First female President of NACCIMA Iyalode Alaba Lawson dies at 72

Iyalode Alaba Lawson, the first female President of Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines Agriculture (NACCIMA) is dead.

Lawson who was also the first female President Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FEWACCI) died early hours of Saturday 28th October 2023 at her residence in Abeokuta,Ogun State.

Until her death, she was the Iyalode of Egbaland and the Matron of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists.

The demise of the entrepreneur, philanthropist, educationist, gender activist and community leader was announced in a statement issued by her media adviser Prince Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji on behalf of the family.

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“We lost our mother, benefactor to the cold hands of death this morning at her private residence in Abeokuta. It was a sad Saturday morning, but we cannot question God who knows the best. We thank God for her life. She lived a fulfilled life. Iyalode came, saw and conquered and she will forever continue to rest in perfect peace,” the family said in the statement.

The family said her burial arrangements will be announced later while a condolence register has been opened at the deceased home and at her schools in Oke-Ilewo and Kuto area of Abeokuta, respectively

The deceased was born on the 18th January 1951 to Papa and Mrs. Emmanuel Abiona Jiboku in Abeokuta.

Her father was the late Pa Jiboku (aka Jiboku Tannatanna) of the defunct Electricity Corporation of Nigeria (ECN) and her mother was the daughter of Aderupoko Coker fame of Itesi, Abeokuta.

Alaba had her Primary Education at St. James’s African Primary School, Idi-Ape, Abeokuta, between 1957-1962.

From here, she proceeded to Abeokuta Girls’ Grammar School, also known as Anglican Girls’ Grammar School where she obtained the West African School Certificate 1963-1967.

She started her teaching career in 1969 and later left for St. Nicholas Montessori Teachers’ Training College at Prince’s Gate England in 1973 for further studies where she obtained a 1st Class Diploma in Education with distinction.

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The deceased was the 1st Iyalode of Yorubaland conferred on her by Oba Lamidi Adeyemi – The Alaafin of Oyo Kingdom and was the matron, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council, Matron, National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ),Ogun State Council