PROF. ALI AHMAD MOURNS THE PASSING OF THE ROYAL MATRIARCH OF OFFA KINGDOM, ALHAJA HAWAWU AWELE GBADAMOSI
Former Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Prof. Ali Ahmad, has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Alhaja Hawawu Awele Gbadamosi, the beloved mother of His Royal Majesty, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II, the Olofa of Offa. The Royal Matriarch departed this world on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the graceful age of 94, according to an official statement from the Olofa’s Palace.
Prof. Ahmad described the late Iya Oba as a quiet but formidable pillar behind the enduring greatness of the Offa throne, a mother whose life embodied the virtues of piety, royalty, and enduring legacy.
“As Iya Oba, she was not only the womb from which greatness emerged but also the silent architect of royal strength, a woman whose virtues, prayers, and quiet influence helped shape the character and vision of His Royal Majesty. Her life was a testimony to the power of noble motherhood—rooted in faith, adorned with dignity, and committed to the wellbeing of the palace and the people,” Prof. Ahmad stated.
He noted that Alhaja Hawawu Awele Gbadamosi’s remarkable life, lived across nearly a century, symbolized grace, perseverance, and unwavering spiritual devotion. Her presence within the palace, though gentle, was profoundly impactful—her counsel and quiet resilience offering both guidance and stability to the royal household.
Prof. Ahmad called on all sons and daughters of Offa, as well as the wider community, to join in mourning this great matriarch and to offer prayers for her soul. “We ask Allah (SWT) to forgive her shortcomings, accept her righteous deeds, and grant her Al-Jannatul Firdaus,” he prayed.
In his message to His Royal Majesty, the Olofa of Offa, Prof. Ahmad prayed for strength, divine comfort, and long life upon the throne. “At such a time of royal grief, we stand in solidarity with Your Majesty and the entire royal household, trusting that Allah’s mercy will abound and His wisdom will console.”
He further encouraged the people of Offa to preserve the values she lived for—devotion, humility, and service—and to honour her memory by strengthening unity and faith in the kingdom.
“May her soul rest in eternal peace, and may her legacy continue to illuminate the courts of Offa and the hearts of its people.”
Signed:
Ayinde Sa’ad
Media Assistant,
Prof. Ali Ahmad,
Former Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly