Posted by By EMERSON GOBERT, JR. on
Undoubtedly, she is not Florence Nightingale but she may have been a chip off the legendary nurse. On Sunday, February 22, Mrs. Florence Ayoola specially thanked God at the church where she worships,
Undoubtedly, she is not Florence Nightingale but she may have been a chip off the legendary nurse. On Sunday, February 22, Mrs. Florence Ayoola specially thanked God at the church where she worships, Redeeming Love Chapel, Lagos and later that day, hosted hundreds of friends and well-wishers to a party at the Mobil Club, Apapa. Reason: She had just retired from Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited after a meritorious service of more than 21 years as a nurse.
She told Daily Sun that she held the thanksgiving to appreciate God for seeing her through her tenure in Mobil with a stainless, clean record as people testified to during the send off party by colleagues in her department.
She also said, 'I gave the thanksgiving in accordance with the word of God that says in everything, give thanks'. I gave thanksgiving that on every turbulent occasion in the office, God had always vindicated me and I gave thanks that God blessed me with good health and I left behind a legacy of hardwork, dedication, the fear of God, love and good interpersonal relationships with my colleagues."
Background
Florence Ayoola was born in Lagos on December 6, 1946 as the first daughter and second child to Mr. and Mrs. A.O. Adekolu of Owo in Ondo State. She attended St. Patrick's Primary School, Owo, Lagos City College, Yaba and read Nursing Education at the School of Nursing, Eleyele, Ibadan. She was also at the State Hospital, Akure and St. Mary Abbot Hospital, London before enrolling at the Catholic University of America, Washington D.C. where she bagged a B.Sc. in Nursing.
Ayoola who joined Mobil Producing as an Industrial Nurse retired as Supervisor in charge of Nursing and Clinical Services, a senior management position after those years of committed service. It was just natural for some of her colleagues to feel bad when she retired. At her send off party, her colleagues poured encomiums on her. Some said she was an early riser who gets to work before 7 a.m. and leaves late when almost everybody else had closed. Some said she was motherly and caring, dedicated and competent. Some said she was reliable, God-fearing, truthful and a co-operative worker. Yet, others believe that she has transformed the Medical Department with her spirit of excellence.
Awards
In her chosen profession, Florence Ayoola made her mark. She was commended by the Labour and Delivery Ward of the Washington Hospital Centre for being very efficient and quick to respond to emergency, thereby, saving the lives of the baby and the mother. This commendation came from not less a personality than the Head of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
The Doctors' Hospital in Washington also commended Ayoola for dedication.
Church leadership
Mrs. Ayoola is not just a dedicated nurse. She is also a dedicated church leader. As she serves humanity, she also serves in the Body of Christ. In her local assembly, she is a deaconness and a marriage counselor. All these years, she has been combining both her job and stewardship in the church.
How has she coped? 'I think it's the grace of God that has allowed me to be able to combine both offices effectively," she replied. 'In summary, the pressure of my job has not really allowed me to be as effective as I would have been in my commitment to my spiritual calling but I'm now glad that I'll have more time to concentrate on my Bible study as well as effectively carry out my duty as a marriage counselor.
'As a marriage counselor, I want to see a situation where every home is directed as God intended it to be according to the Bible, which will give rise to peace, sincere Agape love between husband and wife; the partnership relationship like impermeable space that is intended by God which gives rise to one plus one equals one in God's Mathematics."
Life in retirement
Now retired, Ayoola wants to have more time for things of God and for her family. Beyond these two, she added: 'I'm not tired as a nurse, so anything relating to nursing consultancy, I may do it."
Most exciting moment
Asked about her most exciting moment in life, she said it was when her son got married and the day she had her grandson in her hands.