•Onagbola
It was a very simple but spirit-filled celebration, which lasted for about 100 minutes on Monday, November 26, at a special communion service in commemoration of the 50th birthday of Mrs. Omotayo Onagbola, at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Isolo, Lagos. Senior Reporter, ANTHONIA SOYINGBE, met with the celebrant and she spoke on her life at 50
For this woman who does not look a day older than 35, she has many reasons to celebrate. Though she could have afforded to roll out drums to celebrate the milestone of attaining the golden age of 50, she chose to gather few friends on a Monday morning to appreciate God for his benevolence in her life.
It is not common to have such gathering on the first working day of a week, but people turned out in large number at the special communion service, to rejoice with her. “Attaining this golden age in good health of mind and body calls for celebration really, but the most important thing for me, which I have always longed for, is to come and pay homage before my God on this day, in appreciation of all his wonderful and numerous deeds to me,” Mrs. Omotayo Onagbola said with glowing smiles in response to Sunday Independent question on why she did not postpone the occasion to a more favourable date.
She said she felt great at 50, even as she maintains that she could not notice any change in her.
According to her, “It feels good to be 50, there is no difference. But, I thank God for His many blessings. I am just happy to be there. I am just happy that all that I love and all that are important to me are around me to celebrate the special day with me. I feel so normal and I thank God for his many blessings”.
Life is full of challenges, this she also attested to. For her, she has supernaturally crossed so many hurdles in life due to he unshaken and unwavering faith in God.
Hear her: “There have been so many hurdles and challenges in life, but to the glory of God, I came out stronger and better. I used to tease myself that I am very special. My growing up, my home and everything around me has enjoyed God’s favour and His numerous blessings. God has been faithful to me; there are things people find it so difficult to achieve. But for me, God has been so faithful to me. I have experienced a lot of things, but God has always proved himself.”
This woman, who is married to a renowned administrator in the private sector, attested to the fact that challenges also abound in marriage, just like other facets of life.
She said: “I put God first in making decisions about my home. I am an introvert, while my husband is an extrovert. This has helped our home and it has worked so well. Before we got married, one of my husband’s relatives thought I was pretending because of my nature as an introvert, as I was very reserved. But, 25 years down the lane, we are still together and love each other. He has been good to me for 25 years and God has been faithful to us.”
While growing up, young Omotola was privileged to stay in a vicinity where a certain couple often had issues which they always called on those around them to help resolve. But those they called on would turn back and mock them, hence she resolved never to call on anyone to handle issues in her home.
“We have never called on a third party to help us resolve our issues. As a matter of fact, I vowed before I got married that I would not allow a third party to meddle in my home. I learnt a lot while growing up, hence I made that vow.
“I stayed in a neighborhood in which a couple fought on a daily basis and they called on people around them to help them resolve issues. People often come out to intervene, but at the end of the day, the same people would turn back to mock them. At that young age, I knew I would not live my life like that. I don’t call anyone, not even my parents, or my siblings.
“Initially, when we got married, when he did something I did not like, I burst into tears. He goes out, and by the time he comes back, he would have forgotten, because he forgets things so easily. To me, it is often painful, but when I realised that was his way I changed, because it seemed I burst into tears unnecessarily. God has helped me and no third party has ever intervened in our affairs. There is noting we do not resolve amicably, it just goes away.”
Feeling like a two-week bride, she said with pride, “Love still radiates in my home and I pray, we enjoy that forever. The secret is that I married someone I really love and our love is going stronger day after day. I was not forced to marry him and I did not get distracted by mundane things. When we got married, we had a single chair, a table and a mat. Later we bought a cane chair and it grew like that. We met during our National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Both of us served at old Gongola State, now Adamawa State. We were not forced on each other and God has been sustaining our home. Our love can never grow old.”
A teacher by training, Onagbola grew up in Ibadan and for a very long time she was the only child of her parents. She studied History at the University of Ife and she has been impacting knowledge since 1991. For her, teachers’ rewards transcend monetary gain, the goodwill she enjoys, which also extends to her children, gives her much joy.
“My ideal of reward is not solely monetary; my idea is the way God blesses all you lay your hands on. It doesn’t have to be monetary. Before now, people looked down on teachers for different reasons. But, as far as I am concerned, I am getting my rewards in full doses; my children are doing well to the glory of God, because I believe that whatever one sows, one will surely reap. What I sowed into the lives of people around me I am reaping in my children. I have passion for teaching, I enjoy it and I am very close to my students,” she explained.
“Why did you choose teaching?” Sunday Independent asked, and with much excitement she answered: “One of the many reasons I chose teaching is because it affords women the opportunity to attend to their homes. I have always been good with children right from a very tender age. I taught children in Sunday School during my secondary school days. I have been teaching since 1991.”
Being the first child often comes with loads of responsibilities. Her’s is not an exemption as she still shoulders some responsibilities of her younger siblings till date, though not necessarily financial. She is still committed to looking after their welfare though they are all adults.
Hear her: “My parents were quite strict. Though I was the only child for about seven years, I wasn’t over pampered. As a strict Christians, my parents held some values very dear to them. My parents taught us how to be contented, diligent and hardworking. All these values I imbibed and I am so happy I did. Growing up was fun for me and my parents were so protective of me and my siblings.”