The twenty-fifth remembrance of one of Nigeria’s most outstanding boardroom gurus, Prince Ajibade Mustapha Ojora, was held on Tuesday November 26. His family and close friends hosted a prayer and reception event in his honour at his home in Ikoyi, Lagos. The chief host of the event was Ojora’s widow, Olarenwaju Ojora (nee Ojemuyiwa), the celebrated society matriarch and style icon. She was ably assisted by her children, Adesola and Aderonke, and grandchildren.
Prince Ojora died on November 26, 1994. He was aged 51. Indeed, if the will power of man could hold him back, there was enough love and goodwill to keep Ojora back. His memorial ceremony, which drew hundreds of dignitaries, bore eloquent testimony to this fact. The late Lagos born blue-blood was the younger brother of boardroom guru, the Otunba Adekunle Ojora. Until his death, he was a top executive at Mobil Oil Nigeria. It is imperative to add that, the late Bade Ojora, together with Pius Akinyelure and Solomon Oladunni, was known to have influenced former Lagos governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to work in Mobil Nigeria, upon the completion of his studies in the United States.
His marriage to Lanre was blessed with three children – Abimbola, Adesola and Aderonke. The first child of the marriage, Abimbola Babalola died in 2005, in the Bellview air crash. She was married to Dr. Lanre Rilwan Babalola, the former Minister of Power, and the son of the late Chief Sakariyawu Olayiwola Babalola, the billionaire businessman and former Deputy-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affair, (NSCIA). The union, which was consummated in 2001, in London, produced two children – Folarin and Rolake.
The tragic death of her husband, no doubt marked a dramatic turning point in the life of Lanre Ojora. Imagine a woman, who could not think of life without her husband! Imagine a woman, who was so over-pampered by her husband that she had the whole world at her feet! Imagine a woman, whose husband found no fault in her, suddenly being left alone. One could only imagine the pang of pain Lanre Ojora felt when her husband left her so suddenly in the lurch, to cater for their children. But then, she rose to the challenges and has been able to weather the storm, against all odds.
Predictably, Lanre Ojora, who is fondly called The Merry Widow by her close friends, has refused to re- marry since her husband died 25 years ago. And even at 70, she still exudes an aura, which causes most young men to do double take at her. This ageless maven features on the list of Nigeria’s most formidable society matriarchs. She wears some of the best evening outfits in town, and also loves to wear pairs of Jeans pants for her casual wears. Lanre Ojora is always full of life and she is blessed with a boundless energy. She adheres to a rigid beauty regimen, which has helped to enhance her youthful look.
For this 70-year-old grandmother of two, life goes on and it couldn’t get any better.
