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Meet your new Lagos State First Lady – Bolanle Ambode +all the first ladies since 1999

With the declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate as the winner of the April 11 gubernatorial polls, Lagos state has a new first lady in Mrs. Bolanle Patience Ambode, the wife of Akinwunmi Ambode, the governor-elect. ENCOMIUM Weekly takes a peep into her world…

Bolanle-Ambode2HER EARLY DAYS AND EDUCATION

She was born into the Odukomaiya family in Epe, Lagos, on February 15, 1964. She attended St. Theresa’s College, Ibadan, Oyo, for her secondary school and Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos, where she graduated in Physics/Mathematics for her first degree in 1989 and later Masters degree (MSc) in Public Administration in 1994.

HER WORK AND BUSINESS LIFE

Mrs. Ambode worked in many places before she started her confectionary business. She started as a staffer of the now defunct People’s Bank of Nigeria before she left to join Instant Finance Nigeria Limited and later Aguagem Consulting.

Before starting her bakery business, she travelled to Israel to attend short courses in Bakery Technology. Today, she is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Rehoboth Chops and Confectioneries Limited. The Rehoboth bread is said to be very popular among Lagosians.

HOW SHE MET HER HUSBAND

She met her husband during her university days at LASU. Her husband, now Lagos governor-elect, was then working in Ojo Local Government Council, Ojo. They got married in 1991 and the marriage is blessed with twins – a boy and a girl.

HER CHARITY WORK

Mrs. Ambode is also said to be a consummate and cheerful giver who has, for some years now, been donating to many motherless babies homes in and around Lagos metropolis.

Outgoing first lady -ABIMBOLA FASHOLA

Dame-Abimbola-Fashola-001After eight years, Mrs. Fashola will, on May 29, 2015, sign off as Lagos state First Lady…

Dame Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola was born on April 6, 1965 into the Ojo family of Ibadan, Oyo State.

She is a distinguished alumnus of the Lagoon Secretarial College, Lagos. Before now, she worked at the British Council for 19 years at various positions before she resigned her appointment in 2006, to support her husband.

As the First Lady of Lagos State, she is the Chairman of Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO),  a community-based non-governmental organisation. Under her leadership, COWLSO has commissioned four recreation centres, and pays for the free screening and treatment of women with breast and cervical cancer. COWLSO is also currently building the first retirement villa for active retirees and senior citizens.

She is a tireless advocate of health and socio-economic issues, who has had a towering impact on public awareness and sensitization campaigns on topical issues of children and women health, the environment, education, HIV/AIDS discrimin-ation, voluntary blood donation, poverty eradication and skill acquisition.

As a dedicated humanitarian, who gives her time, expertise, and resources to make a difference in the lives of people, especially the youths, this passion gave birth to her initiative – LEARN (Lagos Empowerment and Resource Network) a non-governmental organisation established to groom youths to be self-confident and socially responsible.

In recognition of her modest contribution to humanity, she was honoured by His Holiness, Pope Benedict the XVI, with a papal medal award. She is also a recipient of several other local and international awards.

Of all her achievements, the greatest according to the first lady, is being a devoted wife and mother.

OLUREMI TINUBU: first lady (1999-2007)

remi tinubuFrom first lady to Senator of the Federal Republic, the educationist, administrator and philanthropist Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, OON, is an inspiration to many…

Oluremi Tinubu was born on September 21, 1960, to an Itsekiri mother and Yoruba father. She was the youngest of 12 children and was raised in Ogun State.

Mrs. Tinubu received a B.Sc. in Education from the University of Ife, and a National Certificate of Education in Botany and Zoology from the Adeyemi College of Education.

She became the first lady of Lagos State when her husband, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was elected governor at the return of civilian rule in 1999.

As first lady, she established the New Era Foundation, dedicated to establishing centres for “all round development of young ones and promote public awareness on environmental health and community service.” She currently represents Lagos Central Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after winning re-election in the March 28, 2015 polls.

-MICHEAL NWOKIKE

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Today’s major headlines (Monday, April 20, 2015)

Profiles of new governors-elect (1): Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos State) –APC