Her life
Kikelomo Aderonmu
The child to be cherished
1 August 1942 ✦ 7 September 2026
Her parents, Aminu and Adijat Hammed, named her Kikelomo, a Yoruba name meaning “a child to be cherished, pampered and cared for.” They could not have known they were shaping her whole life with that one word. Throughout her 84 years, she proved them right: first as a mother to two children, then as a grandmother to four, and always as someone who touched everyone who crossed her path.
Born in Oyo town on 1 August 1942, she grew up there, a proud Hammed girl in a Hammed household. She attended St. Bernardine’s Girls College, Oyo, for her O’Levels, and in 1968 went on to the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, where she earned her National Diploma in 1970. She did not stop there. In 1982, she earned a Higher National Diploma from the University of Ife’s Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Ibadan. Her lifelong pursuit of education spoke volumes about her dedication and her thirst for knowledge.
Agriculture was her calling, never just a job. She began her career as an Agricultural Officer with Nigeria’s Ministry of Agriculture in Ibadan, and over the years managed large-scale government projects, farms, and livestock and crop production initiatives. After completing her National Youth Service in November 1983, she continued with both federal and state ministries until she retired in 1994 at the rank of Principal Agricultural Superintendent. For her, it was never merely a livelihood; it was a purpose. She nurtured people through her work and her home life alike, and never saw a divide between the two.
In 1973, she moved to London, where she met and married Adeniyi Aderonmu. Their first child, Temitope, was born there in June 1975. She returned to Lagos in September 1976, and her son, Adewale, arrived in April 1977. Two children, both cherished beyond words, just as her name promised.
A devoted Christian, she planted a church in her hometown and was ordained as a pastor. She carried her faith across borders, serving at All Saints Anglican Church in Ibadan, Nigeria, and Orpington Baptist Church in London, and in each she was not just a member but a leader, especially in the women’s fellowship.
Her faith was open and vibrant. She was never shy about praying for strangers and loved ones alike, and she often prayed over new acquaintances, visitors, or anyone who would stop and listen. She did it so naturally that it became part of who she was. Her words were simple yet powerful, and anyone who knew her can still hear her heartfelt blessing:
“The goodness and mercy of God shall follow you all the days of your life, and you shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen.”
That was Psalm 23:6, and to her it was more than a verse; it was a song she carried in her heart. She used it as a greeting, a farewell and a blessing for strangers. Her favourite hymns echoed the same faith: “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” “To God Be the Glory” and “It Is Well With My Soul,” each one reaffirming her trust that God’s promises are steadfast and that her soul was safe in His hands.
In the last twenty years, she frequently traveled between Nigeria, Canada, and the UK, visiting Temitope, Adewale, and wherever her loved ones were. These journeys brought her close to her grandchildren Teniola, Oluwatishe, Tiwatope, and TitobiOluwa, sharing countless joyful moments and birthdays. While she kept a church and congregation in each country, her true home was wherever her children and grandchildren were.
Cooking was one of her greatest joys. She showed her love by putting food on the table and waiting patiently while it was enjoyed. Her kindness, positivity, joy, and patience left a lasting impression; she seemed to walk into a room, lift its spirit, and leave behind a blessing.
She was Kikelomo, the child to be cherished, and she made that name her life’s work. For many years, she shared her blessing with her children, grandchildren, and even strangers who needed it. Now, that blessing belongs to all of us.
“The goodness and mercy of God shall follow you all the days of your life, and you shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever and ever. Amen.”