Uche Amunike
The death has been announced of the first female National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Iyalode Alaba Lawson, who passed on in the early hours of October 28, 2023 at the age of 72.
President Bola Tinubu has mourned the late Iyalode Alaba Lawson, through a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, where he described her as an enterprising, astute, courageous and distinguished businesswoman and leader.
It read: ‘Iyalode Lawson epitomised enterprise, brilliance, and ingenuity. Her death is a very painful loss. May the Almighty God grant her eternal rest.’
She was also mourned by former president of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo, who stated that he knew that she was down, but he however, could not tell the reason behind it.
Speaking through a statement released by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, on Saturday, Obasanjo explained that the late educationist contributed greatly towards the development of Nigeria generally. He described her as a fantastic and no-nonsense person, adding that she was very generous and hardworking by nature.
Hear him: ‘Iyalode Lawson lived a worthwhile life, and she did well in life. I knew she had been down, but I don’t really know the cause. I will miss her solely.’
The former president also recalled honoring the late Iyalode Ayaba Lawson with a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) national award for her contributions towards the economic growth of Nigeria as well as community development.
She has also been mourned by the Ogun State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), as well as the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), B Zone.
In a statement signed by the Secretary of the Council, Comrade Bunmi Adigun, they commiserated with her family and the entire Ogun state.
It read: ‘With rude shock and devastated heart, the Nigeria Union of Journalists Ogun State Council received the death of our Matron, Chief Alaba Oluwaseun Lawson which occurred in the early hours of Saturday, October 28th, 2023.’
‘A foremost educationist with unparalleled records, Iyalode was a colossus that made significant impacts on the sand of time and history will not forget her contributions.’
‘At Ogun NUJ, her counsels and words of wisdom would remain indelible as she was a unifying factor that consistently rally journalists when opportunity beckons.’
‘We, therefore commiserate with the Yoruba race, Ogun State and Lawson family on this irreplaceable loss of a woman on enigma who conquered every business opportunity at her disposal.’
On their part, NAWOJ also released a statement signed by the Vice President B Zone, Ayaba Omobola Akingbeyin and the Zonal Secretary, Funmi Adekoya, where they described the late Iyalode Alaba Lawson as an industrial philanthropist, who was known for doing everything possible to please people around her.
The statement partly read: ‘Chief Mrs. Lawson was the former National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture and the Iyalode of Yorubaland and the prominent educationist and founder of the popular Alaba Lawson Group of Schools, Abeokuta.’
‘Due to her love for issues affecting women, Chief Lawson was always ready to support activities of NAWOJ, both in Ogun State and the zone.’
They prayed that her family, friends and business associates are consoled by God and her soul, granted eternal rest.
