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I want to tell you the history of an unsung hero in Nigeria known as Professor Felicia Adebola Adedoyin who originated from the ancient town of Saki West Local Government area in Oyo State, fortunately, I am from this great Town too.
She was born on November 6, 1938, into the ruling family of Iji Latubi, and this is what makes her a princess.
I heard about the biography of Professor Felicia in an Indigenous association meeting then, when I was still in school as a student. This prompted me to read about the history of this professor, which I read during the year 2017.
She had her secondary school education at a Baptist girls' school, Idi Aba Abeokuta, in Ogun State.
She worked as a teacher and house mistress at Baptist School, Abeokuta, from 1958 to 1961.
In 1965, she got married to Solomon Adedeji Adeyoyin, an indigene of Ire in Osun State, who went on to work with petroleum giants Mobil for 26 years. The marriage produced four children: Adebola Ogunremi, Adedeji Adeyoyin, Adedayo Adeyoyin, and Oluseyi Korede.
From 1968 to 1974, She worked as a senior tutor in the Geography Department at Lagos City College, Yaba. In the period from 1974-1975, Felicia Adeyoyin was a senior education officer at Lagos Ministry of Education. Her journey as a lecturer and professor of education began from 1978 to 1994.
Her children were acquainted with reciting of oath of allegiance in their school in their school in New York, USA, and also the state pledge. Out of childhood inquisitiveness and assertiveness, they asked the reason why they were not reciting any pledge while they were in Nigeria, of course, their mother told them the truth that their fatherland had no national pledge. Their question eventually provided a necessary challenge that propelled their mother to conceive and originate a national pledge for Nigeria.
She wrote the National Pledge, which was initially published in the Daily Times, July edition in 1976 and was titled Loyalty to the Nation, pledge. After this was published, Barrister Emmanuel Adewusi who was a mutual friend of the Adedoyin read the publication and showed it to the then-military Head of State General Olusegun Obasanjo, who eventually read it, after which he, among others decided to approve it as the official national pledge of Nigeria.
It goes thus;
To be faithful, loyal, and honest
To serve Nigeria with all my strengths
To defend her unity
And uphold her honour and glory
So help me, God.
The publication was adopted on September 6, 1976, during the launching of universal free primary education (UPE). Thus, this pledge written as an article became introduced as the national pledge to be recited by the people. To promote patriotism, faithfulness, and loyalty to service to the nation of Nigeria.
She has also won awards such as the Order of Niger Award (OON) given to her in December 2005, which is awarded for service to the nation.
On May 21, 2021, Professor Felicia Adebola gave up the ghost. She lived a life that was worthy of emulation, and she succeeded with children and grandchildren.