matriarch’s life as worthy of emulation, saying she came to appreciate her sterling qualities more through the late educationist and businesswoman, Chief Mrs Alaba Lawson.

Oyetola noted that Lawson, who attained enviable heights during her lifetime, had also recognised qualities in the late Bisoye Tejuoso that continued to inspire generations.

The tributes painted a picture of a woman whose life stretched beyond her immediate family — an industrialist who identified opportunities, a mother and grandmother who combined affection with discipline, a Christian who supported evangelism and the church, and a philanthropist who cared for the less privileged.

As the family and guests marked three decades since her passing, the dominant message was that the late matriarch's influence had outlived her.

At the reception, guests were treated to sumptuous meals and nostalgic oldie music performances by Commander Ebenezer Obey and Tolu Obey, adding music and conviviality to an occasion dedicated to celebrating the memory of a woman whose family, friends and associates said had left an enduring legacy.

Speaking at the reception, veteran broadcaster, Chief Bisi Olatilo, reflected on his relationship with the Tejuoso family and described the love among its members as exceptional.

“The kind of love amongst them is supposed to be uncommon. They love from their hearts,” Olatilo said.

He recalled that he was in his early 40s when the late matriarch died, saying his long association with the family had enabled him to appreciate the depth of her influence.

“Thirty years later, it is nostalgic to talk about her and remember the many things she stood for. But the most important thing is the love she planted in this family,” he said.

Olatilo expressed happiness that the younger generation of the family was continuing to build on the legacy left by the late matriarch.

“I am happy about what all of them are doing today because they are trying to build on that legacy. The love is too much in this family,” he added.

Speaking on behalf of the wives of the Oloris, Olori Omolara Tejuoso described the late matriarch as a woman whose life remained worthy of emulation because of her hard work, discipline, enterprise, religious devotion and love for people.