By Dada Ahmed
From time immemorial, death, the inevitable end of man on the planet earth, is synonymous with unpredictable tendencies.
Death has been described, figuratively, as the most hated visitor who upon visiting family, leaves in its trail,lingering, excruciating psychological trauma and sour taste in the mouth of relatives of its victim.
Besides being a respecter of no age, social status, economic, political influence, tribal, religious and other divisive inclinations, man also lacks the knowledge as to when, where, what and how he will die.
This fact of human existence squarely defines the fate of all and sundry living in the universe.
Therefore, because of the unpredictability of death, religious leaders often stress the need for the living to always prepare for the inevitable phenomenon by getting closer to God at every opportunity available to them and being good to fellow human being.
The fate of retired matron(Mrs) Elizabeth Ayodele Adejoke Habuh-Suleiman,born on January 14, 1955 in Egbe, Kogi State to the family of late Mr Joseph Aina Osona of Odo Ere and late Mrs. Tinuola Abosede Osona of Egbe, all Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State typifies this reality of human existence.
Sadly,the world was greeted with news of the death of the 68-year-old matriach of Suleiman family who gave up the ghost recently in Ilorin,kwara state during an illness and was committed to mother earth in her country home at Gadumo quarters, Lokoja, kogi State on April 14,2023.
In all the church activities organised in honour of the deceased,the clerics were at their best in showering encomiums on her for being a committed christian,lover of mankind through out her journey of life.
They all testified that the deceased used her nursing profession to restore the health of hundreds if not thousands of the sick,besides being a dutiful wife and caring mother not only to her her biological children but also the adopted ones.
The biography of the late Mrs.Habuh-Suleiman also indicates that she came to the world,saw and conquered, leaving worthy legacy for emulation.
The crowd that attended her funeral services in Lokoja got to know that at a tender age, Mrs Habuh-Suleiman was taken by her aunt, late Mrs. Christiana Adedoja Owojaiye to Kano where she attended the Holy Trinity Primary School Kano from1962-1968.
She had a strong desire for education and reinforcing learning,a passion that pivoted her decision to attend School of Nursing, City Hospital, Kano, Kano State where she obtained Nursing Certificate to become a registered Nurse in 1973.
Not satisfied with her achievement, she went further to attende School of Midwifery, Wusasa Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna State where she acquired additional qualification-Certificate of the Midwives Board of Nigeria and became a Registered Midwife in 1976.
She later obtained a Post-Basic Orthopedics Nursing Certificate (ONC) in 1984 from Post-Basic National Orthopedics Hospital Dala Kano, Kano State. She later attended a Senior Officers (Training) Course on Primary Health Care (PHC) in 2005 at Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) Topo – Badagry, Lagos Nigeria.
She was passionate about service, committed to assisting people and driven by the desire to provide help and support to as many as she encountered and these were recurring themes throughout her career.
She worked with the Institute of Health, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital as a Staff Nurse/Midwife and Orthopedic Nurse in the Department of Nursing Services between 1976 - 1993 (17 years) at Malumfashi and Zaria. In recognition of her diligence and commitment to duty, she was promoted to the rank of a Nursing Officer in 1980 and Senior Nursing Officer (SNO) in 1988.
The deceased accrued wide experiences in various fields of nursing practices which earnered her an award for service to Humanity, for her meritorious and dedicated services between 1976 and 1993.
Being a Professional Nurse of Great repute and Nurses' Trainer, she was involved in the Training of New Nurses as a Nursing Examiner and Invigilator to several Schools of Nursing and Midwifery under the Nursing Council of Nigeria. She was for many years, a nember of the Planning Committee of the Continuous Nursing Education Programme in Kogi and Kaduna States respectively.
Her selflessness and penchant for putting others first led her to resign her position in the services of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) in 1993 to join her husband in the newly created Kogi State.
