As I attempt to write a memorial to you, my dearest Mother, I can only think of starting by expressing my love and how much I miss you. The most significant aspect of my life has always been you, and you will always hold a special place in my heart.
I am aware that without you, my life will never be the same now that you are no longer with us. You helped me so much and were everything to me. I will always think about you and pray for you because you have been my guardian angel since I was a young child.
My heart broke into a million pieces when I learnt of your death at exactly 2:30pm on February 18th, it feels unreal because we still spoke around 10:00am that day. I’m hurting. The kind of pain that has seized me and appears intent on choking me. 
I have never been through anything as heartbreaking and life-changing as this tragedy. And I know that I might never fully recover from the heartache of losing you. Time may be a great healer, but I doubt I’ll be able to move past this pain.
How I would handle life without you has always been my biggest worry. However, I am aware that Allah loves you even more than I do. My solace and healing will have to come from the Islamic idea of depending on God and believing in His plan.
Given how much you have improved my life, our family’s life, and the lives of countless others, a mother to many. I will continue to be prayerful, devoted, thankful, and comforted.
In addition to being my Mother, you were also my inspiration, my rock, my idol, and my biggest role model. I feel as though you were unaware of how much I valued all you stood for in my life, despite the fact that I told you every day how fortunate and thankful I was to have you as a Mother. 
I want to tell you, Mom, how much your “little last born” appreciates your hardships and hard work as I sit here writing what will be the hardest article I never wish to write.
Bit of your story: You were born in Imeko Local Government, Ogun state in the year 1958. Your Father, Alhaji Rafiu Adesokan was a religious, generous young man who passed away couple of years ago. Your mother is still very much alive.
Being the eldest of three children in a family that was always striving to make ends meet, you grew up in an extremely difficult rural setting. Struggle and hard work framed your young adulthood.
You never attended any school but made a vow that all your children must go to school at all cost with minimum of Bachelors degree, which you achieved before you passed on.
Your narrative is as big as it is interesting, Mom. Throughout your life, you engaged in trading, stayed with your uncle’s wife who turn you to domestic worker, finally ventured into food with your brand name (Iya Nasimot Food canteen) which is very popular. Those who knew you will always repeat and return to one idea when summarising your life, Mom. You will never come across a woman who lived his principles more obediently. Rare was your sort. You were an all-around teacher.
Your approach was straightforward. You set an example for others to follow. Many people who met you, worked with you, and shared in your life rely on your character as the cornerstone of their conscience.
Your lessons are limitless. You were devoted, sturdy, and strong in body and spirit. Every commitment you ever made was fulfilled. Everyone knew that your word was your bond. You showed loyalty. Nothing can ever fully replace the loss you have caused.
The way you persistently kept up relationships with everyone you ever knew demonstrated your loyalty to the people you connected with during your lifetime. You valued yourself as much as you respected other people, and you exuded a quiet dignity.
Even though you are no longer with us, we have the honour of honouring a person who embodies leadership; a person whose life demonstrates a dedication to service and faith, family, friends, and undoubtedly those who aspire to emulate you.Mom, I will always take the time to tell you what a wonderful Mother you were and how you never failed to express how proud and happy you were of all six of us, your children. Every one of us received unwavering support from you throughout our academic, professional, and personal lives.
Additionally, you were always accessible to watch TV, dine, listen and pray. You worked hard to provide us with the greatest education possible. While I was in University, you always call at exactly 7pm to ask if I have eaten and I should enter my room and lock my door.
My Mom can call ten times a day just to check on our well being. My Mom will say…”call your brother, it is getting late, what are they still doing in the office by this time?” lol. You dare not miss her calls if you don’t want to put her under stress.
I will never forget in my 200l days while I was in the exam hall, my phone kept vibrating in my pocket, I was like.. who is calling me?? After the exam I checked and discovered it was my Mom.
Well, she didn’t know I was in the exam hall and she just wanted to check on me. If any of us is on a journey, if we don’t reach our destination, my Mom won’t sleep. From now till tomorrow, I can never exhaust how wonderful you were Mom. The greatest measure of a human being is their love, and that love will continue to develop and endure, Mom. You had a golden heart, and seeing how far- reaching you have been is tremendously inspiring and empowering.
