TITILAYO AJANAKU DIES AT 73 YEARS
The deceased was a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former chairman premier Local Government Abeokuta and, indeed, the first woman to be elected as a local government chairman in Nigeria.
The late Ajanaku was a trained nurse, administrator and women leader, who was born on January 25, 1946 at Ago-Odo Quarters in Abeokuta, Ogun State. She attended Nawair-Ud-Deen Secondary School, Abeokuta and trained in Nursing at Stobhill General Hospital, Nether-Edge City General Hospital, Sheffield, United Kingdom between 1964 and 1965.
Penpushing further reports that, Ajanaku, was a member of the National Association of Nurses and Midwives of Nigeria (NANNM) and was also one of the top politicians arrested and arraigned in 1995 over phantom coup before the Patrick Aziza-led military panel. The late woman politician dumped the PDP in 2015 and joined the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) ahead of that year’s election
The former President, Olusegun Obasanjo in his reaction , expressed shock over the death of his erstwhile Presidential Adviser on Women Affairs, noting that her loyalty and commitment to women affairs development was exemplary and worthy of emulation.
Penpushing also reports that Obasanjo in a condolence letter also recalled how the late erudite Nursing professional joined other Nigerians to visit in 1998 to persuade him in contesting for the Presidential election.
The former President described her as a woman who would do everything in her capacity to uplift, improve and advance the cause of women, saying, this largely formed reasons for her been appointment as his Women Adviser, the position she served creditably well.
Penpushing reports that, Obasanjo who wrote a personal condolence letter to the Head of the Ajanaku family stated that Ajanaku played a prominent role in his decision to contest for the post of President in 1998.
The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun in jis own remarks expressed shock over the sudden death of Chief (Mrs.) Titi Ajanaku describing the late Otun Iyalode of Egbaland as a foremost political activist, an astute administrator and a woman leader, who served the State meritoriously as the Chairman, old Abeokuta Local Government Council, as well as the nation, at the Federal Executive Council.
“I received the news of the demise of this great woman with rude shock. Mama Ajanaku was a woman of many parts; a trained Nurse, an activist, who fought the cause of women, a politician of high repute and a great philanthropist.
“We will miss her, particularly now that all hands are needed to build our future together. Though she is no more, we are happy that she lived an impactful life, a life of service to God and humanity”, Abiodun said.
The Governor noted that the death of the former Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Women Affairs has created a vacuum which would be difficult to fill, adding that his administration would miss her services, wise counseling and advice.
Penpushing also reports that, while praying God to grant her soul eternal rest and the family, the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss, the Governor urged them to imbibe her exemplary life of service to God and humanity.