She subsequently went on to join the services of Kogi State Hospital Management Board, Lokoja as a Principal Nursing Officer (PNO). With diligence and hard-work, she rose to the rank of Chief Nursing Officer in 1999 and was posted to the State Ministry of Health in the Department of Nursing Services Lokoja, Kogi State 2000 as a Chief Nursing Officer, a position she held until her retirement in 2015.
Mrs. Ayodele Suleiman was a lover of sports while in school as she played active basketball during her nursing school days in Kano. She played for Kano State and took first position in basketball girls event at Kano State First Sport Festival held at Kano in May 1973 and represented Nigeria in all Schools Nigeria-Ghana Basketball Tournament in Accra Ghana.
At the religious level, Mrs. Ayodele Suleiman participated actively in the work of Evangelism in ECWA District Church Council (DCC) at Zaria, Lokoja, Southwest Zone and ECWA National Headquarters in Jos. She equally performed other prominent roles in ECWA Women Fellowship activities.
She was a Founding Member of the 4Th ECWA Church, Otokiti Village Lokoja and served as the Secretary of the ECWA Women Fellowship, South West Zone between 2012 and 2018.
She had earlier served as the treasurer of the 4th ECWA Church Lokoja, between 1996- 2008. (12 years), and as a Member of the Women Fellowship Group, she was a Member/Adviser of the church’s Women Choir.
Late Mrs Habuh-Suleiman also doubled as the Secretary of the Building Committee of the 4th ECWA Church. She was the LEADER of EGBE-ITARA GROUP in the 4th ECWA Church where she performed wonderfully well in all designated roles and as a leader mentoring young women as a role model.
She was elected as the leader of the Lokoja District Church Council (DCC) ECWA Women Fellowship International in 2012 and served until 2018 when she stepped down meritoriously.
Mrs. Elizabeth Ayodele Adejoke Habuh-Rajan Suleiman was a leading figure in the organization of the 75th Anniversary Conference of the ECWA Women Fellowship International held between the 7th and 9th March at Igbaja, Kwara State in 2018.
During her tenure as leader of the Lokoja DCC Women Fellowship, she was able to spearhead the acquisition of a Brand-New Siena Bus for Lokoja DCC Women Fellowship, which invariably makes their movement easier.
It was during her tenure as Leader of the DCC Women Fellowship that the Lokoja Women Fellowship introduced the DCC Women Fellowship Uniform, (a Veritable Vax Cloth) which makes them unique amongst other women any time they go out for programs.
She received numerous merit awards for her dedication and commitment to the advancement of Ecwa Lokoja DCC Women Fellowship, among other outstanding awards.
They include;Award of excellence as a committed secretary to Lokoja DCC Women Fellowship for many years.
Award of excellence and meritorious service as a faithful treasurer of 4th ECWA Lokoja.
Award for commitment and selfless services to the growth of the ECWA Women Fellowship international South West Zone, award for outstanding services as a committed and dedicated ECWA Lokoja DCC member as part of the conference planning committee member.
The deceased was noted for her zeal in Christian work and love for God and humanity. Her love for the needy is reflected in her role as a Member of Dynamic Sisters Association,where she served as the Secretary of the organization that offers humanitarian assistance to the needy, the orphans, the aged, persons living with disabilities and widows.
She was also the Treasurer of the Dynamic Sisters’ Agribusiness Multipurpose Cooperative Society.
She was married to Comrade Habuh-Rajan Sulieman on 22nd December 1984 and they are blessed with three illustrious and wonderful children.
In her family, Mrs. Ayodele Suleiman was the First of Four Children and had played the role of a sister, mother, aunt and mentor to all her siblings, even to the extended family members, and whoever comes across her for assistance.
Aside her three biological children, she had over 15 other adopted, fostered and mentored children that she helped to nurture into adulthood.
She was a strong proponent of peace and family unity and she ensured that everyone around her lived peaceably.
Mrs Elizabeth Ayodele Adejoke Habuh-Rajan Suleiman is survived by her husband, children, grandchildren, siblings, relatives, cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends.
