Chief Alaba Lawson (born Alaba Oluwaseun Lawson on January 18, 1951) is a Nigerian business magnate, entrepreneur and academician.
She was the immediate past and the first female president of NACCIMA and Former Chairman of the Board of the Governing Council, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ogun State.
Born into the Jiboku -Taiwo family of Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, she completed her primary and secondary school education at St. James’ African Primary School, Idi-Ape, Abeokuta between 1957 and 1962 and Abeokuta Girls Grammar School, Abeokuta, leaving in 1968 before she proceeded to St. Nicholas Montessori Teachers’ Training College at Prince’s Gate, England in 1973 where she obtained a 1st Class Diploma in Education.
She started her teaching career in 1969 at Children House School, Ibara and while at England, she taught at Queen’s Gate Montessori Nursery School and Mill Hill Nursery and Junior School before she later came back to Nigeria in 1977 to establish her own school called Lawson’s Childcare Nursery and Primary School where she started with just three students and has now grown to be Lawson Group of Schools.
She later established a trading/distributing firm known as Capricorn Stores Ltd, between 1968- 1996. where she had distributing outlets with Nigerian Breweries Ltd, Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd, Guinness Nigeria Ltd, West African Portland Cement Ltd etc. She became the President of the Abeokuta Chambers of Commerce in 1995 and later became the President of Ogun Council of Chambers of Commerce in year 2000 and headed it till 2002. And in 2009 she established a Microfinance Bank known as Abestone Microfinance Bank to boost SMES.
On May 25, 2017, Alaba became the first woman to be elected President of National Association Of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines And Agriculture (NACCIMA) following the expiration of the tenure of Dr. Benny Edem.
She’s the Otun of Oko, The Asiwaju Iyalode of Egbaland, The Otun Iyalode of the Egba Christians, The Iyalode of Oke Ona Egba and The Iyalode of Yorubaland.
The proprietress of Lawson Group of Schools established in 1977: – (Crèche, Pre-Nursery, Nursery, Primary, Junior School & College).
Immediate Past President of NACCIMA – 19th but 1st Female National President of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture – NACCIMA
1st Female President – Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FEWACCI).
Immediate Past Chairman, – Board of Governing Council, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ogun State (MAPOLY)
Past President – Abeokuta Chamber of Commerce
Past President – Ogun Council of Chambers of Commerce
Past President – Odu’a Chambers of Commerce
Global Convener – NACCIMA Business Women Group – NAWORG
Fellow & Council Member – Institute of Directors – IoD
Member – Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry – LCCI
Council Member – Nigerian – British Chambers of Commerce – NBCC
Chairman Board of Trustees – Nigerian Quality Infrastructure Forum – NIQIF
Matron – Women In Logistics and Transport – WILAT
Chairman – ABESTONE Microfinance Bank, Commerce House, Ibara, Abeokuta
4th Iyalode of Egbaland conferred on her by H.R.M Oba Oyebade Lipede. Alake of Egbaland.
1st Iyalode of Yorubaland conferred on her by H.R.M Oba Lamidi Adeyemi – The Alaafin of Oyo Kingdom.
Iyalode Alaba Lawson is outstanding in her ability to master her academic studies. She worked with enthusiasm and intelligence. Therefore, we are sure Chief Lawson will make good use of these gifts for the benefits of the Children and Young people in Nigeria.
“We wish her Happy 70th Birthday Anniversary, more years in active service to humanity”
