Sisi Abbah Folawiyo
In her heyday as a socialite, Abbah Folawiyo was a queen in all ramifications. She had style, panache and exuded confidence at all times.
Till date, a lot of people believe that these attributes were what endeared her to some of the most well-positioned men in the history of Western Nigeria.
At different times, the fair-complexioned woman, who is fondly addressed as ‘Sisi Abbah’ was married to Segun Awolowo, Lagun Adesanya, and Wahab Iyanda Folawiyo, all men of wealth and connection.
As often common with businessmen, they like to be identified with pretty things and the aforementioned men were no different.
Known for her love for parties, Folawiyo hardly missed a quality party organised by elite in Lagos State.
Asides her love for typical parties, she also appreciated fashion and style events; hence she was a popular face at most of these events.
As with women who share her interest, they often end up slowing down when age catches up with them. Today, Folawiyo has slowed down her presence at social events almost to a halt.
However, because she is who she is, a long-established party figure, Abbah Folawiyo still makes effort to show up at selected parties, and when she can’t make the parties, she brings them to herself by throwing small, but classy and colourful parties.
Though aged, one of her finest hour as a socialite was when she stormed the Ovation Red Carol in the company of her other friends, Opral Benson and Florence Ita-Giwa.
Erelu Abiola Dosunmu
Like Abbah Folawiyo, the Erelu of Lagos, Princess Abiola Sherifat Dosunmu also attracts praises for her fashion sense, style and warmness.
One thing that has been consistently said about Erelu Dosunmu is her warmness to her friends and associates.
One peculiar attribute, which she shares, is her endless pairs of white attires ascribed to her office as a ranking chieftess in Lagos State. Till date, hardly has Erelu as she is called by her associates been seen in an attire of varying colours.
Described as a woman of essence, Erelu, was initially married to Major Tunde Elegbede, giving him two children namely Tunde and Adewunmi.
Though she subsequently married the late Ambassador Anthonio Oladeinde Fernandez after Elegbede’s death, she maintained her links with other powerbrokers including ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, late Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, and late Oba Okunade Sijuwade.
As with all society women, she was also a regular face at parties and cultural events. However, she also stood out with her presence at choice corporate events giving her edge above some of her contemporaries in the social circle.
Erelu Dosunmu’s relationship with ex-beauty queen Nike Oshinowo is well remembered, as there was a time the two were inseparable, like pears in a pod. They were quite an item before falling out.
Only recently, Erelu Dosunmu celebrated her 70th birthday party and also organised a thanksgiving service. The event was indeed a gathering of who-is-who in Lagos State and its environs, confirming her place in the social annals.
While the party was an all comers event, it interestingly also announced her withdrawal from social scenes. At 70, indeed Erelu Dosunmu has seen it all.
Opral Benson
Like Abbah Folawiyo, Opral Benson, also wield a lot of power and influence. She also has style.
Not known for being overtly fashion conscious, Benson, still raised eyebrows with her charms and officiousness.
Once a toast of the society, she didn’t get to be ‘Iya Oge’ of Lagos by accident, as she played the part before being bestowed the title in 1973, by the then Oba of Lagos, Oba Adeyinka Oyekan.
In her younger days, she no doubt broke some hearts. A beauty, Benson was born to the home of Honourable Johnson Boto Mason and Lilly Melissa Mason in Monrovia, Liberia. As a young lady, she was known as Opral Mason, but marriage to a former Nigerian Minister, Theophilus Owolabi Shobowale Benson saw her becoming a Benson.
As a socialite, always gaily dressed, she attended some of the best and colourful events bagging several awards including a Lifetime Achievement Award.
At 82, no one would blame the woman for thinning out on social events, as taking care of herself by keeping fit, trying to be a complement to the society and indeed charting her own legacies now is of more importance.
Joko Oni
Her finest hour came when she shone like a thousand stars with her Ikeja-based trinket selling outfit, Gold Rush.
However, on a social scale, Joko Oni, wouldn’t equal Abbah Folawiyo, Erelu Abiola Dosunmu or Opral Benson, as she was several steps behind them.
She, however, had her own fair share of fun partying with choice individuals such as elitist businessmen and politicians.
There was indeed a time when any party in the mainland and to some extent the island wasn’t complete without Oni.
Unlike the likes of Abbah Folawiyo who made fortunes or rather had fortunes thrust their way, Oni worked for hers selling Gold ornaments to some of the finest socialites and party birds within the mainland.
Her peculiarity remains her on and off style of quitting and returning to the social scenes. In recent times however, age seems to have gotten the better of Oni, as her stops even at choice parties happen only occasionally.
Recently, having been underground, she surfaced at the 80th birthday party of the Oba of Iruland, Oba Abiodun Oniru with her signature makeup.
Florence Ita-Giwa
Senator Florence Ita-Giwa is one woman who has simply refused to be overwhelmed by the society.
An active player in the party circles, Ita-Giwa also has all that it takes to stay in the social scene.
A lovely dresssense, confidence and a relationship with notable individuals, Ita-Giwa has really being around. When it comes to the female folks, she only parties with the best of them. Young or old Ita-Giwa finds a way to blend amongst them all.
Some say the fact that she seems to have defied age is her ace.
That Florence Ita-Giwa still hopes to find the right man to spend the rest of her life with at 71 tells you a lot about the woman who continues to blaze trails in almost all nooks and crannies.
Like a cat with nine lives, Ita-Giwa has simply refused to turn irrelevant, as she is either the president of one association in her native Bakassi or the head of a band in Calabar Carnival.
Once married to journalist and founding Editor of NewsWatch, Dele Giwa, Ita-Giwa has remained relevant even after the demise of her husband of ten years. However, she has also reduced appearances at parties preferring to work with Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) and pressure groups.
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