Love and Royalty…As Olori Ladun Sijuwade’s Only Son, Aderemi, Marries Folawiyo’s Daughter

In Olori Ladun Sijuwade, the beautiful wife of late Ooni of Ife, everybody sees ravishing beauty and then they ask for her name. Her smile is addictive, like the liquid courage that frees male inhibitions and lets a rat sing poetry to a hummingbird. Indeed, there are many ways to describe Olori Ladun.

Interestingly, on Saturday,March 4, 2017, the Lagos society stood still, as the families of Sijuwade and Folawiyo played hosts to a galaxy of personalities, who gathered to witness the traditional marriage ceremony of their children. The ceremony involved Prince Aderemi Adejare Sijuwade and Olabisi Ashake Folawiyo.

The groom, Prince Aderemi, is the son of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Okunade Adele Sijuwade, Olubuse 11, the 50th Ooni of Ife and Olori Oladunni Olamide Sijuwade (nee Harold-Sodipo). A very enterprising businessman, Prince Aderemi shared a remarkable closeness with his father. This informs why he is fondly called Baba’s Boy, by his friends. On her own part, the bride, Olabisi, is the daughter of Chief Abdulwahab Iyanda Folawiyo, the late billionaire and former Baba Adinni of Nigeria, and Mrs Olushola Alaba Folawiyo, a businesswoman.

Labisi is one of the most outstanding make-up artists in the society. She is the brain behind FACES By Labisi, the upscale make-up studio in Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi. The union between Prince Aderemi and Labisi kicked off with the traditional and engagement ceremony at the Federal Palace Hotel, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island. The colour code for the day was royal blue for the groom’s family. The wedding dinner is scheduled to hold later this month.

THIRD TIME’S A TREAT… CEECON OIL BOSS, CHIMA ANYASO, FINDS TRUE LOVE AT THE THIRD TRY •HOW OIL MAGNATE DISCOVERED HIS SOUL MATE
It is often the lot of mortals to encounter bliss even in the most crippling tragedy. Ask Chima Anyaso. The Abia-born dude who works for his billionaire sister and the owner of NEPAL oil, Ngozi Ekeoma, recently chanced on bliss in the throes of misery. Soon after his relationships with Odiegwu and Neya Kalu collapsed like badly arranged cards, he strode into a fresh union with Adanna Nzeribe and it has been joyful tales ever since. The couple, who have been married for a little over three years, just had their second child after their first, Chimazala Joan-Chinyere, who was born not too long ago. Chima and Adanna seem to be enjoying the best of times. When one door closes indeed, another one opens.

However, ambition, it is said, is a great man’s madness, but Chima begs to differ. The tall dude seeks to affect no madness; he only seeks to serve his people in Abia State in more appreciable capacities. The story is all over town that that he is set to join the state’s gubernatorial race. He intends to become the state governor, according to the news doing the rounds. Chima is entitled to his ambition, but let’s hope he would make accountability his watchword if he wins the ticket.

WHEN ALIKO DANGOTE AND FEMI OTEDOLA BOWED TO OONI OF IFE
If riches have wings, and grandeur is a dream in the abstract world, in the planet of Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, riches have wheels and subsist in class and elegance. Recently, Ooni demonstrated the wide gap between being rich and royally wealthy. Imagine the shock then, when two of Nigeria’s richest men, Aliko Dangote and Femi Otedola, not only bowed their heads in reverence to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, but did so in the full glare of the cameras.

To say every one who witnessed it was surprised is an understatement as nobody expected these two self-made billionaires to kowtow to anybody in public. The incident occurred at ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo’s 80th birthday dinner at Eko Hotels. Even the Ooni’s wife, Olori Wuraola, could not believe her eyes. The billionaires bent down to greet the respected monarch with all humility like a lightning shaft from Eden, to command the applause of everyone. Guests were never tired of purring odes about them. They made new friends that day and converted new disciples. This wonderful gesture, though unexpected, harkens back to the days when the traditional royal stools were treated with utmost reverence by all and sundry irrespective of their social status.

COLOSSAL WASTE …WEEDS AND REPTILES TAKE OVER TURAI YAR’ADUA’S N10 BILLION CANCER CENTRE
It was hardly surprising when some years ago, the First Lady at the period, Hajia Turai Yar’Adua, brought all the movers and shakers of the Nigerian economy under one roof and sold to them her idea to build a world class health centre, International Cancer Centre, where research and treatment of cancer and other related diseases would be conducted for societal benefit.

By the time the sensitization and fund-raising event was over, about N10 billion was realized. Alhaji Aminu Dantata handsomely donated N1.2 billion (the highest donation), while his nephew, Aliko Dangote donated N1 billion on behalf of the Dangote Foundation. Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, the Governor of Niger State who led the Governors’ Forum contributed N720 million towards the project and 15 members of the National Assembly also donated N7.5 million. Turai’s fund-raiser ceremony was indeed a monumental success. However, few years down the lane, Nigeria is yet to benefit from the highly celebrated scheme.

There is no indication that the money realized from the fund-raiser has been put to good use in the interest of cancer victims across the country. According to an online report, “Despite securing a partnership agreement with a key organ of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, about eight years ago, and raising billions of naira in cash and materials from public and private donors, the International Cancer Centre Abuja, ICCA, a pet project of a former Nigerian First Lady, Turai Yar’Adua, is in a state of abandonment overtaken by weeds. At the sprawling centre built on 7.3 hectares of choice land donated by the Federal Government of Nigeria, rotting equipment, including about 200 donated mini-buses, scream a sad story of unfathomable waste at passers-by.”