Ogun gov, Yayi mourn first female minister of cabinet rank, Adenike Oyagbola

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has mourned the demise of Chief (Mrs.) Adenike Ebun Oyagbola, the first female minister of cabinet rank in Nigeria.

Chief Oyagbola passed away at the age of 94 on Friday.

Abiodun, in a condolence message on Saturday, said the life of the deceased politician exemplified shrewdness, courage, humility, and a strong will and passion for service.

The governor added that the late Iyalode of Yewaland paved an enviable path for African women to follow in the quest for gender equality and the active participation of women in politics.

He, therefore, prayed for the repose of her soul and for her family to have the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.

“I want to commiserate with the people and the entire family of Akinola of Igan-Alade in Yewa North Local Government over the passing of their illustrious daughter and a good ambassador of our dear state, Chief Adenike Oyagbola, who made us proud in the Second Republic as the first female minister of cabinet rank.

“We thank God for her eventful and glorious years of service to humanity as a leading politician and celebrated diplomat of high repute.

“May God Almighty rest her soul and continue to protect her lovely family,” Abiodun said.

In the same vein, Senator Solomon Adeola, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, who is also known as Yayi, has expressed sadness over the demise of Chief (Mrs.) Adenike Ebunoluwa Oyagbola is a foremost trailblazer and distinguished daughter of the Ogun West Senatorial District.

In a statement made available by his media adviser, Chief Kayode Odunaro, in Abeokuta, the state capital, Adeola stated that Mrs. Oyagbola hailed from Igan-Alade in Yewa North LGA of Ogun West Senatorial District and had the pioneering honor of being Nigeria’s first female cabinet minister between 1979 and 1983 as Minister of National Planning.

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“I received the news of the passage of one of the foremost women in Ogun State history with sadness. Ma Oyagbola was not only a great woman of virtue and a loving mother to her children but also a role model to many as a public servant, a federal minister, and an ambassador of Nigeria on the international stage. She will be greatly missed,” the senator stated.

Senator Adeola noted that the passing of Madam Oyagbola is not only a great loss to her immediate family, Ogun West Senatorial District, and Ogun State but also to Nigeria, adding that she was a model of a girl child rising to the top with great accomplishments.

The Ogun West senator prayed for the peaceful repose of the soul of the deceased and for fortitude for the immediate family to bear the irreparable loss.