By Mike Adeyemi
Birthdays are more than occasions for cakes, celebrations and felicitations. They are moments to pause, look back on the journey of life and appreciate the footprints a person has left on the sands of time. For Mama B. Bello, whose birthday was celebrated yesterday, another year represents not merely the addition of a number to her age, but another remarkable chapter in a life defined by love, integrity, faith, modesty and service to humanity.
The trajectory of Mama Bello’s life reveals the character of a noble mother who has consistently embraced truth, honesty and modesty. Her life is a testimony that integrity is not always demonstrated through grand gestures; sometimes, it is found in the quiet decisions we make when nobody is watching.
One particular story about her years in the civil service remains especially remarkable. At a time when a substantial amount of money was mistakenly transferred into her account, Mama Bello did not see the error as an opportunity for personal enrichment. Rather, she immediately alerted the appropriate authorities and made it clear that the money did not belong to her.
That singular act speaks volumes about her character. In an age when misplaced fortunes can easily become objects of temptation, she chose the path of honesty. Such uncommon integrity deserves commendation and, in a saner clime where ethical conduct is properly recognised and celebrated, could well merit a national honour.
My personal observation of Mama Bello over time has also convinced me that she is not a nominal Christian. Her Christianity is deeply rooted in principle, character and conduct. She has a strong disdain for indiscipline and has consistently demonstrated that faith is not merely about what one professes with the lips, but also about how one conducts oneself when confronted with life’s choices.
That was part of the personal assessment I made of her character over time. But beyond my observations, Mama Bello gave me perhaps an even more beautiful confirmation of her nature when she embraced my wife, Olori Wendy Adeyemi, as her own daughter.
That gesture means a great deal to me. There is a special kind of humanity in a woman who does not merely tolerate another person but opens her heart and home to them as family. Mama Bello has demonstrated that motherhood extends beyond biological boundaries; it is also about affection, acceptance, guidance, sacrifice and genuine concern for others.
In virtually every facet of life, Mama Bello has proved herself a humanist par excellence. She has lived a life worthy of emulation and has shown that the true measure of a person is not necessarily in material possessions, titles or social status, but in the lives touched, the values upheld and the legacy left behind.
As you journey further into the septuagenarian chapter of your life, Mama, my prayer is that Almighty God will continue to strengthen you with sound health, abundant grace, peace and greater wisdom. May you live long enough to eat the fruits of your labour and enjoy the rewards of the sacrifices you have made over the years.
May God continue to preserve you, enlarge your coast and surround you with people who genuinely love and appreciate you. May your children and grandchildren continue to enjoy divine favour and protection in all their sojournings. May the good seeds you have planted in the lives of others continue to yield beautiful fruits for generations to come.
Mama Bello, your life is a story of virtue, your character is a lesson in integrity, and your motherhood is a testimony of love. On behalf of myself, your daughter, Olori Wendy Adeyemi, and the children, we celebrate you and wish you a very happy birthday, Mama.
May your new age bring you greater joy, enduring peace, sound health and abundant blessings. Happy Birthday, Mama B. Bello! May you continue to age gracefully in God’s abundant grace.
Prince Mike Adeyemi is a journalist and publisher of The Fact Newspaper