BY ROTIMI AGBOLUAJE
There are lives that glimmer quietly, and there are those that shine with enduring light, leaving trails of purpose and grace. Princess Caroline Abeke Eniola belongs to the latter. As she turns 85 this October, her journey stands as a portrait of dignity, faith, and lifelong service to humanity.
Hence, family, friends, and associates will gather in Ibadan to honour her. The celebration begins on Saturday, October 25, and continues the following day with a thanksgiving service at Bishop Akinyele Memorial Anglican Church (BAMAC), Iwo Road, where Princess Eniola will lift her voice in praise and gratitude, not just for the gift of longevity, but for a life richly lived.
A Royal Beginning
Born on October 3, 1940, in Ilesa, Osun State, Princess Eniola (née Adetunji) carries the quiet poise of royalty. Her parents, Prince Adebiyi Adetunji and Mrs. Alice Babafemi Adetunji, raised her on the enduring values of discipline, faith, and service. Her father, a soldier who later became a successful farmer, and her mother, a trader, instilled in her the humility of hard work and the pride of noble lineage.
During her early years, the family’s movement across towns, from Ilesa to Kaduna and back, mirrored the transience of life and helped shape her resilience. Even as a young girl, Caroline displayed a fierce hunger for learning, one that would define her life’s calling.
A Teacher at Heart
Her education began at Joseph Babalola C.A.C. Primary School, Ilesa, and continued at Anglican Girls’ School (now St. Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School), Oke-Oye, Ilesa. But when financial challenges struck, she paused her studies and moved to Ibadan, working at the University College Hospital (UCH) to save money, a decision that reflected her grit and determination.
Her teaching career began in Kwale, present-day Delta State, at R.M.S. Primary School, Utaga Ogbe, after which she attended Bishop Tugwell College, Igbudu, Warri, where she earned her Grade II Teacher’s Certificate. With each posting, from St. Paul’s Anglican School, Sapele Waterside, to schools in Saki and Ibadan, she left footprints of commitment and compassion, shaping young minds with patience and purpose.
Love, Partnership, and Purpose
Fate and faith intertwined when she met Engineer George Olufemi Eniola, a young broadcast engineer whose brilliance and charm matched her poise. Their union, solemnised at the Chapel of the Resurrection, University of Ibadan, was not just a marriage of hearts but of vision and values. Engineer Eniola’s illustrious career in broadcast engineering took the family across different towns, from NTA Ibadan to BCOS and later Aha-Oje near Saki, Oyo State. Through it all, Princess Eniola balanced her roles as wife, mother, and teacher with grace, proving that excellence in public life can harmonise beautifully with devotion to family.
Service and Legacy
When she was appointed Headmistress of the Army Children School, Saki, she brought empathy and structure to a generation of pupils. Upon returning to Ibadan, she led several schools, H.L.A. Agodi, St. John’s Agodi, and Methodist School, Agodi, near NTA, with distinction.
Later, with the creation of Osun State, she was transferred to Ikire as an Inspector of Education, a role that crowned her decades of educational service. By the time she retired in December 1993, she had become a respected figure in education circles, admired for her discipline, humility, and quiet excellence.
A Life of Faith and Fulfilment
Now, at 85, Princess Eniola looks back with gratitude, not to count the years, but the blessings. Surrounded by children and grandchildren who continue her legacy, she stands as a matriarch whose life embodies grace, perseverance, and deep faith in God.
For many who have crossed her path, her story is a gentle reminder that true greatness lies not in titles or positions, but in the hearts one touches and the lives one shapes.
As the songs of thanksgiving rise in Ibadan, Princess Caroline Abeke Eniola’s story will be celebrated not just as one of longevity, but as a legacy of faith, service, and noble impact, a royal daughter whose life continues to teach, inspire, and bless.
