Ibadan social establishment is like a big family, where celebrities relate with one another as brothers and sisters. That has been the tradition across social circle of the ancient city from the time immemorial. No matter your age or how highly connected you are, your level of exposure, class or riches, you must belong to one social clique/club or the other. You must know somebody that knows somebody or friend of friends.
And that is what is obtainable within male and female celebrities in Ibadan. Before now, these society women used to storm parties in groups; you will never see one without her clique or group of friends. They dominated the social scene like colossus. If a member of a group comes to an event early, she must secure seats for the others. That is how close these celebrity women are.
They up an ante of any party with their presence, composure and poise, so much that their counterparts from other social establishments across the country always want them to grace their occasions. But there seems to be a kind crack in the social bond amongst Ibadan celebrities, they hardly attend parties in groups nowadays. Though they are still one big family but the social trend has changed drastically.
This change in trend some say is perhaps because these celebrity women are getting older and need to slow down or for personal reasons. Having said there are some society women who are still good friends, those whose friendships have gone beyond social level. Some of these women are childhood friends, some are school mates.
Those who have taken their friendships to the next level. In this special report, City People’s Correspondent, Dare Adeniran presents to you the list of Ibadan society women who are best of friends and who are very loyal to each other. Read on.
AMBASSADOR RONKE ADEFOWOPE, TOKUNBO ALABI & MRS. BOLADE CONDI.
It is an open secret in Ibadan that Ambassador Ibironke Adefowope, a former Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the nations of Zambia and Malawi; TokunboAlabi, wife of a prominent P.R guru and former G.M of Odua Group, OloyeLekanAlabi and Mrs. Bolade Condi, a popular business woman are close. They are one of the highly respected and well loved society women in Ibadan. They have so many things in common and everybody knows they are best of friends in the social circle. They have come a long way as friends and are one another’s confidant.
FLORENCE AJIMOBI & MRS. IYABO
Hers has been an exemplary lifestyle even before she became First Lady. She is a role model to other women and she has impacted many lives positively. Though her beauty and fashion style give her out for a loud person, but Chief (Mrs.) Florence Ajimobi abhors unnecessary noise around herself. Due to protocol, she attends functions with long list of entourage. But she is said to have a good friend in one Mrs. Iyabo, a former SUBEB boss in the state.
TOKUNBO MAJEKODUNMI & BOLADE CONDI
Tokunbo Majekodunmi is a powerful female celebrity, she is close to few people around. Her best friend Bimbo Akoesho who died sometimes last year. But she is also close to Mrs. Condi in Ibadan.
YINKA BABATOPE & ERELU SUNMBO FAMUYIBO.
Yinka Babatope-Oyedele and Erelu Sunmbo Famuyibo are not just friends, they have become blood sisters. They have known each other for over forty years now and they are still as strong as ever. These two society women have so many things in common; they are both successful, grandmothers and prayer warriors. Though they relate perfectly well with other society women in town but they are each other’s best friend and confidant.
JADE QUDUS, DUPE ADELEKE & BISI KUTI
Chief (Mrs.) Jade Qudus, the Iyalaje of Ede land, is a prominent textile merchant at Gbagi market. She needs no introduction in Ibadan social circle. Her best friend is Chief (Mrs.) Dupe Adeleke Sanni, the Adelekes’ sister. But she is based in Ede and attends parties in Ibadan on few occasions. At parties in Ibadan, you will see Jade and BisiKuti, the wife of a prominent fashion designer, Beshir Kuti, together. Jade is like Bisi’s big sister, they are so close and everybody knows in Ibadan. Bisi too runs a textile store at Gbagi market.
RONKE THOMAS & TOLA SOLOMON.
Chief (Mrs.) Ronke Thomas has a powerful social clique that they attend parties together, though their clique is no more as strong as it used to be. She is closer to the Abuja based society woman Tola Solomon. In Ibadan, her friends are LizzyAfonja, Tina Ogundoyin, LanreOtiti, Funmi Roberts and others. They are all well respected celebrities in Ibadan social circle and beyond.
