Olori Yetunde Tejuoso at 70: A Life of Grace, Humility and Enduring Service!
By Oladipo Akinremi
As Olori Yetunde Tejuoso marks her 70th birthday, tributes have continued to highlight a life defined by grace, humility, dignity, compassion and a remarkable commitment to human relationships.
In a commemorative message titled “Olori Yetunde Tejuoso; 70 Years of Grace,” Oladipo Akinremi, Executive Director of Sky Bank Sierra Leone, reflected on nearly three decades of personal acquaintance with the royal mother, describing her influence as enduring, understated and deeply rooted in compassion.
Akinremi’s tribute presents the 70th birthday not merely as a personal milestone, but as an opportunity to celebrate a woman whose public life has been closely associated with the Oke-Ona Egba Kingdom, the wider Yoruba community and the values traditionally expected of members of a royal household.
The message is particularly notable for its emphasis on character rather than ceremony. Akinremi recalls Olori Yetunde Tejuoso as someone whose influence has been expressed through simplicity, humility, dignity and what he describes as exceptional human relations.
Three Decades of Personal Reflection
A central feature of Akinremi’s tribute is the length of his relationship with Olori Yetunde Tejuoso.
Reflecting on almost three decades since their first encounter, he describes the royal mother’s presence as a constant source of warmth and guidance. He uses imagery of light, comparing her influence to a steady lamp that continues to illuminate those around her.
The description provides an insight into the personal dimension of the tribute.
Rather than focusing principally on titles, wealth or royal status, Akinremi’s message centres on interpersonal qualities. His portrayal is of a woman whose public standing has not diminished her accessibility or humility.
According to the tribute, Olori Yetunde Tejuoso has demonstrated that influence can coexist with compassion and that traditional authority can be exercised without unnecessary distance from the people.
This distinction forms one of the strongest themes in the birthday message.
A Milestone Anticipated Years Ago
Akinremi also recalls the celebration of Olori Yetunde Tejuoso’s 65th birthday, noting that he had remarked at the time that her 70th birthday was already approaching.
Five years later, that milestone has arrived.
His reference to the earlier birthday celebration gives the tribute a sense of continuity, transforming the 70th birthday from an isolated event into another chapter in a relationship that has developed over decades.
He describes the occasion as another “petal of destiny” opening, with the 70th year representing a new stage in the life of the royal mother.
The language reflects the celebratory character of the message while also conveying gratitude for longevity and the opportunity to witness another significant birthday.
A Royal Mother Beyond Oke-Ona Egba
Akinremi’s tribute places Olori Yetunde Tejuoso’s influence within a wider geographical and cultural context.
He describes her as a pillar of strength not only within the Oke-Ona Egba Kingdom, but also across Yorubaland, Nigeria and beyond.
That description underscores the broader expectations attached to traditional institutions in contemporary Nigerian society.
Royal families remain important cultural custodians, particularly in communities where traditional rulers and their families continue to play roles in preserving history, identity, customs and social cohesion.
Within that framework, royal mothers can serve as important figures in community engagement, family representation, cultural activities and social causes.
Akinremi’s tribute portrays Olori Yetunde Tejuoso as having fulfilled such a role through personal conduct and relationships.
Rather than presenting influence solely in institutional terms, he associates it with the ability to inspire confidence, provide support and maintain meaningful relationships with people across different backgrounds.
Grace as a Defining Quality
The recurring theme of grace is central to the tribute.
The title itself, “70 Years of Grace,” establishes the tone of the message, while Akinremi repeatedly returns to qualities including simplicity, humility, dignity and compassion.
These qualities are particularly significant in a royal context, where public visibility can sometimes create distance between public figures and ordinary citizens.
Akinremi’s portrayal suggests the opposite.
He presents Olori Yetunde Tejuoso as someone who has combined royal responsibilities with personal humility, creating an image of leadership that is less concerned with status and more concerned with service.
