By Olusegun Olanrewaju
The remains of the late Mrs. Audrey Elizabeth Edu, who died penultimate Thursday in Lagos, will arrive in Nigeria today from the United Kingdom.

Edu, daughter of a First Republic Nigerian minister, Chief Michael Prest, from Warri, Delta State.

According to her last son, Remi Edu, the deceased died from complications arising from Covid-19 and other ailments, one of them described as rare, in the UK, at age 74.

A lawyer by training, Mrs Edu, of Itsekiri background, was a devoted church worker and philanthropist until her death after 20 years of retirement.

Born on November 7, 1947, ‘Mama Osborne’, as she was fondly called, after the family residence at Osborne Foreshore residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, was described as ‘very respectful’ dedicated to the church’.

“She was always engaged in feeding the poor, and she has a foundation to take care of their interest,” Remi told ThisNigeria at the Ikoyi residence.

Legend is made to her marriage to an Edu, a family of immense means in Lagos.

But it was not an easy set out for the later-in-life barrister, who was one of her parents’ 18 children.

“At 18 she married my father. It was a surprise to my father because he was asked then, who is Edu? Edu was a no-person then. It was later, after marriage, that she went to the university to read Law,” Remi recollects, last night.

The story of her sickness and death is very heart-rending. “She felt sick six months ago. She got COVID-19 and other things followed; had a rare disease, and cancer. She died from many other issues and complications. The body is expected back tomorrow (today) evening,” Remi added.

Ahead of the arrival of the corpse from the UK, encomiums have been pouring in for the late ‘Mama Kofo’ (after her daughter, Kofoworola).

Described as a very special woman, a sympathiser posted an online message, “She was a type that sweet memories are made of before she departed this world in 2022.

A much-loved personality, the late ‘Mama Osborne’, they say, will always be remembered.

Tributes came from far and near, some etched on the gate of their more than modest residence on Udi Street at Osborne Foreshore Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos.

“Grandma Edu touched all our lives in different ways, and we hope that the contributions shared on this platform will capture some of the essences of who she was to many people,” an online post on social media reflected.

Tales abound from family members, friends, relations, and others who crossed her rich life during her lifetime.

“Grandma Osborne. Grandma Osborne, Grandma kitted out a room just for us at Osborne. Watching tv with us, and listening to our stories. This playroom was her happy place. There is a sign in it that says ‘a grandma is a person with silver in her hair, and gold in her heart, a mourner, Katherine, wrote in a letter to grandma.

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She shared this with pictures of precious moments showing the deceased grandma in the house during Jonathan’s baptism in January 2012 and Charles’ 16th birthday on December 14, 2021.

Others show grandma at ‘Koi’ with Charles Hammond “making a big deal out of school events”.

There are also sweet memories of screenshots to “my dearest aunt’s last birthday”, also in 2021.

There is a picture of hers showing “the first time making a cake for her”, during a visit to Mama Kofo (Kofoworola) by a grandchild, Ari.