Iyalode Ijawoye: Five Years of Glorious Departure; Her Cherished Memories Still Evergreen

In the early hour of Tuesday, 14th February, 2017, the legendary Iyalode of Emure-Ile Kingdom, Late Ch. (Mrs) M

onirat Iyalode Ijawoye breathed her last at the Federal Medical Centre,Owo after a brief illness. 

Hajia Monirat was born with a siliver spoon to Pa Yusuf Atanneye , one of the sons of Olugbule of Igboroko ,Owo and Mama Fagunorite  Olijaloke of Oloten Family of Emure-Ile. Mama Iyalode maternal grandmother was from Ushama in Emure-Ile kingdom and her maternal grandmother, Princess Yeyedembola was one of the siblings of Olowo Olagbegi (I). Without mincing words,her pedigrees are of great influence and historical opulence.

Late Ch. Iyalode was betrothed to Late Ch. Babatunde N. Ijawoye,the IJANWOYE of Emure-Ile Kingdom. Late Baba-Ariyan-Lojuegbe,a great colossus who also was from Oru/Asolo Family and Elemure Royal Dynasty was famous as Akwapa during Oluwa-Ogajigbo Festival in the kingdom . His maternal and paternal grandmother were respectively from Alajagho Family( Asaba) and Awodimiipe of Ehin-Ogbe, both of Owo LGA. His blood extension is also traceable to Uliji Family of Emure-Ile Kingdom.

Hajia Monirat Iyalode was a great trader and businesswoman with great affinity for business acumen, her people's wellbeing,Cultural Heritage and traditions of her people. She was however not privileged to access western education because of the untimely death of her father when she was young. In 1977 however, during the first Festival of Arts and Culture ( FESTAC '77), Late Iyalode was in the Cultural Group led by Late Madam Arawobako Ajewole, Nee Lemamu Awodimilehin of Emure-Ile Kingdom. In the cultural competition,her group performed brilliantly well but came second owing to unavoidable circumstances . 

For her worthy contributions to Emure-Ile progress and development, Late Iyalode was rewarded with the chieftancy title of Iyalode of the community now a member of Oloten Group of Chiefs by HRM,Oba Japheth Adeyefa Ogundimibola (II) in January 1988. However, Mama Iyalode got her name from her mother's womb. She was titled with her astral influence being a legend and icon. Although, Mama Iyalode was not educated,yet she was not hidden especially in the entire Owo Kingdom. She played prominent roles in the Cooperative Multipurpose Society Union under Pa Idris Olatigbe( Alafia Hotel) as president who is now the head ( Oloriebi) of Olugbule Family.

She was also in charge of the entire womenfolks in the community aside being the head of the Market Committee of Obada Market which she was privileged to be a member of the committee that established it in the late 80's. Based on her ability to mobilize at the grassroots, Mama Iyalode was the Woman Leader of Uso/Emure-Ile Ward (11) under National Republican Party ( NRC) . She later joined United Congress Party of Nigeria ( UNCP) in 1995, then Alliance For Democracy (AD) in 1998 as Nigeria transited to civil rule. She was one of the loyalists of Asiwaju Segun Ojo until Mama eventually joined the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in  2000 , the party she loved and treasured greatly until she breathed her last in 2017 to allign with her husband for the first time politically.

Pretty inspiring,her husband, Late Ch. IJANWOYE was in the SDP as Vice-Chairman; DPN as a critical stakeholder, and PDP as elder till 2001 kicked the bucket but previously with Action Group ( AG) and Unity Party of Nigeria ( UPN). 

Mama Iyalode was a great tactician and strategist. She was indeed blessed with both native intelligence and cerebral ingenuity.

Today her (Iyalode's) sons and daughters are saddled with positions and responsibilities in community and nation building. The Chief Imam Of Emure-Ile, Alh. Bedou Babatunde Ijawoye ; the historian and erstwhile President, Owo Local Goverment Area Students Union, Obafemi, Awolowo ,Adeyemi College of Education Chapter, Comr. Ijawoye Jimoh Oludare; the embattled ASUP Chairman of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo, Engr Rafiu Oluwadare , Hon. Nasirudeen I. Boboye- Ijawoye, the former National Auditor (I) of Freelance and Independent Broadcasters' Association of Nigeria (FIBAN); Emure-Ile Development Council (EDC) Publicity Secretary and State Assistant Youth Leader/Ondo North Senatorial District Youth Leader; the retired Head Mistress, St. Thomas's Anglican Primary School- Mrs M. A Olurotimi;the Abuja based Lawyer and Solicitor,Barr. Sunday Abiodun - Shaba; Pastor Samson Ajijola, former NCCF President; and many others are all integral members of her family.

Of note, Hajia Monirat Iyalode was a great woman of virtue with deeper beliefs in Allah and Islam as her religion. She was a worthy philanthropist and magnanimous individual. 

Her burial ceremonies ( Fidau Prayers) were well attended by critical stakeholders in Islam in the LGA led by Sheik Ahmad Aladesawe, the Chief Imam Of Owo in February and March 2017 . Politicians, traditional rulers and high profile personalities, leaders of trade unions and civil societies, clubs and associations were also on ground during her fidau prayers.May Mama Iyalode's soul continue to rest in Al-Janat Firdaous. Adieu our Amazon!