Billionaire Otedola’s mother to be honoured by Pope Francis

Dame Christine Doja Otedola

Mother of billionaire businessman Femi Otedola, Dame Christine Doja Otedola is set to be honoured by Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church. The former Lagos First Lady will be receiving the Catholic Church’s highest honour, The Papal Honours on September 14.

The Catholic Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, Most Rev. (Dr) Alfred Adewale Martins will confer the honours, on behalf of Pope Francis, on Lady Doja and five Lay Faithfuls of the Archdiocese at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos. She will be honoured as a Medalist in the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice category. The Papal Honours system encourages aspirations and ideals of the highest standards and values within the Catholic Church by recognising people who have shown outstanding valour and bravery.

All honours and awards are granted by the Holy Father with the local church promoting nominations. The matriarch of the Otedola family leads a quiet and spiritual life. The 92-year-old Catholic faithful Lady Doja is a fulfilled woman with children, grand and great grandchildren. When she was 85 years old, she erected the Grotto in honour of Mother Mary. For her 90th birthday, the former First Lady of Lagos, single-handedly financed the construction of the newly completed ultra-modern auditorium for St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Odoragunshin, Epe, Lagos State.

A teacher by training, she was baptised as a Catholic in July 1958 at St. Dominic’s Priory, Southampton Road, London. The other honorees include, Peter Amangbo, Walter Akpani, Peter Nwanze and Julius Olufunsho Britto.