Deju Deborah Edekin

BIOGRAPHY OF LATE CHIEF (MADAM) DEJU DEBORAH EDEKIN.

EARLY LIFEChief (Madam) Deju Deborah Edekin (Popularly known as Mama Deju) was born in the year 1935 to the family of Chief Osanyintoyin Anthony and Orasun Oturu of royal house of Imoru in Ose Local Government area of Ondo-State.She had little knowledge of her mother who died while she was still a kid. She was the only child of her mother. Mama Deju was brought up by her grandmother Ayealu.

As a result of challenges of early stage of life, she had little or no Western Education. She was involved most of her life into trading in farm products, distribution of frozen fish, rice, bush meat etc. she was committed to them that customers come from far and near, to either supply or buy from her. She specializes in buying crops when they are fresh from harvest, preserve them (storage) and sell at a later date.

She lends/sponsors farmers who lack finance for running their business activities like cocoa, maize, pepper, ogbono etc who at harvest pay her back with harvested seeds at every points of her life, there are always a long list of those who are either owing her money or crops.

Mama Deju got married to late Mr Phillip Omije Edikin in Ijagba of Ose Local Government area. She’s not only mother to her biological children but had numerous people that passed through her roof, guide, counselling and sponsorship, step children, cousins and neigbours attest to that.

COMMUNITY LIFEShe coordinate both strangers who dwell with them in meetings, cooperative, contributions and market Associations. When non-indigenes who live in the village like Urhobos, Idomas, Ibos and others feel cheated atimes, they run to her to plead for her assistance. Mama Deju was the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ward 10 women leader for 8years and she remained with PDP till her last breath. She was a communicant with Anglican Church, Mama passed on in early hours of 3rd April, 2020 without any sickness.She was survived by many children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, cousins, in-laws, Nephews, Nieces and a host of other relations, friends and well-wishers.

Continue to live on in our heart Mama.Adieu Mama, Sunre oo, Ehuren iye-omo, sleep well.