…Of Many Domains Across NIGERIA
On Saturday 26th March, 2022, popular Lagos couple, Otunba Adeyemi Aremu Lawal & Yeye Ayotunde Lawal were honoured with the title of Sooko & Beere of Iperu-Akesanland by His Royal Majesty, Alaiyeluwa, Oba Adeleke Adelekan Idowu Basibo, the Alaperu of Iperu-Akesanland.
The ordained Prince (Sooko) and anointed daughter (Beere)’s installation was grand. City People gathered that this wonderful investiture of titles is both the 1st of its kind in the history of Iperu-Akesanland. These 2 highly regarded personalities who were bestowed, are the first duo to be so honoured in the history of Iperu-Akesanland by any king of the domain. They are in fact two of the ‘highest honorary chieftaincy titles’ that anyone could be given by the Alaperu. The ‘Sooko’ has its origins from the cradle of civilisation-Ile-Ife, where the progenitor of the proud Yoruba race of West Africa and Nigeria landed as he descended from above. That the title is directly connected or has an affiliation with the source is a major plus that sets it apart from all others and it further shows Iperu’s connection to the Royal stool of Ife.
It is a title that Is reserved for someone with not just the pedigree or right antecedence, but also for someone with the wherewithal and more to do it justice and carry it with much aplomb. It is not just given to just anyone. The person so honoured is one that has pleased the monarch and one that the royal father can vouch for without blinking an eye!
It’s like saying to the world publicly, that this is my special son, in whom I am very well pleased! The ‘Beere’ on the other side is like a female version of the highly esteemed Sooko title. Firstly, it is strictly given to only people of royal descent. More to like to the special daughter of a monarch. So it’s a title that refers to an ‘anointed princess’ or ‘the deserving daughter of a king (monarch) who has pleased her father or such a monarch immensely. It’s like giving a revered position (title or stamp of approval) to an exemplary princess” of the domain.
Who is Otunba Yemi Lawal? We can tell you. Since the floodgate of chieftaincy titles opened with his very 1st chieftaincy title of Bobasua from the same Iperu-Akesanland, which is now like elevating him to the highest honorary chieftaincy title of the land, it has been the choice of the Otunba ever since, to either accept or postpone the many titles that have poured in like an avalanche for him. He has been like a beautiful bride that many want to associate with. He isn’t just a noted traditional title holder of the very many domains, but a distinguished entrepreneur and a gentleman par excellence, whose exploits in his field have been well noted too by all.
Part of what has led to his many honours is also because he is a man of an exemplary academic portfolio. He is a fellow of both ICAN & CITN among several academic accolades. In his enviable professional career, he was a banker for several years rising high to many enviable positions, before voluntarily retiring to set up his own now distinguished business concern- under the Seagle Group brand with the property arm as the most popular of the brands under the massive umbrella.
His Origin? He was born 56 years ago on December 18, 1966, to be more precise. He began his educational journey at (Primary School): Mushin Town Council Primary School in Lagos. (Secondary School): Ansar-ud- Deen Grammar School, Isaga-Orile, Abeokuta, in Ogun State. (Tertiary Education): Delta State University (DELSU) Abraka, Delta State, for BSc Economics. (Postgraduate Studies): University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria- MBA In Management & also MSc in Finance. For more career upgrades, she attended the Lagos Business School, London Business School & Harvard Business School, Boston, USA & CitiBank School of Banking, New York.