A testimony read to hundreds of mourners during church service for the deceased by Elder Albert Joseph, the leader of the Men Fellowship Leader of the Lokoja District Church Council of ECWA, Kogi State, speaks volumes about the deceased's life.
Elder Joseph likened Mrs Habuh-Suleiman in the Holy Bible to Dorcas and Lydia for their exploits in as said in Christiandom.
Josephine described the deceased as a woman full of good works and charitable deeds that many were weeping at her death because of the good works she did and the lives she touched when she was alive.
The Elder testified that: the deceased
was receptive to God's word, generous to God's work and generous to people around her. Her character and generosity touched lives and distinguished her as woman of substance.
"These two characters, Dorcas and Lydia have spoken our minds concerning our daughter, sister and mother for whom we are gathered here. Ayo was hospitable, charitable, committed and dependable always ready to give her all for the service of our Lord Jesus, very passionate about God's work.
"As a foundation member of 4th ECWA Church Otokiti, opposite Army Barracks founded in 1996, she was the pioneer treasurer, a position she held for about 10 years because of her transparency and commitment.
"She provided medical care to both old and young, her bag became the "FIRST-AID-BOX" she was never caught unaware giving her best. Mrs Ayo Suleiman headed Itara Band, the Band became one of the leading Bands in the church contributing to all church projects and programmes.
"Mrs Ayo Suleiman was a bulldozer, work-aholic and a very resourceful woman. She was a member of the committee charged with the responsibility of raising fund for the new auditorium under construction.
"As Mama was later elected as Lokoja DCC Women Fellowship Leader, she served diligently for 6 years and also became secretary to the South West ECWA Women Forum. Mama Ayo was known among women as "Mama Mu" Hausa words meaning "Our Mother".
"A mother, indeed, she was to all irrespective of tribe and tongue. Mrs Ayode Suleiman became a source of pride to her immediate family, to her church, 4th ECWA, ECWA and the society at large. Ayo did not know how to keep malice beyond a moment, open minded, full of excitement and bubbling with life.
"An ECWA woman to the core, she had the National uniforms of all the men, women fellowships, women and youth wearing the uniform as occasion arose.
"Mr Suleiman, (Abu Rajan), the husband of mummy Ayo, is the hero of mama's success story in the ministry. He gave the opportunity and support the woman needed to excel.
"Infact, Mr Suleiman was the real women leader, the backup and her engine room, missing his dear wife most of the time and missing her delicious meals. He called her 'Church Woman' and also called her 'Omo binrin' being the only female among the five-member-family.
"Mama had 3 wonderful and responsible children all male; Kareem, Salim and Jamil, Kenneth is now a pastor in COZA in charge of one of their church branches.
"The 4th ECWA church building project that is ongoing is the heart-beat of Mrs.
Suleiman, the main character behind the project story so far."
In all,it is instructive to say that the news of death of a fellow human being,such as Mrs Elizabeth Ayodele Habuh Rajan Suleiman, is also an eloquent reminder and ample vopportunity for sober reflections for the living to enable them prepare for their turn by being Godly in all they do.This is because, one day, it will be the turn of one of us.
Given the pieces of evidence gathered from the people, it is evidently clear that the deceased lived a fulfilled life and impacted tremendously in the life of her and many others in her life time.
As the patriarch of the Suleiman family, Mr Habuh-Suleiman, the children and other relatives, mourn the passage of their matriach, we pray God to give Mrs Elizabeth Ayodele Habuh Rajan Suleiman eternal rest and her family, the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
As a friend to the family of the deceased,I can testify to the warm reception she always accord me any time I visited them. I really will surely miss that positive and other cherished disposition she exibited to other visitors to her home, while alive.
She would make you feel so accepted as if you are a member of her family, without any string attached, just natural of her.
Her death, indeed, not just a big loss to immediate and extended family but humanity as a whole.
As Elder Joseph succinctly remarked,
"Adieu 'Mama Mu' Dorcas and Lydia of her time.
"We shall meet again and then
"There will be no more parting."
Dada Ahmed,a Journalist, is a friend of the family.
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