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It’s been one year that a woman of substance, a woman of virtue, a political icon, a legend and a mentor to both men and women alike, Yeyesewa Titilola Olukemi Nelson left this sinful world.
She bade the world goodbye on Sunday July 17, 2022 at the age of 66.
Yeyesewa Titilola Olukemi Nelson no doubt came, she saw and she conquered. Her exit to the great world beyond was a painful loss to those who knew her physically and those that heard or read about her.
Popularly known as Kemi Nelson, a former deputy national woman leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) died, when her services were needed most, at the time her mentor and political godfather, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu had just won the primary election of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and was about to begin his presidential campaigns.
All is now history as Kemi Nelson would be happy wherever she is that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu eventually won the election and has since been sworn-in as the 16th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Yeyesewa Kemi Nelson is survived by her loving husband; Mr. Adeyemi Nelson, and wonderful children; Abayomi & Titilope Nelson, Oluwole and Adetoun Popoola, and Adetunji Nelson.
She is also survived by amiable grandchildren including; Oluwafayokunmi Popoola, Oluwafeyikemi Popoola and Oluwafirewamiwa Nelson.
The First Anniversary of the exit of Yeyesewa Olukemi Nelson is scheduled to hold in Lagos on Monday July 17, 2023.
The late Kemi Nelson was a former Executive Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
It is on record that Yeyesewa Titilola Olukemi Nelson was also a member of the prestigious and powerful Governance Advisory Council (GAC), and she was the only female member of the council, which was set up as an advisory body to successive Governor of Lagos State.
Background:
The late Kemi Nelson was born to the family of Tinubu-Meredith and Laja on February 9, 1956. She had her primary school education at Anglican Girls Primary School Surulere, Lagos and Anglican Girls Grammar School, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
Kemi Nelson was a teacher at Corona School, Apapa, Lagos for a short period of time before enrolling for Nursing and Midwifery courses at the University College Hospital Ibadan. She was Lagos State Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Job Creation.
Political Career:
Kemi Nelson began her political career during President Ibrahim Babangida-led military regime in the late 1980s and early 90s when she joined the National Republican Convention (NRC), one of the two parties founded and funded by the government.
During this period, there were not too many female participation in politics and she became exposed to party politics as she was occupied with big assignments including the chairmanship of NRC’s electoral committee for the party’s presidential primaries in Osun State.
During the administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the governor of Lagos State, Kemi was Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Job Creation, Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
She was the Party’s Lagos West Senatorial Candidate 1992, Chairman, Republican Electrical Panel (RECA) in Osun State, member, National Ways and Means Committee and the National Finance Committee of NRC and a national delegate to the party’s convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in 1993.
Before her death on Sunday, July 17, 2022, she was the South West Zonal Woman Leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Awards:
In recognition of her numerous achievements in Nigeria and women politics; Kemi Nelson was honoured with several awards including the Distinguished Florence Nightingale Fellow (DFNF) Award, Order of Merit by Rotaract Club, Award for Excellence by the National Union of Lagos State Students (NULASS) and other awards that crown her efforts.
Remembering Yeyesewa Oluwakemi Nelson, her close associate and confidant, who doubles as the Publisher of First Weekly Magazine, Prince Ekundayo Asaju, described the late woman as a complete woman, whose vacuum has been difficult to fill.
Asaju, who revealed that he remembers the woman everyday with nostalgia, stated that he is just accepting the reality of the exit of Kemi Nelson, adding that she was a legend that words could not describe.
While stating that the likes of Kemi Nelson come once in a lifetime, Mr. Asaju said he is still working on what he plans to do to immortalise the woman, who he said played a great role in his career and was there for him anytime he needed a shoulder to rest on.
“I couldn’t believe the news, when it broke. Yeyesewa Oluwakemi Nelson was a sister, a friend, an associate, a confidant and a companion all rolled into one.
“Yeyesewa was there for all of us that were close to her. Words will fail me if I want to talk about her because she is indescribable. How can I forget my great and loving sister just like that. No doubt, what we lost, the heavens gained and I have no doubt that she is in a better place right now.
“Her death is a lesson to all of us to do the best we can when we are alive. Nobody knows, when it would be time for him or her to go.
“I can now see why she was in a hurry to contribute so much to humanity; it was as if she knew she would die so soon. Continue to rest in peace my sister like a mother. I miss you everyday,” he said.