Nigeria’s Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, is in mourning as the family announces the passing of his older sister, Madam Tinuola Aina, at the age of 90.
According to a statement released on Tuesday, Madam Aina departed on November 7, 2023.
The family has scheduled a series of funeral rites, beginning with a service of songs on Thursday, December 7, in Lagos, with the two-day ceremonies concluding on Friday, December 8, followed by a private interment in Lagos.
Madam Tinuola Aina was born on April 29, 1933, as the first of seven children to Mr. Samuel Ayodele Soyinka, a school teacher, and Mrs. Grace Eniola Soyinka (née Harrison), a trader-homemaker, at Ake Vicarage, Abeokuta.
Her educational journey commenced at St. Peter’s Primary School in the Vicarage and continued at Abeokuta Grammar School (AGS), Igbein.
After completing her secondary education at AGS, Tinu pursued her lifelong ambition to become a nurse in England, earning her SRN, SEN, and Queens Nurse qualifications at South Shield.
Returning to Nigeria in 1959, she joined the Western Region at the Psychiatrist Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta.
Over the years, she furthered her education, obtaining degrees in Community Nursing from McGill University, Canada, and North Carolina University, USA. Her career saw her serving at various healthcare institutions in Nigeria.
In 1963, she married Dr. Kola Aina, and the couple was blessed with two children, Oluyomi and Adebiyi.
Mrs T.A. Aina later transitioned to the Federal Government Service, where she rose to become the principal of the Nursing and Midwifery School at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) until her retirement in 1993.
Post-retirement, she initiated an advisory clinic at Christ King’s Church, providing free healthcare services to the community. Despite her frailty, she remained committed to the clinic until early this year.
Described as a caring, loving, and devoted matriarch of the Soyinka family, Madam Tinuola Aina leaves behind a strong and happy legacy.
