Mama Agatha Taiwo Adebiyi was born as a twin in 1920 amidst the Spanish Flu pandemic. She survived the pandemic but her twin sister was unlucky. Today, she is likely the oldest living retired teacher in Nigeria. She talks about her life story in this interview with TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE in her Lagos home.
COULD you tell us your family background?
I was born as a twin on August 9th 1920. It was during the Spanish Flu pandemic. Many children, including my twin sister, lost their lives to the pandemic but God spared me. My father was Anthony Bello Laotan. He was from Oke Ago-Owu in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Initially, he was a teacher at the Holy Cross School, Lagos. Later, he joined UAC and thereafter the Daily Times as a columnist. He also contributed to other newspapers such as the Lagos Standard; The Eleti Ofe; The Nigerian Spectator; Nigerian Advocate and The Akede Eko. My father was the author of “The Torch Bearers of the old Brazilian Colony in Lagos.” So, he was famous in his own small way. Similarly, my mother, Catherine Ayodele Laotan, was from Macaulay family of Olowogbowo, Lagos. She was also a teacher like my father. She taught in various schools, including Mount Carmel Convent School, Onitolo, Lagos State.
How about your siblings?
We were four in number and all of us were females but I’m the only one who is still alive. Others passed on at different ages.
What was your childhood like?
I grew up just like every other child from average home. I attended St. Mary’s Convent School, Ajele, Lagos Island, St. Theresa High School, and then, St. Agnes Teachers Training College, Yaba, where I graduated in 1938 as a teacher.
Where did you teach?
I started my teaching career at St Mary’s Convent School in 1939. I taught in several other schools and all in Lagos State. I taught general subjects and all classes, from Standard One to Standard Six. I eventually became the headmistress at Salvation Army Primary School, Ebute-Metta. I taught Olorogun (Dr.) Sonny Kuku. He was a close friend and classmate with my son, Charles Olumide Adebiyi, who is now late. I was also the headmistress at Jehovah Shalom Primary School, Lagos Island and at Our Lady of Apostles Primary School, Yaba, where I retired after reaching the statutory 55-year retirement age in 1975.
After my retirement, I returned to the classroom at Maryland Primary School in Ikeja on contract appointment. I did that for many years before quitting paid teaching job.
How would you describe teachers then?
Teachers were highly respected in the society. Many people knew me as teachers’ daughter. I was always happy to be in front of students teaching them. The students were much disciplined too. They dare not disrespect their teachers. Also, parents were caring for their children’s teachers. They sometimes send gifts including food items to us.
Can you tell us about your marriage?
I can’t recollect the year I got married now but my first marriage was to Oluremi Adebiyi, who was a land surveyor and later to Akanbi Martins, also a surveyor from the famous Caxton-Martins family of Lagos Island. Both of them died severally years ago. I have 10 children altogether and the youngest of them, Olori Omowunmi Agunbiade, was about five years old when her father died. So, the responsibilities of taking care of them rested solely on me.
How then were you able to cope looking after 10 children?
You know I was a teacher. So, some of them who were much younger attended the same school where I was teaching. Some went to another school, even as far as Epe. For those in the first category, we used to leave home and return home together. Others used to go and come home on their own.
Though my salary was not much, one could use it for lots of things, unlike nowadays when things are so costly in the market. Also, I used to save part of my salary with the cooperative and thrift society to which I belonged. I equally engaged in petty trading, selling clothes, jewelry and groceries after school hours. What I did was that I leant tailoring and then bought a sewing machine which I used to sew clothes for my children. Instead of taking their clothes to sew outside for fees, I did that for them. And that was how I started to sew clothes and sell to people. At a time, I added jewelry and groceries to the business. And since many people knew me as a teacher, they patronised me. So, whatever I was able to save and the proceeds from my petty business, I used to pay my children’s school fees up to the tertiary education level, feed them, clothe them and also pay the rent. So, we managed with whatever we had as a family and I thank God my children were always contented with whatever I could afford to give them. Unfortunately, three of them are no more.
What is the secret of your long life?
It is the grace of God. I had said it earlier that I was born during the Spanish flu and I survived it while my twin sister did not. But I know we don’t die young in both my father and mother’s families. I also make myself happy, no matter the circumstances I find myself. I don’t go beyond my boundary, but I must say that nobody in my lineage has ever lived up to my age.
What are your daily activities like?
At this my age, I wake up, at times, as early as 6.00 am, take my bath, eat, and take some rest even though I go nowhere. I also watch television and play Ludo game. My favourite TV programme is “The Blessed Virgin Mary” which I watch on Sundays. I love watching it as a Catholic because it is always about the story of the mother of Jesus Christ. So, I go to bed latest by 8.00 pm.
What is your favourite food?
I don’t have favourite food. I eat any food, whatever is prepared at home for the family. So, I like rice, bread and tea. I like yam; I like pap and moimoin and so forth. The only thing is that they make my own food softer so it can be easy when swallowing. I don’t select foods and there is no particular food on recommendation for me.
Now, if you are to advise the younger ones about life, what will you tell them?
It is for them to always listen to the counsel of the elders and also do what is right. They should be contended with whatever they have. They should do to people what they would like people to do to them. They should always strive to live by example. They should follow the words of God. And they can do that only if they study either their Bible or Quran based on their religion.
How about your health?
God has been giving me good health all my life. I hardly fall sick and I must say I don’t nurse any ailment. Those diseases that many old people suffer from don’t affect me. Though I may have headache or stomach pain at times, they go on their own without taking medicine.
What is your favourite drink and confectionery?
I won’t say I have any, but I drink stout and malt. I take ice cream and eat cake, and I eat biscuit almost every day after meal. So, whatever you give to me, I take, but in moderation. For example, once I take one small stout, it will relax my nerve and I will sleep well. I have been taking stout since my youthful days.
We learnt you don’t collect pension again, what happened?
I retired in 1975 and I collected pension for many years before they stopped paying me. You know that, to get pension paid in Nigeria, pensioners have to queue for screening now and then, which I used to do before. At a time, I just discovered that my pension was stopped and all my enquiries and efforts at the pension office to know why it was stopped and to resolve the matter yielded no result. It was then that I stopped going there and nobody has said anything since then. That should be year 2005 or so.
But you may not necessarily need the money again at your age.
Why won’t I need it? If I collect it, I will keep it; it is my money. I served the Lagos State government meritoriously. So, let the government pay all my pension arrears and also continue to pay as long as I live. I have all the necessary documents intact. So, I look forward to the money.
Recently, you were given the Teacher’s Lifetime Award by the Lagos State wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers. What does this mean to you?
It is a good recognition and I love it. I was once a classroom teacher like them, and once you’re a teacher, you’re always a teacher. So, I thank the leadership of the union for the honour. I’m also a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary International.
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