How about his wife, Erelu Ayotunde Lawal? It has been said that behind every successful man of means or influence or more, there’s a strong and quite resourceful woman, supporting, praying for and encouraging such a man to achieve his goals. Erelu Ayotunde Lawai, the pearl of the inestimable value of the Lawai clan fits perfectly into that mould and more. She’s undoubtedly the wind beneath the sail of Otunba Adeyemi Aremu Saheed Lawal and his nos 1 cheerleader without a doubt. Like her husband, Yeye Ayotunde Lawal is a multi-capped Chief too. She’s the Erelu Osi Bobagunwa of Egbaland, Yeye Leragun of Ago-Ika Gbagura Abeokuta & Erelu Bobagunwa of Isaga-Orile Abeokuta. But the particular title that actually opened the floodgate for more was none other than the ‘Yeye Bobasua of Iperu-Akesanland, from where she’s been elevated now to the supremo- Beere of Iperu-Akesanland. But before all these honours came pouring in, “Princess Ayotunde Olasumbo Olambiwoninu Ajike Lawal nee Okupe”, is first and foremost a’ blueblood. . She’s in fact of the royal clan of the Agbonmagbe-Okupe of Iperu-Akesan. Both her grandad and her own dad were Alaperu of Iperu-Akesan at different times. Her dad was the famous Omooba Matthew Adekoya Agbonmagbe-Okupe 1898 to 1984, who was the founder of the 1st indigenous Nigerian Bank- Agbonmagbe Bank which later became the Wema Bank. While her grandad reigned as the Alaperu of Iperu-Akesanland between 1882 and 1912.
The former national beauty queen was the 1st runner up at the Miss Nigeria pageant 86. But before the national pageant, she was first Miss Unilag 82, then overall campus Queen thereafter, Academic portfolio: Secondary School Education: Adeola Odutola College, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State for O’ levels. Then also Alexandra College, Miltown, Dublin for the Irish O’leveis and then the A-levels in 1982. Tertiary Education: the University of Lagos, Akoka for her 1st degree with a Bsc. in Sociology 85. Post Graduate Degree: Enugu State University ESUT Business School, MBA in Marketing 99. She’s the Executive Director at Seagle Property Development Company Limited. She’s a fantastic praise-worshipper and bible scholar and member of the RCCG, Lekki, Lagos. She’s in fact a deaconess and a noted prayer warrior. She was a candidate for the House of Assembly for the Action Congress in 2007. She and her husband her blessed with 5 wonderful kids.
Otunba Yemi Lawal is a noted philanthropist par excellence. Over 500 students and counting have benefited via scholarship awards to different levels of educational pursuits through the benevolence of the man called YSL by his many friends. Over 200 Moslem pilgrims have also benefited from the benevolence of the Imole Adinni of Lagos State who is a proud Moslem. Having sponsored them on pilgrimages to the Holy land at different times.
He has also on many occasions donated books to schools, …. has built mosques for worship, Islamic schools and normal none denominational schools and has supported the propagation of Islam as much as he can. He single-handedly built and .equipped to a standard level, block of school for his alma mater in Isaga-Orile Abeokuta. He has donated boreholes for deserving communities. As part of his elevation in Iperu, he would be offering scholarships to deserving students of Iperu in their various educational pursuits.
Also as a successful property developer of note with outstanding track record for that matter, he has plans in the offing to build a befitting estate in Iperu that would astound all and provide affordable housing for the community.
He has so many chieftaincy titles to his name. Apart from being the Sooko of Iperu-Akesanland, he is the Osi Bobagunwa of Egbaland, Bobamulero of Ikorodu Kingdom, Baba Oba Onigbedu of Ewekoro, Oganla of Gbagura, Ochudo n Umuneke Udi Enugu, Imole Adinni of Lagos, Bobagunwa of Isaga-Orile, Leragun of Ago-Ika, Gbagura.
How about his wife, Erelu Ayotunde Lawal? She is a Princess of Iperu from the popular Agbonmagbe-Okupe Clan. She is a Deaconess of RCCG and the 1st runner-up of Miss Nigeria 1986. She is n ot only the Beere of Iperu-Akesanland, she is the Yeye Leragun Ago-Ila Gbagura, Erelu Bobagunwa of Isaga-Orile, Abeokuta, Erelu Osi Bobagunwa of Egbaland and Yeye Bobasua of Iperu.
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