I discovered a long time ago that the best way to truly assess someone’s character is to see how much love they can give, how selflessly they give of themselves to help others, and how frequently they uplift those around them with a kind word, a compliment, humour, or humility. You were incalculable by this very standard, Mom.
To put it simply, without you, Mom, I would not be the person I am today. You gave me some crucial tools for reflection that I can use to confront oppressive institutions. You represented a rather distinct perspective on myself as a self-reliant Yoruba man.
And you taught me fundamental things like facing my own challenges, standing up for what I believe in, being kind and never unkind, remembering how to weep, and never putting myself in a situation where someone may question my morals or my integrity as a good man from a good home. I live by these teachings every single day of my life.
I have felt your hand on my shoulder in everything I do, Mom. Your advise, your rebuke, and your words of support have all reached me. As though you were watching and directing me from right there, I swear to follow whatever you taught me. Even while I am certain that I will always remember you, I also know that your spirit will continue to live on in my heart. “Death leaves a memory no one can heal, but love leaves a memory no one can steal,” goes the saying.
Thinking back on your life and everything you done for us brings back fond memories. Given the abilities you brought into our lives, the pleasant memories will last a lifetime.
In this way, you will always be a part of my life and a benchmark for honour and moral character. I now find solace in the fact that your life, your impact, your legacy, your hardships, and your energy will always be intrinsically linked to mine, Mom.
It gives me comfort to know that you are no longer in anguish and that you no longer had to endure the years of health issues that we witnessed you go through.
I’m grateful for the amazing life you’ve given me and feel incredibly fortunate to have you as my Mother. I am who I am today because of the legacy you left behind, which also keeps me moving forward in life.
Dear Mom, I’ll try my best to follow in your footsteps. Everything I’ve said in this homage, Mama, reflects the thoughts and feelings of all five of my seniors. I am aware that I speak as much for them as I do for myself.I will always love and miss you, Mom, since you are in my heart. More than you may possibly know, you made our family very happy. I salute you, I celebrate you, I honour you for countless reasons, and I am so grateful for so much more than words can say.
My appreciation for you is limitless. I appreciate you protecting me and providing me with a constant sense of both mental and physical safety!
I appreciate you using your actions to show me the value of humour, room reading, and diplomacy. I appreciate you demonstrating to me what loyalty, patriotism, honour, kindness, and honesty look like!
I appreciate you teaching me the value of family. I am grateful for your lifelong protection of me! I appreciate your unwavering support in helping me become the best version of myself.
I appreciate your love, acceptance, and constant affirmation of my worth. You were always there to help me get back on my feet, even when I fell! I appreciate how you correct me when I make mistakes and always turn them into teaching opportunities.
I appreciate you maintaining our family’s unity and making sure my brothers and I always lived in peace and quiet! We appreciate you running so many enterprises to give our family a nice life! I appreciate you teaching me about equality and the value of embracing people who might not be as fortunate or like me. I appreciate you teaching me the value of education.
I appreciate how you have given me the courage to take on whatever obstacle I face! I’m grateful that you taught me the value of modesty, altruism, and the incredible force of both financial and emotional generosity! I appreciate you making my Nigerian ancestry a reality!
I appreciate your great love for me. I appreciate you being who you are! I appreciate you making me feel honoured to be Alhaja Serifat Omowunmi Ajike’s son!
You won’t be forgotten anytime soon. Heaven will be a huge prize for you. We will continue to offer up prayers for you. I want to end by saying a prayer for you, Mom.
“I ask Allah to pardon Alhaja Serifat Adesokan’s soul, show her pity, and provide her a dignified burial. May Allah keep her well, guard the spot where she has slept, open her entrance, reward her for her good acts, and envelop her in a beautiful garden.
May a chilly breeze caress her, and may she be scoured with snowflakes, ice, sleet, water, and all things pure and sinless, like a thoroughly scrubbed white cloth. I ask Allah to accept her into Paradise and grant her a roomy, bright grave. Amen.
