President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, along with numerous other Nigerians, came together to pay their respects to the late Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief (Mrs) Alaba Lawson, who passed away in the early hours of yesterday.
In a statement made yesterday, AbdulRahman Maku, the Executive Secretary of Abeokuta Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (ABEOCCIMA), announced the passing of Chief (Mrs) Alaba Lawson. The family will provide details about her funeral arrangements at a later time.
The late Mrs. Lawson was a successful businesswoman, a former President of the Nigeria Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA), and the founder of the Lawson Group of Schools in Abeokuta.
In response to the news of her passing, President Tinubu expressed his condolences in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale. He described her as a highly enterprising, courageous, astute, and distinguished businesswoman and leader.
“Iyalode Lawson epitomized enterprise, brilliance, and ingenuity. Her death is a very painful loss. May the Almighty God grant her eternal rest,” the President said.
Additionally, expressing their condolences on her demise yesterday, former President Obasanjo depicted the late Iyalode of Egbaland and Yorubaland as a woman who led a meaningful life and was exceptionally generous.
According to a statement released by Obasanjo’s Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, the late educator and industrialist made significant contributions to the overall development of Nigeria.
Obasanjo said: “Iyalode Lawson lived a worthwhile life and she did well in life. I knew she had been down, but I didn’t really know the cause.”
“She was a fantastic human being and she was a no-nonsense person, hardworking and a very generous personality.”
“I will miss her sorely.”
In 2004, the former president bestowed upon the late Lawson the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) award in acknowledgment of her significant contributions to both the economic advancement of the nation and community development.
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the Iyalode, considering it a substantial loss for the entire nation. He received the news of the business tycoon, education advocate, and administrator’s demise with profound surprise. Nonetheless, he found comfort in the knowledge that the departed individual had left an indelible mark throughout Nigeria, touching the lives of countless Nigerians who had the privilege of crossing paths with her.
The Ogun State governor further stated that the late Lawson, as a symbol of outstanding achievement, embodied the highest standards of womanhood and served as an inspiration for successive generations of women.
In a statement released from his Chief Press Secretary, Lekan Adeniran, in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, Abiodun remarked: “The passing of Chief (Mrs) Alaba Lawson is without doubt a shocking development. But we are consoled by her sterling record of service to humanity and unblemished contributions to the development of Ogun State.”
“Born into the highly distinguished Jibolu-Taiwo family of Abeokuta, Chief (Mrs) Lawson was an exemplar of the popular Yoruba dictum of one born into nobility but who goes on to achieve self-rebirth, showcasing the timeless Omoluabi qualities that the Yoruba hold so dear.”
“From her education in Nigeria to her sojourn in the United Kingdom, teaching in several schools while studying at the St. Nicholas Montessori Teachers’ Training College at Prince’s Gate, England in 1973 where she set a record by becoming the first African to obtain a First Class Diploma in Education, Chief (Mrs) Alaba Lawson showcased uncommon commitment to excellence.”
“When she returned home, she established a string of schools that have shaped the lives of generations of students and contributed immensely to Ogun State’s profile as Nigeria’s education capital.”
“Whether as the first female president of NACCIMA; chairman of the board of the Governing Council, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ogun State; Otun Iyalode of the Egba Christians or the Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief (Mrs) Lawson was the quintessential definition of a pacesetter. She was thoroughly accomplished and distinguished.”