What I Remember About Late Stella Obasanjo – Son, Olumuyiwa

Even though she passed on twenty years ago, Olumuyiwa Obasanjo, the only child of the late First Lady Stella Obasanjo and the late wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, says he will never forget the impact his mother had on his life.

It would be recalled that family members and friends gathered in Abeokuta, Ogun State, last month to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the memorial service of the former First Lady, Stella Obasanjo.

According to Olumuyiwa, who is now in his late forties, twenty years after his mother’s passing, he and his two children, a 17-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son, still deeply miss Stella. He said, ‘‘We miss my mother a lot. She will always be remembered for her infectious laughter.’’

He noted that his mother would be remembered for her kindness, her wise counsel, and the life lessons she shared—qualities that shaped him and continue to guide his life. Although her physical presence is missed, he said her legacy lives on.

“She was caring and protective—as people who are only children would understand—but she was also strict and would not tolerate any deviation from you. I have kept that in mind, and I have continued to try to live my life that way,’’ he added.

Olumuyiwa described his late mother as someone who hardly got angry and always wore a smile. She was the kind of person he said one could not be upset with because she radiated warmth even in difficult times.