How Ibidunni Ighodalo died while helping Nigeria fight COVID-19
In shocking and unexpected circumstances, just some weeks to her 40th birthday, Ibidunni Ighodalo, the founder of the Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation and Elizabeth R Events, was confirmed dead in the early hours of Sunday, June 14. Before her death, Ighodalo had been championing the fight against COVID-19 in Nigeria.
The ex-beauty queen and businesswoman was reportedly found dead in her hotel room in Port Harcourt, Rivers state. She had travelled to the city for a project on Friday, June 12. Though the cause of her death has not been made public yet, some sources claim that she is suspected to have died of a heart attack.
“All I know is that she went to bed last night but did not wake up again this morning,” the manager of Elizabeth R Events, Lawal Nurudeen told the BBC.
Nurudeen was on the trip to Port Harcourt with Ighodalo.
In the past few months, her expertise in event planning and setup design had come in handy when the private sector-led Coalition against COVID-19, CACOVID was organized to help the government to tackle the rising cases of COVID-19 in the country. Ighodalo’s company, Elizabeth R was contracted to construct temporary isolation and treatment centres across some states in the country.
She started with the construction of the pioneer isolation and treatment centre sponsored by GTBank in Onikan, Lagos. The 110-bed facility was put together in just three days. She would later go on to set up another 250-bed isolation centre in the bowl of the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
With both facilities working optimally, the Enugu state government engaged her to set up some isolation centres in the state. She continued working until the project was completed despite spraining her ankle. The same tenacity was also displayed when she was tasked with erecting the isolation centres in Abia and Bayelsa states.
But with the pandemic still raging, Ighodalo sadly passed on unexpectedly. Her family confirmed the tragic incident in a statement signed by Asue Ighodalo.
“The Ighodalo and Olaleye Ajayi families are deeply saddened to announce the sudden loss of our beloved wife and daughter Mrs. Ibidunni Ituah-Ighodalo who passed away in the early hours of today (Sunday),” he said.
“As you will understand, this is a difficult time for our families and we will appreciate some privacy during this time. All information of burial proceedings will be provided in due course.”
She was married to Pastor Ituah Ighodalo of Trinity House Church, Lagos and they had two children after 10 unsuccessful IVF. She was passionate about helping couples deal with infertility issues through her foundation.
Since her death was announced, tributes have been pouring in for the amiable woman who touched many lives in her short years.
The governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu said she was an inspiration to many while sending some condolences to the family.
“Mrs Ibidun Ighodalo was an inspiration to many. I pray for strength for Pastor Ituah, their children, loved ones and the many she has touched,” he wrote on Twitter.
The former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar said that “the life of Pastor (Mrs) Ibidun Ituah-Ighodalo, late wife of Head Pastor, @trinityhouseng, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, may have been short, but it was impactful”.
“Shocked and sad to hear of dear Ibidun Ighodalo’s passing. Spoke with her a few days ago. May Pastor Ituah and their children be comforted and filled with peace in the days ahead #ripibidunighodalo,” Nike Adeyemi of Daystar Christian Centre shared.
Although Ibidunni Ighodalo left too soon, at a time when she was most needed, her contribution to the fight against COVID-19 will continue to benefit many people who may have been otherwise affected had she not offered her skills to create spaces for isolation and medical treatment.
