Biography
Early Life
Aderonke Olufunmilola Mosuro was born on the 12th of June 1965 in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. She is the second child and the first daughter in the family of Late Pa Ezekiel Adeyemi and Mama Modupe Tolani Idowu. Aderonke had a very beautiful childhood having been born into a loving and joyous Christian home. Her early years were spent in the Staff Quarters of Ife Girls High School where she enjoyed the fond care of her mother’s students in the school. Her family later moved to Ibadan, where she grew up and spent the larger part of her life. During her childhood, she was popularly known as “Ibukun”, a name given by her maternal grandmother and by which she is known in her mother’s family.
Aderonke started nursery school at the age of four four when she attended Vining Day Nursery School in Molete, Ibadan. She then proceeded to St. Luke’s Demonstration School also in Molete, for her primary education, which she completed in 1976. Aderonke was a clever, boisterous, energetic, and friendly young girl. She was very popular in the school and her elder brother Larry became known because of her! In 1976 Aderonke was admitted into the prestigious Federal Government Girls’ College, Oyo. She left in 1981, graduating with a First Grade (Grade 1) in the West African School Certificate.
University Life
She proceeded to the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, to study Agricultural Science in the Department of Animal Science, from where she graduated in 1986 with a Second Class Upper grade (2:1). Aderonke graduated age 21 as one of the top students in her class. Although she was one of the youngest, she was undoubtedly one of the most brilliant and notable students of that set.
It was just before her 21st birthday, just before she she graduated from University that Aderonke met Ayodeji Mosuro, a not very young man, considering the 8-year age gap between them. Ayodeji was a Customs Superintendent serving in the Oyo State Command of the Nigeria Customs Service. Incidentally, she was friends with Ayodeji’s cousin, Dr. (then Mr.) Adekunle Mosuro, who implored Ayo not to lose this jewel of inestimable value. It was a blissful courtship which was cut short after one year.
That same year, Aderonke proceeded to Ondo state to undertake the mandatory National Youth Service Corp or NYSC. She served in both Akure and Ondo towns as part of the Ondo State Agricultural Development Corporation and Owena River Basin Authority. She excelled in her contribution to the corporation. On completion of her NYSC, Aderonke returned to the University of Ibadan for her Masters Degree in Biochemistry and Nutrition in the Department of Animal Science.
It was while she was on her Masters programme in 1988 that the flame was reignited with Ayodeji Mosuro and the relationship thereafter bloomed and blossomed.
Aderonke graduated from the Masters programme with a Distinction. Her excellent grades qualified her to proceed to the Doctorate programme. Before embarking on her PhD programme in Animal Science at the University of Ibadan Aderonke worked with the Oyo State Agric Development Programme on a UN-FAO assisted project that was created to increase productivity of crops and animal husbandry in Oyo State. She served on the programme as the Technical Assistant.
Marriage and The Move To Lagos
Aderonke however could not proceed with the Doctorate programme as on 16th September 1989, she married Ayodeji Mosuro. Their marriage took place at the Bishop Akinyele Memorial Anglican Church, Iwo Road, Ibadan. In 1990, Aderonke and her husband were blessed with their first born, a son, Adedamola Mosuro in U.C.H., Ibadan. As fate would have it, her husband was transferred to Lagos. At that time, she was working with Oyo State Agricultural Development Programme. She made the sacrifice of resigning her appointment as Programme Coordinator and halting her Doctorate Programme to live in Lagos with her husband and toddler son. She made the sacrifice of taking a break from her academic pursuit and ambition for the sake of her husband and family. She was always ready to do anything for the happiness of her devoted husband, Ayodeji and her family. This would be the first of her many sacrifices and selfless acts, which is reflected throughout their 34 plus years of marriage.
On arrival in Lagos, she joined the Lagos State Teaching Service Commission, where she was posted as a teacher of Agricultural Science and Biology at Ikeja High School, close to Oregun, their place of abode at the time. The family later moved to Ogba, which was still a stone’s throw from the school. Working as a teacher was enjoyable for Aderonke, as she was a natural educator who throughout her life could relate excellently with young people. Aderonke in her usual fashion, impacted the lives of students in the school, notably a young man fondly known as Benji, who she nurtured and ensured that he received tertiary education, leading him to become an architect.
