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Former Minister, Hon. Chief (Mrs.) ALICE MOBOLAJI OSOMO
At the recent Fund Raising/Public Presentation Ceremony of Lion Grace Nene Osunwa, as the 36th President of Lagos, Ikoyi Lions Club, former Minister, Hon. Chief (Mrs.) Alice Mobolaji Osomo was the Chairman of the event. Years back, she was the Minister of Establishment. She was also the Minister of Housing & Urban Development.
In her speech at the event, the 78 year old lawyer lamented the extent to which Nigeria has sunk and degenerated, and called on the current leaders in Nigeria to declare a State of Emergency in all the spheres of live. “I never believed we can sink to the low level we have sunk. I am so unhappy at the situation at which we are today. I have been away in the UK for the past 3 months, and I am shocked at the situation of things right now. A lot of people are hungry. People are disillushioned. People are unhappy. The situation is critical”, she says.”
She bemoned the extent of corruption in the system. She is amazed at how public officers steal the country blind. She is worried at the rate at which monies belonging to Nigeria has been traced to the accounts of public officers. “I served some of our leaders in the past and the situation wasn’t as bad as it is now. I didn’t take Nigeria’s money and I was once a Minister. I don’t have Nigeria’s money.”
Mama is a brutally frank person. She is highly principled and does not suffer fools gladly. She is also well respected by many people. She has lived a fulfilled life. Let’s tell you more about Hon. Chief (Mrs) Alice Mobolaji Osomo who was born on 23rd June 1936 into the royal family of Gbaluwe of Igbotu in Ese-Odo Local Government of Ondo State. Her parents were Albert Iyiade Gogo, a Prince of Igbotu and Sadiat Gogo, a descendant of Onikoyi family of Lagos who marriedintothe Royal Family of lgbotu.
She had her primary between 1944 and 1948 at Igbobini Methodist School and between 1949-1952, She attended the Methodist Girls’ School Shagamu, Ogun State, a school run and managed by the Missionaries, among who were Rev. and Mrs. Mellor and Miss A.C. Layzell. She attended the United Missionary College, lbadan, Oyo State between the years 1953-1955, and t ereafter embarked on a Teaching career.
Many don’t know she practiced in the Teaching Profession for a few years, teaching in different schools in the then Western Region. Her teaching ability was recognized and she was awarded a Scholarship by the Western Region Government of the late Obafemi Awolowo to pursue a Diploma in Education at the North Riding Teachers Training College Scarborough, Yorkshire, England between 1960 and 1962.
She later enrolled at the Inner Temple Inns of Court, London to study Law. She qualified as a Barrister at Law and was called to the English Bar in 1967. Upon her return to Nigeria. She attended the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Nigeria Bar in 1968.
Hon. Chief (Mrs) A.M. Osomo entered the Legal Practice soon after leaving the Nigerian Law School and was in active practice between 1968-1979, having established a practice vast in all areas of the Law with a particular emphasis on Land Law, Real Estate Development and Conveyancing Matters.
In the Second Republic, she participated in Politics and joined the Unity Party of Nigeria. She was a staunch follower of the party in Ondo State and in 1979. she was made the Commissioner for Trade, Industries and Co-operatives, a position she held until 1983, when the 2nd Republic was terminated.
As the Commissioner for Trade, Industries and Cooperatives. She supervised a lot of far reaching projects amongst which were the Ire Bunt Bricks factory, lre-Ekiti, Oluwa Glass Industries, lgbokoda, Ile-Oluji Cocoa Industries, lIe-Oluji, Ifon Ceramics, lfon, Confidence Insurance Company Limited, Owena Bank Plc, and scores of Cooperative Societies and Small Scale Industries.
Her performance as Commissioner for Trade Industries and Cooperatives was commended by late Pa Adekunle Ajasin, in whose cabinet, she served, as well as colleagues in the cabinet and the citizens of the then Ondo State ( now Ondo and Ekiti States). As a result of her performance, whilst a Commissioner in the cabinet of Pa Adekunle Ajasin, the late elder stateman, nominated her to serve in the cabinet of the late Head of State. Gen. Sani A6acha from 1993 to February 1995 as Minister of Establishment and Management Services. She acquitted herself creditably, having been responsible for implementing Civil Service reforms and harmonizing of pensions of Civil Servants within a short period of her stay.
The late Pa Adekunle Ajasin once referred to her as a ”Woman of Integrity and Ability”. She was made a Director of Nicon Insurance Plc. between 2001-2003 by President Olusegun Obasanjo, who also appointed her Minister of Housing, Lands and Urban Development in 2003-2005.
Within the short period of her stay in the Federal Ministry of Housing, she made indelible impact on the ministry.
On her 70th Birthday Celebration, President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote this: “The nation salutes your contributions to its development as a politician, administrator and manager in the housing sector.
During the Lion Club event, we got her to talk to us about her life. How has she been spending her retirement? What has she been doing after her retirement. “I have been very busy, actually, I have been reading, writing and I have been coming to the school here to teach the students. I teach them Science subjects, like Biology and a few other subjects, just to keep my brain going.”
She also has a love for Education. We were wondering when that love started?
“Many don’t know that I started off as a Teacher in the 50’s I went to United Missionary College (UMC) in Ibadan, where I was trained as a Teacher. Thereafter, I got a scholarship by the Western Region Government of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo to study Education in England and I later enrolled at the Temple Inns of Court, London to study Law.”
At the beginning of the Lions Club event, program she spoke about the deplorable state of things in Nigeria. How does she feel about the situation of things in Nigeria? What made her point out what we are going through right now when she spoke a few minutes ago? She explained the reason to us.
“What made me point out what we are going through right now was because of the situation we find ourself in right now, because many of us who served Nigeria were selfless. We don’t have Nigeria’s money in our pocket. Like I said, I don’t have Nigeria’s money in my pocket. During Gen Abacha ‘s time, Nigeria was broke and we started the PTF. When we started the PTF, our problem was resolved, to the extent that we had so much money to spend. And so much money was available. It is so pathetic for Nigeria to be at this stage where people are so hungry all over the place. I have been away in the UK for the past 3 months now. I just came back last week and I can see there is problem every where. But I believe it is well with Nigeria. I think President Bola AHMED TINUBU should not limit himself to just a group of people. He should consult widely. We have 250 million people in Nigeria. Where we are now has gone beyond playing Politics. The situation of this country can be likened to a boat that is sinking and you are telling everybody to do something or everyone should bring an answer, so that we can apply it.”
“I never thought of seeing ourselves where we are now. When Abacha came in as the President, Nigeria was broke, but the PTF brought us a solution. So many of us came into Politics then, Alhaji Jakande, Rimi, time President Abubakar and one former President and things were good. Our man power is an asset. What about our landmarks? Just like what America did after the 2nd world war, they apportioned some lands in some places. How much land does Nigeria have? We have to look for solutions. We can also look at Agriculture. We need to invite Professors who know about how to go about it and bring in solutions, Now, everybody wants to come to Lagos. They believe when they come to Lagos their problems will be solved. Everybody wants to Japa, as if Japa is the solution. Which country wants to accommodate 250 million people? I believe Nigeria will be well again.”
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