Mrs Florence Fakologbon is an 86-year-old community leader and retired midwife from Ero in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State. In this interview with PETER DADA, the octogenarian speaks about her background, youthful days and life as a nurse and midwife
Can you tell us about your background?
When I was born, my father was the Ado of Akure. His name is Falana Agunbiade. My mother’s name is Ibadiaran Falana Agunbiade. It was my father that told me my date of birth. He showed me the book in which the date I was born was written. He showed it to me when I was in standard school in Ado-Ekiti. Then, I was in Standard Four.
What is the exact date of your birth as written in the book?
March 15, 1935.
What is the name of the standard school that you attended?
It was Baptist Day School, Irona, Ado-Ekiti.
At what age did you begin school?
I started going to school at Ero in 1946, when I was 11 years old.
After standard school, what did you do next?
After I graduated from standard school, I proceeded to the School of Midwifery at Ado-Ekiti. After that I went to Ogbomosho (Oyo State) to work as a nurse.
Apart from Ogbomoso, where were the other places you worked?
I worked with the white people in Ogbomosho. After that I went back to the School of Health Technology, Akure. After my studies at the School of Health Technology, myself and others did our training at Idanre which lasted for one and a half years. Upon completing the training, I started my own private practice.
Why did you start a private practice instead of working for government?
I intended to work with the government but the government was not employing then. And because I believed that I had garnered enough experience and training, I began my own private practice.
Were you married at that time?
Yes, I was and I had even given birth to all my children.
When did you get married?
I got married in September, 1961. I was working in Ogbomoso then. I was working at the Baptist Mission General Hospital, Ogbomosho as a nurse at the time.
How did you meet your husband?
He was one of those who used to perform in the CMS Anglican Church drama group. My husband was the head of one of the groups. My late younger brother, James Ajikeola, served as the intermediary between us. We both used to exchange letters through my late younger brother. He would send letters to me through my brother and I would send replies to him through the bearer.
How many years did your courtship last before both of you decided to get married?
The courtship lasted for almost three years.
What was your parents’ reaction when you introduced him as the man you wanted to marry?
Before we got married, my husband had gone to meet my father in Ado-Ekiti. He went with his friend. It was after we both received our parents’ blessings that we got married. In fact, both of us were virgins then. There was nothing like premarital sex then unlike what we have now.
How easy was it for you to combine home duties with your career?
There were no issues at all. Everything went just fine.
What was the nature of your husband’s job then?
He was a teacher; a notable and respected teacher. He graduated from the University of Ibadan. I was with him alongside his sister when he graduated from Ibadan. It was during the time of (the late Chief Obafemi) Awolowo.
Since your husband went to the university, why didn’t you too further your education up to the university level?
I was already working at that time as a trained nurse, so I had no interest in going to the university. My husband was working as a graduate teacher while I was a graduate nurse. I was okay with my qualification.
Can you compare the nursing profession at that time with what obtains now?
It is incomparable. Ours were the good old days. Upon your graduation from school as a nurse, you would be posted immediately and you would get a job instantly. But it’s a different situation now; there is no job anywhere. Even the young ones are being advised to learn a skill. You can’t compare then and now at all.
Can you share your work experiences as a nurse?
As I said earlier, I worked with the white people. They were highly professional and diligent. As a nurse, once you were on duty, you dared not put up a careless attitude, because you would be sacked immediately. There was punishment if you were caught sleeping on duty or not taking care of patients properly. But I was never for once disciplined for being careless. The work ethics I cultivated then are still a part of me till now. But young people are not bothered about work ethics today.
Do you still practice?
At 86, I am still working actively. I still take delivery of babies. Even this month (March) I’ve assisted four pregnant women who gave birth. I took the deliveries and cleaned up the babies.
Have you ever had any child delivery that gave you a though time?
Never! God will not allow it. I have never encountered any serious problem. Any time a pregnant woman comes to me and she’s about to give birth, if I say the baby will be out by 6pm, she will deliver the baby at that exact time. The white doctors and nurses who trained me taught me that.
Sometime back, the Ondo State Government ordered that all deliveries in the state must take place in the hospital. What is your take on this?
That’s true. It was former Governor Olusegun Mimiko that made the order at Igbara-Oke when he was the governor. At the event, I was even given a prize when a question was asked about taking delivery of babies and I answered it correctly.
