MAMA Mary Adetikan Oyegbile (nee Adesina) was born on March 18, 1924, into the family of Pa Amos Akangbe Adesina of Ile Akoda (formerly Ile Oloya) of Ijeru, Ogbomoso and Mama Mary Ajike of Ile Arowoseobe (formerly Ile Ikupaeleye) of Ijeru, Ogbomoso of blessed memory.

She began her educational pursuit in Ikirun, Osun State. However, she was later recalled home and sent to her uncle in Jos to take care of her uncle’s children. That sealed completely her formal educational pursuit. This, however, did not stop her thirst for knowledge as she vowed to make sure her children were well educated.

In February 1943, she got married to Pa Emmanuel Adesina Oyegbile (of blessed memory). She was baptised the same year on August 8 by the late Rev. J.A. Adediran.

In Jos, where she spent most of her adult life, she was variously known as Iya Alapati, Iya Ibeji, Iya Titi Olaoda and so on.

She was a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was also a caring wife who was supportive of her husband throughout his lifetime.

A disciplinarian of the highest order, she struggled with her husband to get all her children educated. She nurtured her children, grand children and great grand children in the way of the Lord even after the demise of her husband 18 years ago. Her husband died on December 3, 1997.

She was a staunch member of Egbe Itunu of First Baptist Church, Jos, for several years. In recognition of her service to the church, she was awarded a certificate of Long Membership of First Baptist Church, Jos, on December 28, 1988, by Rev. (Prof) J.O. Oyekan. She was also given a Certificate of Recognition as Senior Citizen/Deaconess of First Baptist Church, Jos, in October 1992. She finally retired to Ogbomoso in 1993 where she continued her small retail business and was popularly known as “Mama Jos”.

She was given a special honour by Women Missionary Society (WMS), Masifa Baptist Church, Idi Araba, Ogbomoso, for her outstanding attendance at weekly meetings in 2003. She was a member of Egbe Agab Obinrin of the same Church.

She died on March 3, 2015.