The remains of Deaconess Alice Ajigba Meseoran Amupitan, JP, mother of Joash Ojo Amupitan, a Lawyer, Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, is to be laid to rest on June 19th 2021.
Deaconess Alice Ajigba Meseoran Amupitan died on 20th March, 2021 after a brief illness at the age of 85.
According to Burial Arrangements made available to Newsmen by the son of the deceased, Professor Joash Amupitan SAN and Prince Dayo Akanmode, Chairman of Publicity Committee, explained that Service of Songs holds on Friday 18th June at Baptist Primary School Field, Ayetoro Gbede, in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State beginning at 4:00pm.
Lying in State takes place at her residence, G62, Otun Quarters Ayetoro Gbede the following day between 7:00am to 9:00am to be followed by Funeral Service/Interment at Baptist Church, Otun Quarters Ayetoro Gbede at 10:00am prompt.
Reception follows immediately at Baptist Primary School Field, Ayetoro Gbede.
About Deaconess Alice Ajigba Meseoran Amupitan
Deaconess Alice Ajigba Meseoran Amupitan, JP was born at Oke Ganran Quarters (now Iyah-Gbede), Ijumu LGA of the present Kogi State on 14th day of August 1936 to the family of Chief Elega Alemede Atikekeresareewo (Alias “Agbealahere ho hinu ojo”and “Olodo” who later became the Olu (Oba) of Iyah Gbedde, Ijumu Local Government Area, Kogi State, Nigeria. Her mother who was from Akure Quarters, was Phebian Iwojigba Alemede (Nee Dakanmuwon Olojo). She was married to Late Chief Joseph Benson Amupitan on 18th December, 1966 and the marriage is blessed with Children. Both lived a substantial part of their lives at No G62, Otun Quarters, Aiyetoro Gbede, Ijumu LGA of Kogi State.
Education
Born at an era when women education was an anathema, Mama Alice knew at an early stage the importance of Girl-Education. So she did everything to win the heart of her father Oba Elega Alemede to send her to School. She was therefore fortunate among her peers to be one of the few women of her generation to be educated. She started her education and did Primary 1-4 at Native Authority Community School, Iyah Gbede in 1949-1953 and completed the Primary 5 at Native Authority Community School, Aiyetoro Gbede.
After completing her primary education, she got admission to the elitist R.C.M St Louis Secondary School, Bompai Kano in 1955. Shortly after resuming at the college, her father Oba Elega Alemede passed on and owing to financial difficulty, she could not continue her education at R.C.M St Louis Secondary School, Kano. She however, managed to spend one year at the School having to do part time work with some Europeans in the School including taking care of their cats and dogs in order to sustain herself.
In 1957, she had to work herself back home. She applied to Women Teachers College Kabba and was offered admission in 1957. She had to be assisted by her brother Elder Samuel Oloruntoke Alemede to be able to transport herself from Kano to Kabba. Between 1957-1959, she attended Women Teachers College Kabba for her Teachers Grade III Certificate. On completion of her Teachers Grade III certificate, she proceeded to Women Teachers College Omu-Aran, Kwara State in 1963 for her Teachers Grade II Certificate; after teaching at Demonstration Primary School, Kabba for three years (between 1960-1963). She completed her Teachers Grade II Certificate at Women Teachers College, Omu-Aran in 1963.
Not satisfied with her Grade II Certificate, Mama Alice proceeded to University of Lagos between 1982 and 1984 and capped her educational pursuit with a Professional Education Certificate from the Institute of Education, University of Lagos in 1984.
As all work and no play makes Jack a dull man, Alice popularly called “Ajigba Iyah” in her sporting days in the primary schools was always first in relay race.
Work Experience
Mama Alice was employed as a Class Teacher by the then Kabba Native Authority on 1st January, 1960. She worked in many schools traversing major towns in Okun land such as Kabba, Ayetoro Gbede, Aiyegunle Gbede, Iffe Olukotun, Aiyede, Amuro to mention a few, as Class Teacher (Jan 1960-April 1974), Assistant Head Mistress, Head Mistress and District Schools Supervisor in N.A, KDJEC, LEA, LSB, LSMB, OZEB and ILGEA. She was promoted Head Mistress 111, 11 and 1 in May 1974, October 1975 and 1st August 1981 respectively.
