Alaba Lawson: Daniel, Amosun mourn

Damilola Ajibola

Former governors of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun, paid glowing tributes to the Iyalode of Yorubaland, Alaba Oluwaseun Lawson,who passed on in Abeokuta, on Saturday.

Daniel in condolence message said the late Iyalode of Egbaland contributions to education development and the community would forever be cherished.

He said,”I received with a heavy heart the news of the passing of the esteemed educationist, socialite, former president of the Ogun State Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who was also the Iyalode of Egbaland and Yorubaland, Chief Mrs. Alaba Lawson.

“Her contributions to education development and the community will be remembered and cherished.

“My deepest condolences to the Alake of Egbaland, sons and daughters of Egbaland and members of her family including all her loved ones during this difficult time.”

Senator Amosun in his condolence message said the late Iyalode of Egbaland lived a life of courage, service and dedication to every causes she believed in.

“I received with sadness, the news of the passing of the Iyalode of Egbaland and Yorubaland, Iyalode Alaba Lawson in the early hours of today, Saturday, 28 October, 2023. I condole with her children, grandchildren, and the entire family, on this sad incident. 

“Iyalode Alaba Lawson lived a life of courage, service, and dedication to causes she believed in – women emancipation, trade development, growth of Egbaland, unity of Yorubaland, and overall development of Nigeria. Her life and times were characterised by many notable accomplishments and legacies spanning various spheres of human endeavour.

“As an educationist, Iyalode Alaba Lawson stood tall and defied her humble beginnings as a classroom Teacher, to establish Lawson’s Childcare Nursery and Primary School, and later Lawson Group of Schools, one of the famous citadels of learning in Ogun State.

She recorded many towering achievements in Business, including President of the Abeokuta Chambers of Commerce; President of the Ogun Council of Chambers of Commerce; first woman to be elected President of the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Chairman, Board of Governing Council of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, President; Odu’a Chambers of Commerce; Chairman of the US-Nigeria Trade Council; President, Federation of Women Entrepreneurs – Nigeria, (FEBWE-Nigeria), and Council member of the Nigeria British Chambers of Commerce (NBCC), among others.

“A recipient of the prestigious national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR), Iyalode Alaba Lawson’s contributions to the propagation of Christianity in Egbaland, as exemplified by her title of the Otun Iyalode of Egba Christians, and her roles as a rallying point for the womenfolk, and as a voice for the oppressed in the society, will be sorely missed. 

“My thoughts and prayers are with the children, grandchildren, and the entire Lawson and Jiboku families as they mourn her passing. I beseech the Almighty God to comfort the families and give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. I pray that the good Lord grants Iyalode Alaba Lawson eternal rest.”