Christian and Muslim clerics, family and friends will gather in Ibadan to hold special prayers and bid farewell to the late wife of former governor of Oyo State, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, Olori Tinuade Mathilda Ladoja (nee Ayamolowo), on Monday, December 16.
The prayer session, billed to hold at her husband’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, 2024 after a brief illness. She was aged 71.
Later at 11am, a service of songs will also hold 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 11am.
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, on 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 hold the next day, after the lying-in-state of the body between 8 am and 9 am and funeral service at the Bemil Chapel of Epiphany on Bemil Road, Ojodu-Berger, Lagos,
the same day.
Funeral 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 a Secretary at the Southern Atlantic Oil Services before settling to a career working in diplomatic service, including serving at the Nigerian Embassy in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, during which she met her husband.
She had three daughters, of which two are through a previous marriage.
