She has been my first teacher, my moral compass, and my anchor through life. She, together with my late father, instilled in me enduring values and she has been my earliest and most consistent model of the Christian faith.

One of my clearest childhood memories of her intentional approach to parenting dates back to when I was about ten years old. She had asked me to memorise the Apostles’ Creed and Psalm 121. On the day she returned from work, I was outdoors playing with friends in 1004 Estate where I grew up. She sent for me and asked that I recite both the Creed and the Psalm, which I did perfectly. I assumed my playtime was over, but she simply smiled and told me I could return to my friends.

That moment stayed with me. It taught me something enduring about faith, discipline, and trust, that when values are properly planted, they shape conduct naturally, without coercion or fear.

Very well educated, she studied at the University of Ibadan and later at the University of Wisconsin, before going on to a distinguished career in the civil service, serving in the Federal Ministry of Education. She was part of the first set of NYSC corps members in 1973–1974, following the establishment of the scheme to promote national unity in the aftermath of the civil war. She gave an outstanding account of herself during that service year, teaching diligently in a secondary school in faraway Potiskum and committing fully to community service.

Her dedication did not go unnoticed. When the then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, directed that one corps member per state should be honoured with the prestigious Head of State’s Award, she was selected, one of only twelve Nigerians nationwide to receive this rare and historic recognition, an extraordinary distinction that reflected her exceptional commitment, diligence, and character.

She built a demanding career as a civil servant and educationist, while also being married to a very busy politician who at one time served as a Member of the House of Representatives. Through it all, she steadied the home front, raising all four of us to be grounded in faith and guided by a worldview of honour, service, and responsibility. She nurtured her only son to eventually occupy the very office her husband once held.

If you observe that I am deliberate about relationships, careful in my conduct, and intentional in my approach to public service, if you see that I am deeply committed to honouring legacy and acknowledging those who have gone before us and shaped our journey, if you see that I am open and accessible yet firm about boundaries, it is because of her consistent counsel. Over the years, she has witnessed how easily even the best-intentioned people in public office can be misled or manipulated.

My path, my walk, is all too familiar to her; she has seen what it means to be an empath in office, first as a wife and now as a mother, and knows only too well the pitfalls to help me avoid. She has consistently provided prayerful cover, guidance, and counsel, and has always emphasised the importance of empathy, compassion, and never leaving anyone behind.

Though Egba from Abeokuta, Ogun State by origin, and Ekiti by marriage, she knows the constituency intimately, its people, its history, and many of my late father’s friends and allies. She frequently reminds me to honour individuals and communities alike, and to ensure that every community feels seen and impacted. Today, as the true life partner of my late father, she has ensured that long after his demise the legacy he built continues to endure.

“What are you doing in Odo Oro-Ekiti?” she once asked, for example, referring to Yeye, my late paternal grandmother’s hometown. That explains why we do what we do. That same sense of memory and continuity is why the very first road constructed in the constituency, facilitated by the grace of God by me, was in Isaba-Ekiti, to honour the enduring friendship between my late father and the late Asaba of Isaba.

To her, history matters, and gratitude must always be expressed through action.

At 78, she remains a steady bridge between faith and service, memory and responsibility, legacy and purpose. I am who I am, in no small part, because of her.

Happy Birthday, Mummy. I love you very much.

*AkinỌmỌAkin*