His observation that she has “demystified” power and influence by clothing them in compassion is perhaps the most significant statement in the tribute.
It suggests that, in his experience, her influence has been meaningful precisely because it has been exercised through empathy and humanity.
A Prayer for the Royal Family
The birthday message also extends beyond Olori Yetunde Tejuoso to include her husband, HRM Oba Dr. Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso, Karunwi III, other royal mothers and members of the wider royal family.
Akinremi offers prayers for continued good health, renewed strength and enduring joy.
The religious dimension of the message reflects the importance of faith in many Nigerian birthday celebrations, particularly milestone anniversaries.
Rather than treating longevity as an achievement solely attributable to personal effort, the tribute frames the occasion as an expression of divine grace and blessing.
Akinremi’s prayer therefore becomes both personal and communal: he asks for continued wellbeing for the celebrant while extending the same goodwill to the monarch and the entire royal household.
The Significance of a 70th Birthday
Turning 70 is a significant cultural milestone in Nigeria.
Such birthdays frequently provide opportunities for families, friends, colleagues and communities to reflect on the journey of the celebrant, recognise contributions made over the years and celebrate relationships built across generations.
For public figures and members of traditional institutions, milestone birthdays can also become occasions for broader reflection on their contributions to society.
In Olori Yetunde Tejuoso’s case, Akinremi’s tribute focuses on the values he believes have characterised her journey.
The message does not attempt to present an exhaustive biography. Instead, it functions as a personal testimony, capturing the impression she has made on someone who has known her for many years.
That approach gives the tribute its emotional character.
A Legacy Rooted in Human Relationships
Perhaps the most important aspect of Akinremi’s message is its emphasis on relationships.
He recalls his first encounter with Olori Yetunde Tejuoso nearly three decades ago and uses that relationship as the foundation for his assessment of her character.
The tribute suggests that her influence has not been limited to formal royal responsibilities. It has also been built through everyday interactions and the ability to make people feel valued.
In an increasingly fast-moving public environment, where leadership is often measured through visibility and public statements, Akinremi’s tribute offers a different measure of influence.
It argues, implicitly, that the lasting impact of a person can be found in the lives of those who have encountered them.
For him, Olori Yetunde Tejuoso’s enduring legacy is therefore not simply her position as a royal mother. It is the combination of dignity, humility, compassion and warmth that he believes she has demonstrated over the years.
Looking Ahead
A 70th birthday can represent both a moment of celebration and a point of transition.
For Olori Yetunde Tejuoso, the milestone provides an opportunity for those around her to celebrate the journey so far while expressing hopes for the years ahead.
Akinremi’s message does exactly that.
His prayer is for continued strength and good health for the royal mother, her husband and the entire royal family.
His closing words, “Long live our Royal Mother, Olori Yetunde Tejuoso,” encapsulate the central message of the tribute: gratitude for a life that has touched others and hope that the celebrant will continue to enjoy health, peace and fulfilment.
The 70th birthday celebration is consequently presented as more than a ceremonial occasion. It is a moment to acknowledge a life shaped by relationships, service, cultural identity and personal values.
For nearly three decades, Akinremi says, he has had the opportunity to witness those qualities at close range.
His tribute is ultimately a celebration of longevity, but also of character.
At 70, Olori Yetunde Tejuoso is being celebrated as a royal mother whose influence, according to the message, has extended beyond the walls of the palace into the wider community and across generations.
As she enters another chapter, the goodwill expressed in the tribute is clear: may the years ahead bring continued health, strength, peace and joy to the celebrant, her husband, the royal household and the communities with which they are associated.
Editorial Note
This report is based on a commemorative birthday tribute authored by Oladipo Akinremi, Executive Director, Sky Bank Sierra Leone. Statements concerning personal experiences, character assessments and descriptions of influence are attributed to the author of the tribute and are presented as such. Wengglobal has not independently verified subjective characterisations contained in the original message.