She started her teaching carrier at Demonstration Primary School, Kabba, Kabba/Bunu LGA where she established the Home Economic Centre. After completing her Teachers Grade II Certificate at Omu-Aran, she was posted to KDJEC Primary School, Aiyetoro-Gbede (Junior Class) in 1963 before she was transferred to KDJEC Primary School at Ife-Olukotun in Yagba East LGA in 1964. It was while she was at Ife-Olukotun that she met her husband Late Chief Joseph Benson Amupitan who was teaching in the same school. In the year 1964, she was transferred from KDJEC Primary School, Ife-Olukotun to KDJEC Primary School Aiyegunle-Gbede and worked there till 1967. From Aiyegunle-Gbede, she was transferred to KDJEC Primary School, Ayede, Kabba/Bunu LGA where she worked for a year before she was eventually transferred to KDJEC Primary School, Aiyetoro-Gbede (Senior Class). While she was at KDJEC Primary School, Aiyetoro-Gbede (Senior Class), she rose to the position of Assistant Head Mistress before joining Baptist Primary School, Aiyetoro-Gbede where she was Headmistress for 11 years two months. From there, she was transferred to Ijumu Local Government Secretariat as a District School Supervisor.
On 1st January, 1984, she was appointed Head Mistress Special Grade and on 15th May, 1985, she became a District School Supervisor. On 1st January, 1995 she voluntarily retired as a Special Head Mistress with the Ijumu L.G.E.A, Iyara, Ijumu LGA , Kogi State having served for 35 years.
In His Service
Although born to Moslem parents Mama Alice gave her life to Christ and was later baptised in 1953 through the activities of the Headmaster of the Baptist Primary School where she did her early education. She was a Sunday School Teacher at Baptist Church, Aiyegunle Gbede between 1964 and 1967 and it was her erudite Bible Teaching that attracted her to Madam Rachael Oyedele Amupitan (her late mother-in-law who was a leader in the Church) which eventually culminated into marrying her son Late Chief Joseph Benson Amupitan in 1966.
She continued to serve God and was recognised by the Baptist Church which gave her numerous responsibilities – this include W.M.U Secretary for Kwara Baptist Conference (1976—1981), W.M.U Treasurer Ijumu 1 Baptist Association (1987-1992), W.M.U President Ijumu 11 Baptist Association (1993-1998) and W.M.U Treasurer Kogi Baptist Conference (1997-2006). She was an EXCO member of WMU at Baptist Church, Aiyetoro-Gbede until her demise on 20th March 2021. She also served in the Church in various capacities which include:
Coordinator, Igbala and Alafia Society of the Church
Member, Helping Hands Committee of the Church
Grand Matron, Sunmben (Children and Teenagers in the Church).
Mama went to Jerusalem on holy pilgrimage in January 2012 and was in view of her Christian service honoured outside her denomination as a Deaconess by the Christ Apostolic Church, Masaka, Nasarawa State, on 13th October 2013.
Mama was among the Kogi Conference Pioneer Women Missionary Union officers who have served for ten years in 2006 and were so commended. Among the foot prints on her at the occasion are, “Generous to a Fault”, “A dutiful Woman”, “A Patient Treasurer”, “A devoted Leader”, “A Patient and Honest Treasurer” and “Faithful and Diligent Woman”.
Community Service
Mama Alice had the honour of been the rally point to her brothers and sisters as well as her extended family and church including their children and grandchildren in the early age such that as at 1975 she had over 13 people who are not her biological children living with her and her husband.
Mama was Proprietors Representative member on the Board of Governors of Baptist Secondary Commercial School, Iyah Gbede from 1996 to 2001 and Women Representative member on the Board of Governors of Women Teachers College, Kabba from 1980 to 1981.
Mama is well known as lady evangelist who supplies Christian literature/books free of charge to and teaches with the WMU of her local church.
Honours/Awards
1949-1953: Best in Relay Race Native Authority Community School, Iyah Gbede and Native Authority Community School , Aiyetoro Gbede
2006: Commendation as the Pioneer Treasurer, Women Missionary Union by the Kogi Baptist Conference for ten years of meritorious service.
2012: Jerusalem Pilgrimage
2013: Deaconess, Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Masaka, Nasarawa State.
2014: Our Lady Aderewa International School, Aiyetoro Gbede honoured her as one of her four heroines and consequently named her Yellow House after her.
Mama is blessed with five children amongst whom are Joash Ojo Amupitan, a Lawyer, Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mrs Toyin Victoria Ayeni, a Fellow Chartered Accountant, Mrs Funmilayo Olaniyan, an accountant and a businesswoman, Mrs Yemisi Emonisaiye, an Officer with the Nigerian Custom Service and the last but not the least Mrs Titilayo, an Accountant.
Mama is also blessed with 14 Grandchildren some are within and outside the country. She is survived by her Children, Grand Children, Brothers, Sisters, Uncles and Nephews.
