For all friends, fellow ministers of God, associates and well-wishers of Apostle (Dr.) Elijah Olasoji Akindapo JP, the Founder and General Overseer of New Life End Time Ministry aka Alpha and Omega Chapel, all roads lead to 31, Ola Street, Asalu Bus Stop, Abaranje Road, Ikotun, Lagos as the cleric holds the final outing and thanksgiving service for his late mother, Deaconess Elizabeth Ebun Akindapo aka Iya Alakara Alagunmata, Nee Oyefin.
Apostle Akindapo, a man of excellence known for details with no excuse for levity, has been putting all structures in shape to ensure that he gives a maximum befitting parting gift to his beloved mother who was with him till she breathed her last at over 101 years.
Deaconess Elizabeth Ebun Akindapo passed unto glory on 17th October, 2022 and just about a year of her demise she would be celebrated with a thanksgiving service on Saturday October 21, 2023.
For this auspicious event, Apostle Akindapo will be expecting his friends, fellow ministers of God, members of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) comprising OAIC, PFN/CPFN and others, Old School mates, Ipetu Ijesa town’s mates are all expected to grace the event.
“The event is staged as a honour to my beloved mother who did and gave her best to ensure that we became somebody in life,” explained the host.
Featuring in this one in a life time unique parting gift are retinue of activities commencing on Wednesday 18th October, 2023 with a three-day Open Air Crusade, with Eternal Life as its theme, with different ministers of God across various Church denominations ministering in the word of God, prayers and music.
Another unique feature to add colour to the celebration of a good life lived by the deceased is what Apostle Akindapo called Akara Osu Night.
Akara Osu is the legendary bean cake popularly associated with the natives of Osu in Atakumosa area of Osun State. Every traveller along Ibadan-Ilesa/Akure Road will be familiar with Akara Osu, which has always become a nourishing refreshment to them each time they travel along the axis.
Apostle Akindapo will also entertain and feed his guests with Akara Osu. Why Akara Osu? Mama Akindapo was once in her heydays a very popular Akara baker, and it was one of those means she used to train her children.
So, all guests are prepared to come and ganish akara delightfully in the evening of Friday 21st October, 2023 in Pastor Akindapo’s premises in Ikotun, Lagos.
Speaking on the fond memories of his mother, the cleric said there was nothing too much he could do to celebrate his beloved mother. He told the story of how his mother abandoned her trade to ensure he lived as a child.
According to him, “If there is anything that her children will never forget about their mother, it is about her unconditional love and care for them,” recalling that when he was sick as a child, “Mama left her business and stood beside my sick bed in Wesley Guild Hospital in Ilesa for many months, and for almost a year of taking injections at the hospital.
“Mama rented a room at Ilesa for that one year, everybody believed I would not survive it but she insisted to do her best saying, ‘I will do my best and his creator will know I have tried my best,’ which made him also promise to take care of her and celebrate her even in her death.
Her generosity was not limited to her own biological children as she was a rallying mother to all that cared to come close to her with their various needs and demands.
Meanwhile, friends and associates of Apostle Elijah Akindapo have been paying glowing tributes to the fond memories of Iya Alakara Alagunmata, also known as Iya Ipetu.
“It’s a year now that you have parted from me and my siblings, yet I couldn’t believe you have gone to rest with the Lord. There is no how I will write the history of my life that I will not keep on mentioning and repeating the role you played in my life from infant till death did us part. When everybody believed I would die, you kept on fighting the devil, both with money, prayer and fasting until you conquered the devil at Wesley Guild Hospital Ilesa at the early stage of my life,” expressed Apostle Akindapo.
He continued, “I always remember that time when everybody saw me as a sickler and called me with nasty names, you saw me as a cherished gold, I thank God that you witnessed part of your positive dream about me. You are worthy of today’s celebration because you promised to send all your children to school and you achieved it. Your fasting and four hours daily prayer has produced five able ministers of God.
“Iya Alagunmata, my promises and vows with you remain intact, unshakable and unchangeable till I will come to join you in eternity where we will part no more. Thank you for being my mother, I will live a life fulfilled with happiness and joy just like you and continue speaking of your legacy to my children and grand children,”
In the words of Alhaja Risikat Olayinka, the deceased’s first daughter, “Late Mama Ebun Akindapo was a mother in a million, noting remarkable roles played by her mother in her growing years, school days as well as in her marital life.”
To Professor Jacob Olaitan Akindapo, who is also a minister of God based in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria, her death which did not come as a surprise was a joy because the children survived their mother. “I will never forget your love, tireless caring, humility, faithfulness, righteousness, honesty, diligence and sacrifice. These were the legacies you left behind and it teaches us lesson and we will transfer them to our children in Jesus name.”
Pastor Samson Oladipupo. Also in his own tribute wrote, “As a mother, you have been a guide, an instructor and a teacher, a loving and God fearing mother who loved and cherished her children, and showed us the way of Christ. I could remember those days when you used to wake up by 4.00am and pray to God by calling the name of your children out one after the other and shower them with powerful prayer,”
The in-laws also came with their memories of Mama Ipetu.
“Mama, you were not an in-law to me but a loving mother, I will always remember the first day I came to Osu, your happiness, caring and hospitality that day is unforgettable till tomorrow. You were a wonderful mother. You loved, cared and cherished any little thing done for you. Another thing I loved in you was your forgiving spirit. I pray that your children will emulate all legacies you left behind,” wrote Alhaji Ganiyu Okeowo, aka Baba Ahmed.
The above was also corroborated by Pastor Mrs. Esther Bola Akindapo who appreciated mama’s kindness and love which would remain evergreen in her memory.
There were other testimonies and tributes to the good memories of the deceased by the other in-laws, children and grandchildren as well as members of New Life End-Time Ministry, who were always available to fellowship with Mama at the twilight of her existence.
In a tribute signed by Deacon Gilbert Fafure, the General Secretary of New Life End-Time Ministry, “Mama was a Mother of faith, a devoted servant of God and cherished member of our church family. She was a pillar of strength and source of inspiration for all who had the privilege of knowing her. She remained committed in her support, counsel, contributions, morally and financially, as well as in prayers.”
Other items expected to feature at the outing service are ministration in melodious songs, sharing of the word of God, prayers and eating, wining and dining.
Among those expected are Pastor Dele Asaaju, the Lagos State Assistant Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Kolawole Obolo, Coordinator of CAN in Igando-Ikotun LCDA, His Grace, Most Revd. S.A.O. Adeoye, Pastor Kayode Fadeyibi, Rev. Dr. Olukolade Abiodun, and a host of others.
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