By Bunmi Sonoiki
FOLAKE’S HUMBLE BEGINNING
The waves generated by the ministry of Reverend Folake Achudume, given her widespread reach out to people through her public-spirited nature, could mislead one to assume she is an heiress. But Folake has a humble beginning like many of us. Her story resembles a struggling Ibadan girl whose only anchorage was good parentage.
Born on the 6th of September 1968 in Ibadan, Oyo State, as the fourth child of Chief Adebisi Adesina and late Lydia Olajire Adesina (née Odewale), Folake’s early life was marked by a strong sense of purpose, diligence and integrity.
According to an account from her closest ally who is also her elder sister, Deaconess Bunmi Sonoiki, Fola started life, showing interest in education. She attended Sacred Heart Nursery and Primary school, Ring Road, Ibadan from where she and her sister proceeded to Queens School, Ibadan in 1980.
She was studious, calm and calculated; paying uttermost attention to her studies. In the class, she would take detailed notes from the lesson and would pour herself over it at home. Her serious attention to learning enabled her to be one of the students in top positions usually within the unit position range.
Then results were computed not on class by class basis but on the combination of all the arms of classes.
Despite her calm nature and determination for academic excellence, she was relatable and friendly with her classmates. In 1984, together with some of her friends and sibling, she heard the message of salvation that motivated them to surrender their lives to Christ. From this experience, Folake took her walk with the Lord seriously, though she encountered some initial resistance to her new found faith, yet she was resolute.
According to her elder sister, Deaconess Bunmi Sonoiki, both later discovered an interdenominational fellowship group; His Grace Evangelical Movement (HIGEM), where their faith grew stronger, built on the discipleship foundation they had earlier received through the mentorship of Pastor Femi Akintayo.
“Folake was actively involved with the student ministry of HIGEM,” Deaconess Sonoiki recalled.
Later on, she gained admission to the Polytechnic Ibadan where she spent a year before proceeding to the University of Ibadan to study Chemistry.
Narrating further, Sonoiki said: “At the University of Ibadan, she joined the Ibadan Varsity Christian Union (IVCU) and was actively involved in the Schools visitation Group (SVG) because of her passion for young people. This passion was carried on later in life as she devoted attention to the young generation through her Church ministry platforms.”
“Folake had a good sense of humour and was a deeply committed and devoted Christian who related with brethren with a sense of focus and passion. She did not hesitate to flow along with brethren who were also passionate about serving and walking with the Lord. We introduced ourselves to such brethren we knew individually and also to programs that helped grow our faith in the Lord both on campus and outside the campus.”
Folake observed her NYSC in Kaduna State and was deeply involved with the Nigeria Christian Corpers Fellowship (NCCF) where she served as the Assistant General Secretary. It was there she met the man – Brother Lawrence Achudume – who later became her husband. “
“Folake shared the matter of Brother Lawrence’s proposal with me and I encouraged her to go on if she sensed the Lord’s leading and had her peace about it. She was open to counsel and we shared matters of mutual interests and prayer.”
Both sisters later got married and went their different ways. However, their close relationship was intact, as they communicate regularly.
A very loyal person, Sonoiki observed that Fola was actively involved in her “Alma Matta and contributed her quota to the mission and vision of our QSI set and to the larger Queens School body.”
Her elder sister wrapped this narration with a strong testimony about the kind of tenacity RFA showed in her kingdom work. “Till she breathed her last, she remained committed to matters of the Kingdom. May her soul rest in peace.” Amen!
