On a somber day in Abuja, President Bola Tinubu reached out with a heartfelt message of condolence that reverberated across Nigeria. The occasion was the passing of Mrs. Margaret Agbaje, a woman whose life had woven a rich tapestry of influence through education, faith, and community leadership. She departed this world on March 5, leaving behind a legacy cherished by her sons, Jimi and Segun Agbaje, and the sprawling Agbaje family. Through his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu painted a vivid portrait of a remarkable woman—a distinguished educator, a community stalwart, and the former President of the Catholic Women Organization (CWO) in the Lagos Ecclesiastical Province.
Mrs. Agbaje wasn’t just a name in the annals of Nigerian education; she was a force of nature. Imagine a classroom in the 1950s at Holy Child College, Lagos, where young minds wrestled with the mysteries of mathematics under her sharp, guiding eye. From 1953 to 1959, she didn’t just teach numbers—she ignited curiosity. Then, at St. Joseph’s Teacher Training College in Surulere from 1960 to 1971, she molded future educators, planting seeds that would blossom into generations of knowledge. Her crowning achievement came as Headmistress of St. Catherine’s Model School in Surulere from 1971 to 1982, where she ruled with a blend of discipline and warmth that left an indelible mark on her students. Tinubu’s words captured it perfectly: her influence was “profound and lasting,” a ripple effect that touched countless lives.
But her story doesn’t end at the chalkboard. Mrs. Agbaje was a beacon beyond the classroom, a woman whose dedication to nation-building shone as brightly as her academic prowess. The President hailed her as a symbol of teaching, learning, and discipline—a lighthouse guiding ships through stormy seas. Her legacy, he noted, wasn’t confined to dusty textbooks or faded report cards. It lived on in the success of those she mentored, including her own children—Jimi and Segun among them—and a legion of others who climbed to great heights under her tutelage. She was a mother not just to her family, but to a community that leaned on her wisdom and strength.
And then there was her faith. In the Catholic community, Mrs. Agbaje was a titan. As President of the CWO in Lagos, she didn’t just lead—she inspired. Her leadership spilled over into numerous church societies, where her kindness and humility turned her into a pillar people could rely on. Picture her organizing events, offering counsel, or simply lending a listening ear—always with that quiet grace that made her so beloved. Tinubu called her life “a testament to kindness, humility, and unwavering dedication,” and it’s hard to argue with that.
In his message, the President didn’t just mourn her loss—he celebrated her life. He invited the Agbaje family, their friends, the Catholic faithful, and all those grieving to find comfort in her enduring impact. Faith, he suggested, could be their anchor, just as it had been hers. And as he closed with prayers for her soul’s peaceful repose, you could almost feel the collective nod of a nation agreeing: Mrs. Margaret Agbaje had lived well, loved deeply, and left behind a legacy that would echo for years to come.
