Former Governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu has finally had his way by installing her daughter as Iyaloja General of Market Men and Women of Nigeria.
She will now replace her mother Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji who retained that title until her death in two weeks ago. Tinubu was however not present at ceremony same with Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu who is said to have installed Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo as the new President-General, Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men.
Tinubu-Ojo was installed at Mogaji’s house at Sunday Adigun, Alausa in Ikeja area of the state. Akiolu was represented by representatives of the White Cap Chiefs who came with the oba’s staff of office, representing his presence, paving way for her installation at about 1:30 pm on Wednesday.
We gathered that the monarchs present at the occasion were the Ojon of Lagos, Chief Olubiyi Agoro; Obanikoro of Lagos, Soji Bembe; the Onisemo of Lagos and Kosoko of Lagos who after performing the necessary traditional prayers installed her as the new Iya Oloja General by the oba.
Tinubu-Ojo told Journalists that she would be able to manage the affairs of market women and men having studied management.
“Managing the elderly women older than me will not be problem and I have been working close with Mama and I have picked one or two things from mama and I believe God will give me the enablement and the grace to discharge my duty accordingly”.
She hopes to create an enabling environment for market men and women to operate without being molested. “My vision is to create enabling environment for them, to market their product very well; to have more organized markets, we are looking at more of modern market in Lagos. I will also want to give them the sense of belonging in a political situation in Nigeria.
“They have been very cooperative since I have been working with them. I have been working with market women close to two years now. They have been cooperating. In general, I will advise all market men and women to make sure they quickly adapt themselves to the rules and regulation as per managing the markets. Their leaders must ensure that the environment is clean and more organized and they should play their role as they look unto government to create enabling environment for them”, she said.
She explained that holding two offices as the leader of the Lagos State market Development Board and her new portfolio is not challenging.
“What I just have to do is wake up early knowing that I have more responsibility now and manage my time very well. I mean wake up in the sense that this is a greater challenge before me and I have to plan my time on what I am going to do,” she said.
