Taiwo Taiwo is the founder Aart of Life Foundation, Chairman Atlantic hall school and Chairman, Lexham Investment with over forty-five years’ experience in the real estate industry as a developer both in Nigeria and internationally, construction, interior decorator, trauma counseling , author and more. At age 28, she was appointed Director of Operations at Shonny Investment and Properties Co. Limited and was given the responsibility of arranging the financing of the Elephant House project, an 18-storey development on Broad Street, Lagos. She is founding Chairman and Trustee of Lagos Millennium Group on the Environment—a non-profit pressure group of business leaders, stakeholders, and concerned citizens of Lagos, working to arrest the deterioration of infrastructure of Lagos, improve the environment, and make Lagos the ‘Venice of Africa’. Under her leadership, an ultra-modern fire station, ‘the Ajele Fire Station’—with funds donated by Shell—was built, equipped to the highest standard in the world, and donated to the Lagos State Government for the benefit of the Lagos Island community. In this encounter with Yetunde Oladeinde she takes you into her world, the things that make her tick at 71, passion for the environment and more.
What are your memories of early life?
I had fun childhood. I came from a political family, the Shonibares. I have always been a curious person and I listen. I have always been someone who is aware of my environment. I went to school in England very early and experiment horrible racism.
What kept you going as a young girl over there?
I actually suffered depression at one point. I remember in school I was in a dorm and a mother came in and said goodness why is this school allowing black students and I was young. I came back to the University of Lagos and everyone had made friends, known each other from early school. But I can fit in anywhere and made new friends. Even when I was in Nursery, my twin sister was ahead of mean and we had a teacher who was very mean. One day I went to my sister’s class to see her and she was so harsh to me that I left the school and starting walking away. It didn’t occur to me that I was going to enter into the very busy Ikorodu road. As I was walking down, our driver saw me and said my parents would beat me when I get home. I was shocked that they were not angry with me. My father was enraged, how can you leave the school and nobody knew. He went there, packed all my things, that was my last year in the school.
Tell us about your mum?
My mum was a formidable woman. She was courageous. Her courage used to terrify me and she loved her children passionately and would not hesitate to discipline. She would fight for her space. My father died and left lots of assets but there were also lots of debts. She methodically faced the business until she paid off and after that the business challenges until she made up of paying school fees. For her to even say, Taiwo I have pulled through with Elephant house, you go and raise the money.
Was she into Real Estate?
Yes, that is the family business.
What are your memories of your father?
I was thirteen when he died. We went to school in England and he was very much involved in politics, so he didn’t come around often. But I remember that he was very loving and extremely generous. He was a great visionary leader. He was part of the Amalgamated Press which was part of the Action Group, they formed the business. And he was the business mind, unlike now that politics has to be about them going to steal money. They came up with the vision that the party had to create businesses that would make money for them. My father was the chief engineer of the business.
Politics was also very tough at that time, were the fears in the family for him?
I was young at that time and the biggest event was the 1960 election, our independence election. Of course, all politicians are the same. I was involved in it and served with passion, waited for the results but he didn’t win.
Are you also interested politics?
Never. I actually think that politics, not just in Nigeria is structured in a way that leads to corruption. I mean, the process of selecting a leader is corrupt. So, that is why I would prefer to put my energy in pressure groups, involving myself and my community rather. The question is what do people go into politics in Nigeria for? To do good? No. I don’t want to do that, which is my own personal opinion. Even if you want to do that, don’t soil your name.
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A lot of the women have been encouraged to go into politics but it is still tough for them?
I think we should keep encouraging them, it is not only in Nigeria, but until there is a right resolve, about the structure of politics I wouldn’t go near it. Look at England; they had a corrupt Boris Johnson. What happened to the people in the 20th century, Winston Churchill and even in Nigeria, Herbert Macaulay? They went there to sacrifice but the Trumps went there to steal. And it’s the same all over the world.
2023 Election is around the corner, there are lots of fears and anxieties. What do you think?
I studied History Politics and French and I love politics. But, I don’t understand Nigerian politics. There should be at least a minimum due diligence of the person that you are presenting. It is not after the person is Gover nor that you now tell us that Dapo Abiodun went to jail. How didn’t vet that. So, that is why I continue to say that I do not understand Nigerian politics.
What message do you have for our youths?
Pick what you like the most; change your world that would change Nigeria forever.
Let’s talk about your daughter Abioye?
Abioye died in April 2002 that was 20 years ago. Up till now it is still painful. She saw me off to the airport and I was going on a study tour of Egypt. I said Abioye come with me, she was the most efficient Personal Assistant but she mummy I’m in Nigeria. Then, as we got to the airport, she said I wish I was going. How am I going to survive without you for one month?
We lost her and I felt that I had disappointed her, reckless driver but there were no street lights. Who is going to do it? I went to government and told them that I would do the street light. That brought more street lights.
How would you describe the impact of the Aart of Life Foundation in which you established in her memory?
We made incredible impact. We partnered with MTN, had telephone counseling 0707 line. The focus was please don’t go to people and start telling them about Job, or go to people saying stupid things like this is the work of the devil. Some of the things people are told, I cannot believe that human beings can be so insensitive .What you need to do is go near them and just say sorry, quietly with empathy.
You are a serial entrepreneur, what inspired that part of your life?
I think that curiosity guts. When I was about 17 years old, I read a book that said most human beings use only 70 per cent of their faculties in their lifetime. I told myself that I would make sure I use up to 75 per cent of mine. I have done that. I have developed my artistic trait and so many creative things that I have done.
The Elephant House is a very significant building in Lagos. Tell us how you got involved?
My mother after she got the approval, she said Taiwo take, go and raise the money and she knows me. If she tells me to do something I had to prove myself. When the construction finished there were no tenants and I went looking for tenants and got all the tenants in the building.
What is the secret of looking good at 70 plus?
I am 71, I would say don’t over indulge. I am very discipline and I fill my mind with good thoughts. Also, I challenge myself. I am always doing something I find different, retuning stuffs again and again.
A lot of women are going into depression. What advice do you have for them?
There are so many reasons why many are going into depression now. It is nothing to be ashamed of that is the statistics. There is one in five people in the world that are clinically depressed. Now, since COVID where left a lot of people alone, at home now it is one in three. So, it is so significant to think about it. When you walk in the streets and you are dealing with someone that is sane and then all of a sudden that person gives you a punch, then you know that you have to be very careful. It’s happening all over the world. This is a dark period all over the world.
Do you have people that you mentor?
A lot. In fact, I am part of an organisation AWE set up for this, a white House initiative .So; I mentor a lot of people through that organisation.
Is there anything that you would regard as the turning point in your life?
Many times, there are plenty.
Are there things that you still want to achieve at 70 plus?
Yes, why not! It’s an ongoing process. I wrote my book titled, “My mother’s daughter at 70 and I might write the second book. I wrote it as an autobiography and won’t want to repeat things. We have published quite a lot about grief counseling, so I would like to take the Aart of Life Counseling global that is my passion.