TRIBUTE: Mama Hilda Joanne Adefarasin, By Simbo Olorunfemi

In celebrating Pastor Paul Adefarasin on the occasion of his 60th Birthday on January 25th, I felt inclined to weave into his story the story of his Mum. In fact, the tribute opened with the story of Mama Hilda. In doing that, I did not and could not have known that Mama was going to pass on within 2 weeks of that at the age of 98.

Last Friday, family and friends gathered at the Guiding Light Assembly, Ikoyi for a funeral service in her honour and a life defined by exemplary service to humanity and God.

I was particularly touched by the quality of the event, excellently organised and moderated with every piece of the occasion kept simple, warm and fitting. Not even the presence of dignitaries intruded into the mood, it was simply kept as a ‘proper’ Church service. Neither the Vice President nor the Governor took to the podium to speak. If only we can always keep things this simple.

I made my way in just as the service was about to start and there he was – General Yakubu Gowon, seated with his wife of over 50 years. Ever courteous, he politely acknowledged my courtesy as I walked past. I would not have known about his connection with the family until that day.

Same with others such as Otunba Subomi Balogun and Princess Abbah Adesanya until it was mentioned and I later found out, reading the commemorative book of tributes.

I first encountered Mama Adefarasin in my early years studying ‘current affairs’. I would then meet years later in Church. She was as distinguished as one had imagined her. Seeing her in real life in the early years at the Household of God, where she was the highly respected Elder in a Church largely populated by the Youth. She exuded an uncommon poise and dignity at the time that you couldn’t but recognise her place and accord her honour.

Mama’s devotion to the service of God, which was quite evident in those early days at Household didn’t take too long to yield dividends, with her children turning in the direction of wholesome dedication to the service of God.

Apparently, Mama’s many years of service to humanity significantly shaped the direction the lives of her children have taken and their commitment to serving humanity.

For those on us on the outside, what was most striking about Mama was her soft-spoken nature. Indeed, family members testified to her many virtues – patience, humility and overriding sense of contentment. But they equally make it clear that she was as strong as she was soft. Her soft-spoken nature was not to be mistaken for weakness. She was firm and renowned as a disciplinarian that her children endearingly nicknamed her Sergeant Major.

Mama Hilda Joanne Adefarasin (nee Petgrave) was born into a family that had emigrated from West Indies. She schooled in Lagos, Accra and London, starting with Secretarial training before switching to Midwifery and Nursing. It was in the course of her career in Nursing that she, along with others, founded the Professional Association of Trained Nurses of Nigeria (PATNON).

It was as Representative of PATNON, which she was not only a founding member but the Secretary, that she joined the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS). Upon resigning her job at General Hospital, Lagos in 1968, she focused on the professional activities of the NCWS.

She was elected Treasurer in 1971, serving for 9 years and later elected in 1984 as President, going on to serve for a remarkable 4 years, which thrusted the NCWS into national prominence, pushing onto the front burner the programme on immunisation, while laying the foundation for bringing onto national consciousness the issue of Vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) VVF, which was largely unknown then. She would later serve as one of only two members of the Political Bureau, set up by President Babangida to chart a new political future for Nigeria.

It is a testimony to the enduring nature of the relationship that she and her family had formed with the Gowons while the General was Head of State, which saw her playing the role of Matron of Honour at their wedding in 1969 and Pastor Paul as ring-bearer, that saw the General and wife physically present for the funeral service.

The eulogy that was delivered at the Funeral service takes a cue from her name, Hilda, said to be originally a German name, which means ‘warrior woman’, in summing up her life. “Hilda Adefarasin was indeed a woman who embraced life with the spirit of a warrior, and the graceful poise of a Princess. Nothing could deter nor break her.” Her life was a case for the enduring nature of soft power.