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Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu joined his Ondo State counterpart, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and other prominent Nigerians to pay their last respects to former Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Celestial Olasinmi Akindele Odunmbaku.
The funeral service for the late Odunmbaku was held at the Chapel of Christ The Light, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday, where family members, political leaders, clerics and well-wishers gathered to celebrate her life of service and dedication to humanity.
Among the dignitaries present were the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa; Chief of Staff to the Lagos State Governor, Tayo Ayinde; as well as other political and religious leaders.
Speaking during the service, Sanwo-Olu urged Nigerians to reflect on the lessons from the deceased’s life, describing funeral ceremonies as opportunities for self-examination rather than occasions for mourning alone.
He expressed condolences to the bereaved family, particularly the deceased’s husband, Cardinal James Odunmbaku, a member of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, urging them to draw strength from the outpouring of love and support shown by sympathisers.
“We can say that our Mother in Israel has gone to be with the Lord, but we do not mourn those who have gone before us; we celebrate their lives. Though painful, we thank God that she lived a good life, served well and left behind a worthy legacy,” the governor said.
Sanwo-Olu noted that the tributes paid to the late Odunmbaku reflected the profound impact she made during her lifetime and urged Nigerians to emulate her virtues of compassion, generosity and service to humanity.
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“The condolence is really not for the corpse before us but for those of us who are alive. We must ask ourselves: what lessons are we taking home? What impact have we made? How have we used our positions, contacts and the blessings God has given us to uplift others? The preaching is for the living,” he added.
He prayed for God’s comfort, strength, good health and long life for members of the bereaved family.
In his remarks, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa described the deceased as a devoted Christian and committed public servant whose contributions to the development of women and society would remain memorable.
Speaking on behalf of the government and people of Ondo State, Aiyedatiwa sympathised with the family and encouraged them to find solace in the Holy Scriptures.
“Life is a journey that begins at birth and ends in death. Everyone desires heaven, but no one wants to die. It is therefore natural to grieve when we lose a loved one. However, the Bible reminds us that precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints,” he said.
The governor commended the late Odunmbaku’s service as Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, noting that she championed policies and programmes that promoted women’s economic empowerment and political participation in Ondo State.
He prayed that God would grant the family the strength and grace to bear the loss, describing the late former commissioner as a woman whose legacy of dedicated public service would continue to inspire generations.
