Four sisters, Jesuferanmi Bola-Longe, Jesudunmo Longe-Osigwe, Jesupologo Bola-Longe and Jesusepataki Bola-Longe, became internet sensations after it emerged that they had fulfilled their late father’s lifelong dream of seeing all four of his daughters become lawyers, with a video of them kneeling before their mother after being called to the Bar drawing hundreds of thousands of views.
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In an interview with PUNCH’s Temitope Adetunji, the sisters and their mother, Chuza Bola-Longe, spoke about preserving their father’s legacy, the admission letters that arrived at the height of their grief, the mother who became the primary provider overnight, and the values that carried them through.
Chuza Bola-Longe described the moment her daughters knelt before her as one of overwhelming gratitude mixed with deep longing.
“My heart was filled with gratitude to God. It was a moment of praise and thanksgiving because only God could have written our story the way He did. He alone turned what looked like our leftovers into a takeover,” she stated.
“At the same time, I experienced mixed emotions. My heart was full of joyful memories because I could see my husband’s long-cherished dream becoming a reality. Yet, there was also a deep sense of longing because he was not there to witness it and celebrate with us.”
She described the hardest moment of the journey: “The biggest challenge was that the admission letters for the younger girls to the Nigerian Law School came at the height of our grief. My husband had just passed on, and the reality of life without him was overwhelming. My back was against the wall. I was still trying to process my loss, yet I had to ask myself, ‘What next?'”
“For many years, my husband handled the financial responsibilities of our children’s education. School fees and major expenses were never my burden. Suddenly, I found myself stepping into very big shoes. It was a daunting transition, but there was no room to give up,” she stated.
“I knew I had a choice. I could allow my grief to consume me, or I could honour my husband’s legacy by helping our daughters fulfil the dream he had always spoken about. So, I made a decision. I would grieve, but I would also keep moving. I told my daughters, ‘We must move on. We must make daddy proud,'” she recounted.
Mrs Bola-Longe described her late husband, Pastor Bola Longe, as “a loving, God-fearing man and my greatest partner in life,” recalling that they met during their students’ union days at the University of Ibadan.
“From the beginning, his dreams became our collective family vision. Perhaps it is also because I am an Igbomina woman from Kwara State. Loyalty is deeply rooted in who we are. I often say that I was not just his wife; I was his first disciple. Supporting his vision was never a burden to me; it was a privilege,” she stated.
“When the first two were called to the Nigerian Bar, I rejoiced. When the younger two completed the journey, I knew that God had fulfilled one of my husband’s greatest dreams. He invested his love, faith, wisdom and strength in me and our children. What people celebrate today is simply the harvest of those investments.”
On the principles she instilled: “The first and most important principle was to put God first in everything. I always taught them that Jesus must remain the ‘brand manager’ of their lives. Jesus is the Chief Executive Officer.”
She added: “I also reminded them that they carry the family’s name wherever they go. I taught them to shun every form of evil, avoid the distractions of corruption and compromise, and remain steadfast in their faith.”
Her prayer for them: “I pray that they will be excellent examples of integrity, patriotism and service, using their knowledge and influence to build our nation and defend what is right. May God enlarge their influence, give them global visibility for global impact.”
Jesuferanmi Bola-Longe, the first daughter, traced her decision to study law to a single moment in 2003.
“This might sound like an unusual answer, but I often trace it back to 2003, when my dad was called to the Nigerian Bar. He came home fully robed because he wanted to make an entrance for us. After we had all admired him, he placed his wig on my head and prayed that I would become a lawyer. Looking back, I believe that was one of the defining moments of my childhood,” she stated.
“Looking back now, I believe that my father’s prayer planted a seed.”
She said she never imagined her younger sisters would all follow: “In fact, my youngest sister was a science student in SS1 before she later decided to switch to the arts, and we fully supported her decision.”
On the toughest test of her determination: “Without a doubt, the ASUU strikes were the most challenging part of my journey. I still remember celebrating two birthdays while I was in 200 Level. That was how long our academic progress was stalled.”
On her father’s character: “He served in the Nigeria Police Force for 33 years without collecting bribes or perverting justice. His life was a powerful example of principled leadership, selfless service and unwavering integrity.”
On why they honoured their mother publicly: “Before my father passed on, my mum never had to worry about paying school fees. After his passing, everything changed. She had to become the primary provider, and in the midst of her own grief, she ensured that my younger sisters completed their legal education. Honouring her was the most natural thing for us to do.”
Jesudunmo Longe-Osigwe, the second daughter, said her passion developed gradually rather than in a single moment.
