Category: Society

Africa’s richest woman Folorunsho Alakija and Vice-Chairman of Famfa Oil Limited loathes doing things in half measure. During her early days, she started off with a fashion label, Supreme Stitches, before providence gave her a breakthrough in 1993 when she was awarded an oil prospecting license, which was then converted to an oil mining lease, resulting in the formation of Famfa Oil, a Nigerian oil exploration firm with a share in the Agbami Oilfield. More reason she has remained highflying in all business she has ventured into even as a minister of God, she distinguished herself in propagating the words of God through her Rose of Sharon Glorious Ministries. Beyond her financial war chest, the beautiful woman of substance is a philanthropist per excellence. She gives generously without blinking an eye.

Her real estate company Dayspring Property Development Company has been redefining the skyline of Lagos with gigantic architectural wonderment with projects like Rose of Sharon Tower on Victoria Island and Project Delta in Ikoyi. The company is soaring high in the real estate firm and currently creating magic with its yet-to-be-finished FAMFA Tower, a 22-floor skyscraper currently giving the Alfred Rewane, Ikoyi skyline a new look with its significant presence.

According to sources,. the building was estimated to have cost Alakija a whopping $150 million.

If you have ever met Hon. Adetoke Benson-Awoyinka, one thing is archetypal about her personality. She does not give in to mediocrity and never settles for less all her life. She loves to raise the bar high and her taste is top-notch more reason all she achieved all her life comes with resounding success. She is no run-of-the-mill with her background as a seasoned technocrat and legal practitioner with years of experience and practice in Insurance Law including Underwriting policies, Risk and Claims Management, Litigation, Probate and Land matters before delving into the murky waters of politics.

Just like the fabled Kahrites the greek goddess of grace, beauty, adornment, joy and mirth, the law graduate from the Lagos State University LASU is pure-hearted. Despite being a lawyer and technical consultant; Head of Corporate Strategy and Policy implementation at Dvyn Inc. in the United States, she never forgot her roots in advocating for better governance. She returned to Nigeria to form a team that crafted the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) whose main aim was for the development of Western Nigeria.

On her return, it didn’t take long for her leadership skills and ability to think outside the box to be noticed. In 2019, she was appointed Special Adviser on Housing to the Governor of Lagos. After over three years in charge, the housing ministry has witnessed massive revitalization, coordination and regularization. With lofty ideas, she ensured proper regulatory measures within the real estate development sector in Lagos State. She also ensured strict compliance and adequate punishment for defaulters. As of today, the housing sector has witnessed a massive boom which is giving birth to the urbanisation of Lagos to meet the mega city status and also meet the housing deficit according to the teeming demand.

On June 12, the soft-spoken woman celebrated her 55th birthday with not much fanfare. Although she was celebrated by well-wishers to the high heavens with plenty of phone calls, newspaper advertorials, text messages, text messages and social media posts. Unlike last year, when she threw a big soiree in Lagos, she chose to celebrate on a very low profile with her immediate family and few friends.

Akinwale Abidakun with the sobriquet Wale Tomtom is not a rookie in the much saturated real estate business in Nigeria. In fact, he has been making giant strides for years by selling collateral property for several Nigerian banks for loan defaulting customers. Since he graduated from the University of Ilorin in sociology and anthropology in 2003, after his mandatory youth service, he was employed by Resort International and Bi-courtney group as an Executive Assistant to Chairman Chief Wale Babalakin (SAN). It was at this point his journey to entrepreneurship started as he sharpen and harnessed his entrepreneurial mindset for the great task ahead.

After his M.sc at the University of Leeds in 2009, Abidakun kickstarted his Bluemart reality property firm in 2014. In less than five years, he was able to turn the fortune of the moribund property outfit into a high-flying brand currently making waves with a long list of clienteles. A few days ago at the SouthWest Advancement Award, Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos, the Rotarian and father of two bagged an award as the Outstanding Youth Personality of the year for his contribution to youth advocacy, business success and humanitarian service.

For Olori Janet Afolabi, wealth is nothing, if it cannot be used for the advancement of society and mankind. The wife of Alapomu of the Apomu Kingdom, Oba Kayode Adenekan Afolabi, has been deploying her wealth to the service of humanity, especially in her domain in Apomu, Osun State.

All her actions in the past years point to the fact that she shares in her husband’s vision, which is to further change the face of the kingdom, while also bettering the lives of the indigenes.

