There is a list of women who have been dominating the social scene for years. They are accomplished women who were in their late 40s and 50s when City People started in November 1996. They are stylish and rich. And they are now in their 60s, 70s or 80s. They’re industrious and have done well for themselves.
They are the women who made news whenever they stepped into those A-class parties. City People’s contributing Editor, IYABO OYAWALE (08033564055), below presents a list of these women and what they do now.
At the recent 70th birthday of Sisi Dupe Lawale, in Lagos, a lot of society matriarchs stepped out to celebrate with her.
One of them is a TV star, Ronke Ayuba, who used to be Ronke Darley in those good old days when she used to read the 9 pm news at NTA. She is an ageless beauty, Ronke was married to former Military Administrator of Kaduna State and former Senator representing Kebbi South Constituency, Kebbi State, Maj.-Gen. Abubakar Tanko Ayuba (rtd.), who passed away in 2016.
Can you believe it, that she is still as stunning as well. All eyes turned in her direction when she sashayed into the event in a Tomato red evening gown.
The mother of three runs Marra, inside Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, where she sells fabrics. An ex-student of St. Anne’s School, Ibadan, Oyo State, she once worked with WNTV/WNBS in Oyo State before crossing over to NTA Ibadan as a continuity announcer, newscaster and presenter. And much later, ‘NTA proper’.
A very good friend of late MKO Abiola’s wife, Adebisi and Simi Onabanjo of Stop Centre, her appearance on the screen then left sweet songs on thousands of mouths.
Let’s also not forget Detoun Olubi, the Super Q Aso-Oke queen. She has dominated the society scene for over 40 years with her brand of Aso Oke. A mother of triplets (popularly called Iya Ibeta), this Methodist Church deaconess loves to look good. She is elegant and her dress sense is always on point. Adetoun Adepero Olubi is in her 70s.
Ditto for Lady Emmanuella Abiodun Aisien. She is the clear leader in the real coral market. Society women consult her for corals that stand out. She sells strictly Italian coral and pulled the crowd recently when she turned 70. She used to be in the wine business but left the business to focus on Just Coral, her coral beads business.
Same for Sisi Modupe Sagoe. This society matriarch clocked 80 in January and celebrated in grand style. Sagoe hails from the Thomas family of Lagos Island – she is the mother of Ekua Abudu-Akinsanya, Kofi Sagoe, and Araba Morakinyo.
‘Sisi’, as Sagoe is fondly called by her admirers, is highly-revered in Africa and beyond for her successful textile business with the popular HOH Swiss headgear rebranded with her name, Gele Sagoe. ‘Sisi’ has been in the luxury textile industry for over 50 years with her products as must-haves amongst the high and mighty in Nigeria.
Till date, Sisi Dupe Sagoe remains the only African textile merchant who has been honoured by virtually almost all the textile firms in Switzerland and Austria. One of the greatest honours bestowed on her was the branding of the popular HOH Swiss headgear, Gele Sagoe, with her name.
On the list is one and only Mama Bakassi, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa. She is 76 but you can mistake her to be in her 60s. The powerful dresser and stylish icon has achieved so much for herself and she has been on the scene for more than 40 years. She always turns heads at parties. She owns the ‘Echoes of Calabar’ restaurant in Victoria Island, Lagos.
What of the pretty damsel, Senator Daisy Ehanire Danjuma? When you talk about stylish women in Nigeria, her name continuously pops up. She is a 2-time Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Fondly called DD, she hails from Edo State and is married to General T.Y. Danjuma. Her love for expensive jewellery, especially diamonds, is second to none. She is in her late 60s.
Senator Daisy Ehanire Danjuma is a law graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria with over 40 years of post-call experience. She is the Vice-Chairman of Sapetro, a Nigerian oil and gas exploration and production company. She is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of May & Baker Nigeria Plc.
Bola Shagaya has been on the social radar for over 30 years and she has remained a formidable force within the corridors of power such that they conferred on her, Member of the Order of the Niger (MON). Known for her impeccable style, Hajia Bola Shagaya does not do things in half measures. Her love for exquisite fabrics has not withered and she has a rich collection of luxury jewellery, especially diamond, which is her favourite.
Hajia Bola Muinat Shagaya is the founder and CEO of Bolmus Group International, a conglomerate with holdings in real estate, oil and gas, banking and photography. She is also the Managing Director of Practoil Limited, one of the largest importers and distributors of base oil in Nigeria, serving local lubricant blending plants. In her 60s, she is currently on the board of Unity Bank Plc.
