Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has paid tribute to the late South-West Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Yetunde Shakirat Adesanya, calling her a loyal political associate and a respected grassroots mobiliser.
Speaking at a Day of Songs and Tributes held Thursday at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Abeokuta, Abiodun said Adesanya was deeply passionate about advancing women and strengthening the APC. He noted that she combined loyalty with humility and dedication to public service.
“Chief Adesanya possessed remarkable strength of character, uncommon humility, and an enduring passion for public service,” Abiodun said. “She was a compassionate leader who believed in uplifting others.”
The governor said her death is a painful loss — not just to her family, but to Ogun State, the APC, the South-West region, and the many communities she served.
“Through her strategic engagement, persuasive advocacy, and genuine concern for the welfare of others, she contributed significantly to the growth and strengthening of the APC in Ogun State and across the South-West,” Abiodun stated.
He added that her passing has created a significant vacuum within the party’s women leadership structure, especially at a time when her experience and mobilisation capacity were still invaluable. She was a key figure in the party's grassroots efforts.
Representing the APC National Chairman, Hon. Tolu Bankole described Adesanya as “an institution and a movement” who served the party with integrity and unwavering commitment. He said she was a strong advocate for women and the girl child.
Mrs. Bunmi Orileowo, who represented the National Woman Leader of the APC, called Adesanya a selfless and hardworking party stalwart whose contributions were key to the party’s successes in the region.
Ogun State House of Assembly Speaker Oludaisi Elemide said Adesanya was a dependable friend of the legislature who gave her all to every cause she believed in.
The Ogun APC Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi, was represented by Deputy Chairman Chief James Dina. He described Adesanya as “the voice that spoke when others were silent and the hand that lifted others when they were weary.”
Pastor Abolaji Olufemi of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church delivered a sermon titled “Remember You Have a Short Time,” reminding the congregation of the brevity of life. He urged people to make meaningful impacts with their gifts and opportunities.
Adesanya was the APC South-West Women Leader, a position that made her one of the party’s most visible female figures in the region. She was known for mobilising women at the grassroots and helping build the party’s structure across the six South-West states.
The event drew party leaders, government officials, women groups, family members, and friends who gathered to celebrate her life and legacy.