After teaching, Aderonke then went on to do something she had always loved, she became a pharmaceutical sales representative for Broadline Pharmaceuticals, one of the many business enterprises of the late Chief N.O. Idowu, the well-known Ibadan business mogul, who was a family friend. Along with his first daughter, Mrs Funmilayo Oloko (nee Idowu), Late Bukkie Oyetunde (nee Dada), both pharmacists, they transformed Broadline into a profitable venture, acknowledged by Chief Idowu himself and Mr Kishin the Managing Director from India. Ronke and Funmi would make sales in the pharmacies on Lagos Island, no matter how small or big they were. They were true sales soldiers, and their tireless efforts gave the company a solid footing.
The Lord Almighty blessed the family again with a daughter in 1992, AnjolaOluwa and a boy, Oluwatomisin in 1994. Her care for her children was incredible and filled with so much love. Right from their birth, until her death, there was nothing she could not do for them. Aderonke was a loving, kind, generous, vibrant, caring and God-Fearing wife to her husband who she called “Darling” or his pet name “Strote” or his oriki “Adigun” as the occasion demanded. She knew and memorised the Mosuro Oriki even better than her husband because her multi-talented nature was such that her Yoruba was like that of a virtuoso, and she was as eloquent in English. She was a fantastic wife, selfless and generous to a fault, Aderonke, whom Ayodeji gave the appellation of RDD (Ronke Dudu Darling) was simply phenomenal in all aspects of life, but more so as a wife and mother. Simply put, she was the epitome of motherhood and a true and pure reflection of womanhood.
It must be said of Ronke that in her marriage she was truly loving and caring she took her parents in law the late Alhaji G.O and late Alhaja J.A. Mosuro like her own parents, doted on them and took good care of them as they advanced in age. She was loved by her husband’s siblings from the husband’s elder sister Mrs Toyin Coker, through to his younger brothers Gbolade, Remi, Gbade Mosuro and his younger sister Sade Hamsat (nee Mosuro). She was such an integral part of the family that she adopted Ayodeji’s orphaned cousin, Mrs Tope Thomas (nee Ladigbolu) who had been Ayodeji’s mother’s ward upon the passing on of Tope’s mother. Aderonke championed the Mosuro cause always, for example, in making sure the family did not lose their Ijebu-Ode homestead to hoodlums, marauders or by stealth. A truly remarkable woman, Aderonke was simply put, a jewel, an incomparable pearl.
The family relocated to the United Kingdom in 1998 with the thought that the UK would be advantageous to the children’s education. Aderonke took this relocation in her stride, and it was the beginning of beautiful experiences that would last fifteen to sixteen years. On arrival in the UK, her brilliance, dedication, diligence, and can-do spirit made her attain distinctions in many fields. She worked for the Charity organisation, Sense, which helped people with complex needs to get housing. She took on the role of Administrator with total enthusiasm.
Thereafter, she ran into Bisi Gabriel, nee Ogunsekan, who encouraged her to continue her career as a pharmaceutical sales representative in the UK. Aderonke undertook the requisite trainings, sat for and passed the examinations and became certified to work as a Medical Representative. Her first job in this role was with Reckit Benckiser. It was a very competitive industry as it was a tough job convincing GPs and NHS Trusts to use one’s company’s drugs. Ronke excelled with her people skills and natural flair for sales. She worked at several pharmaceutical companies. Her longest stay was at Eli Lilly where she had a brilliant career, becoming one of their most successful Executive Sales Representatives. She was hardworking and was loved by the doctors and health workers she had to relate with over a 14-year period that she was there. While working at Eli Lilly, she made two lifelong friends, Mrs. Kay Midwinter and Mrs Teresa Curran.
The family initially lived in 41 Corringham Road, Wembley, courtesy of Chief N.O. Idowu and family then moved to Cumberland Market, Courtesy of the Badmus family. Bola Badmus, nee Egbedeyi was Ronke’s friend from F.G.G.C. Oyo days. Thereafter the family moved to Firtree Gardens in Croydon before Aderonke took the bold step with the encouragement from Debo and Morayo Ojedokun, her cousin and his spouse, to move to Kent.