In line with her zeal to continue to give back to the society, the CNN award-winning journalist played host to more than 900 school children around the kingdom and distributed 1000 books on May 27, Children’s Day. Beyond the gifts, other activities such as March Past, quiz, and dance competitions were organised, with winners going home with prizes.

Hon. Maroof Akinremi, Chairman, Isokan Local Government Area of Osun state, presented the first prize trophy to Prophet Muhammed School, which won in marching. Sunday Odewale from St Barnabas Anglican Primary school won the first prize in the dance competition.

Among those who attended the event were Iyaloja of Apomu, who is the woman leader of Apomu market Christian Akinlabu, Otun Iyalode of Apomu, and youth corps members, among others.

Time flies just like a wave of the hand. Exactly a year ago, Nigeria was thrown into a state of disbelief as the world-renowned televangelist and senior Prophet of Synagogue Church of All Nations SCOAN, Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, bid this sinful world farewell a few days to his 57th birthday. Upon his death, many people thronged the SCOAN headquarters to confirm the authenticity of the story. Those he had impacted on their lives were at the church premises crying profusely and hoping it was a rumour that the man of God will wake to prove them wrong.

His funeral was like that of a president as viewers across the world stayed tuned online as world leaders sent emissaries and condolences to the family. Indeed, the man of God as he is popularly called came, saw, and conquered. He was given a befitting burial amidst tears. After his burial, controversies hit the church over succession and TB’s widow Pastor Evelyn Joshua slugged it out with some followers of the late prophet over who takes over the affair of the church and its activities. After many backs and forth, and several legal tussles, Pastor Evelyn was named the new leader of the church. Instead of the church deteriorating and declining in its activities, the church has been waxing stronger in unison as many applauded the leadership of Pastor Evelyn who ensured the church faced a process of transition that never tampered with the mission and vision of the late founder.

In celebration of the first anniversary of the late Ondo State-born Prophet, the church held a special prayer service session in his memory on June 5, 2022. The well-attended service availed the leadership of the church the opportunity to reiterate its commitment to ensuring that evil does not prevail over the ministry. The church also continued the philanthropic work of the late prophet.

Lagos Internal Revenue Service LIRS boss, Ayodele Hamzat Subair has continued to fly high with his intimidating resume and track record as a seasoned economist with vast knowledge in government and non-government organisations, banking, oil & gas exploration, insurance companies, trading concerns, multinational courier and logistics companies, securities companies, finance, investment, and leasing companiesand manufacturing.

Meeting him for the first time, the Bachelor of Arts degree holder in Economics from the University of Manchester will surely dazzle you with his spontaneity in discussions on finance, accountancy, and tax.

Kick-starting his professional career at the PriceWaterhouseCoopers in 1982, his taxation and management consultancy experience gathered momentum when he joined Hamzat Subair, Folami & Co Chartered Accountants in 1987 as a Manager and then Partner. As LIRS boss, Subair proved cynics wrong by creating and executing programmes despite economic challenges in the country.

His implementation strategies hinge on developing, impacting, and maintaining revenue generation and collection.

Last weekend, Subair stepped out in style for the traditional wedding ceremony of Ololade and Olufemi Mobolaji in Lagos.

Many who had only seen him in the line of duty were surprised to find out that he is a social person who loves to unwind outside the four walls of his office.

He was seen enjoying the party in the company of NNPC top shot, Bolaji Disu, and businessman Toyin Pinero.

While she was alive, Professor Dora Nkem Akunyili was regarded as an amazon who fought the sale of fake drugs to a standstill when Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999. On her appointment as Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC, she burst a fake drug syndicate bringing its circulation to a 15% reduction.

The Benue State-born Anambra woman was fearless, highly cerebral, daring, loving, and steadfast because she was able to climb the ladder of success early in her life, cutting her teeth as a lecturer and also as a minister.

She made a mark in all capacities she served, winning over 500 awards. She remained an enigma whose exceptional leadership transformed and saved lives.

She was appointed Nigeria’s Minister of information and communication in 2008, consistently using her voice, words, actions, and influence to effect long-term change.

At a time when she was supposed to sit back and enjoy the fruit of her labour, She died on the 7th of June, 2014, after a two-year battle with uterine cancer, at a specialist cancer hospital in India. Dora’s demise was a huge loss to the country as she could not wait to witness the Nigeria of her dreams despite her contributions to making Nigeria great.

Since her demise years ago her family often celebrates her yearly.

This year’s celebration was the first without their father Dr. Chike Akunyili who was murdered last year September at Nkpor, Anambra State.

