When news broke a few weeks back that the Iya Oge of Lagos, Chief (Dr.) Mrs. Opral Benson was about to clock 88, it came as pleasant surprise. This is because this accomplished woman has not shown any sign of aging for years Yes, she has been out of circulation, but many have not seen her for a few years. Even after she turned 80, she was still attending and dancing at parties, in her high heeled shoes. Over the years, she has been able to manage her life and has always looked ageless. At her birthday, last week she still looked ageless. She is full of thanks to God for giving her the grace to hit 88. She has remained her stylish self- Remember that she is the Iya Oge of Lagos.
She is surely an accomplished woman. Lets tell you a little bit more about her life. In a career spanning over fifty years and scores of corporate involvement, and 3 national honours-one from Liberia (Commander of The South Africa CSA) and two from Nigeria – Member of the Order of Niger (MON); Officer of the Order of Niger (OON) Opral Benson has indeed made her mark.
She has served in various capacities on her journey to the zenith of her dream – a Teacher and supervisor of schools in the Education Ministry in Liberia, and later Chief Administrator Officer-Ministry of Agriculture, Commerce and Labour. She was also Secretary General to the Monrovia Conference that laid the formation of Organization of Africa Unity, in 1961. It is a journey that has taken Opral from Liberia to Nigeria and a completely new world in the beauty sphere where history would record her as the pioneer who showed the way to others to log into the potentials in the industry. Very early in life at age twenty-six, Opral has been fortuitous to found herself on the world stage attending meetings with renowned African leaders – Dr. Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana; Nigeria’s Prime Minister at independence, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa; Lepold Sedar Senghor of Senegal; Sekou Toure of Guinea and a host of other eminent African leaders who were present at the formation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). In the company of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and her husband, the late Otunba TOS Benson who served as Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting at independence, Opral visited the White House as guests of President John F. Kennedy.
Mama Opral’s marriage to TOS Benson naturally brought her closer to the government of the day and positioned her to be a witness to the unfolding political drama in Nigerian history at the highest level. Opral Benson witnessed African and world histories unfold and her personalties went beyond the shores of Nigeria right through the African continent and the world stage.
She knew the founding fathers of Nigeria at close quarters in both the NCNC where her husband was the Vice President of the Zikist Movement and in the opposition political parties. Opral entry into the elite circle in Nigeria was on a glittering note as Dr Nnmadi Azikiwe, the then Governor General, hosted the newly wedded couple to a state house dinner to celebrate their marriage. Opral was on the trip with T.O.S Benson who was a delegate to the Nigerian Constitutional conferences held in London (1953-1960); she also witnessed Nigeria’s admission as a member of the United Nations. In 1963, Opral and her husband, T.O.S Benson met the Pope. They also met Golda Meir, Israelis former Prime Minister, and famous actor, Sidney Poitier, the First Black person to win an Academy Award for Best Actor. Educated, urbane and very elegant, Opral Benson, unlike many politician’s wives in the 60s, was not hidden away in the kitchen; she was right there on the centre stage and had a front row experience of the turbulent period – coups and counter coups that characterized the years following the gruesome assassination of Sir Abunakar Tafawa Balewa, the first Prime Minister of the newly independent Nigerian nation.
Interestingly, Opral Benson was the last person to see Tafawa Balewa alive. It was barely 30 minutes after she left the state house residence of the Prime Minister that the soldiers that kidnapped him struck. Opral recalled that her discussion that fateful night with the Prime Minister centred on politics and administrative policies of the government and that Sir Tafawa Balewa was hale and hearty and in high spirits that fateful night betraying no premonition of the tragedy that was to befall him few minutes later. “I did not smell a rat or had any premonition of a coup. All was well until I heard thirty minutes later that the Prime Minister was dead,” Through her tireless drive and professional competence, Opral Benson has left a lasting impression in government circle.
Since the 1960s, successive Nigerian governments have considered her services relevant towards the country’s progressive march. On her part, Opral Benson didn’t just witness history; she helped in more ways than one in shaping the history of the following national symbols: The National Youth Service Corps; Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA); FESTAC. In 1973, she was appointed by General Yakubu Gowon, the then Nigerian Military Head of State on the inaugural board of the Directorate of National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) in her capacity as Senior Registrar, University of Lagos. The scheme The NYSC scheme which came into existence via the instrument of government as contained in decree No.24 of 22nd May 1973 was a deliberate intervention by the administration of General Yakubu Gowon designed to reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country after the Nigerian Civil war. The enabling decree states: “NYSC is being established with a view to the proper encouragement and development of common ties among the youths of Nigeria and the promotion of national unity”. As a developing country, it is clear where the shoe pinches Nigeria; which is glaring to both the government and the citizenry-acute poverty, mass illiteracy and shortage of high skilled manpower. With the NYSC, the government sought to open wider windows for a breath of fresh air; new goals aimed at establishing Nigeria as a united, strong and self reliant nation. Over the years, the NYSC has evolved into a culture that once a student graduates from the University or a polytechnic, with a degree or National Higher Diploma, (HND), he or she is sent to a state in Nigeria to serve the Nation. Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) where Opral Benson played a prominent role as a member of the inaugural committee is also another area where she had written her name in gold. Opral, in her little way had been able to help in strengthening the Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA).
