Tribute To Mrs. Roseline Taiwo Ebiekuraju (R.T.E); January 8, 1959 – March 3, 2026.
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Mrs. Roseline Taiwo Ebiekuraju was a woman of noble character and deep roots, born on January 8, 1959, into the distinguished family of the late Mr. Benjamin Owonibi and Mrs. Rebecca Owonibi. A native of the Oda quarters in Aiyetoro-Gbede, Kogi State, she was a proud daughter of the largest of the “Gbede” family towns—a community of nearly a hundred thousand people where her family name carried great weight.
R.T.E was born into a polygamous family; her direct siblings are Mr. Kehinde Owonibi (Twin brother), Mr. Idowu Owonibi (Brother), late Mr. Duro Owonibi (Brother), and Ms. Dupe Omoniyi. She had a step mother, Late Mrs. Leah Owonibi (d. November, 1997); and step siblings, including Late Dr. Margaret Ebuntolu Omotowa, Mrs. Grace Ologe, and Late Mr. Ademola Benjamin. Her hometown, Aiyetoro–Gbede, the largest of the “Gbede” family towns, is home to about a hundred thousand natives.
The family of the late Chief Benjamin Owonibi has grown from within the Oda quarters of Aiyetoro. His oldest sons, namely Late Mr. Ademola Benjamin, and Mr. Kehinde Owonibi, married and settled there. His daughters married outside at Okoro-Gbede (Late Dr. Margaret Ebuntolu Omotowa); Aiyetoro-Gbede (Mrs. Grace Ologe), Igbotu in Ese-odo local government area of Ondo State (RTE); and Ipaoin Ekitiland (Dupe). His grandchildren live at Aiyetoro-Gbede, Igbotu, Port Harcourt, Akure, Kwali-Abuja, Abeokuta, Owo, Ota, Ekiti, Lagos, Johannesburg, Europe, and in North America.
The Owonibi name, which R.T.E carried with immense pride, is synonymous with leadership and service in Nigeria. She was the niece of the first Olujumu of Ijumu, HRH Oba Jacob Owonibi (1954–1980), and a cousin to Lieutenant-General Joseph Olorungbon Owonibi, the former Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). This heritage of excellence was a cornerstone of her identity and a source of inspiration she passed on to her children.
Foundation years
More to come………
Family and Career
The foundation of R.T.E.’s life was built on a commitment to excellence and education. After completing her secondary education at St. Monica’s College, Kabba, she attended the College of Education in Ilorin between 1982 and 1985. In 1987, following the completion of her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Lagos, she married Mr. Olajide Peter Ebiekuraju, a physicist, in a well-attended ceremony in Ilorin. The couple initially began building their home in Lagos, a period marked by both the heartbreak of an initial stillbirth and the eventual joy of welcoming their first two sons, Dotun and Tobi.
In 1991, the family made the pivotal decision to return to Olajide’s hometown of Igbotu, a coastal community in the Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State. This transition was a season of significant personal sacrifice for R.T.E. While her husband moved early that year, she remained in Kogi State to work before joining him later in 1991. Choosing to prioritize her immediate family, she left her job in Kogi and endured a period of hardship in Igbotu, during which she engaged in petty trade to support the household. Her perseverance eventually led to the transfer of her teaching service to Ondo State in the early to mid-90s, where she was initially posted to Community Comprehensive High School, Sabomi.
R.T.E.’s dedication to her own growth was as strong as her dedication to her students; while serving at Sabomi, she returned to university to obtain her degree. In 2004, she was transferred to Apoi National High School, Igbotu (A.N.H.S.I). She served the institution for many years as a Business Studies teacher, where her leadership qualities were quickly recognized. She was appointed Vice Principal in 2007, a position she held with distinction until her retirement in 2019.
Within the home, R.T.E. was the pillar of a large and blending family. Five years after the move to Igbotu, she increased her “number of boys” to three with the birth of her youngest son, Olaoluwa. As her husband later married two more wives, R.T.E. embraced her role as a maternal figure to a total of ten children, including Babalola (an Engineer), Olubunmi (a Hospitalist and Data Analyst), Dr. Omowunmi, Mojisola, Bobo B, Olamilekan, and Oluwafemi. She worked closely with her husband to raise Dotun (Engineer), Tobi (Architect), and Dr. Olaoluwa as godly children, ensuring they grew to be the “human fruits” of her labor—a legacy of success and faith that now spans the globe.
The Difficult Final Years: A Journey of Resilience (2018–2026)
The final chapter of R.T.E’s life was a rigorous test of spirit that began in 2018, just one year prior to her scheduled retirement. While traveling home following her own mother’s burial at Aiyetoro-Gbede, she suffered a sudden collapse. She was supported by her husband, Olajide Peter Ebiekuraju, and her niece, Shola, as her family began a diligent search for answers. Throughout this initial period and the years that followed, the Omotowa family played a significant and unwavering role, standing as a pillar of support for R.T.E. just as they had throughout her upbringing.
Despite early diagnostic efforts being hindered by systemic errors at a local hospital, R.T.E remained undeterred, reaching a major professional milestone in 2019 when she retired as the Vice Principal of Apoi National High School, Igbotu (A.N.H.S.I). This season of transition was brightened by the joy of becoming a grandmother to David Ayomide Ebiekuraju. In late 2019, further medical screenings coordinated by her eldest son, Oludotun, and specialist appointments facilitated by her youngest son, Olaoluwa, led to the discovery of a serious health challenge.
The global disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic and the heartbreaking loss of her sister and mentor, Dr. Margaret Ebuntolu Omotowa, in 2020 were profound trials. Yet, even in their own grief, the Omotowa family remained a constant source of strength, providing emotional and practical support that was instrumental in her care. R.T.E faced her diagnosis with a quiet, legendary fortitude, navigating grueling treatments with a spirit that amazed her family and medical caregivers alike.
Her resilience granted her a precious two-year period of stability, during which she traveled to Akure to visit her second son, Oluwatobi Ebiekuraju, for the birth of his daughter—the first female descendant of R.T.E’s line. She also celebrated a landmark achievement: the induction of her youngest son, Olaoluwa, into the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. Throughout this journey, she remained deeply hopeful and stayed prayerful until her very last days. She did not let the illness dim her spirit; instead, she leaned into her faith, providing a pillar of strength for her husband and sons.
By mid-2025, as her physical strength began to wane, the focus of her care shifted to ensuring her peace and comfort at home. Throughout these final months, the Omotowa family’s presence and dedication remained significant, ensuring she felt the full embrace of the family that had shaped her. She fought with everything she had, never wavering in her devotion to God. On March 3, 2026, at 1:38 PM, having fought the good fight until the very end, Mrs. Roseline Taiwo Ebiekuraju peacefully took her leave to be with the Lord.
ABOUT
- 67 years old
- Born on January 8, 1959
- Passed away on March 3, 2026 in Nigeria