Alhaja Folake Ijelu Oke-Owo is a popular figure on the Lagos social scene. She is known for her Jewelry business. But beyond jewellery, she is also one of the new chiefs in Ilara-Epe. On Thursday, August 19, 2021, she held her coronation as the new Bobaseye of Ilara-Epe, a title bestowed on her by the Alara of Ilara Epe, HRM Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo.
City People’s DAMILARE SALAMI (08155134152) and videographer, Olaoluwa Oguntoyinbo held an interview with her where she revealed a lot about herself, the new chieftaincy title. Below are excerpts from the interview, enjoy.
What was growing up like for you? Where were you born and how did you get to Lagos?
I am a Lagosian, I was born in Lagos, Ikorodu precisely and I grew up in Lagos Island. My other two sisters and I all grew up together, we were very close but amongst the three of us, I looked so much like my mum and I was practically her favourite. Whatever you see me do now and how I react to situations are the things I learnt from my mum. She acts so much like she was well-read, she was a big source of inspiration for me and my siblings know that. I hailed from Agbowa-Ikosi. I am a princess from both my mother and father’s side. My mother was a Princess of Igbogbo Ikorodu while my father was a prince of Agbowa-Ikosi. I started school in Agbowa and left there Lagos and I left Lagos for the United States of America in 1994. I worked there as a health worker and became an American Citizen. I have been coming and going back to America but I decided to stay back in Nigeria two years ago. I came back to invest here in Nigeria because I so much believe in this country. When people say Nigeria is bad and that you can’t invest here, I just laugh because even while I was based in America, I was running my business here in Nigeria and it was doing well. Right now, I am loving it here. If I travel to America today, I only go there to rest or say hello to my children; I am home now and I am really feeling at home.
You’re such a very fashionable person… Tell us what informs your fashion style.
Oh! I got that from my mother, my beautiful mother. May Allah grant her eternal rest and forgive all her sins. My mother was a very fashionable woman, she taught me about fashion. She was a society woman during her lifetime. I remember that there was a popular Apala singer known by the name Fashola, he sang a song where he praised my mum and the song went viral then. Other singers too followed suit because my mum was a public figure, she was the rave of the moment during her lifetime. While growing up, whenever I dress up, she would call me out among my siblings and would tell me what I did wrongly in my dressing. She taught me how to combine colours, how to dress neatly and stylishly. And the reason was simple; I look so much like her. There is nowhere I will get to that they won’t recognize me as her daughter. Today, whatever I wear is always beautiful, I feel beautiful from the inside so I am not intimidated at all. It was my dress sense that inspired me to go into the jewellery business; although I had learnt then trade from my mum when I had the finance; it became easy for me to invest in it. Dressing for my mum was a big deal, every day for her is Christmas, which is why when people see me just casually dressed, and they still believe that I am wearing the very best. I don’t preach indecent dressing and I don’t dress to impress anyone. I only wear what makes me feel comfortable. I don’t break bank because I want to dress but I believe in quality. I know I am a very fashionable person and I am proud of it.
Last week, I was at Ikosi-Ejirin, Otta precisely where they have a new Oba, the Olota of Otta, Oba Adedapo Ijelu. Are you in any way related to him?
Yes, we are related. He is my brother. His dad and mine were siblings. His dad was the elder brother while mine was the younger. So, he is my cousin. My dad was a triplet; they had Taiwo and Kehinde who were both females while my dad was the Idowu. His being king was his traditional right. He is indeed a prince from the Olude ruling house which is our family ruling name. We are indigenous people of Ikosi and just as I mentioned earlier, I schooled there too while growing up, I attended Ikosi Methodist High School.
Information reaching us revealed that you have just been decorated with a new chieftaincy title in Ilara Epe, can you tell us more about it?
Yes, that is very true, HRM Oba Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo, the Alara of Ilara-Epe just made me the Yeye Bobaseye of Ilara Kingdom and the coronation came up on the 19th of August, 2021. When I was to be made a chief, I had three options but I chose one out of the three titles. Then Kabiyesi told me that the one I chose didn’t befit my status, that I should pick the Yeye Bobaseye title. He told me that the implication of the title is that I must always be with Kabiyesi whenever he is holding any ceremony.
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