Olubisi Folusade Olaniawo
Even as this chapter ends, your story continues...
Through the lives you birthed and the hearts you touched
For the smiles you put on faces and the tears you wiped from cheeks
You loved and were beloved
A Mother, Sister, Aunt and Friend,
You will be dearly missed!
A higher calling…
OLUBISI FOLUSADE OLANIAWO (NÉE FATUNDE)
1955-2025)
MNIM,FPA, JP
Bisi, as fondly called, was born on the 9th August 1955 at Ago-Iwoye in the present Ogun State. Her parents, Mr & Mrs (later Sir & Lady) Sunday Adekunle and Patience Adedapo worked there as teachers after their training at Wesley College and UMC, Ibadan respectively.
Bisi started her primary education at Wesley School, Igan, Ago-Iwoye and continued at Aipate Baptist Day School, Iwo. She started her secondary education at Baptist High School, Iwo and concluded it at Ife Girls High School, Ile-Ife where her mother was transferred to. She did her ‘A’ levels at The Politechnic, Ibadan (1975-1977) and came out in flying colors. She gained admission into the University of Ibadan (1977-1980). She did many In-Service Post-Graduate courses in Nigeria and overseas.
Bisi got married to Wale Olaniawo (of blessed memory), in 1983. The union was blessed with Oluwadamilola in May 1985. She was a dutiful wife to her husband and a protective mother and friend to her son. To her parents, a source of pride and support. To her siblings, a rallying point.
She extended a hand of love, assistance and generosity to her Uncles, Aunties, Cousins and their children.
She did her Youth Service (NYSC) in Ogun State (1980/81) and worked with the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation where she started off her work career as a newscaster.. She thereafter got employed into the Oyo State Civil Service as an Assistant Secretary 2. As an Administrative Officer, she served in various Ministries and Departments. She served diligently and represented the State Government in various fora within and outside Nigeria. She rose to the position of a Permanent Secretary. She retired on 9th August 2015.
Bisi was gifted with the art of keeping enduring friendship. She was loyal, loving, lovable and loved. Many of her friends were childhood ones.
Bisi’s christian life was largely influenced by a number of factors.
She spent a part of her earlier life with her grandmother who never missed 5am church prayer meetings. Mama, most times backed her to the meetings. Bisi’s dad was an organist and church musician. She was a member of the choir and also attended Baptist schools.
She was also a member of the Girls Morning Star at Agbeni Methodist Church and married into the Baptist fold with Wale her husband who was born into a stong baptist household from Iwo. For proximity, she worshiped at All Souls Church, Bodija Ibadan until her passage to glory. She was a member of Morning Star Society.
She was a loving and caring mother to her only child Oluwadamilola, and also to her adopted children. Olubisi's legacy is that of living for other people including family, friends, neigbours, colleagues and strangers; through showing unadulterated love, caring for others and even taking on their concerns and worries.
Of utmost importance is that she gave her life to Jesus. She left saved, we have no doubts.
We will all miss her greatly, But again, we submit to the total will of the creator.
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Bisi, you were more than a close friend; we became sisters the moment we met decades ago, shared great moments of joy, happiness struggles, even pains together too innumerable to mention. In all of these, God enabled and helped us to know that only Him deserves all glory.. Still a dream that I wont hear that soft , chuckling laugh and encouraging voice again, that I wont see that quiet yet purposeful walking, gait and the beatiful, yet peaceful mien anymore!!!
God knows best
Sleep in His bosom, dearest sister
You were so gentle, so soft spoken and you had such a calm mien.
I think of all the memories we had growing up together in Ibadan.
Home., church (Agbeni Methodist church cathedral), girls morning star, etc. shopping together in London at Pronuptia, family events too many to recount!
The pain is still so fresh and the tears still flow.
I pray that God comforts us all especially Dami. May your soul rest in peace and may your memories remain sweet.
Adieu sister Bisi! We love you but God loves you more.
Love you sis, your memory is blessed forever. 💕
Remi Agbeja-Williams
You were also so warm and easy to talk to. You played your motherly role for the family so dutifully and compassionately.
You will surely be missed by family,friends and loved ones
My prayer is that "iwaju te do ju ko a da, eyin te fi sile koni ba je o loruko Jesu
Farewell
Olubisi and I grew up together at Agbeni Methodist Church, Agbeni , Ibadan where our parents worshipped. Both of us, with Bolaji Akinleye another loving friend were members of "Girls' Morning Star" a Society for young teenage girls. Bisi was a very caring friend who was always particular about your welfare and everything that would give you joy. She was ever ready to assist when the need arises, helpful, supportive and caring to a fault.
