Their story
Mrs. Victoria Omoyeni Oyelade was born 87 years ago into the distinguished family of Chief Jacob and Mrs. Jolaade Owoeye of Iwaro Quarters, Ijero-Ekiti, Ekiti State. From her early years, she was raised with strong moral values, a deep sense of responsibility, compassion for others, and an unwavering Christian faith. These qualities became the foundation upon which she built a life marked by service, leadership, discipline, and love for God and humanity.
Mama Victoria was a woman of substance whose influence extended far beyond her immediate family. She was a trained teacher who devoted many years of her life to the education and nurturing of children in several schools across Ekiti State. As an educator, she was known for her dedication, discipline, and commitment to raising children with good character and sound values. Her work in the teaching profession was not merely a career; it was an expression of her passion for shaping lives and contributing meaningfully to society. After many years of meritorious service, she retired with honour, leaving behind a legacy of service and positive impact.
Beyond her professional career, Mama Victoria was a woman gifted with remarkable administrative ability, wisdom, and a strong understanding of organisation and resource management. She demonstrated a clear capacity for planning programmes, mobilising resources, generating income, and ensuring that initiatives were effectively implemented. She was practical, accountable, and deeply committed to whatever responsibility was entrusted to her.
As the wife of the Rt. Rev. Solomon Olaife Oyelade, she embraced the responsibilities that came with being a clergy wife and later a Bishop’s wife with grace, strength, and dedication. Yet, Mama was much more than a woman who stood beside a Bishop. She was a spiritual partner, counsellor, mother figure, mentor, administrator, and woman of influence in her own right.
During her years as a Bishop’s wife, she became a mother to many and was affectionately regarded as “Mama Diocese.” She was approachable, warm, and willing to listen. She offered encouragement to women, younger women, clergy wives, families, and members of the wider church community. Through her words, example, and personal relationships, she mentored many and helped women navigate the responsibilities of marriage, family, ministry, and Christian service.
Mama Victoria played an important role in supporting and strengthening the Diocesan Women’s Ministry. She encouraged women to grow in faith, take responsibility, serve the Church, and become positive influences in their homes and communities. She was passionate about the wellbeing and development of women and girls and believed strongly in building strong Christian families and marriages.
Her service also extended to evangelism, prayer, spiritual programmes, charity, and community outreach. She showed particular concern for widows, children, young people, and vulnerable members of society. Her compassion was practical; she did not merely speak about caring for people but sought ways to provide support, encouragement, and hope to those in need.
Mama was also a woman who understood the importance of peace and unity. She promoted good relationships among people and used her influence to encourage harmony within the Church and the wider community. In her dealings with people, she carried herself with dignity and humility, becoming a positive Christian example through her conduct, family life, faith, and service.
She was equally known for her hospitality. At diocesan functions, church programmes, family gatherings, and other occasions, she gave herself generously to ensuring that people felt welcomed and cared for. Her home and her presence became places where people could find warmth, counsel, encouragement, and a listening ear.
Through the years, Mama Victoria faithfully supported her husband spiritually, emotionally, and morally as he served the Church. She understood the demands of ministry and stood firmly with him through the different seasons of their family and ecclesiastical journey. Her contribution to that journey was not one of mere companionship but of active partnership, sacrifice, wisdom, and service.
Their marriage was blessed with children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and Mama took great pride in her family. As a wife and mother, she was deeply invested in the wellbeing, character, and future of those entrusted to her care. She cherished family, valued discipline and responsibility, and sought to leave behind values that would continue from one generation to another.
Following her husband’s retirement from active episcopal ministry in 2002, the family returned to their hometown of Ilukuno-Ekiti. Even after her years of public and church service, Mama remained committed to her faith, family, and community. She continued to live as a woman of prayer, wisdom, compassion, and service.
Mama Victoria Omoyeni Oyelade was, above all, a woman who understood that leadership was not about position but about service. She gave herself to God, to her family, to the Church, to education, and to the people around her. She carried many responsibilities with quiet strength and demonstrated that a woman can nurture, lead, organise, mentor, build, and serve without losing the warmth and tenderness that made her approachable.
A devoted Christian, Mama remained steadfast in her faith in Christ throughout her life. She lived with humility, kindness, accountability, courage, and compassion, and she continued in her commitment to God and His Church until she peacefully answered her Master’s call on Wednesday, 5th August, 2026.
She is survived by her beloved husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, as well as the many lives she touched through her years of teaching, ministry, mentorship, friendship, and service.
Mama Victoria’s legacy is not defined only by the office her husband occupied, but by the countless lives she nurtured, the women she encouraged, the families she strengthened, the children she taught, the people she welcomed, the vulnerable she cared for, and the generations she influenced.
Though she will be deeply missed, the values she embodied, faith, service, wisdom, discipline, compassion, hospitality, leadership, and love will continue to live on in those she left behind.
May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace.
For more information & support. Please Contact:
Dr Tope Oyelade - 08037219818
Mrs Olubukola Ajisafe - 08059137960