Abibatu Mogaji, Legendary Mother of all! (16 Oct. 1916 – 15 June 2013)

Chief Abibatu Mogaji OON, MFR (16 October 1916 – 15 June 2013) was a Nigerian business magnate and the Ìyál’ọ́jà of Lagos. She was the mother of the president of Nigeria Chief Bola Tinubu, who in his tribute in honour of his late mother, noted that she was more than the Iyaloja of Lagos or the President General of the Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men, as she was Iya-GboGbo (Mother of All).

Early life

Abibatu Mogaji was born on 16 October 1916, in Lagos, Southern Nigeria.

Family

Chief Mogaji was the mother of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leader Chief Bola Tinubu, who became president in 2023. Chief Tinubu’s daughter, Folashade, would go on to succeed her grandmother as Ìyál’ọ́jà of Lagos.

Career

Prior to her appointment as the

Iyaloja of the Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men, Chief Mogaji was the vocal leader of the market women’s association in Lagos State. Also, in this capacity, she served as the successor of the powerful Alimotu Pelewura.

In recognition of her contributions to trading in Nigeria, Chief Mogaji was bestowed with National awards by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“ Prior to her appointment as the Iyaloja of the Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men, Chief Mogaji was the vocal leader of the market women’s association in Lagos State. Also, in this capacity, she served as the successor of the powerful Alimotu Pelewura.

In recognition of her contributions to trading in Nigeria, Chief Mogaji was bestowed with National awards by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

She also received several honorary doctorate degrees from recognized Nigerian Universities, such as Ahmadu Bello University and the University of Lagos.

Awards

Order of the Federal Republic

Order of the Niger

Death

Chief Mogaji died on Saturday, 15 June 2013 at the age of 96 in her home at Ikeja, the capital of Lagos State. She was later buried at Ikoyi Vaults and Gardens in Lagos State.

Source: wikipedia