Christy Anyanwu

Kayode Ajulo is a lawyer, teacher, speaker, human right activist, notary public and principal partner of Kayode Ajulo and Co and founder of Castle of Law, which is a firm of legal practitioners in Abuja. His mother recently celebrated her 84th birthday. In this interview, he talks about his mum, who fondly calls Maami and showers praises on her.

 Tell us briefly about your mum?

My mother, Mrs Christiana Monisola O. Ajulo (nee Adedeji), a princess, is now 84 years old. She trained as a seamstress, what people know as a fashion designer. She taught me how to sew which made me able to design all my clothes till this day. Later she became a textile merchant and subsequently digressed into books and stationery business. Maami owned the famous Ti Oluwa Ni Ile Bookshop (Nigeria) Limited popularly known as TONIB, which had branches in some cities and towns in the wester Nigeria, namely, Ibadan, Ilesha, Ondo, Akure, Osu, Ikare, Awe and Oke-Imesi.

What motherly advice do you still uphold?

Her main advice is that a person must have integrity. She always insists that integrity is the key to all things.

Can you recall how she disciplined you as a child?

Maami never spared the rod and as I am talking, I still feel nostalgia and trepidation over her occasional twisting of my long ears. Maami is a great disciplinarian and a slave driver. I can vividly recall my first alphabet with her in this interesting mold. She taught me valour, trust, magnanimity, benevolence, integrity, respect for others, boldness, and the virtue of being candid and fearless at all times.

How was life growing up as her son?

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Despite her limited educational background, my mother remains the best educationist I ever passed through; my first and best teacher ever. I am a lawyer and I dare say that Maami was my first Law teacher. She taught me the rules of life, ethics, values and what it means to be an “Omoluabi” – a philosophical and cultural concept that describes a man to be of excellent and enviable character.

Retrospectively, I was weaned in the bookshop. I grew up to first recognize books. As a toddler, I was told that I had no toys but books. Maami might not be a politician, but she is very politically conscious, and always guided everyone around her to avoid the pitfalls of life. She loves Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and she ceaselessly regaled me with her exploits at the palace of the Alake of Egbaland and her acquaintances with the famous Kuti family in Abeokuta. Her desire was that I would combined version of Fela and Beko, but without the marijuana (which was Fela’s trademark).    

You are successful in your career today. How does that make you feel about your mum?

I want to thank my mum for all the unwavering support she has given me over the years. She has always been my biggest inspiration, most encouraging champion and greatest sounding board. She has always told me to never fear flying higher and that ‘impossible’ is just a mere word which can never exist in my dictionary and to date I am a living proof.

How close are you to your mum?

No other person in this world who can love me deeply like my mum. No one can understand me profoundly like her. There is no other person in this world who can motivate and excite me as much as my mum. Irrespective of my overflowing imperfections and my countless mistakes, she often offers me her affection, so open-heartedly and unmatched. My heart is filled with appreciation for all the years of love she has showered me with.

Can you state what makes her stand out as a mother?

It won’t be out of place to address Maami as the mother of our nation, a woman of substance, a truly wonderful woman and Nigeria’s greatest and most ebullient mother. May she continue to eat the fruits of her labour and deservedly too. Right from her youthful years and now as an octogenarian her life has been a source of love, strength and blessing to her loved ones and all those around her. Over the years, she has come to win the love and adulation of all who adore her. Beyond her sound sense of elevated style, which is evidently observed in her choice of modesty; give it to Maami, she is an embodiment of humility, decency, grace and warmth.

Despite that she was half educated, she ensured that all her offspring acquired best education in different fields of professions. We the biological children are eight in number with several others who passed through her tutelage. Today to the glory of God, we are all better educated and resourceful.