By Bilesanmi Abayomi
Kosofe was thrown into mourning on Monday as the remains of Mrs. Adetoun Edu, a prominent community leader and widows’ advocate, were laid to rest in Epe HomeTown, Lagos according to Islamic rites, amid tears and an outpouring of tributes from across Lagos State.
Mrs. Edu, a former Senior Special Assistant on Widows to the Chairman of Kosofe Local Government and APC Assistant Women Leader, Ward A, Oworonshoki, was widely described as a compassionate grassroots mobiliser who devoted her life to the welfare of widows, children and other vulnerable members of society.
As burial rites concluded, condolence messages continued to pour in from organisations, political leaders, community groups and individuals who acknowledged her immense contributions to community development and social advocacy.
In a statement issued by the School-Based Management Committee (SBMC), Kosofe, the group described her death as a major loss to both the education sector and the wider community, noting that her selfless service and dedication to parents’ forums and grassroots mobilisation positively impacted many pupils and students. The statement, signed by the Central Chairman of SBMC Kosofe, Odeyemi Richard, prayed for Allah’s forgiveness for the deceased and strength for her family to bear the loss.
The Child Protection Network, Kosofe, also described the late Edu as a committed advocate whose absence would be deeply felt, stressing that Lagos State had lost a strong voice for the protection of widows and children.
Political and community figures equally paid glowing tributes. Ibilola Ajiboye, former Head of Department, Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Kosofe Local Government, mourned her passing, while brand strategist Lanre Aborisade described her as “Mama Oní ìnú rere,” a woman of rare kindness whose service to widows would remain unforgettable.
Engineer Olusola Emmanuel Adedayo, Publisher and CEO of Moschinoblog, described Mrs. Edu as a well-known political figure and advocate for Kosofe widows, noting that she lived a fulfilled life despite personal challenges. Others, including Taiwo Lasisi, President of Ta’awun Humanitarian Forum, Lagos, and Oloye Salami Oluwaseun, praised her loyalty to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and her enduring commitment to community service.
Emotional tributes also came from friends and associates who described her as kind-hearted, generous and deeply devoted to the downtrodden, particularly widows.
Meanwhile, sources who attended the burial told KosofePost that the late Mrs. Edu was allegedly not accorded official local government support during her burial, including the absence of a local government ambulance, a situation some attributed to internal political differences. As of the time of filing this report, no official response had been issued by the local government authorities.
Mrs. Adetoun Edu is survived by family members, political associates and a community that continues to mourn her loss. Many described her death as irreplaceable, praying that Almighty Allah grants her Al-Jannah Firdaus and comforts all those she left behind.