•City People Goes Back To The Archives
City People, the oldest soft-sell magazine in Nigeria, is still in the mood of celebration. We are celebrating 25 years of robust, excellent society reporting that we are known for. Like our mission statement declares, Mirroring lifestyles of celebrities. What they do, what they wear, where they live, what they eat and so on. That is exactly what we have been doing on a weekly basis in the last 25 years. And to make this landmark celebration a unique one, we are doing a flashback on those celebrities we wrote about when the magazine first hit the newsstands. The list cuts across all states in the six geopolitical zones of the country.
In this report, City People Magazine’s Correspondent, ‘DARE ADENIRAN, presents list of Ibadan top celebrity women we wrote about several years ago. What they do now and how their lives have evolved over the years. Some have grown older, while some have given social scene a wide space. Some are still very much active on the scene. Some have even died. Enjoy it.
CHIEF (MRS) GLADYS VAUGHAN
The late Gladys Aduke Vaughan was the proprietress of the popular Omolewa Nursery and Primary School in Ibadan. Her legacies still stand till tomorrow. She was indeed a newsmaker in her lifetime. She was one of those big shots in the academic world. One of her children is Ambassador Ibironke Adefowope, a woman of substance and class.
CHIEF (MRS) MOJISOLA LADIPO
Chief (Mrs) Mojisola Ladipo MON, MNI is the former Registrar, University of Ibadan. The first female to serve in that capacity in the U.I, and the first female to preside at the Committee of Registrars of Nigerian Universities (CORNU). She is an administrator per excellence. She is still kicking and enjoying her retirement at 70.
TOKUNBO MAJEKODUNMI
She is a top celebrity woman in Ibadan. She is well connected and sociable.
MRS FUNMI ROBERTS
She is a popular businesswoman in Ibadan. She is sociable and beautiful and respected. Her style, composure always stand her out at gathering.
FUNMI OMITOWOJU
Though not much is heard about her lately, but Funmi Omitowoju remains an Ibadan’s pride. She is a woman with an intimidating C.V. From being an astute banker to her interesting career in the telecommunication sector. She later moved to the Insurance sector. She has proved her worth over the years.
ALHAJA BOLA AMOLE
Alhaja Bola Amole was a very popular businesswoman in both Nigeria and London in her lifetime. She was running the biggest African store in London. Her daughter has continued from where she stopped in the business.
ALHAJA JELILAT FOLARIN
She was the elder sister of the senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District, Oloye Teslin Folarin. She was shuttling between Nigeria and London, running a business.
AMBASSADOR RONKE ADEFOWOPE
Ambassador Ibironke Adefowope, a former Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the nations of Zambia and Malawi, is a woman of style and class any day any time. She has been like that ever since. Even as a grandmother, her social life has never dimmed or changed. She is well-loved and respected.
TOKUNBO ALABI
The beautiful and ever-smiling wife of Oloye Lekan Alabi, the Ekefa Olubadan of Ibadan, is forever glowing. She is one of the most celebrated society women in Ibadan. She is now a grandma.
CHIEF (MRS) YINKA LADOJA
Yinka Ladoja remains as beautiful and sociable as ever. Apart from being the wife of a former governor of Oyo State, Chief Rashidi Ladoja, Chief (Mrs) Yinka Ladoja has this unique style working for her. She is a socialite and a politician of note. She has remained relevant in politics and on the social scene. She is very close to the current governor of Oyo, Engr. ‘Seyi Makinde.
CHIEF (MRS) LANRE OTITI-ADEDEJI
‘Alapa Dollar’, as Lanre Otiti is popularly known in Ibadan social establishment, seems to have slowed down lately. She is now focusing on her businesses and politics. Her children are all grown and doing well in their various chosen fields.
ALHAJA AMINAT ABIODUN
The late former Iyalode of Ibadanland was arguably a powerful woman in her lifetime. She was a successful businesswoman in her days as a young woman. She was a newsmaker.
CHIEF (MRS.) TINA OGUNDOYIN
She is the beautiful wife of the Eruwa-born late billionaire, Chief Adeseun Ogundoyin. The Queen of Sheba as she is popularly called in the social circle, owing to her striking beauty is a party rocker any day any time. She works hard and enjoys her life to the fullest. She plays big in the Oil & Gas and property sector. Her son, Rt. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin, is the current Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly.
CHIEF (MRS.) BOSE ADEDIBU
Alhaja Modinat Bose Adedibu, the wife of the late strongman of Ibadan politics, Lamidi Adedibu, is prominent and influential in the social circle. She is equally popular in Oyo political scene. She is like the second in command to the late Adedibu in his lifetime.
CHIEF (MRS.) JADE QUDUS
Jadesola Qudus, the Iyalaje of Ede land, is a top textile merchant at Gbagi International Market in Ibadan. Her composure and style always stand her out in a crowd. She is one of the female celebrities who dictate the pace in the Ibadan social circle, with a powerful social network.Â
CHIEF (MRS.) RONKE THOMAS
Ronke Thomas is a prominent Lady Golfer in Ibadan. Her business name, Ronkytom has become a big brand. She is well connected and popular in Ibadan social circle and beyond. She is the former Lady Captain of Ibadan Golf Club. She seldom attends social functions lately.
MRS. YINKA BABATOPE-OYEDELE
Yinka Babatope is a powerful society woman with class and glamour. She is now a grandmother and that has in a way slowed her down a little bit. She now focuses more on family matters, but that has not stopped her from attending important social functions. Not many people also know that she is a prayer warrior. She is now a grandmother and now taking care of her grandchildren.
