Rev. (Mrs.) Esther Ekwy Madubufo, aka Mama Fruitful, is the Senior Pastor, Fruitful Men And Women Ministry International, Ejigbo, Lagos. A graduate of Political Science from Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), a Master of Science from the University of Lagos (Unilag) and an MBA holder in Human Resources from the Lagos State University (LASU), Mrs Madubufo is a prolific writer, Bible teacher, conference speaker, and International Ministers’ Forum (IMF) Nigeria, among others. As she celebrated her 50th birthday recently, she spoke to EJIKEME OMENAZU on her early life and how she found herself in ministry. Excerpt:
How do you feel celebrating 50?
Words cannot express my feelings. I am so excited and happy. I did not know I have done many things to people until I heard them talking about it. It was overwhelming and encouraging to do more for humanity and the kingdom. I thank God people came to celebrate God with me.
Could you reflect on your life?
If you are to write your biography, you may be writing some things that are not correct. But, from the testimonies I heard, I am grateful to God and proud to be a mother, a pastor, and a friend indeed. It shows my life has been fashioned to be selfless, loving, and sacrificial. It has been of God alone. Many testify of how God used me for what their lives are now. I know God has been using me to change lives, but I did not know to what extent and how far He has been transforming those lives. It has been a life for Christ all the way. All these things have been by His mercy because I am the one He has shown mercy. When talking about being qualified, I am not qualified, but God has qualified me and I am glad to celebrate God’s qualification. With the presence of friends, family, dignitaries, representatives of Christian bodies and prominent people, including the Honourable Member, House of Representatives, representing the Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency, to honour a small me, but with a big God. I did not know God had used me this far, But, to Him alone be all the glory. He is just telling me: ‘You are on the right track. Continue to do more for Christ and His kingdom’.
Growing up, did you envisage or plan to be a pastor?
No, but then, I discovered that I became interested in anything about God’s service. I was born and brought up in a Christian home. My father was a staunch Anglican. He would wake up early at 5.am for morning prayers and we must go to the vicarage. If you are sleepy by that time, they will wake you up with a cane. At the very tender age of 13, I was already a leader of my church’s Girls Brigade. At that age, when I went to represent my church in leadership training for Girls Brigade Leaders, I found myself among women as old as my mother and grandmother, who also came for the same training as leaders of their respective church. They were amazed and asked if they did not have people in our church. I was just looking at them and did not know what to say. Also, in my secondary school days, they made me the Chapel Prefect. As a Chapel Prefect, I learnt to start preaching at that age. This is because, every Thursday, when we do moral instruction in school, I must preach, talk to fellow students and pray. When I gained admission into the university, I was a member of NIFES, member of the African Student Association and member of AFAC. During my university days, the only thing that interested me was God and about God. So, I cannot primarily say that I planned or knew that I would be a pastor. It was not even in my thoughts to be a pastor. But, circumstances and situations of my background molded me. And today, here I am. When I went for my National Youth Service in Damaturu, Yobe State, Northern State, because of the burning desire to serve God and impact life, I went to a Redeemed Christian Church, but found that it was what we had in Lagos. But, I desired a new experience, and encounter. So, I left and went to Christ Embassy and Winners. They were all the same, as we had in Lagos. Then, I went to an Orthodox church, ECWA, and came back. All the same, I was not fulfilled in my heart.
On Sundays, every Corp member will go to various churches for service. I would be the only one in the house, saying, ‘I don’t want to spend this one year without imparting life’. One Sunday, I came out and started searching for a different place of worship. But, I had a language barrier. I did not know how to speak Hausa and most people I asked questions, once you said, ‘Hello, how are you?’ They would tell me, ‘Madam, ba turenchi, meaning, they did not understand English. I was confused. I did not know how to express myself and they did not understand English. One Sunday, I went with one of my friends, a Corp member. I asked him to visit me. I said, ‘Let’s check this village and see if we can see a local church’. He was staying in Kano and understood a little bit of Hausa. We started checking and eventually located one church, African Missions International. By the time we got there, they had been dismissed. But, we met the pastor and I was happy to see somebody who could speak English. I asked if there was a church there. He said, yes, and enquired what we were looking for.He told us, ‘We don’t hold our services in English, it’s only in Hausa’. I said, ‘No problem’, and asked him the time of service. The next Sunday, I went there with my friend, Brother, Emma. When they saw us, we were like white people (Europeans) that came. They were surprised, but happy. They did not have seats. They sat on the bare floor and came to church barefooted. We were just looking at them. But, I was happy and said, ‘This is the kind of place I’m looking for’. This is because I don’t want to just do the normal and go back to Lagos after one year.
How was your experience in that church?
The pastor, Rev. Stephen Atiyeye, was excited to welcome us. We are still communicating. Anytime he is in Lagos, he visits me. We started worshiping with them. Because of us, they got a translator to translate the message in English for us. To the glory of God, before I left there, I invited my husband (We were still courting and dating then) to come on a visit, because I knew he had a heart for the gospel. When he came, we went to the church together, and he saw where we were. He built seats for them and roofed their children’s apartment and before we left, we organised those women and empowered them. We got resource persons and started teaching them how to make soap and other things. We taught them about Christ’s love and told them that the clothes they were saving, they should go and bring out and wear to church every Sunday. They started dressing well for church on Sundays. They came to church looking good. The day we were passing out, they were crying and did not want us to go. It was an emotional moment for me. They organised a send-off for us. The women were crying, coming to embrace and hug me. They brought little, little things they had, like dadawa, masala; whatever they could afford. Even though I could not go with most of what they gave me, I collected them. I was happy and fulfilled. We passed out in 2004, and I returned to Lagos on January 1, 2005. I got married to the love of my life and best friend. Since then, it has been a journey of testimonies to God.
Does it mean your background prepared you for ministerial service?
I cannot thank my parents enough for the background – the Christian ethics and values they instilled in me prepared me for who I am and what I am doing today.
How would you compare the upbringing of children today with what it was in the past?
There are generational differences and a wide gap in bringing up children these days, even in Christendom. Bringing up Christian children today is not the same these days. It was not like that when we were growing up. Today’s children whose parents are so busy, left them in the hands of maids, and house helps. This is a herculean task. Parents run out in the morning in search of money to take care of their children. Unfortunately, they end up losing those children to the wrong hands. There is a gap, compared to what was obtainable in the past. Because of the 21st Century rat race, everyone wants to make money, but lose the important seed of heritage God has given to us. It almost affected me with my children. But, I had to go back to my upbringing and said, ‘This is not how my parents brought me up’. I had to correct some things for my children and told them what they must do. Apart from showing them the way of God and the attributes of Christ, we must be closer to them and build cordial relationships with our children. Taking them to church, buying clothes or sending them to the best schools is not enough. We have to be listening parents, come to their level and be their friends to understand them.