God often uses the most unlikely character to fulfil His purposes. He elevates a Jewish orphan to become queen of a great empire. The testimony of Chief Mrs. Esther Ebun Abe, Grand Patron, Methodist Church, Oke-Oja, Osu, exemplifies the story of Queen Esther, who began from a humble beginning to a woman blessed by God, a woman who somewhat reluctantly risks her life to make a stand and an enduring legacy. In her death, Chief Abe lives on as God’s revelation of His penchant for using the most unlikely, ordinary people to accomplish His divine purposes. Mama Abe was willing for God to use her, and God used her beyond her imagination and life challenge

The humility of the biblical Esther through fasting and then putting her considerable beauty, social grace, and wisdom in the service of God’s plan aptly described Chief Mrs. Esther, Ebun ABE, precious wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, who passed on to glory peacefully on April 26th, 2023, after a life well lived at 91yrs. The joy of Esther in watching mourning turn to celebration once the Jews enjoyed relief from their enemies resonates with Chief Abe’s philanthropic service to people and organizations. Her traditional name, ‘Ebun,’ meaning ‘Gift,’ resonates with how Esther in the Bible played the part God offered her with her life as a gift to rescue her people from the adversary and enemy, the vile Haman.

Mama Abe, born on July 2nd, 1931, to Pa Ezekiel Fadahunsi and Madam Dorcas Fadahunsi in Ilesha, Osun state, Nigeria, built her early life on solid bonds to her paternal and maternal extended families. She had her elementary education in Ilesha, and her post-secondary education in Queen’s College, Lagos, in an era when the education of female children needed more emphasis.

 Mama Abe proceeded to United Missionary College for her post-secondary education, where she received training for a teaching career and became a model teacher. As she often said, ‘once a teacher, always a teacher’ indeed in everything!

 Mama Abe met and married the love of her life, Joshua Ojo Abe, with whom she had five children Olajumoke, Abolade, Olubankole, Olufisayo, and Omoboyede. Their marriage was unfortunately punctuated by his untimely death in 1967. Losing one’s husband or wife at any time (whether as a young or older adult) is not a thing of envy, especially in Africa. The framework of widowhood in the Old Testament, regarding the case of the widow of one of the sons of the prophets in the Bible, points to some challenges of widowhood (2 Kings 4:1-7). Beyond social deprivation and marginalization as a widow, Mama Abe’s meagre teaching salary had a high parity, having five children to nurture.

Faced with widowhood at such a tender age, she had a paradigm shift to venture into the business world to maintain herself and her young family. This was quite challenging, to say the least, given the male-dominated industries into which she ventured. However, the Esther in her, her wisdom, her boldness, and sheer hard work made her successful at it. Indeed, For Mama Abe, wisdom was more precious than rubies. Later in life, she was blessed with her sixth and last son Adekunle. Mama Abe reminds us that, through our difficulties, God reveals His sovereignty. When we face defeat, He brings victory and overwhelms us with triumph. Such triumph often looks different from what we might expect, but it is always better than we could hope or imagine.

Mama Abe’s devotion and dedication to building God’s kingdom were inspiring. She was actively involved in various church activities throughout her life, namely Ladies League Christ Armour Bearers, Hoare’s Memorial Methodist Cathedral, Yaba, Lagos. Mama Abe was involved in other church activities, mainly in leadership positions through the Methodist Church Nigeria, as well as other Civic organizations, such as Soroptimist International and Ladies Progressive Society, to name a few.

Mama Abe was made the Iya Ijo of Methodist Church, Oke-Oja, Osu, in 2001. She single-handedly built the new modern Manse for the church. Mama Abe and Chief Reuben Olajide Fasetire, the Baba Ijo, Methodist Church, Oke-Oja, Osu, formed the Lagos Fellowship, comprising sons and daughters, Methodist Church, Oke-Oja, Osu, to support the building of the new church at home.

Mama Abe was awarded Member of the Order of the Wesley (MOW) in recognition of her stewardship in the Methodist Church Nigeria. Lagos Mainland Diocese also awarded Mama Abe Diocesan Merit Award for her contribution to the diocese’s growth. Mama Abe as a bridge builder and family lover ‘worked just as hard in training as well as fostering personal relationships with her large extended family at home and abroad as with her nuclear family and was well loved by all in return. She often humorously quipped that she has many ‘children’ she never got pregnant for!’

Mama Abe’s life as a kingdom treasurer remains a testament of generosity, beauty, spiritual and social grace, and wisdom in serving God’s plan for humanity. Mama Abe, blessed by many ‘children’ grandchildren and great-grandchildren, gave her life to Christ as her Lord and Saviour in anticipation of the Second Coming of Christ. To God be the glory. Worthy is the Lamb!