“My father always reminded us that we could become anything we set our minds to. He often said he wanted to become the President of Nigeria, and hoped that one of his children would one day achieve that dream. He loved this country deeply, and by the end of primary school, I had begun to dream about becoming President myself. So, whatever profession I eventually chose, I always saw it as a platform for service,” she stated.
She graduated with first class from both the University of Ibadan and the Nigerian Law School but remained undecided about practice until her father’s advice: “Practise for at least the NYSC year before deciding whether it was truly for me. Looking back today, I am grateful I took his advice.”
She described her father’s philosophy: “He believed that with hard work, integrity, diligence and an uncompromising Christian faith, we could rise to the top of whatever profession we chose. He called it ‘the Zenith.’ One of his constant prayers was, ‘I pray that God will take you all to the Zenith of your chosen professions.'”
On the balance between her parents: “Between both of them, I had structure from my father and freedom from my mother. Looking back, that balance was one of the greatest gifts they gave us.”
She paid tribute to her younger sisters: “I honestly think they are the true stars of this story. I know how devastating it was for them to lose our dad while they were still on that journey. They could have given up after his passing, but they persevered. Without their resilience, there would be no ‘four daughters, four lawyers’ story.”
Jesupologo Bola-Longe, the third daughter, described law school as the toughest hurdle, made harder by grief.
“Losing my father, who was my favourite person in the world, made that season even more difficult. In many ways, I do not think I had the opportunity to grieve properly. I transitioned almost immediately from the pain of losing him into the demands of law school,” she stated.
“I would not say I have completely overcome it, because overcoming it would mean moving past the longing, the memories and the fact that I still miss him deeply. I do not think that is something that ever truly leaves you.”
She described the moment captured in a video that drew over 800,000 views: “It captured the moment immediately after the Chairman of the Body of Benchers said, ‘You may now put on your wigs.’ I had imagined that day so many times, but I never imagined experiencing it without my dad being present. I looked up towards the gallery, and the tears immediately began to flow.”
“Then I quietly said, ‘Daddy, I hope you can see me. Your Popopo girl is now a lawyer,'” she recounted.
She listed the lessons her father’s death taught her: “First, nothing beats a good name. I will never pursue success, fame or wealth at the expense of my dignity, integrity, reputation or the values I stand for. Second, what truly matters is what remains after you are gone. Third, strive to be a person of good character. Fourth, it is better to lose an opportunity than to compromise everything you have built. Fifth, God and family must remain priorities.”
On her father’s own story: “He started Form 1 at the age of 19, yet by his early fifties, he had earned five degrees. His journey reminded us that where you begin does not have to determine where you end. His favourite saying was, ‘Nothing is impossible for God; with God, all things are possible.'”
Jesusepataki Bola-Longe, the youngest, revealed the pressure she carried.
“People often assume there wasn’t much pressure, but I felt an insane amount of pressure. My mum would always say, ‘Your sisters have done so well. You’re the last born. You’re the ending of our book as parents. Don’t make the ending look bad.’ That definitely stayed with me,” she stated.
“Thankfully, my sisters never made me feel like I had to compete with them. Instead, they reminded me that my journey was mine to embrace.”
She and her immediate elder sister were called to the Bar on the same day. “When my immediate elder sister and I stood together to take the oath, it was not just another Call to Bar ceremony. It was the completion of our father’s dream. There was so much joy, but there was also a quiet ache. Throughout the ceremony, I found myself looking into the crowd, knowing my father would not be there, yet still hoping, in some way, that I would see him.”
“In that moment, the thought that came to my mind was, ‘Daddy, your girls did it. The dream you believed in so fearlessly for us has finally become our reality,'” she stated.
She offered what has become the family’s defining line: “I often say that although my father did not live to see all his daughters become lawyers, his prayers did. To me, that is one of the greatest gifts God has given our family.”
On what the Call to Bar means beyond the title: “It is a lifelong commitment to uphold integrity, pursue justice, serve others with excellence and use the law as a tool to make a positive difference in society. Every time I wear the wig and gown, I am reminded that I carry not only my own dreams, but also the sacrifices, prayers and hopes of everyone who helped me get there.”
She also acknowledged extended family support, particularly her brother-in-law: “He did not have to carry our burdens, but he chose to. His love, presence and support reminded me that family is not defined only by blood, but also by the people who choose to stand beside you.”
Asked what her father would have said had he been present, she replied: “I think he would have smiled first. Then I imagine he would have said, ‘My daughters, you’ve made me proud.’ I can also hear him saying, ‘Jesu, o ṣe o!’ just as he did at my university convocation.”
“If I could change one thing about that day, it would simply be to hug him one more time.”
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Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACiarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.
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