Dubbed the richest woman in Africa, Mrs Folorunsho Alakija is Vice-Chair of Famfa Oil, a Nigerian oil exploration company with a stake in Agbami Oilfield, a prolific offshore asset. Pretty and brainy, Mrs Alakija is married to Modupe and runs the popular Rose of Sharon Foundation. She is in her 70s and has 4 children.
On the list is a highly respected society woman, Funmi Goka. A daughter of the late Chief Oladipo Davies, a former nationalist and minister in the First Republic, Goka is married to a Ghanaian, Frankie. Funmilayo is the former Deputy Managing Director/General Manager Public Affairs Nigerian at Agip Oil. Given her excellent pedigree, Goka’s impeccable charisma cannot but be noticed wherever she goes. A woman of many firsts, she has had an exemplary career spanning several years in the oil and gas industry.
What of Chief (Mrs.) Ireti Asemota? The diamond-loving woman is the wife of Lagos Billionaire, auto magnate, and quintessential dresser, Chief Sunny Omoregie Asemota. She is in her 70s and has been married for over 50 years.
Style matriarch and Labanella boss, who is also the wife of late industrialist, Wahab Iyanda Folawiyo, Hajia Abba Folawiyo cannot but be on this list. It is only if you are not a socialite that you will not know Sisi Abba, as everyone loves to call her. It will interest you that she is in her late 70s and still fit.
Her close friend, Princess Rosemary Yewande Onileere cannot miss this list. She is a socialite per excellence and the pretty wife of former ex-Milad, Raji Rasaki, Fatimat is also a stunner anytime, any day. Fatimat Olufunke Raji-Rasaki clocked 70 this January but looks younger than her age.
One woman who is surely ageing gracefully at over 83 is Erelu Ojuolape Ojora. She is married to Otunba Adekunle Ojora. The marriage which has lasted over 50 years is an example to many. She turns heads at parties and adorns choice jewellery. She is a lover of luxury French laces. Call her the matriarch of high society and you won’t be wrong.
What of the great educationist and philanthropist, Chief (Mrs.) Leila Euphemia Apinke Fowler, MFR? She is close to 90 and still ageing gracefully. A Lawyer, Fowler founded the Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls in January 1991. The school was named after her daughter who had died.
Madam Winifred Awosika also makes this list. The octogenarian who is still waxing stronger is the founder of Chrisland Schools. She is an educationist per excellence and the Chancellor/Chairman, Board of Trustees, Chrisland University.
She founded an institution that consists of five nursery/primary schools, four secondary schools and a pre-degree college. In February 2015, Chrisland University was birthed, making Awosika the only Nigerian alive to own and run educational institutions from kindergarten to the tertiary levels.
Popular female SAN who is highly respected in her profession, Folake Solanke is the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). A woman, whose trailblazing feats in the legal profession in Nigeria have inspired many women in the industry and whose contributions in other fields of endeavour are equally outstanding, clocks 90 this year.
The iconic First Ladies of Nigeria including Mrs Victoria Hansatu Gowon, who first made the position significantly, is the beautiful wife of General Yakubu Gowon. During the tenure of her husband as the Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Mrs Victoria Gowon did not just make the office significant and compelling; she used the position to elevate the status of her profession, Nursing, profoundly. She is ageing gracefully in her 70s.
On this list of Nigeria’s First Ladies are, Chief (Mrs.) Shonekan, Chief (Mrs.) Jakande, Ex VP’s wife, Hajia Atiku Abubakar, Hajia Fati Abubakar, wife of late head of State, Hajia Maryam Abacha, Mrs. Ajoke Mohammed, Mrs. Victoria Ironsi, Mrs. Uche Azikwe and others.
Art Collector, Nike Davies-Okundaye whose home has over 8000 art pieces! Hers is the largest privately-owned art gallery in Africa. She calls it the Nike Art Gallery. She turned 70 last year.
Oluremi Tinubu, a former first lady of Lagos State and a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria also make the list. She is married to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former executive Governor of Lagos State and the National Leader of the APC. She is in her 60s.
We cannot forget APC National Zonal Women Leader (South West), Chief (Mrs.) Kemi Nelson is known for her unique style and headgear. She is always well embraced at functions. She is in her 60s and has an MBA from the Lagos State University (LASU).
