Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, alongside family members and friends, on Saturday gathered in Abeokuta, Ogun State, to commemorate the 20th memorial service of his late wife and former First Lady, Stella Obasanjo.
The service, held at the Chapel of Christ the Glorious King within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), was attended by several dignitaries, including former Ogun governors Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun.
Speaking briefly after the service, Obasanjo said the event was held “to celebrate a life of service,” describing his late wife as someone who lived for others.
In his tribute, John Abebe, Stella’s younger brother, recalled her warmth and ever-present smile, noting that she had a rare ability to ease sorrow and bring comfort even in difficult times.
“Sister Stella was someone you just couldn’t get angry with because she would always smile through every difficulty,” Abebe said. “She brought light and relief to our family during tough moments.”
Her son, Olumuyiwa Obasanjo, reflected on her enduring influence, describing her as “caring, protective, and disciplined.”
“She was strict but full of love and laughter,” he said. “Her advice and life lessons continue to guide me, and her legacy lives on through her grandchildren.”
Former Governor Gbenga Daniel also paid tribute, thanking God for Stella’s impactful life. “Twenty years on, the legacy she left behind—her son, her grandchildren, and the lives she touched—remain her testament,” he said, recalling that a motherless home was named in her honour during his administration.
Delivering the sermon, Rev. Yusufu Obaje, the pioneer Chaplain of the Aso Rock Chapel, Abuja, described the late First Lady as “a woman who lived a life of submission to God’s will and service to humanity.”
He urged attendees to emulate her faith, humility, and compassion, noting that “her memory endures not just in words, but in the lives she transformed.”
