Grace at 85: Princess Caroline Eniola’s Enduring Journey of Faith, Family, Fulfilment By Rotimi Agboluaje

As she marks her 85th birthday, Princess Caroline Abeke Eniola stands as a symbol of grace, faith, and lifelong dedication to service. Her story, told through decades of teaching, nurturing, and leadership, is one that blends royal heritage with quiet humility, a life defined not by titles, but by impact.

Against this backdrop, in days to come, the ancient city of Ibadan will come alive as family, friends, and admirers gather to celebrate her remarkable journey. It is a story woven with discipline, dignity, and divine grace.

The celebration begins on Saturday, October 25, with a gathering of family and well-wishers, and will culminate in a thanksgiving service on Sunday, October 26, at Bishop Akinyele Memorial Anglican Church (BAMAC), Iwo Road, Ibadan. There, the octogenarian will lift her voice in gratitude, a gesture that mirrors the rhythm of her life: faith expressed through song, service, and sacrifice.

A Royal Beginning, A Humble Spirit

Born on October 3, 1940, in Ilesa, Osun State, to Prince Adebiyi Adetunji and Mrs. Alice Babafemi Adetunji, the young Caroline grew up with the poise of royalty and the discipline of modest parentage. Her father, once a soldier, left military life at the insistence of family elders to return to farming, a decision that would anchor the family in Ilesa’s enduring traditions. Her mother, a diligent trader, infused her with a spirit of enterprise and endurance.

The family’s relocation to Kaduna during her father’s military service opened young Caroline’s eyes to the diversity of Nigeria and kindled her passion for knowledge. From those early years emerged a girl determined to rise, through education, perseverance, and grace.

The Making of an Educationist

Her formal education began at Joseph Babalola C.A.C. Primary School, Ilesa, and later Anglican Girls’ School, Oke-Oye (now St. Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School). But destiny tested her resolve early. Financial difficulties forced her to suspend her studies and seek employment at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, where she worked tirelessly for two years, saving every naira to return to school.

In what became a turning point, she joined her aunt in Kwale, now Delta State, where she began her teaching career at R.M.S. Primary School, Utaga Ogbe. Teaching, for her, was not just a profession, it was a calling. Her passion for the classroom led her to Bishop Tugwell College, Igbudu, Warri, where she earned her Grade II Teacher’s Certificate. Soon after, she taught at St. Paul’s Anglican School, Sapele Waterside, moulding young minds with patience and purpose.

Love and Partnership

It was during her years in Warri that fate smiled her way. There she met a young, brilliant engineer-in-training, George Olufemi Eniola, a meeting that blossomed into a lifelong partnership of love, intellect, and shared values. Their union was solemnised at the Chapel of the Resurrection, University of Ibadan, marking the beginning of a journey that would span decades of mutual support and service.

Engineer Eniola would go on to distinguish himself as a broadcast engineer, working alongside luminaries such as Pa Adebayo Faleti, Prince Bayo Sanda, and Prince Aderopo Ogunwusi (father of the current Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II). Through the many transfers and state reorganisations, from NTA Ibadan to BCOS, and later Aha-Oje near Saki, Princess Eniola stood beside him with quiet strength, her own career blossoming in tandem.

Service Beyond Measure

Her teaching journey took her across schools in Oyo and Osun States, where she rose through the ranks with distinction. At Army Children School, Saki, she left an indelible mark as a compassionate and disciplined Headmistress, shaping generations of pupils. Later, in Ibadan, she led H.L.A. Agodi, St. John’s Agodi, and Methodist School, Agodi, each time combining firmness with maternal care, the hallmarks of her leadership.

With the creation of Osun State, she was posted to Ikire as an Inspector of Education, where she mentored teachers and monitored standards across the region. By the time she retired in December 1993, she had not only nurtured students but had helped shape the backbone of public education in the Southwest.

Faith, Family, and Fulfilment

Princess Eniola’s life is, above all, a reflection of faith. A devout Anglican, her days are anchored in gratitude, for health, for family, and for the grace that has sustained her through the years.

Her marriage was blessed with children and grandchildren who now carry forward her legacy of diligence and devotion. Yet, even in retirement, she remains a beacon of encouragement, a teacher still at heart, reminding all who cross her path that life’s true rewards are measured not in wealth, but in service, integrity, and impact.

A Legacy Etched in Grace

As the drums roll and hymns rise this weekend in Ibadan, the celebration of Princess Caroline Abeke Eniola at 85 is far more than a milestone, it is the commemoration of a legacy built on faith, family, and fidelity to purpose.

She is, indeed, the embodiment of her generation’s finest virtues, disciplined yet kind, royal yet humble, firm yet gracious.

In an age when values often seem fleeting, her story reminds us that grace is not just a gift of age, it is the sum of a life lived with meaning.