In the Lagos social scene today, not many names can claim to be bigger than that of the legendary Joko Oni. Ask anybody who knows a thing or two about the social scene in Lagos, and they will tell you that Joko Oni is an Icon when it comes to the Lagos social circuit. Madam Joko Oni has been in the public glare for well over twenty-five years and she does not look like one ready to slow down yet. At almost 70 years of age, she is still going strong. Her grip and influence on the social scene has not waned one bit. This ebony beauty who came into prominence over two decades ago while she was resident in Ibadan was popularly called Gold Rush, a feminine store owned by Joko that stocked the best in jewellery, shoes, bags, etc. Back then, there was no big party that didn’t have the beautiful and high flying Joko Oni in attendance. And she rocked the best in gold back then. Long before many society women these days started flaunting gold at parties, Joko was the undisputed Gold rocker. At 67, she still rocks her gold. Top celebrities and prominent Nigerians, including royalty, are her friends. Madam Joko Oni is on first name terms with most of the accomplished politicians, captains of industries, business moguls and celebrated career women in Nigeria today because she’s known most of them from way back when they were all younger and striving to make their mark in life. In this interview with City People’s Senior Editor, WALE LAWAL (08037209290) this ageless beauty shares with us her background and how she emerged on the Lagos social scene more than 20 years ago. Here are excerpts.
You have been very prominent on the social scene for as long as I can remember, ma. Some of your contemporaries whom you hit the social scene with have either passed on, or are battling with health challenges or have simply just taken a back seat, but you have remained a permanent feature on the scene, still going strong and healthy, how do you feel about this?
I feel blessed and honoured and I thank the Almighty God. Everything I am today is by the grace of the Almighty God. The grace of good health, of life, everything, I think I’ve just been favoured by God and I thank God for everything. I am also a very contented and disciplined woman. If you’re disciplined, you have God and if you’re not looking at what others are doing and you always remain yourself, trust me, the sky is the limit for you. When you have contentment and you’re really into God, He knows you and you know Him, and you try to keep His commandments, He will surely favour you. I think the grace of God has been sufficient for me and my family. Then, I have also been blessed with good children who don’t bother me or give me problems. They are beautiful and focused children who are doing very well in all their endeavours and I thank God for that. It is the grace of God, it’s not my doing. I thank God for the lovely grand-children He’s given to me, I have eight of them, all of wonderful grand-children. I have never known sorrow in my life, yes, there may have been little hitches here and there, but nothing grave enough to shake me or break me. But the important thing in life is know God and be contented with whatever you have.
Anyone who knows Joko Oni very well knows that there’s possibly no big name or personality, particularly within the South-west, that you cannot see or seek an audience with. It is either you know the person directly or you know someone who knows the person directly, how did you build this very strong network over the years?
I think its love and respect. I respect people a lot. There are so many people that I’m older than that I greet and say ‘yes, ma’ to. All my sisters, my big sisters in the society, I kneel down to greet all of them. I think mu humility has also played a huge role. You have to be humble and bring yourself down. You must also show love to people and try to help others who need your assistance. If you have ten naira, take out at least one naira out of it to help people. I love blessing the church, giving to people who are poor, that’s my passion. No matter how small, you have to give so that God will continue to bless you. That is exactly what God wants of us.
You have always been a beautiful woman, ma, even now that you’re ageing…
(Cuts in) Ah! Are you sure?
Sure, ma, I still remember how you looked several years ago and even now, you ageing gracefully, how have you been able to maintain your pretty look?
Everybody is fine and created beautifully, there’s nobody that’s not fine. All you need to do is to know those little things that can enhance your beauty and make you even more beautiful than you really are. I just thank God that I have contentment and I have people around me who love me, what else can I say? I have peace of mind, I have joy, my children are doing well, I don’t have any problem that’s bothering me. I just thank God. And I sing a lot to God Almighty o. Even if I’m annoyed, just play good gospel music for me and I will start dancing. I believe I have a special relationship with God because anything that I tell God I want He gives to me. He has never failed me.
Where were you born, ma, and where were you raised?
