Mama Enore Pauline Odigie Returns Home in Blazing Glory of Tributes for Her Service To God and Humanity
Mama Enore Pauline Odigie (December 12, 1937 – July 21, 2026) has finally been laid to rest on August 26, 2026 in Lagos,, amid a blazing glory of tributes from her children, grandchildren, relatives, the Church of God and her community, in recognition of her service to God as a devoted Christian, a true worshipper and committed evangelist, and to her community as a kind and sacrificial community leader.
Mama Enore Pauline Odigie transited to glory on July 21, 2026, at the age of 89, leaving behind children and grandchildren to whom she bequeathed a legacy of faithful walking and working with the Lord as preachers of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and as selfless philanthropists and humanists serving the less privileged in society.
One of her children and her only daughter is the renowned Evangelist and social welfare advocate, Apostle Elishamah Ideh, the Founder and President of Christ the Ever Present Ministry (CTEM), as well as the Founder and Convener of Partnership for a New Nigeria (PFANN).
During the Service of Songs at her Harmony Estate residence in Ifako-Ijaiye, Lagos, which attracted close family members, church leaders and members, community neighbours and well-wishers from home and abroad, Mama Enore Pauline Odigie was ushered into glory with renditions of soul-lifting hymns, a commendable and salvation-laden sermon, and emotional tributes and testimonies about her impactful life as a devoted Christian, an evangelist until she breathed her last, and a respected and loved community leader within her neighbourhood of Harmony and Karaole Estates, Ifako-Ijaiye, Lagos.
Most of the tributes and impactful testimonies centred largely on her early-morning street evangelism, during which she distributed gospel tracts and the popular journal of the Deeper Life Bible Church, the Christian Women’s Mirror, under the busy Ikeja Bridge and its environs, ministering salvation to people from all walks of life for several years until she transited to glory.
Among the avalanche of tributes and testimonies on the impactful life and committed service of Mama Enore Pauline Odigie to God and humanity at the Service of Songs, Elder Adeleke, her fellow community leader in Harmony Estate, testified about Mama Paulina’s spiritual walk with God.
His words: “Mama walked with God spiritually. This is a testament based on my personal experience with her. She also worked with people very happily,” Elder Adeleke testified.
In her own tribute to Mama, Mrs. Moina Adekanye remarked that Mama Enore Pauline Odigie lived a good life and left a great legacy.
“I thank God for her life,” she said.
Pastor Victor Odigie, Olori-Ebi of the Odigie family, described Mama Enore Pauline Odigie as a pillar in the Odigie family who left an unmatched legacy.
“If we want to keep talking about her, it will take a very long time. Mama was a pillar. She left a legacy that is unmatched,” he remarked.
Pastor Boniface Ikwulegbu, Mama’s pastor at Deeper Life Bible Church, Ikeja District, Lagos, said Mama was unstoppable and passionate about saving souls for the Lord throughout her lifetime.
His words: “She was unstoppable. She had a great passion in her heart to see souls saved. Mama did not condone any unrighteousness. She wouldn’t see a person do something wrong without correction.”
Architect Blessing Ehizuelen Odigie, Mama’s last-born son, said this about his late, loving grandmother:
“I’m grateful. All I can say is, thank you for a life well-lived. She set a good example. My brother and sister have done the same. Mama laid a foundation for the rest of us to grow on. All that has been said about my mum today gives me gratitude, and I thank her for the examples she has left behind, the sacrifice, the siblings she has laid ahead of me. We all needed a shoulder to move forward. On behalf of me and my entire family, we are grateful to God for her.”
Mrs. Magdalene Otiekhe Ochinyabo, Mama’s niece, also shared her tribute about Mama, saying:
“As a sister to my mom, Mama was a good sibling. She brought my mum, her sister, to Lagos,” she recalled.
Rev. Mrs. Peace Goodey, Mama Enore’s in-law, described Mama Enore Pauline Odigie’s transition as a celebration of life.
In her tribute to Mama, delivered via video recording and posted on Apostle Dr. Elishamah Ideh’s Facebook page, Rev. Goodey remarks thus:
“Today, we celebrate the life of Mama Enore Paulina Odiegie; the life of a woman whose heart was as big as her home. Auntie was more than an in-law. She was a mother, a counsellor and a keeper of family. Of course, talking here of the Odigie and the Ilegbodu family. She welcomed us with open arms and fed us; not just with her food but with her wisdom, prayers and love. Her door was never closed. Her words were always kind and her faith was strong. Though she’s no longer with us, the lessons she taught, the meals she shared and the love she poured will live on with all of us. I just want to say, sleep well, Auntie. Thank you for showing us what grace and family look like. We love you, and we will miss you dearly. Bye-bye for now,” Rev. Peace Goodey eulogised Mama Enore Pauline Odiegie.
Apostle Dr. Elishamah Ideh, the only daughter of the deceased, also penned a lengthy and emotional tribute to her late mother, recalling with fond memories how she influenced her walk with God and her eventual calling as a great evangelist, prophetess, apostle and humanist that she is today.
