Vice President Kashim Shettima has paid glowing tribute to the late Gbemisola Olowolafe, praising her life of sacrifice, service, and philanthropy at a service of songs held in her honour on Wednesday evening.
Speaking at the event, which took place at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos, Shettima described the late Olowolafe as a woman who lived selflessly, driven by compassion for others and a deep sense of purpose.
According to him, “She lived not for herself, but for others. That is the greatest compliment any of us could receive, regardless of how far we go in our search for meaning.”
The late Olowolafe, aged 63, was the wife of Tunji Olowolafe, Chancellor of Ekiti State University and former Chairman of GZ Industries.
She passed away on Tuesday, 11 March 2025, following a brief illness.
Reflecting on the numerous tributes that have poured in since her passing, Shettima noted, “They reassure us that she was, in the truest sense, a woman of substance.
“Her life reminds us to live deliberately, love unconditionally, and serve humbly. Even in her passing, she calls us to be better and give more.”
He described her as a “matriarch of grace, a philanthropist without fanfare, and a believer in the sacredness of humanity,” lamenting that her name is now spoken in the past tense.
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“To speak of her in the past tense feels like a betrayal of the very spirit she radiated — so tender and so filled with purpose that even death seems an insufficient closure,” he said.
To her grieving husband and children, the Vice President offered heartfelt condolences and prayers for strength.
“May Almighty God comfort you not only with her memory but with the knowledge that she fulfilled her purpose with honour and now rests among the saints,” he prayed.
The solemn ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries including Governors Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Hyacinth Alia (Benue), and Deputy Governor of Lagos, Dr Obafemi Hamzat. Also present were Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Others are Ministers Wale Edun, Atiku Bagudu, Doris Uzoka-Anite, and Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; as well as former governors Babatunde Fashola, Nasir El-Rufai, Gbenga Daniel, Rauf Aregbesola, Niyi Adebayo, and Kayode Fayemi. Family, friends, and associates of the deceased were also in attendance.
However, earlier in the day, Shettima also paid a condolence visit to the family of the late former Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, following the death of their eldest daughter, Abisola Kola-Daisi.
Kola-Daisi passed away recently in the United Kingdom at the age of 42.
Representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he offered prayers for the repose of her soul and conveyed the President’s heartfelt sympathies to the family, especially the former First Lady of Oyo State, Dr Florence Ajimobi.
“You lost your husband nearly four years ago, and now your eldest daughter. I am deeply sorry. The President and the entire government stand with you in this difficult moment. Your husband’s contributions to the nation’s development remain unforgettable, and we share in your grief,” Shettima said.
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