Aderonke took the bold step of taking out a mortgage and acquiring the property at the well-known 70 Harptree Drive where she helped a multitude of people in different ways, from housing relatives from Nigeria to housing children of friends and pastors. The house also served as an anchor for the Church which she later pastored. The house became almost like a boarding house, where children could be dropped off so that their parents could go to work at odd times or whenever help was just required. At various times, there were young adults studying in university who Ronke was guardian to. These included Jinmi Odunmbaku, Jide Oladepo, Abies Ero, Tolani Higo, Esosa Ero, Jide Olomola, Jide and Ore Ibrahim, Laolu Segun, Segun Oni, Chuma Okechukwu, to mention just a few.
Aderonke’s generosity knew no bounds. Her husband used to consider himself generous, but he met a gem in Aderonke who surpassed his limits of generosity in leaps and bounds. Aderonke was always ready to help anyone in need at any time, no matter how inconvenient it was for her. She would squeeze time in-between work and her appointments to help her parishioners and was ever ready to share from her fountain of wisdom and experiences. A woman of courage, she would use the resources available to her to ensure that no one she knew would suffer want in any way, whether materially, physically, or spiritually by always giving in whatever form required.
70 Harptree Drive was a place of respite for many, so much so that her colleague and friend Kay Midwinter at Eli Lilly once said that Aderonke was like the children’s nursery rhyme character – the woman who lived in a shoe with many children! In the Summer when people would come from Nigeria, Ronke never flinched from feeding and accommodating the multitude. It obviously gave her joy to give, and she did it unflinchingly and delightfully. She was a loving woman, loving to a fault and the ultimate where generosity is concerned. Life in the U.K. was not a bed of roses; however, Aderonke rose to the challenge. Here was a woman who surmounted challenges with determination and always had a smile on her face reflecting a true zest for life with joy, delight, and gratitude to the Lord Almighty our creator.
Her care for her children was incredible and filled with so much love. Right from their birth until her death, there was nothing she could not do for them. Despite her tight work schedule in the UK she would drop them off at school everyday from primary school, until they moved up to do their Higher School in St. Lawrence College, Ramsgate. She would drive Adedamola, who once fancied himself a rugby star and has now turned full cycle into a lawyer to rugby matches and musical lessons all over the UK. Aderonke was a loving and caring mother who nurtured Adedamola AnjolaOluwa and Oluwatomisin, as only a mother of Aderonke’s mould and ilk could. She was as kind and loving to her biological children as she was to all the children that crossed her path.
Right from early on in her marriage, her home was a haven to all; from Ogba, Lagos where her brothers, who Ayodeji also took as his brothers, could come and nest anytime, to 70 Harptree Drive in Walderslade where countless young people we were not biologically related stayed and were treated as such by this remarkable woman. She was simply angelic and saint-like in her disposition and attitude to life. Aderonke was a true epitome of womanhood, a bridge between substantiality and spirituality. She was the true exemplification of womanhood at its noblest. Aderonke would give her last penny, and with conviction proclaim that the Almighty who cares for the birds of the air will not leave her in want. She was a colossus who bestrode as only a woman of her courage, valour, bravery, and kindness could in the UK at that point in time. Aderonke lived a beautiful and uplifting life in the UK. There were challenges, however she overcame them. Ronke’s life in the UK was one of service to humanity and the Creator. It was also one of gratitude and thanksgiving to the Almighty.
Life In The UK
Relocation To Nigeria
Aderonke was a devoted wife and mother. She and her husband shared a bond which is rare and unparalleled! She and her husband lived apart for about fourteen years he in Nigeria and she in the UK, except when he was on his annual leave which he spent wholly with her and the children always. However, their cord of love remained firm, solid, unbroken, and resilient! She had been dedicated and devoted to the family needs. She cared for her her three biological children, Adedamola, AnjolaOluwa and Oluwatomisin, who had graduated with their first degrees when she decided to leave the UK. Anjola only had a year to go, having intercalated to get a Bachelors in Global Health before rounding up to become a Doctor receiving her MBCHB.
