Pastor Ibidunni Ighodalo went to be with the Lord on Sunday, 14th June, 2020. The news of her death flooded the social media as people began to recap and talk about her well-lived life and how she had impacted her world.
Pastor Ibidunni Ighodalo was born on 19th of July, 1980 in Kaduna city. She got married to Pastor Ituah Ighodalo on February 16, 2007, after they met at a wedding.
But the union was without the fruit of the womb, after many attempts and visits to various fertility hospitals, she decided to look within and get what God was trying to tell her.
She then envisioned having a foundation (Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation) to which families going through similar challenge as she went through can get comfort and strength. According to her, she made a covenant with God that she would help couples going through the same challenges(infertility) as she had gone through by providing spiritual, financial and psychological support in seeking fertility treatment. She promised herself to raise awareness about infertility and the challenges associated with it. To stop the stigmatization of couples dealing with infertility.
The mission and vision of the organization states that;
To have every couple enjoy the gift of parenthood regardless of their financial or social status.
To raise awareness about infertility and the challenges associated with it. To stop the stigmatisation of couples dealing with infertility and to provide the spiritual, financial and psychological support they require.
Some of testimonies of the beneficiaries of the foundation are captured as follows:
“We sincerely and deeply appreciate all that the Foundation did for us. In fact we pray regularly for the Foundation’s work and for its benefactor. We know that the Living God that we serve will make all things beautiful to his Glory.”
“I would like to take the time to say a BIG THANK YOU to your Foundation for funding my IVF treatment last year at the Roding Reproductive Centre in Lekki phase 1. Your intervention gave us, my husband and I hope.”
“The Foundation did not only give us the opportunity to enjoy the free IVF, they actually visited us in our home. We rest assured that God will answer our prayers soonest and laughter, joy and reasons to celebrate will forever be the portion of Mrs. Ibidunni Ighodalo.”
God has used her to affect many lives and wipe the tears of many families. Her life might be short, but she lived a purposeful life.
She died just a month and 5days to her 40th birthday. Her biggest dream and wish for her 40th birthday is that God will bring joy into 40 families through the gift of children with the support of the Foundation, but the Foundation still hope to fulfil and make this wish to come to pass.
She was a successful event manager/planner, under her first company Elizabeth – R management, an event management company in Nigeria. She was dear to her father, but lost him just when she was 16years, hence the name Elizabeth – R was to honour her father, with the R, standing for his middle name, Rufus. She is also the Senior pastor of Trinity House Church.
Her husband Pastor Ituah Ighodalo was formerly a minister and pastor in The Redeemed Christian Church of God. Pastor and Pastor Mrs. E.A. Adeboye had commemorate with the family.
Pastor E.A. Adeboye wrote on his official twitter handle as follows: “Hearing the news of @ibidunni_ighodalo ‘s demise was really saddening but I know that she is in a better place right now. I pray that the Almighty himself will comfort the family of @pastorituahighodalo in Jesus name.”
Pastor Mrs. Folu Adeboye during her visit to the Ighodalos family said; “My thoughts & prayers are with the families of @pastorituahighodalo & @ibidunni_ighodalo this period. God will continue strengthen and uphold them in Jesus name.”
She used her public figure for God and for humanity. Supporting and helping some of the most vulnerable population in Nigeria.
Service of songs/Night of tribute was held for her yesterday 19th June, 2020. Her burial service was attended by many prominent people both physically and online, via Zoom; Presidents, Vice-President; Yemi Osibajo, Minister of Works and Housing -Babatunde-Raji Fashola, Lagos State governor – Babajide Sanwo-Olu, state governors, pastors, colleagues, media, family and friends…
Prior to her death, she had gone to Port Harcourt to set up a Covid-19 Isolation Centre for the State Government, but died in her hotel room. News had it that she died as a result of cardiac arrest.
Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Sanwo-olu says on his twitter handle, “I was shocked when I received the news that my friend, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo had lost his wife and partner, Mrs Ibidun Ighodalo. Mrs Ibidun Ighodalo was an inspiration to many. I pray for strength for Pastor Ituah, their children, loved ones and the many she has touched.”
The family is blessed with two lovely kids, a girl and a boy; Keke and Zenan, the two kids adopted after they battled with infertility and the pressures in it.
May her soul rest in peace.
May the Lord raise another giant that will be able to take over from where she stopped and also fulfil beyond her own vision in Jesus name.
This is a lesson to us all to live well and live for God. Jesus can come at anytime. It is important to surrender your life to Jesus and live to fulfil His purpose.
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