Prominent corporate lawyer, businesswoman and society matriarch, Adenike Margaret Makinde was recently garlanded with the Iya Egbe title of the Anglican Diocesan Women organisations. The event took place at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Okesa, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Saturday, July 3. 

Makinde, 65, is the daughter of the late General Adeyinka Adebayo, the former Military Governor of the defunct Western Region, and the elder sister of Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, the Minister of Trade and Industry. 

She was decorated alongside two other honourees, Prof. (Mrs) lbiyinka Ogunlade and Chief (Mrs) Oluwalana Olonisakin, for her contributions to the development of the Church, the Anglican Diocese of Ekiti. 

The honours were conferred on Makinde and the other two honourees by the Bishop of Ekiti  Diocese and Archbishop of Ondo Province, Most Reverend Christopher Omotunde .

Speaking at the event, Makinde described the honour as an impetus that would imbue her more with the spirit to serve God more zeal and vigour.

She appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to place high premium on charity, especially  empowerment of youth to wean them from social vices.

Makinde stated that most of the societal evils can be curtailed with good home training and better orientation. She said parents and the Church have pivotal roles to play in achieving these goals.

According to her, “The time has come for us to start re-orientating ourselves and come to the realisation that we need to serve God with all our strength. There are women in society that need help and we have to do the best we can as church leaders to assist them.

“Most of the problems confronting our youths are background crises. Some of them are due to lack of parental care, because many of the parents used to abandon their homes in the course of running up and down to make ends meet.

“So, as women leaders in the church, we will organise our women and expose them to how best to raise their children in the ways of God and how to get more economic opportunities that can support their homes. It is our duties to let them know that.

“This honour is the best for any human being, because it is from God. We appreciate the church for counting us worthy”.

In his sermon, Bishop Omotunde, who said the installation was a divine instruction from God, added that the Church was not only honouring the women, but calling them to the service of God and that of humanity.

“I am not honouring you, but only calling you to service. We have called you because God wants you to be there. You should be ready to serve God and humanity, conscientiously. .

“It is not me that has recognised you, but heaven and because of that, you must not disappoint God”, he said.

Bishop Omotunde admonished the honourees to be ruled and governed by the words of God. In his words, “You must carry yourselves very well as children of God. Take after Jesus,  know Him properly and be for Him wholeheartedly”, he advised.

The service, was attended by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, (Makinde’s younger brother), Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, former deputy governor, Ekiti State, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, Bishop emeritus, Most Rev Samuel Abe, traditional rulers, Anglican priests, Diocesan women organisation and several other guests.