Aderonke’s desire to be with her husband and to support him propelled her to leave the comfort of the UK system. In 2014 she voluntarily retired from Eli Lilly pharmaceutical company and returned to Nigeria. On arriving, Ronke joined her husband in Abuja, where he was posted until he retired in 2015. On his retirement they moved back to Ibadan. Aderonke promptly recommenced her earlier dream of obtaining a PhD. She quickly swung into action and was admitted into the Doctorate programme in Animal Science in the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Ibadan. With her determination and brilliance, she received her Doctorate in record time of three years.
On receiving her Doctorate in Nutrition and Biochemistry, Dr. Aderonke Mosuro applied to Lead City University Ibadan where she started her academic career as Lecturer II. With her diligence and hard work she rose quickly to become a Senior Lecturer just three years later in 2020 and Head of Department of Human Nutrition. Her impact at the Lead City University is indelible both for students and colleagues in her department. She encouraged younger lecturers to get their Doctorates to make progress in their academic careers. She encouraged the students to do well to graduate with top grades. Her diligent work also contributed in no small measure to several programmes being accredited both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Life As A Christian and As A Pastor
Aderonke was a devoted child of God. She gave her life to Christ and never looked back! She worked for God with blazing zeal. Born into a Christian family, she was baptised and confirmed as an Anglican. She attended St Davids Cathedral Kudeti and when the Idowu family moved to Iwo Road and became members of Bishop Akinyele Memorial Anglican Church, Iwo Road, Ibadan (BAMAC) she joined the choir and also the YWCA. She took her religious life seriously, and when she married and relocated to Lagos, she attended the Bola Memorial Anglican Church at Onigbongbo, Maryland, Lagos after which she joined the R.C.C.G Acme Parish, Ogba. She was devoted to soul winning and immediately became a worker, giving her best to seeing many come to the saving knowledge of our Lord and Saviour.
As one of the foundation members of the Solid Rock Parish in Ogba, she was the premier women’s leader. The Parish Pastor at the time was Pastor Charles Adegoke, who is currently the Special Assistant to the General Overseer for South America and is based in Brazil. In Solid Rock Parish, she was assisted by Pastor (Mrs) Bose Oladepo, who has remained a family friend and one of her confidants since the mid-1990s. As soon as the family relocated to the U.K in 1998, Ronke joined RCCG Majesty Court Wembley, where she was one of the most impactful members. She was a pillar in Majesty Court and even after leaving Wembley for Croydon, she became a trustee of the Majesty Court Parish.
The family’s move to Croydon necessitated her joining the Higher Ground Assembly of the R.C.C.G. where Pastor Adeniyi was the pastor in charge. She was a worker in the parish, and thereafter became a Deaconess. In later years, she eventually became a trustee of the Higher Ground Assembly, a testament to her integrity, devotion and commitment to the cause and work of the Lord Almighty. After the family’s subsequent move to Walderslade in Medway, Kent she became the founding Pastor of the Covenant Church. Her house became an extension of the church to all intents and purposes, and for the next ten years, she bestrode the church with love, care, devotion, dedication, and utmost affection.
She was a Pastor and mother to the members and parishioners of the church. For those who did not have cars, she and other members would ensure to provide transport to convey them to church. She provided free childcare services to her members, as children could be dropped off at her house at any time. The young people who resided at Harptree Drive all joyfully participated in church activities, which included rehearsals and Bible study.
Pastor Ronke as she is popularly known, planted the Covenant Assembly of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Chatham in Kent and the same parish has given birth to four churches – Covenant Love, Sittingbourne led by Pastor David Adeyemi, RCCG Ark of God led by Pastor Kolawole Odediran, RCCG Covenant Praise Centre anchored by Pastor Paul Ogunlade and RCCG Freedom House pastored by Pastor Adeniyi Zaccheus. She bowed out as Pastor of Covenant Church in 2014 when she relocated to Nigeria to be with her husband.
