Family, friends To Celebrate Princess Eniola At 85

Family, friends To Celebrate Princess Eniola At 85

Family, friends, and associates of Princess Caroline Abeke Eniola will gather at Ibadan on Saturday, October 25, to celebrate her 85th birthday in grand style.

The festivities to honour her life and achievements will continue on Sunday, October 26, at Bishop Akinyele Memorial Anglican Church (BAMAC), Iwo Road, Ibadan, starting at 10 a.m., where she will praise God and express gratitude through dance and singing for the gift of life and her accomplishments.

Mama Eniola has every reason to rejoice on her 85th birthday, given her remarkable journey as an educationist and mentor filled with grace and achievement. Born on October 3, 1940, in Ilesa, Osun State, to Prince Adebiyi Adetunji and Mrs Alice Babafemi Adebiyi Adetunji, she hails from a royal lineage.

Her father, originally a soldier, was persuaded by family elders to leave the military and return to Ilesa, where he became a successful farmer. Her mother was a trader. During her early years, the family relocated to Kaduna due to her father’s military service.

Princess Caroline Abeke Eniola née Adetunji began her education at Joseph Babalola C.A.C. Primary School in Ilesa and later attended Anglican Girls’ School (now St. Margaret Anglican Girls’ School), Oke-Oye, Ilesa. Financial difficulties interrupted her schooling, prompting her to move to Ibadan, where she worked for two years at the University College Hospital (UCH) to save money. She then joined her aunt in Kwale, present-day Delta State, and started her teaching career at R.M.S. Primary School, Utaga Ogbe.

Driven by a passion for professional growth, Caroline enrolled at Bishop Tugwell College, Igbudu, Warri, earning a Grade II Teacher’s Certificate. She subsequently taught at St. Paul’s Anglican School, Sapele Waterside, Delta State.

At her parents’ urging to marry within the Yoruba community, she returned to Ilesa. While in Warri, she met her future husband, Engineer George Olufemi Eniola, then a student. They married at the Chapel of the Resurrection, University of Ibadan. Engineer Eniola had a distinguished career as a broadcast engineer, working with notable figures such as Pa Adebayo Faleti, Prince Bayo Sanda and  Prince Aderopo Ogunwusi (Onirisa father Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II).

Following state reorganizations, her husband moved from NTA Ibadan to BCOS Ibadan and later to Aha-Oje near Saki in Oyo State. This relocation brought Princess Caroline to Saki, where she was appointed Headmistress of Army Children School, a role she performed with distinction. Upon returning to Ibadan, she served as Headmistress at several schools, including H.L.A. Agodi, St. John’s Agodi, and Methodist School, Agodi, near NTA Ibadan.

With the creation of Osun State, she was posted to Ikire as an Inspector of Education, a position she held until retiring in December 1993 after years of committed public service.

Princess Caroline’s life exemplifies dedication to education, family, and faith. Her marriage blessed with children and grandchildren, she leaves behind a legacy of grace, perseverance, and purpose, embodying faith in God and the value of hard work.