This year’s remembrance was not that grand but sources claimed that Chidiogo Akunyili used the moment to celebrate her mother by speaking about her life, struggles, and her death which she explained in a written memoir titled; “I Am Because We Are’ on Adesuwa Nwokoye’s show ‘In-Depth’.

She also spoke with BBC about her mother’s struggle in her fight against fake drug cartels among other salient issues.

Late Dora was not easily intimidated, she stood in her greatness and lived her truth till she took her very last breath. Even in death, her unwavering stance as a servant leader and a woman through and through inspires many.

For the better part of her life, Victoria Bamidele Shin-Aba lived and breathed aviation. She knows the terrain like the back of her hand. Hence, her rise and subsequent growth in the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN. In September 2014, Shin-Aba scored a first when FAAN management appointed her the first female Regional General Manager (South West)/Airport Manager, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, and subsequently elevated her to the rank of a General Manager, Airfield Operations, a position she held till her retirement a few days ago.

In celebration of the aviation amazon, drums were rolled out in celebration mood on Thursday, June 2 as she took a dignifying bow out of the service of FAAN after 35 years of meritorious service. Shin-Aba was treated to a 3-in-1 fête: her retirement from service, launching of her memoir titled: “MY RESILIENCE by Grace: The Memoir of My Bakery” and her 60th birthday celebration in advance coming up on August 30. The ceremony was held at Welcome Hotels, International Airport Road, Ajao Estate, Lagos, and had dignitaries including presidential aides, aviation industry giants, diplomats, ground handlers, and media personalities. And the volume of encomiums poured on this celebrated first female Regional General Manager in FAAN by notable personalities attested to her industry.

Captain Rabiu Yadudu, Managing Director, FAAN, described Shin-Aba as a good, competent professional, a family woman, and a lady of God. He enjoined everyone at the ceremony to emulate her dedication to duties. The high point of the celebration was when Air Peace Chairman, Allen Onyema, donated N10 million for 10 copies of her book, while numerous dignitaries from public and private organisations also purchased the book.

At the retirement party, Shin-Aba was honoured with an award as one of the Top 100 Aviation Business Leaders in Nigeria 2020. According to Travel and Tourism Ambassador, Ikechi Uko, the lady manned the most challenging airport in Africa and stood out among the top five women in aviators in Africa.

Stylish Olori Hadiza Elegushi is one of the few queens who is hardly seen but just like the big masquerade, her poise and allure are noticed the most because she glitters like a treated diamond. The Kano-born daughter of a renowned politician, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, is an embodiment of royalty with her composure and ability to mix colours together to make a loud fashion statement. With her captivating look and ravishing beauty that can make a full-blooded man drool, she is still down to earth and full of respect according to the South West tradition despite being born up north. Those close to her disclosed that why she is loved within the Elegushi kingdom is her ability to blend easily and learn and relearn. More reason she gathered massive support from all sundry when the news of the demise of her son went viral. It took the presence of her sisters, friends, and family members most especially her husband Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, who consoled her and made her succumb to the will of the creator who giveth life and taketh it. She recoiled into her shell and stayed away from social function. However, last weekend at the 70th birthday celebration of the mother of Elegushi King Olori Sinatu Titilayo Elegushi in Lagos, Olori Hadiza shone like a star. She was a cynosure of all eyes as she bounced back into public events after the demise of her son. A jolly good fellow, she was seen wearing a charming smile as she was embraced by many like a new bride. She danced and enjoyed the celebration with her mother-in-law. From the look of things, she has put the ugly incident behind her and gradually gotten her groove back. From her outfit to accessories, she oozed class.

In her quest towards breaking the cliché woven around women making headway in their career path, hospitality connoisseur, Helen Eyo has stuck with her passion with an unwavering will to thrive excellently well in anything she delves into.

This spurred her to establish Elens Homes years ago, a short lets company in Lagos disrupting the industry with a vision to provide affordable housing, and a home-away-from-home atmosphere to meet the surgcustomers across the world. Nurtured by hardworking and disciplinarian parents,

Helen learned never to limit herself to what existed in the periphery but to always aim for the best at all times. This has helped her move swiftly in her quest to make heads way in the real estate and short lets business in Nigeria.

The graduate of Political Science from the National Open University’s exposure and her knowledge of the business with high customer service changed her story for good.

Today she is not only a big player, but she has also crested her names in gold.

Sources say she is not relenting in her quest to ensure collaboration and inclusiveness also following the recent global narrative trend in the real estate business to drive development, increase in hospitality demand, and rapid growth for other sectors of the economy.