On her return to Nigeria, she joined her husband in Abuja and continued to serve and worship in the R.C.C.G. On her husband’s retirement to Ibadan, she also joined R.C.C.G in the city. At the time the Lord called her home, she had become the Pastor in Charge of Youth at RCCG Jesus Chancery, Bodija, Ibadan under both Pastor Wale Popoola and Pastor Jide Ojurongbe.
She was naturally a people’s person and thereby guided the youth in the right direction, grounding their faith, helping through mentoring in all spheres to become better humans, and having a solid relationship with the Lord Almighty. The counselling she gave on life, education and marriage guided a lot of them in making spiritually uplifting decisions and charting causes that always put a smile on the lovely, beautiful face of their Pastor. She always hosted them for meetings in her home where they shared the word of God and bonded socially.
She was a Pastor for all and sundry, security men who had financial problems would approach her, needy parishioners would come to her for help, and she always held out her hand with a smile which was as genuine as it was loving. Simply put, she was a caring human being, asides the fact that she was called to serve in the vineyard of the Lord.
Associations She Belonged To
Aderonke belonged to numerous organisations. Federal Government Girls College Oyo Old Girls Association, 76 – 81 set and a prominent member of the alumni. Her classmates who have remained friends since secondary school days include Mrs Yemisi Alabi (nee Akinyombo), Mrs Bukunola Kolajo (nee Labisi), Mrs Funmi Adeshiyan (nee Adejinle), Mrs Bola Badmus (nee Egbedeyi), Mrs Oyin Nwosu (nee Odeyemi), Mrs Vesiri Odugbemi (nee Sagua) Mrs Bimbo Oguntunde nee Akintoye Ronke was truly a good, faithful and consistent friend to all her friends, both in the U.K and in Nigeria. She was a member of the University of Ibadan Alumni Agriculture Faculty 1981-1986 set. She was the Executive Secretary and a valuable contributor to the Association’s objectives and vision. She was good friends with Prof. (Mrs) Adejoke Mako (nee Osobamiro), Mrs Yemisi Oloyo (nee Oduneye), Mrs Folake Taiwo nee Osobamiro who were all her classmates in university, amongst others.
Aderonke was also an active member of the following societies and associations: Animal Science Association of Nigeria, Human Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Animal Science Association of Nigeria Oyo State Branch, Full Gospel Businessmen/women fellowship, and a Pastor in R.C.C.G Jesus Chancery Parish, Bodija. Aderonke never did anything in half measures, she gave her all in everything that she was a part of and was a committed worker in anything that she laid her hands on. She was always of good cheer and lived with the dictum of kindness and generosity towards everyone she met because for she believed that anyone that needed help could be going through a harder time than herself.
Health
Aderonke was born with Sickle cell anemia, Hbss, however it was impossible to know this without being told, as she was really healthy and embonpoint. She took her drugs diligently and despite being Hbss, took it in her stride. To her credit, she never once complained about her health situation. As her loving husband, Ayodeji says “I found it really amazing and admired her greatly for being so stoic and grateful to the Lord Almighty, despite her health travails. When she had a crisis once in a while, she handled it so bravely, with strength and courage”.
“For her courage was knowing what not to fear” as Plato said aeons ago. She was always grateful, and she attracted great things.
She was, above all, loving and courageous, and she lit up every room she entered with a smile. She could never see anyone in want without extending a helping hand in any way she could. She was of good cheer until the end and had a conviction that no evil could befall her either in life or in death, for she was God fearing, born again, good, generous, kind, loving, and extremely good natured. Aderonke Olufunmilola Mosuro enjoyed 34+ blissful years of marital union with her very dear and devoted husband, Ayodeji Adetokunbo. They were blessed with successful children, Adedamola and Temitope, AnjolaOluwa and Oluwatomisin, and a lovely grandchild, Oluwamayowa.
Aderonke’s home provided shelter and succour to many. She would give her all to see anyone and everyone happy, comfortable, and successful.
Passing On
” To the Glory of the Lord Almighty our God Ronke passed on to the most luminous realms in the early morning of the 3rd of February 2024. “
