Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Tunde Lemo’s mother, Mrs Eunice Olufolake Lemo was born on November 11, 1932 at Olofin-Odo village, Orile-Imo community in Obafemi-Owode Local Government area of Ogun State to the family of Pa Amos Ogunrinde Olubiyi (alias Baba Elekuro) and Madam Victoria Yoriola Olubiyi, both of blessed memory. Mrs. Eunice Lemo was the only issue of her mother.
Mr. Tunde Lemo, ex-Deputy Governor of CBN
Young Miss Folake Olubiyi (as she then was) attended Anglican School Orile-Imo between 1939 and 1945 where she read up to Standard Four. She completed her Standard Six education at All Saints (Anglican) School Owode in 1948. Her academic brilliance earned her the nick-name ‘Yanriyan’, thus taking after her elder brother Late Mr. Jack Olubiyi, also highly respected for his brilliance, who was ‘Yaro’ (Hausa names for young girl and young boy respectively).
She commenced her teaching career as a junior teacher in 1949 at African Church School, Meesan in Ifo Local Government under Mr David Sogaolu. She was later transferred to African Church School, Onikoko near Itori Railway Station.
Young Miss Olubiyi got married to Late Chief Ezekiel Olukolajo Lemo in 1950, at a tender age of 18. She was off her teaching career between 1951 and 1955 to enable her settle down in her matrimonial home and devote time for her children. This became expedient being the only child of her mother. During this period, she opted for very flexible jobs including petty trading and adire making.
She however returned to her teaching job in 1956 when she joined St. James’s School, Orile Ilugun, Odeda as a Class Teacher. Her other duty posts are as follows:
Between 1976 and 1978 she embarked on in-service training at St. Leo’s College, Abeokuta where she obtained Grade 11 Teachers Certificate. She retired from active teaching service in 1984 at the age of 52. She later devoted her time to the service of God and her community. She was highly industrious and supported the family with proceeds of other vocations in addition to her meager income as a teacher. She was a book-seller especially during long vacation. She also introduced her children to this trade who became regular faces on market days at Sapon, Owode, Obafemi, to mention a few in the mid to late seventies.
Mama remained a loyal wife and became a rallying point in spite of the fact that her late husband married more wives after her. She contributed to the training of some of her step-children including taking them to her station for their early education. She was gentle and generous to a fault. She turned down an offer to relocate to a self contained apartment after the demise of her husband. She retorted: ‘My husband left me to manage the home for him at his departure. ‘What will I tell him in future when I meet him in heaven?’….I will live and die in my matrimonial home’
A committed and Spirit filled Christian, Mrs Folake Lemo was a member of Ore-Ofe Society of St. John’s Church Igbein Abeokuta. She also fellowshipped with Deeper Life Christian Ministry. She loved to take a back seat.