Good Bye, Dear Sister!

When I met her barely two years ago, I remembered her name vividly, but I struggled to

recall the face of Miss Charity Edemadide I used to know in the Christian Union of the

University of Lagos in the early 1980s. As Mrs Fakinlede, she came to Iwo for her doctoral

research fieldwork in the use of ICT for study, teaching and research purposes in selected

universities in Southwest Nigeria. As we settled down to the business of administering

questionnaires and she sat in one of my classes, my memories of her came alive. Her baritone

voice and vivacious manners came through as we reminisce about student Christian life in the

1980s. In subsequent months, as we discussed various issues, including urging me to

incorporate ICT into my teaching method, but particularly the character of Christianity and

politics in Nigeria, I was impressed with her critical but generous spirit and unflinching sense

of conviction. Knowing her family background and social pedigree I could only thank the

Lord for her humility.

I was on the campus of the University of Lagos about June when I called to just check if she

was around. I was thrilled to know she was, having not seen her for some time. But I was

soon shocked when I saw her, and she told me about her battle with her health. Yet she was

by no means despondent. I prayed that she would receive the miracle a few in her situation

had received and I trusted that all will be well. All through, her steady bearing in the face of a

threatening health condition was unusual. Her fond wish was to make it till October to clock

another significant birthday and be capped with the golden tassel by the University of Ilorin

for a well executed doctoral research. But it pleased the Lord to call her home and give her

the ultimate graduation.

Thank you, dear sister. I will always remember your spirit of service and generosity, virtues

that are not very common among us today. There is no doubt your faith informed your life

and attitude towards others. Happily, you left behind offspring who in God’s providence will

reap the reward of the good seeds you planted along the way. We shall miss you.