Mama Agatha Taiwo Adebiyi was born as a twin in 1920 amidst the Spanish Flu pandemic. She survived the pandemic but her twin sister was unlucky. Today, she is likely the oldest living retired teacher in Nigeria. She talks about her life story in her Lagos home.

Speaking on her background, she said, ?I was born as a twin on August 9th 1920. It was during the Spanish Flu pandemic. Many children, including my twin sister, lost their lives to the pandemic but God spared me. My father was Anthony Bello Laotan. He was from Oke Ago-Owu in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Initially, he was a teacher at the Holy Cross School, Lagos. Later, he joined UAC and thereafter the Daily Times as a columnist. He also contributed to other newspapers such as the Lagos Standard; The Eleti Ofe; The Nigerian Spectator; Nigerian Advocate and The Akede Eko. My father was the author of ?The Torch Bearers of the old Brazilian Colony in Lagos.? So, he was famous in his own small way. Similarly, my mother, Catherine Ayodele Laotan, was from Macaulay family of Olowogbowo, Lagos. She was also a teacher like my father. She taught in various schools, including Mount Carmel Convent School, Onitolo, Lagos State.

?I started my teaching career at St Mary?s Convent School in 1939. I taught in several other schools and all in Lagos State. I taught general subjects and all classes, from Standard One to Standard Six. I eventually became the headmistress at Salvation Army Primary School, Ebute-Metta. I taught Olorogun (Dr.) Sonny Kuku. He was a close friend and classmate with my son, Charles Olumide Adebiyi, who is now late. I was also the headmistress at Jehovah Shalom Primary School, Lagos Island and at Our Lady of Apostles Primary School, Yaba, where I retired after reaching the statutory 55-year retirement age in 1975. After my retirement, I returned to the classroom at Maryland Primary School in Ikeja on contract appointment. I did that for many years before quitting paid teaching job,? she said.

On her assessments of teachers in times past, she noted that ?teachers were highly respected in the society. Many people knew me as teachers? daughter. I was always happy to be in front of students teaching them. The students were much disciplined too. They dare not disrespect their teachers. Also, parents were caring for their children?s teachers. They sometimes send gifts including food items to us.

On why she doesn?t get pension again, she said ?I retired in 1975 and I collected pension for many years before they stopped paying me. You know that, to get pension paid in Nigeria, pensioners have to queue for screening now and then, which I used to do before. At a time, I just discovered that my pension was stopped and all my enquiries and efforts at the pension office to know why it was stopped and to resolve the matter yielded no result. It was then that I stopped going there and nobody has said anything since then. That should be year 2005 or so.?

On her recent Teacher?s Lifetime Award by the Lagos State wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, she said, ?It is a good recognition and I love it. I was once a classroom teacher like them, and once you?re a teacher, you?re always a teacher. So, I thank the leadership of the union for the honour. I?m also a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary International.? (Story adapted from Nigerian Tribune)

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