6th April , 2025
Taiwo Ogunniyi
The Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II, has received a wave of condolence messages from prominent personalities and institutions following the death of his mother, Alhaja Hawawu Awele Gbadamosi, who passed away on April 5, 2025, at the age of 94.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State led the tributes, describing the late Alhaja Gbadamosi as “a major chapter in the story of Offa community.”
In a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, the Governor expressed deep sympathy to the monarch and the people of Offa, urging them to take comfort in the impactful life the late queen mother lived.
“Our heartfelt sympathies and prayers are with His Royal Majesty at this difficult moment. We urge him to be comforted by the rare grace of Allah on Alhaja for a fulfilling life and the joy of seeing her children become success stories,” the governor stated.
He prayed Allah to grant her eternal rest in Aljannah Firdaus.
The Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi-Salihu, also extended his condolences, describing the deceased as “a great woman who lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation.” Through a statement by his media aide, Sheu Abdulkadir Yusuf, the Speaker encouraged the royal family and the Offa community to be consoled by the outpouring of tributes that testify to her virtues.
Similarly, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of the Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, expressed sorrow over the loss, saying it is a painful but divinely ordained transition. “Our hearts and prayers are with you at this auspicious moment,” the Emir said, urging the Olofa to remain strong.
He prayed for Allah’s forgiveness and eternal peace for the departed matriarch.
In the academic community, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Egbewole (SAN), also joined in mourning Alhaja Gbadamosi.
He described her as a virtuous woman who lived a life of service to God and humanity.
In a statement issued by the university’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Kunle Akogun, the Vice Chancellor noted that her passing was not just a loss to the royal family but to humanity as a whole.
“The legacy she left behind is evident in the calibre of children and individuals she raised,” Prof. Egbewole said, praying for her soul’s peaceful repose and for strength for the bereaved.
The late Alhaja Hawawu Awele Gbadamosi is remembered for her devotion to faith, family, and community, leaving behind a legacy of honor and inspiration in Offa and beyond.