Since you started this work, is there a particular day or event that you can never forget on the job?
There are many of such. But I’m always happy with my job. My job as a midwife is a gift from God.
Do you give your patients herbal medicines for delivery?
No, I don’t, I only use ‘Abiye water’. The water is sourced not far from my house. Pastors and other men of God usually come to pray on the water. No matter how difficult a pregnant woman has been finding it to give birth, once she uses the water to bathe, she will give birth immediately, easily and safely. There was the case of a particular woman who was told that she must undergo a caesarian section in order for the baby to be out. She was brought to me by an elderly woman. Her husband had sold many of his properties to raise money to solve the problem. I took the pregnant woman to where the Abiye water was and I prayed into the water. After bathing with the water, she gave birth to the baby by normal delivery. Those living in her neighbourhood could not believe it when they heard the news. I can never forget that experience. Since then, people have been calling me ‘Iya Abiye’.
Did you give birth to your children at home or in the hospital?
I gave birth to all of my children in the hospital.
Teachers were known to be transferred from town to town. Did you always move with your husband?
Yes. I moved with him.
Did that not affect your job?
It did not affect my work but he later returned home to Ero and I came back with him. After then I didn’t move with him again. He later married another wife.
How did you take the news of his taking another wife?
I can’t lie, initially I wasn’t pleased with it, but gradually, the new wife and I got along. But still we quarreled at times.
Did he marry another wife during one of his transfers?
No. It was when we finally came to settle down at home in Ero. You know men can be ‘stubborn’ at times.
How did he introduce her to you?
That particular day, he rushed home in his car and brought home the lady. He called me and said, “Mama Sunday, look at this person, she is your wife.” And he also introduced me to the lady. I had no hint that he was dating another woman. With time, we became one family and you can’t differentiate between our children.
What reason did your husband give for marrying another wife?
He did not give me any reason. As I said, he just came home that day and brought in the new wife, telling me she was my wife.
How were your youthful days like?
My youthful days were very interesting. My friends and I used to hang out under the moonlight. It was during that period that we met our suitors. Then we used to dress smartly and elegantly; but we were not wearing the kind of skimpy dresses that most girls put on nowadays to expose their bodies in the name of fashion. Ours was natural beauty; we didn’t wear make-ups like they are doing now.
How did you handle those your suitors before your husband appeared on the scene?
We handled them well and we didn’t mess around with them. For instance, when I was in Ado-Ekiti, there was a man called Oladipupo. When I was in Standard 5, he (Oladipupo) was in Standard 6. He said he liked me and wanted to marry me and I used to tell him then that he should not be in a hurry. So, we used to be polite in turning them down if we were not interested.
What is your advice for youths?
All they need now are prayers because they are not serious, both the male and female genders. For example, in this profession of mine, there ought to be someone among the youth in this community who will be interested in learning and understudying me. But they are not interested.
Why do you think they are not interested in learning your profession?
I really don’t know. It is probably because they are ashamed to do this kind of work. If I die now, that is the end, because no other person is doing the job here in the community.
What prompted you to study midwifery then?
When I was in Standard School at Maria Assumpta, Ado-Ekiti, I used to hear about one Florence Nightingale; she made me have passion for nursing. According to what I heard then about Florence Nightingale, as a nurse, she used to move around with lantern taking care of sick people. And with that I pursued my dream and I succeeded in achieving it.
Also then, anytime I saw nurses in their neat white uniforms, I was always fascinated. Today’s nursing education is quite different from what was obtainable then. In nursing school then, you had to study hard.
What was your parents’ reaction when you told them about your passion for nursing?
They were not bothered because they knew nothing about it. I just went for the training on my own and I passed the examination.
Is there anyone among your children taking after you as regards your profession?
None of them and I am not happy about it but there is nothing I can do about it. But one of my granddaughters is into nursing, I love her very much. She has finished her training and she is now working in a government hospital. I’m really happy she ventured into my profession.
With that, can one say you are now fulfilled in life?
God has done everything for me. There’s nothing remaining. My husband is still alive, likewise the younger wife. We are all happy as one family. The only thing I am asking from God is His continued protection over the entire the Fakologbon family. Our family is a very large family.
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