Also her sister, Chief (Mrs.) Kofo Olugbesan, are celebrity women with brains. They dazzle at A-list parties. They always choose the kind of parties they attend. Madam Kofo Olugbesan retired from Nigeria Customs Service as Assistant Controller General. She put in 24 years as an officer of the Nigeria Customs Service. She is the current Chief Executive Officer at GGAZ LPG Gas Plant, a company involved in the distribution of Liquified Petroleum Gas to its corporate, end-users, and private customers.
Lagos fabric merchant, Barrister Sade Balogun is another society woman who has been rocking the scene for over 30 years. The Iyalaje of Itoriland is always a delight at parties. She once held sway at Ogun State Government during ex-Gov Gbenga Daniel’s tenure and she is still relevant in the scheme of things. She most times sets the pace of styles because she preaches what she sells. She clocked 65 last year.
Madam Modupe Lawale also makes this list. If you know her, you would know she is the life of parties as she loves to dance. Sisi Dupe has been rocking the scene for over 40 years and she is still very good at it. She clocked 70 recently. She runs Texas Connection Ferries Limited, an established private organization duly incorporated in 2001 with the objective of transporting passengers by ferries/ boats all around Lagos State and later, throughout the Federation for both business and pleasure purposes.
The founder of Tastee Fried Chicken, Chief (Mrs.) Pamela Olayinka Adedayo does not just go out, she attends A-class events, and when you see her at any party, she dresses moderately but expensively. She is in her 70s.
What about Corporate Amazon and society matriarch, Chief (Ms) Sena Anthony? She holds the Yeye Olofin of Lagos title. Chief Anthony is at present a Lagos-based Oil and Gas Law Consultant. She worked with the NNPC for thirty-one years before she retired in 2009 as Coordinator, Corporate Secretariat and LegalDivision/Secretary to the Group Board of NNPC. She is currently an external director for Oando Plc. She is one of the good faces we see at parties.
Chief (Mrs.) Teju Phillips, former Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations name rings a loud bell within the social scene. She is an accountant and had been in the banking industry for many years. Though a politician, she came from a corporate background. She speaks Yoruba, English and French fluently and is the daughter of the late billionaire businessman, Antonio Oladeinde Fernandez. Dr. (Mrs.) Maria Olateju Phillips is the current Chairman of LASACO Plc.
Chief (Mrs) Adeola Aduke Yesufu is a celebrated aviation Amazon and grand dame of the Nigerian society. She is in her 70s. The ageless and elegant society matriarch is also a delight at many parties.
An accomplished businesswoman, Adeola Yesufu, 73, retired as the AGM, Corporate Affairs of Air France over ten years ago. She is an active member of the Aviation Roundtable, the industry’s watchdog, and is unarguably one of the most accomplished and beautiful Nigerian women of this generation.
Yesufu, a woman of substance who has made most women on all fronts with her feats that traverse diverse areas, is very active in many areas, especially in aviation where she left far-reaching legacies. On account of her unique feats in the aviation sector, the French government gave her a special medal of honour.
Popular Lagos fabric merchant, Alhaja Bola Owoyemi, CEO of Rikaz Fabrics, is the wife of Protea Hotel boss, Alhaji Owoyemi Salaudeen, she also rocks Lagos parties.
Mrs Teni Aofiyebi, a veteran actress, businesswoman and socialite is also one of the society matriarchs of our time. She runs several businesses including TKM Salon, TKM Essentials, and TKM Cuisine. She is in her late 60s and a grandmother.
Former Lagos Deputy Governor (during Gov. Babatunde Raji Fashola’s tenure), Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan is also another beautiful dame. Married to Engr Seyi Sosan, Princess Sosan is in her 60s.
Trained as a teacher, she served as the principal education officer of the Lagos Ministry of Education from 1990 until 1999. Among other accomplishments, she contributed to maintaining computerization on the ministry’s agenda. She was appointed as deputy governor in 2007.
Bimbo Oloyede also makes our list. A tube gal, she held sway at the NTA and Channels TV for several years. She currently runs the, Strictly Speaking, Academy and hosts a TV show by the same name. She is in her 60s and a grandmother several times over. She has over 40 years of experience as a broadcaster.
Let’s not forget Omoyeni Anikulapo-Kuti, the eldest daughter of the late Fela dynasty. She is the matriarch of the family and the MD of the New Africa Shrine. She is bubbly and the life of parties. A trained journalist and administrator, she appears on “YOUR VIEW”, Mondays to Fridays with Morayo Afolabi-Brown and the crew.
Chief (Mrs.) Onikepo Akande also makes this list. The former Minister of Industry is an accomplished Economist and Accountant. She is in her late 70s. She is the Iyalaje Iyalode of Ibadan.
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