CHIEF (MRS.) HANNAH AFOLABI
Hannah Afolabi is one of the biggest society women in Ibadan. She is a big-time businesswoman. She is very wealthy and has many investments. She is also a prominent Ibadan Golf Club member. Hannah Afolabi is the wife of the late Osun-born politician Chief S.M Afolabi. She commands much respect in Ibadan social circle. At some point, Yeye Apesin as she is popularly called went back to school and today she is a doctor.
MRS SADE FAWOLE
Mrs Fawole is a woman of substance. She is well exposed sociable and has friends across different sectors of society.
JUSTICE IYABO YERIMA
Justice Iyabo Yerima needs little or no introduction in Ibadan social circle and beyond. She commands a lot of respect among her friends and associates, as a result of her amazing personality.
CHIEF (MRS) BIODUN ARAPAJA
She is the wife of a former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja. She is warm and kind and well respected.
CHIEF (MRS.) DUPE ADELEKE-SANNI
She is from the prominent Adeleke family of Ede and immediate younger sister of the business mogul, Deji Adeleke. The Yeyeoba of Edeland is also a successful woman and contractor, she manages the restaurant aspect of her brother’s university, Adeleke University in Ede. She is married to an Ibadan man, Alhaji Sanni. The Adelekes generally are sociable and cheerful, as well as highly business-oriented. Right from their late brother and the first executive governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, to the popular music star, Davido’s father, Deji Adeleke, DUPE and their kid brother, Demola Adeleke, the former senator represented Osun-West Senatorial District.
CHIEF (MRS) SUNMBO FAMUYIBO
She is the wife of an Ekiti-born politician and a front liner lawyer, Otunba Reuben Famuyibo. Erelu Sumbo Famuyibo has been on the social scene for more than 2 decades, she has seen it all. Though, she slows down a little as far as social circle is concerned but still attends important functions. She is now more closer to God, as a grandmother.
MRS BOSE ONI
She is married to a popular socialite and businessman, Chief Boye Oni. They are a celebrated couple in Ibadan and they used to attend a lot of parties together back in the day. Though they have both slowed down a bit as far social scene is concerned.
MRS BOLANLE CONDI
She has all it takes to be a celebrity woman. She is successful and well connected. She is one of the respected women in Ibadan.
MRS RONKE OLUNLOYO
Mrs. Ronke Olunloyo is very prominent in Ibadan social circle. It has been like that over the years. Apart from marrying a former governor of Oyo State, Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo, she comes from a prominent family as well. So she is a newsmaker anyday anytime. She is also a grandmother.
SARATU LAM-ADESINA
There is no way one would talk about newsmaking women in Ibadan without mentioning the Late Mrs. Saratu Adesina. She was the wife of the late former governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Onaolapo Lamidi Adesina. She was constantly featuring in City People Magazine in and outside the office as First Lady.
CHIEF (MRS) FOLASHADE AKINLABI-AROWOLO
Folashade Akinlabi Arowolo, popularly known as Fashad, is a major stakeholder in the textile business at Gbagi Market. Any social function Fashad finds herself, she must make a fashion statement. She wears strictly expensive jewellery. She seems to have given the social scene a wide space.
CHIEF (MRS.) LIZZY AFONJA
She is a prominent Lady Golfer and a well-known society woman within and outside Ibadan social circle. Lizzy Afonja is beautiful and blessed with a nice physique. She has really slowed down as far as social functions are concerned.
ALHAJA TAIRAT ADEYEMI
She is a former S.A to Ex-Gov Adebayo Alao-Akala on Special Duties. She is quite sociable and knows her onions. She also has a very good physique that is going for her.
CHIEF (MRS) RONKE IBRAHIM
The late Ronke Inaolaji as she was popularly called was the wife of the Late construction giant, Chief Oyedele Ibrahim aka Inaolaji.
HON. FOLAKE OLUNLOYO-OSINOWO
She is a former Federal House of Reps member from Oyo State and the wife of a prominent socialite, Tunde Osinowo (Teddy Shine). Folake is one of the colourful female politicians in Oyo State and she always makes a big statement at any social function she finds herself.
CHIEF (MRS.) KEMI ALAO-AKALA
Give it to Kemi Akala, she is a beautiful woman. A beauty personified, that is how the wife of a former governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, Chief (Mrs.) Kemi could be best described. Apart from her beauty, she is also blessed with good stature, tall and straight. Her entry into any party is always grand, coupled with the fact that she doesn’t attend social function alone as a leader, it must be with a powerful entourage. Her time as First Lady was felt by all and sundry and even up till now. Nothing has changed about her personality as a mentor and a cheerful giver.
ALHAJA ADELEKE
She is a retired civil servant in Oyo State Civil Service Commission. She rose to the very pick of her career as Permanent Secretary and later moved on to become Head of Service before she bowed out honourably.
MRS FUNKE ADETUBERU
Dr (Mrs) Funke Adetuberu is the wife of the popular pastor in charge of Faith Chapel International, Wale Nelson Adetuberu. She is the brain behind the popular women empowerment programme on radio, ‘She Matters’. She is a writer, preacher and motivational speaker. Her son, Gbemi Adetuberu, is also a pastor and doing exploits in God’s vineyard.
CHIEF (MRS) KUDI KASSIM
She is the wife of a prominent Ijebu-born textile merchant, Chief Olanrewaju Kassim popularly known as ‘Shokas’. At over 70, Alhaja can still be well addressed as a fashion buff. She wears the best of the best. She is a top player in the textile business as her husband and also deals in jewellery too. She is one of those who have been consistently rocking the social scene for many decades. She understands party trend and dresses accordingly, very few women can beat her to that. She is the Yeyeoba of Ilishan Remo in Ogun State.
