Auchi Community Unites for 40-Day Fidau in Honor of Jeminetu Osumah Musa: Celebrating a Fulfilled and Exceptional Life

The Auchi Sacred Kingdom of Edo State will unite on July 27 for the 40 Days Fidau prayer in honor of the late Alhaja Jeminetu Osumah Musa. A celebrated woman leader, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, she passed away on June 15, 2024, at 84, leaving a profound void in her family and community.

Jeminetu Musa, affectionately known as “Mama” by her children, great-grandchildren, and many others, lived a life of devotion, love, and selfless service. Her journey from humble beginnings to a revered community figure was marked by hard work, strong family values, and a commitment to helping others.

Born in 1940 in Igbei Village, Auchi Sacred Kingdom, she was the first of six children in the family of Late Alhaji and Mrs. Bawa Abdullahi. Despite lacking formal education, she excelled in vocational endeavors, particularly tailoring, which she turned into a successful commercial enterprise in the 1950s.

In the late seventies, she defied traditional expectations by enrolling in an adult education program, inspiring many women in Auchi and its environs. Married to Mallam Osumah Musa of the Tokurah Dynasty in Aibotse Village in 1957, she balanced her roles as a wife, mother of twelve, and entrepreneur with remarkable dedication.

Following her husband’s death in 1985, Mama faced the daunting challenge of raising her children alone. Through determination, hard work, and faith, she ensured they received quality education and skills that will be useful to them to function in life as they grew into responsible members of the society.

Her commitment to her Muslim faith was evident in her daily prayers and twice pilgrimages to Mecca and Medina in 2004 and 2009, making her one of the few privilege people in the land who had that ethereal spiritual experience more than once.

Mama’s legacy includes her role as a matriarch and philanthropist. She frequently donated food, clothes, and money to youths, women, and widows, embodying the essence of traditional motherhood and selfless service. Her life was a testament to inclusiveness and compassion, transcending gender, ethnicity, and class.

A committed member of the Nasrul Lahi-l-fatih Society of Nigeria (NASFAT), her contributions were celebrated by the local chapter in Auchi. Shortly after her transition to glory, members visited her family to condole with them and reminisced on the time spent together, serenading with songs of praise and gratitude to Allah, for a life well-spent.

Mama is survived by six biological children, five stepchildren, grandchildren, and numerous sons and daughters-in-law, including Hon. Yakubu Oshiorenua Musa, a former chairman of Etsako West LGA. Hon. Musa, speaking on behalf of the Musa family, expressed their acceptance of Allah’s will and the profound sense of loss they feel without her wisdom and guidance.