BISI CARES.
When our mothers were to receive posthumous awards, she made sure we both went to receive the awards.
Any invitation from Agbeni Church was a priority which she encouraged me to attend.
I cannot forget the teenage adventures we had together. She was resilient, empathetic, courageous and motherly.
Olubisi, your memory lives on in my heart, my loving and caring friend. Your calm cool mien was always written on your face.You've touched many lives especially those of my children and siblings, always associating with us, asking after our well-being and supporting us during our celebrations....birthdays, wedding ceremonies, burials
etc.
You will forever be missed, though you are gone too soon. I was looking forward to your Platinum birthday bash in August but God knows best.
Your friendship was impactful and treasured. You had fought a good fight, you had finished the race, you had kept the faith. Henceforth, when the Chief Shepherd shall come, you will receive a crown of glory that fadeth not. (1 Peter 5:4). My husband, children and siblings miss you and pray that you rest in perfect peace in the bossom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.
Adieu! Adieu!! Adieu!!!
I did not imagine I’d have the burden of writing a tribute on you for this instance; I thought I’d do it for your 70th birthday. Man proposes, as it is said, but GOD disposes. All glory to His almighty name.
I became conscious of life knowing my sister as a compassionate and caring person.
Our parents had cause to travel abroad and we, the children, were kept in the disciplinarian hands of our grandmother, then a school teacher. I was then the last of the lot. I’ll leave our elder brothers, Tunde and Deji to tell stories of their tutorials by Mama. They became responsible adult children. Bisi also had the duty of of ensuring my well-being. She played the role happily like a mother.
On our parents’ return, we moved to Iwo. She continued to be protective. We all attended the same primary school. She was a fast sprinter, especially the 100 meter dash. After exercise, participants were given ‘klim’ milk (some of us will remember that milk). She would take her portion and sneak to come and give it to me.
She was a light eater while I was a heavy one. I was rightly or wrongly nicknamed ‘Eba o waste’. During meals, she would pass stuff, especially vegetables to me under the dining table. Like children, we thought our parents didn’t know until a day Mom told her ‘o kare o’. We both froze.
We attended different schools for ‘O’ levels, but we both attended The Polytechnic, Ibadan for ‘A’ levels. She was not very comfortable with my playful disposition. She made no pretense about it so much that I wondered who made her my monitor. A stint of adolescent bickering was nursed. But she was right.
Fast forward.
My sister almost singlehandedly picked the bills for my aspect of my wedding to details, including rings and wears and party, as a duty.
She took interest in all that concerned me till she breathed her last.
She loved me, and so I did.
Will always love and appreciate you, sister.
Dayo Fatunde.
We fondly called each other “Omo Yemi,” a term that made perfect sense because, though cousins, we were as close as sisters. My heart was deeply struck that fateful Tuesday morning when I received the call that you had left us, stepping off the bus of life. It seems you reached your destination far sooner than we could have ever imagined. In your final moments, you appeared peaceful—more serene than I had ever seen you in life. You flew into the great beyond, without a backward glance.
You were full of life, my dear sister. The last time we were together, I could never have imagined that it would be our final farewell. You were always by my side, ready to accompany me anywhere, even at a moment’s notice. We became even closer during the retirement years when the world was shaken by the effects of COVID-19.
My dearest sister, you left us without saying goodbye—no parting words, no wave of your hand to signal that you were leaving us. You worked so hard, and your greatest desire was to see Damilola settled. I hold firm in the belief that your labor was not in vain, and that the fruits of your hard work will be realized.
I find comfort in knowing that you are now resting in the arms of the Lord Almighty, who loved you so dearly. What a precious gift you were from God. I am grateful for the time we shared and for the privilege of being part of your life.
I do not mourn as those who have no hope. I believe that, when my time comes, I will see you again in heaven. Until then, sleep peacefully, my darling sister. Sleep on, Omo ye'mi, sleep on, Mama Damilola, until we meet again, never to part.
With all my love,
Your sister and friend,
Otunba 'Debola Osibogun
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Together, let us continue the legacy of compassion and kindness that Olubisi embodied throughout their life.
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