On Monday October 2, the ballroom of the prestigious Eko Hotel & Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos will burst at its seams as corporate lawyer and philanthropist, Dr. Siju Iluyomade would play host to both the high and mighty in Nigeria and beyond as she celebrates the 90th birthday of her beloved mother, Mrs Henrietta Bamidele Adejumo. For the super-stylish wife of Pastor Idowu Iluyomade —also known as Pastor ID— the senior pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David Parish, Lagos, the day has been planned to be filled with glorious moment and showering of encomiums on her British-trained nurse mother as she joined the nonagenarian club.
The hardworking Mama Adejumo is noted for her gesture in providing healthcare centres and exceptional healthcare services during her active days. She was a member of a group of Nigerian nurses in the United Kingdom who returned home in the early 60s, bringing with them the NGO, Planned Parenthood Federation, an organisation devoted to family planning. Her love and passion for creating accessible healthcare for the less privileged and women was legendary. Her efforts in ensuring good parenthood included leading campaigns and awareness to the marketplace to educate more people on how to prevent maternal death, stillbirth and loss of new born babies. This indelible trait of hers is exemplary of her daughter, Dr Siju, whose all-round efforts in contributing to development of Nigeria, through several humanitarian schemes, is also noteworthy. Aside her daughter, Dr Siju, who is also the convener of Arise Women, Mama Adejumo has been a source of inspiration to many others since her active days. Thus, her 90th birthday celebration has been planned to be an epoch-making event with family, friends, clergymen, top business and government functionaries in attendance. The reception will be preceded by a church service at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos.