BOSE ONI AND MRS. YETUNDE IDOWU
She is the wife of a prominent socialite, Chief Boye Oni. Though Bose Oni’s social network cuts across powerful society women in Ibadan, but she has a best friend in Mrs. Yetunde Idowo, a top fashion designer behind Trendy Image.
YEWANDE ANDRE AND TOLA SOLOMON
Yewande, the wife of a popular socialite Olajide Andre, is very prominent in Ibadan social circle. Despite the fact that she is based in Osogbo alongside her husband, she rocks most Ibadan parties and her best friend is an Abuja based society woman, Tola Solomon. They attend parties together and share a strong bond.
YETUNDE OREDEHIN, YETUNDE ALIMI & TAOFIKAT BABAYEMI
Yetunde Oredehin and Yetunde Alimi (Olokuta) are no doubt best of friends. They attend parties together and they have come a long way as friends. Both of them have a common friend is Palms 77 Hotel boss, Taofeekat Babayemi.
BOSE ADEDIBU AND TINA OGUNDOYIN
The wife of late strong man of Ibadan politics Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, Bose Adedibu and wife of the late Eruwa-born billionaire Chief Adeseun Ogundoyin, Tina, are very close, no doubt about it. Though they have many friends in common as far as Ibadan social clique is concerned but they have taken their friendship to the next level.
MRS. AGBEJA & BISI FASUYI
They are both reserved but their husbands prominence in Ibadan social circle has rubbed-off on them big time. YinkaFasuyi, the Asiwaju of Ijesha land is a super rich man and so is Otunba Babajide Agbeja, an Insurance expert, they both belong to millionaire clubs in Ibadan. The strong bond between Yinka Fasuyi and Jide Agbeja has extended to their wives, they have become sisters. They both hav common friend in Funmi Robert.
JUSTICE IYABO YERIMA & FUNMI ROBERTS
Though they have other friends but Hon. Justice IyaboYerimah and Barr.Funmi Roberts seems to have bonded well. They both belong to ivy league society women in Ibadan. They are close to Ambassador Ibironke Adefowope, Tokunbo Alabi and Tokunbo Majekodunmi.
JUMOKE AKINJIDE & MRS. AKINDEKO
Oloye Jumoke Akinjide is more of an academia than social, she is a regular face at Ibadan parties. That is because she is more active on the political scene than social scene. But despite all that, she is still social on her own. Her best friend is Mrs. Akindeko, they are said to have attended same secondary school and their friendship is waxing stronger by the day. Mrs. Akindeko is the one who represents Jumoke Akinjide at most events whenever the latter is not around.
TOYIN ADEGBOLA AND JADE QUDUS
Yeye Toyin Adegbola, a prominent actor in the country’s movie industry, sure has her social connection outside the profession. She finds a friend in Iyaloja of Ede land, Jade Qudus. They are very close and they are both respected in Ibadan social circle.
SADE FAWOLE AND MRS. BOLADE CONDI
Though common friends across different groups and cliques in Ibadan social circle but everybody knows that both women share a strong bond.
FUNSO ADEGBOLA AND AIRIN OSHIBODU
FunsoAdegbola is the first daughter of the late Cicero, Chief Ajibola Ige and Proprietress Vale College Ibadan. Airin Oshibodu and Funso are best friends. They are childhood friends and share many things in common. Funso is not a regular face at parties, she is one of those women who keep their circle very slim. And that explains why she is very close to her loyal friend and sister Airin Oshibodu.
RONKE OLUNLOYO & ALHAJA DENRELE
Ronke, the wife of former governor of Oyo State Dr. Victor OmololuOlunloyo, is a big socialite of all time in Ibadan social establishment. She is loved and respected for her powerful social network. She has many friends among the very top society women in Ibadan but her best friend is a Lagos based businesswoman, AlhajaDenrele. In Ibadan now, Ronke attends social functions alongside this FIRS big girl simply known as Rolia.
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