•Details Of The Classy Party @ La Scala Restaurant, ONIKAN
On Friday 7th February 2020, the Iya Oge of Lagos, Chief (Mrs.) Opral Mason Benson (OON) celebrated her 85th birthday in grand style. She hosted a classy dinner at La Scala Restaurant located inside Muson Centre at Onikan, Lagos. La Scala is a classy highbrow & elitist restaurant. It is also unarguably the most expensive restaurant in Lagos patronised by the rich, high & mighty. It was dinner for only 250 good quality people. Below SUNDAY ADIGUN serves you hot gists from the birthday.
OPRAL BENSON STILL DANCES AT 85
Chief Mrs Opral Benson is blessed at 85. After the formal segment, Mama was on her feet dancing for 2 solid hours with her friends. She danced with a lot of gusto & dexterity. She really stole the show at her own party. As she danced, all her friends formed a circle round her to dance with her.
MAIDEN IBRU STILL LOOKED Sweet @ 70
Maiden Ibru was there. A few months back, the Guardian Publisher Lady Maiden Ibru clocked 70 and she hosted a classy party. She is close to Chief (Dr.) Mrs.Opral Benson. She loves dancing. She was on her feet throughout the dancing session. She stayed back until the party ended. At 70, Maiden Ibru is looking good. She has lost so much weight. She looks trim and happy.
SENATOR DAISY DANJUMA LOOKED BEAUTIFUL AS EVER
Senator Daisy Danjuma attended the party looking beautiful in her flowing Moroccan boubou. She is blessed with a great look which she has kept intact as she approaches 70. She is tall, with an imposing height that makes her an elegant stallion.
FADAN PRESIDENT FUNMI AJILA ON HER WAY OUT
Did you know that Funmi Ajila-Ladipo, the CEO of House of Regalia and President of FADAN (Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria) is on her way out of office. She has served her mandatory 2 terms and a new Exco is set to take over. She came to the party with one o those running for her office, Kola Kuddus, who is currently her Vice President.
CHIEF MRS. NIKE AKANDE LOOKED AGELESS
Chief Mrs Onikepo Akande is a beautiful woman. She is stylish too. Anytime you see her she is always on point. She spoke at the event. There is nothing to show that she is over 80. She is one of the society matriarchs you can call ageless beauty.
THE BENSON FAMILY RALLIED ROUND
The Benson Family rallied round Chief Mrs Opral Benson at 80. They came in large number. She is married to late Otunba Theophilius Owolabi Shobowale Benson (TOS Benson) SAN CFR. He was the 1st Independence Minister of Information and Broadcasting.
Chief B.O. Benson (SAN) the Olori Ebi led the term that came. He calls the celebrant Auntie Opral. The late TOS Benson was his uncle. The Benson family is big in Ikorodu. They belong to the Baba Aladura Benson family.
MRS. ABIMBOLA CARDOSO’S ROLE
She is one celebrity woman who has made a good name for herself in Nigeria. She is the very Stylish wife of Dr Yemi Cardoso. She is the daughter of late T.O.S Benson but from another mother. Before Opral Benson married T.O.S he was married to late Dr Abaecheta Benson. She is the mother of Mrs Abimbola Cardoso. Dr Abaecheta Benson died in 1960/61 when Otunba Benson (SAN) who was the Federal Minister of Information.
SENATOR ITA GIWA & SISI ABBA ABSENT
A few of Mama’s friends were absent. Many of them are abroad. Both Senator Florence Ita Giwa & Hajia Abbah Folawiyo fondly called Sisi Abba couldn’t make it. They are out of the country, we gathered.
BASHORUN J K. RANDLE WAS THERE
Bashorun J.K Randle is a respected Lagosian. And an Elder statesman. He is an accomplished accountant who is from the popular J.K. Randle family of Lagos. As a rule, he only attends very important parties & events. He was there throughout, dressed in his flowing Agbada & a cap to match.
YOMI BADEJO OKUSANYA STEPS UP HIS STYLE
PR guru, Yomi Badejo Okusanya is a man of sartorial elegance. Anywhere you see him, he is always well dressed. He came for the party in a White Kaftan with a red Awo cap and red shoe to match.
UNCLE SUNMI SMART-COLE PLANS 80TH BIRTHDAY
Ace Photographer, Uncle Sunmi Smart-Cole came. For years now, he has reduced his visibility at parties. He is also not getting young. He is 79 right now and he will be 80 next year. When Uncle Sunmi turned 70 in 2011, he published his 3rd Coffee Table Book Titled SUNMI’s Lens, A Medium Between Man Nature.
OPRAL BENSON’S VERY LOYAL STAFF
Chief Mrs Opral Benson is a good woman. That is why many people love her. Her staff don’t joke with her. They rallied around her. Her P.A stuck to her all through the event. Mr O. Kehinde Ogundimu, the Supervising Director of Opral Benson Beauty Training Institute was on his feet all through.
TEMILOLU OKEOWO’S ROLE
One lady who is very close to Mrs Opral Benson is Evangelist Temilolu Okeowo. She is her goddaughter. She co-ordinated the classy party. Her mentees played the role of Ushers. They were all beautiful ladies who are members of her Girls Club of Nigeria. About 10 in number they wore a beautiful Black & Gold dress which looked similar to Temilolu’s outfit also.
KESINGTON ADEBUTU SET TO CELEBRATE 85TH
Chief Kessington Adebutu attended the party. He spoke about why he calls the celebrant Mummy. He revealed a lot especially about how close he is to her husband, late T.O.S Benson in his lifetime. He announced that despite the fact that he will be 85 in September he will continue to call her Mummy.
