The Iyalode of Yorubaland and Proprietress of Lawson Group of Schools, Chief (Mrs) Alaba Oluwaseun Lawson, is dead.
According to a statement signed by Akinola Lawson, on behalf of the family, said Iyalode Alaba Lawson, died in the early hours of today.
“This to inform you about the transition to glory of our mother and grandmother, Iyalode Alaba Oluwaseun Lawson”.
“She died today, Saturday, October 28, 2023 at about 5:00 a.m”, he said.
Iyalode Alaba Lawson was a respectable woman in Yorubaland and She was until her demise the Iyalode of Egbaland, as well as the Iyalode of Yorubaland.
The nickname Omo Aderu Lona Meji, which translates to “child of load carriers,” was given to Alaba and her siblings by their merchant grandparents on both the paternal and maternal sides because of their bulky stock.
Iyalode Alaba Oluwaseun Lawson was born to Papa and Mrs. Emmanuel Abiona Jiboku in Abeokuta on January 18, 1951.
Her parents joined the Jehovah Witness sect the year she was born, so she spent her early years traveling with them as they served as itinerant evangelists.
Before she turned five, she started taking lessons at an open class in front of St. John’s Church Igbehin, Abeokuta.
Between 1957 and 1962, Alaba attended St. James’ African Primary School in Idi-Ape, Abeokuta, for her primary education. The West African School Certificate was earned at the Abeokuta Girls’ Grammar School, also known as the Anglican Girls’ Grammar School, from where she moved on.
Alaba got married to Chief Oladeinde Lawson’s son Kehinde Lawson in 1968, who had also served as one of her mentors.
Alaba began her teaching career in 1969 and later moved to Prince’s Gate, England’s St. Nicholas Montessori Teachers’ Training College in 1973 for additional study, where she earned a 1st Class Diploma in Education with honors. the first African student to receive this rating from the school.
She worked as a teacher in a number of renowned nurseries while she was living in England, including Mill Hill Nursery and Junior School and the renowned Queen’s Gate Montessori Nursery School. After returning to Nigeria, ALABA taught for just one year before founding her own school, LAWSON’S CHILDCARE NURSERY AND PRIMARY SCHOOL, with just three students. Since that time, she has not turned around. The little mustard seed has grown into the LAWSON’S GROUP OF SCHOOLS
Iyalode Alaba Oluwaseun Lawson has made equally impressive contributions in the field of commerce and industry. She founded Capricorn Stores Ltd., a trading and distribution business, which existed from 1968 to 1996.
She successfully ran the company while juggling the management of the Lawson Group of Schools.
Iyalode Alaba Lawson was a significant distributor in Abeokuta and other cities in the South West of Nigeria.
She had chains of distributing outlets with Nigerian Breweries Ltd., Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd., Guinness Nigeria Ltd., West African Portland Cement Ltd., etc..
She was elected president of the Abeokuta Chambers of Commerce in 1995, and it was during her leadership that the Ogun State government granted her permission to use the “COMMERCE HOUSE” as the secretariat for the ABEOKUT A CHAMBER of COMMERCE (ABEOCCIMA).
She made sure that Ogun State’s private sector united to speak out in support of business development. In 2000, she was elected president of the Ogun Council of Chambers of Commerce, a position she held until 2002.
As a good team player, she championed the approval of ODUA International Trade Fair. When she became the President of the Odu’a Chambers of Commerce, she secured an independent office for the chamber and resuscitated most of the moribund members.
She was a former Chairman Board of Governing Council, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic. Ogun State (MAPOLY) and 1st Female National President of Nigeria, Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture (NACCIMA).
She was former President, Odu’s Chambers of Commerce
between 2000 and 2002, she was President, Ogun Council of Chambers of Commerce
between 1995 and 2000.
She has been President, Federation of ECOWAS Business Women Entrepreneur. ECOWAS FEBWE and also a Member, Institute of Directors (IOD). Since 2008 till date, she has been a Member Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI).
Since 2011 till date.
she has been a Council Member Nigeria British Chambers of Commerce (NBCC).
Iyalode Alaba Lawson was the matron of many societies, including the Butchers, Blacksmiths, Welders and Iron Benders, Palm Oil Sellers, Fresh Fish Sellers, Herbs and Roots Sellers, and the Ogun State Union of Journalists, among others.
She also founded the Iyalode Egba foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing women’s moral, social, and economic status in general.
She has donated locally made machines to women’s organizations in Ogun State, South-West Nigeria, in an effort to better the situation for female traders.
Iyalode Alaba Lawson was an epitome of Yoruba Culture and tradition. In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the propagation of Yoruba culture, she has been honoured with quite a number of chieftaincy titles, prominent among which are:
The Otun of Oko
The Asiwaju Iyalode of Egbaland
Otun Iyalode of Egba Christians
The Iyalode of Egbaland
The Iyalode of Yoruba land conferred on her by the late Alaafin of Oyo, H.R.M. Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Iku Baba Yeye.
She also served as the Matron during the 150th Egba Anniversary and as secretary during Madam Efunroye Tinubu 100th memorial anniversary in 1997.
Iyalode Alaba Lawson was honored as a UN Sustainable Development Goal Ambassador in February 2017 in recognition of her zeal and encouragement of female entrepreneurs. She encourages the formation of cooperatives to improve access to financing as well as trade associations and membership in the chamber of commerce. She is a mobilizer of the informal trade sector.