She shared her tribute to her late mother, Mama Enore Pauline Odigie, on social media shortly after her mother’s passing on July 21, 2026, thus:
“Enoreeeeee! ADIEU maaa’ma!
ENORE nòbhí UGBEGUN. OBHIE ESAN..
OKHUO ABEL ODIGIE nòbhí EWOHIMI ESAN LAND KINGDOM; NÒ Tí ØDØLÉ ÉNØYAMEN.
ENORE O KHIUWA.
My mum, fondly called ‘Maama Rose’ (after my name Rosemary), Mrs. Enore Paulina Odigie (I am née ‘Odigie’), has gone home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, 21st of July 2026.
She was 89yrs old. Survived by children/grandchildren and great-grandchildren…
I am her only daughter; lost a sibling before me (Roland), which now puts me in line as a 2nd child with three surviving siblings – Sylvester, Andrew & Blessing Odigie…
Maa’ma, you fought hard; very hard, you fought to the END… gallant Christian Soldier! I salute you, Maa’ma!
Nothing actually prepares one for the loss of a dear one! I thought I was ready; that my heart could take it anytime it happened because I had watched you in pain of sickness for years, so I thought I could take it without flinching. But alas! Not so! Not so!
But my only consolation is that you are now with Christ, whom you loved so much, after breaking free from an idolatrous background… The kingdom of darkness fought you seriously… Ahhh, but you fought back! You fought by serving Christ HARD! You fought with all your substance; you fought with your might in your newfound faith! You fought with your body till you couldn’t fight no more, but Christ was with you ALL the WAY!!!
You fought and handed me a legacy in Jesus Christ, shaped with your ‘prophetic utterance’ that began to alter the ‘trajectory of my life’ at a time when I didn’t want anything to do with Jesus in my early 20s… in the heat of an argument when I drove you and your ‘Deeper Life church members’ out of my living room in the thick of a prayer meeting. From that day, I became a prayer project in the hands of ‘Deeper Life Church’, the whole Ikeja District till date.
You looked at me and said, ‘You will serve this JESUS in a way that even you cannot comprehend.’ You said it in Yoruba language… deeper than I can write in ENGLISH!!! (Story for the books).
When the Lord woke me up a day before your passing to go anoint and pray for you; I knew instinctively it was time, but my heart still broke! Blood is THICKER THAN WATER “
The Biography of Mama Paulina Enore Odigie
Early Life and Background
Mama Paulina Enore Odigie was born into the family of Ehijie in Eguare-Ugbegun, Esan, in present-day Edo State, located in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria.
She spent her early years and grew up in Lagos, where she met and married her late husband, a police officer, Abel Odigie, with whom she had all her five children. He hailed from Ewohimi, also in Esan land. She fondly called her husband “Enoyamen,” meaning “My Lord” or “He that owns me.”
She was an astute businesswoman in her early years and was one of the three pioneering women who founded Balogun Market, Lagos Island.
Christian Life and Service
The turning point in Mama Paulina’s life was when she surrendered her life to Jesus Christ and became born again, having been brought up in a strong idolatrous background. She later became a dedicated member of the Deeper Life Bible Church, where she anchored her faith in the sound doctrines of holiness, righteousness and truth.
Mama was not a passive believer; she was a committed soldier of Christ. According to her District Pastor, Boniface Ikwulegbu, Mama Enore was fully committed to ushering work in the church and was very diligent in the distribution of the Women’s Mirror, the church’s monthly women’s magazine. In her active years, she was unstoppable in evangelistic outreaches.
Her life was a living sermon, and she constantly encouraged her children and neighbours to seek the Kingdom of God first.
Her Legacy and Character
Mama Paulina Enore Odigie was a virtuous woman, a pillar of prayer and a peace advocate in her community. She faced life’s challenges with quiet faith and unwavering trust in God. Mama maintained Christian modesty and a gentle spirit until her final days, when she peacefully went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at the full ripe age of 88.
Survived By
She is survived by a blessed lineage of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as relatives who comfort themselves with the assurance that she is resting in the bosom of the Lord.
Mama’s Children According to Order
- Chief Dr. Sylvester Osadolo Odigie
- Roland Yemi Odigie [Deceased]
- Apostle (Dr.) Elishamah Rosemary Ideh
- Mr. Andrew Adebayo Odigie
- Architect Blessing Ehizuelen Odigie
Grandchildren
- Mrs. T’oluwase Omokolapo Oni
- Mr. Ehiz Odigie
- Itohan Tamilore Odigie
- Mrs. Vanessa Adekoya
- Mr. Oghenerukeme El-Shakar Ideh
- Ejiro-Oghene Ideh
- Eghoghon Rita Odigie
- Osereme Odigie
- Ogbeide Anthony Odigie
- Eseohe Ariella Odigie
Great-Grandchildren
- Bethel Emmanuel Ideh
- Tov Zaine Ideh
- Gabrielle Morountodun Igwehi Omokolapo Oni
- Grace Oselumese Koreofe Adekoya