I was born in Lagos but I was raised in different parts like Abeokuta, Ibadan, Lagos. I grew up with my sister’s husband, late Justice Adewale Thompson. My sister raised me from the age of two years. So, when they were in Lagos, I was there with them. We started from Lagos then we went to Abeokuta. After Abeokuta, we went to Ibadan, but I actually spent the most time in Ibadan. I schooled at Ibadan Grammar School.
How did you emerge on the social scene?
Ah, I will never forget Dele Momodu o, he brought me out. When I was in Ibadan, I had this shop I called Gold Rush and I just found myself in front of magazine, I can’t remember the name, I think it’s Ovation, the first edition of Ovation and it had on its cover The 100 Most Powerful Women In Nigeria and I was number 10. What he said made me very popular. It was during Abacha’s reign. What he said was that anything Joko Oni tells Abacha he listens. At that time, I was not even close to Abacha, it was later that I was close to him. He said anything I tell Abacha to do he will do. Ah, I said, me? So, everybody started looking for me. People were wondering, who is this Joko Oni that knows Abacha, that can talk to Abacha? I told my friends that Dele didn’t get his facts right o. What happened was that, while I was in Ibadan I worked with my boss, Chief Awomolo who was a big auto dealer back then. At that time, Abacha was heading the GOC in Ibadan and we were the one supplying vehicles to that GOC. That was how I got to know Abacha.
Gold Rush was big back then. As a matter of fact, some people didn’t even know your real name back then, everyone just called you Gold Rush. When did you set up Gold Rush, was it something you started when you were much younger in school?
No, no. I started Gold Rush after I had my second born. I was working with Niteco, Nigeria Technical Company. So, I moved from Lagos to Ibadan. And when I found I had nothing doing, I opened the shop and called it Gold Rush and I thank God it went well. But later, I had to move back to Lagos. But Ibadan gave me the name Gold Rush. And just like you said, most people don’t even know my name, but they know Gold Rush, so I think I did well in Ibadan. But now, Gold Rush is now an investment company, it no longer a shop now, I have used the name for my investment company.
I remember Gold Rush was into jewellery back then…
(Cuts in) Yes, jewelry, gold, shoes, bags, everything for women. And I had also a hairdressing salon as well.
But now it’s an investment company you said?
Yes, it’s an investment company’
Here in Lagos?
Yes, here in Lagos and in Dubai. I’m mostly in Dubai these days, shuttling between Dubai and Nigeria.
You’re known to rock gold a lot. You love gold…
(Cuts in) Ah! Don’t talk about that o, don’t let them come and be asking me questions o! (Laughs).
But, seriously, how did your love for gold start?
Well, I would say it started with my mother. When she was alive she sold gold. My mother’s firstborn, Alhaja Animashaun, also sold gold, so, I was brought up within that environment. Even when I was born and was just a few months old, they put gold on my fingers, on my waist. So, it’s something that’s been part of the family. All my siblings, everybody in my family, we grew up wearing gold.
Apart from gold, what other fashion accessory do you like?
Nothing, nothing. I only love two things in my life, and that’s gold and cars.
How do you feel when you attend social events and people recognize you and show you respect?
I feel elated. It’s what I have also done to people because I’m warm to everybody and I love people. Good people o, not people who bad mouth me or envy my person. I don’t tolerate such nonsense around me. I’m a very disciplined person, I don’t take nonsense. I can be nice. I’m always warm and down-to-earth to everybody, that’s why you’ll find all these younger ladies coming to me and are comfortable with me. I thank God for everything.
Looking at life, ma, because you are someone that has seen it all, what has life taught you?
Life has taught me to always be nice to people, to be kind, to be humble in everything you’re doing and always put God first. Everybody says she’s always saying God, God. I will continue to talk about God. I have eight grandchildren. Next year June, I will be 68 years old. Apart from that, I’ve got everything I want in life, everything, just name it. I’ve got eight grand-children, all my children are doing great in life. I have deliberately shielded them from the limelight, but they’re all doing well. I’ve got three children, they are all married and not even once have I had to go and settle any marital rift between any of them. This is why I always say that everybody who wishes me well, I wish them well too.
When you want to relax, ma, what kind of music or musicians do you like to listen to?
Faith Band, Ayo Balogun and Aiyefele, because of the gospel they sing. When any of these three bands are performing at any event, I won’t leave the party until they pack their load.
