The heavy rain could not hide the tears that flowed as entertainers came together on Tuesday at a memorial service for Moji Olaiya, who died in a Canadian hospital on May 17, two months after she was delivered of a baby girl.
Among those present were actors Adebayo Salami, Taiwo Hassan, Yemi Sodimu, Adeniyi Johnson, Fathia Balogun, Bimbo Oshin, Iyabo Ojo, Ronke Oshodi Oke, Dayo Amusa and Foluke Daramola.
Musicians Queen Salawa Abeni, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma and Lanre Teriba joined their colleagues from Nollywood at the Blue Roof of the Lagos Television complex in Ikeja, Lagos.
The memorial service which lasted two hours and 19 minutes, afforded various speakers to share their memories and describe how Olaiya impacted on their lives and the entertainment industry.
It started with a one minute silence led by Toyin Aimakhu.
The deceased daughter, Adunola Farombi, said with tears in her eyes, “I don’t know what to say. She was the best mum. Even when she was sad she wouldn’t cry. I just want to say I love her so much.”
“I don’t know what to say. She was the best mum. Even when she was sad she wouldn’t cry. I just want to say I love her so much.”
Chairperson of the burial committee, Fathia Balogun, said: “Moji loved this job a lot; she kept telling me that she had not done enough for this industry.
“She had a lot of projects pending. Giving back to the society was what Moji Olaiya had always wanted to do. And she was doing it in her own little way.
“Losing Moji in the industry for me is a minus because Moji was a fantastic and a very strong person that nobody would want to miss as a friend, sister or mother.
“We have great plans for the kids, but you know we say it and God does it.
“We pray that God will give us the strength to continue with the plans and fulfil the promises we made to the kids, but I know that they are not going to suffer.
“We actually planned this burial arrangement in one week, thanks to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who gave us money to bring back her corpse from Canada to be buried in Nigeria.
“And I am so happy that Moji will be buried in her father’s land. It will have been sad if she was buried over there.”
Veteran actor, Adeoye Adewale, popularly known as Elesho, said the late Moji Olaiya was a very humble, reputable and nice lady.
“I felt bad when I heard the sad news of her death, it is a great loss to the entertainment industry and may her soul rest in peace,” Elesho said.
Veteran musician, Queen Salawa Abeni, said: “I felt so sad when I heard about her death, and I’m going to miss her beautiful smile.
“I pray for her mum and dad, for almighty Allah to console them. Then for the children, we need to stand up and join hands to see the children grow and succeed.
“We cannot just pay our last respect today and turn our back; I advise that we contribute toward her children and family’s welfare.”
Popular Fuji artist, Pasuma, said: “The last time I saw her was during one of her movie premier.
“This is a sad thing to happen and we need more prayers in the industry. We have to pray for her and her family and children.
“May her soul rest in perfect peace.”