WITH LOVE FROM YEMI CARDOSO
Dr Yemi Cardoso is a son-in-law to the celebrant. This handsome 7 footer is the husband of Bimbo Cardoso. He was a Commissioner under Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He had worked in the banking industry for very many years before he went into government. So good & brilliant was he that he was one of the top 3 super Commissioners of that era that included the likes of Dele Alake, Wale Edu & Co.
FOLORUNSHO ALAKIJA LOOKED HEAVENLY
What has changed about the richest black woman in Africa, Mrs Folorunsho Alakija since Forbes rated her to be the richest? Not much. She is still her humble self who has intensified her philanthropic activities, helping widows & the less privileged. She has also kept her old friends like Chief Mrs Opral Benson. She honoured her invitation to celebrate with her. She wore a mind-blowing beautiful dress at the party. She looked gorgeous. She looked glamorous. Don’t forget she is a fashion designer. She is looking prettier than she was years back.
HER FAMILY MEMBERS CAME FROM LIBERIA
Not many know that Chief Mrs Opral Benson is from Liberia. She is. She was born in Atherton, Liberia to the Mason family. She schooled there before she left for Atlanta Georgia in the 50s to study.
She remains a rallying point for all Liberians in Nigeria especially Lagos. Chief (Dr.) Opral Mason Benson is the Honourary Consul Republic of Liberia.
OPRAL BENSON HAS LOYAL FRIENDS
Yes, she does. Many of them trooped out at her 85th birthday party. Many of them are in their 70s, 80s and 90s. They came to honour their friend.
MC DID A GOOD JOB
The MC, Anike Ade Funke Treasure-Durudola did a marvellous job. She is good at what she does. She is a fantastic broadcaster and she handled the party well. She got resounding applause for doing a brilliant job. She worked in FRCN for decades before she retired last year. She is a Personal Development Coach, Trainer and Speaker. She is a John Maxwell Team Trainer.
STANDING OVATION FOR THE BAND
The band was awesome. It kept all the women on their feet dancing throughout the party as it dished out many sonorous Christian songs. Its called The Inspirational Band.
OPRAL BENSON’S RELATIVES CAME
Some of celebrants relatives were not left out. They were led by Barrister Tupee Enid Taylor, her niece who came from Liberia.
BEHOLD THE CELEBRANT’S BEAUTIFUL CAKE
Chief Dr Opral Benson’s 85th birthday cake was beautiful to behold. It was a 3 layer colour of green and white cake with a touch of gold. The 3rd layer of the cake is a gold crown, that depicts her royalty status. There is no how you will not notice the beautiful cake as you are entering the restaurant because of its beauty.
THE REV. IFE OKUPEVI LED THE SERVICE
The 85th birthday celebration of Chief Dr Opral Benson started with service, with The Rev. Ife Okupevi- Vicar, Our Saviour’s Church Tbs, Lagos as the Officiating Minister. It all started with an opening prayer, followed by the Opening hymn “Oh what a thousand tongues to sing, bible read, praise and worship. The short exhortation was given before the prayer for the celebrant was conducted and the service was brought to a close.
SIR KESINGTON SHOWS HER LOVE
Billionaire businessman, Sir Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu displayed his love and closeness to the Benson’s family by standing solidly behind the celebrant throughout the event. He came early and was very much around until the closing of the event. He re-affirmed his closeness with the family in his speech and shed more light on why he always calls Opral Benson ‘Mummy’ despite being in the same age group
FOLORUNSHO ALAKIJA HONOURS HER FRIEND
So beautiful and adorable to be noticed, billionaire businesswoman, Chief Mrs Folorunsho Alakija was looking beautiful in her pink expensive dress, as she stepped in majestically into the restaurant to honour Chief Dr, Opral Benson. She came in, in the middle of the reception and was directed to her seat on the high table.
ERELU ABIOLA DOSUMU DAZZLES
All hail the Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos, the queen mother of Lagos, Her Royal Highness Omoba Abiola Dosumu. At over 72 years, she is still looking so glamorous, not many in her age group have her beautiful carriage. She was sighted in her white royal apparel. Her command of the Queens English was admirable when she spoke about the celebrant.
FASHION DESIGNER ASSOCIATION HONOURS CELEBRANT
Led by the ex-President of Fashion Designer Association, Mrs Patricia Agbako, and the current President, Funmi Ajila, Fashion Designer Association of Nigeria presented a lovely gift to the celebrant, Chief Dr Opral Benson.
CHIEF B.O BENSON CONDUCTS CUTTING OF THE CAKE
Chief B.O Benson represented all Benson’s dynasty. He was also called upon to speak about the celebrant, Chief Dr Opral Benson who happens to be his sister-in-law, and he also led the cutting of the cake. Many Notable dignitaries were also invited to say one or two things about the celebrant.
ROLL CALL
Otunba Femi Pedro, Chief Falade, Jide Damazio, Mr Adekunle Olumide, Prophetess (Mrs) Yetunde Olumide, Chief J.K Randle, Chief (Mrs) Eniola Fadayomi, Chief Onikepo Oshodi, Chief Sonia Anthony, Mr Yemi & Mrs Bimbo Cardoso, Dr Ngozi, Barr Taylor, Princess Yewande Onileere, Dr Edugie Abebe, Chief Sena Anthony, Chief Olawumi Gasper, Chief and Chief (Mrs) Olufemi Adeniyi Williams, Chief Mrs Atinuke Abioro, Mrs Bunmi Adeniji, Chief (Mrs) Kofoworola Bucknor Akerele, Dr Demola Odeyemi and many more.
– SUNDAY ADIGUN
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