The Aare Iyaloja/Iyalaje General of Ondo State, Princess Nike Aroloye Akingboye has celebrated her new age in her hometown of Idanre in the Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu-governed state.
She also used the opportunity to officially install and swear-in the newly elected Executives of the Ondo State Chapter of the Iyaloja and Iyalaje’s Association held recently in Idanre local government area of Ondo State.
Princess Nike Aroloye Akingboye was also recently installed as the new Aare Iyalaje/Iyaloja General in Ondo State as well as the National Vice President of the national body of the association.
At the event to mark her 63rd birthday (she was born on the 6th of July, 1958) and installed as the Iyaloja’s, Iyalaje’s, Babaloja’s and Babalaje’s in Ondo State at her country home in Idanre Local Government Area recently, she recounted how, at 23, she was attacked in her house at Idanre by unknown gunmen.
She expressed her gratitude to God for keeping her life despite her tough past. She stated that “since that time, I have been moving around with just one leg. But as God would make it very nice for me, two weeks ago, I was installed as Aare Iyaloja of Ondo State and the National Vice President of the body in Nigeria. So, I think God has done a lot in my life”, she confessed.
Princess Aroloye explained how after she studied and bagged OND in Catering and Hotel Management, she started her own business from hairdressing to catering and to selling of wears like beads, gold, and native beads among other things.
She expressed her joy and fulfilment that all her children have graduated from the university.
Speaking on her vision, mission and prospects for the market women in Ondo State and for Nigeria at large, Princess Nike Aroloye said “my mission and prospects are hinged on the initiatives of her National President, Honourable Chinwe Monu – Olarewaju who had earlier promised to make the markets women throughout the country smile during her tenure.
Aroloye said her National President made the promise recently when they visited the Ooni of Ile-Ife where she expressed her readiness to give the market women her full support and also, when they paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu where he also assured the Association of his government’s support”.
Also, reacting to a question on the criteria she adopted in selecting the newly installed Iyaloja’s, Iyalaje’s Babaloja’s and Babalaje’s in Ondo State; Princess Nike Aroloye stated that her State Vice President, Mrs. Iwaloye Funmilayo Helen who is from Owo local government area, the Otun Iyaloja of Owo’ Kingdom was recommended to her from her town of Owo Kingdom in Ondo State.
“I cannot just jump into another local government area or town and pick somebody there. She was introduced to me. I know she must have maintained and got a good report in her home town before she can be recommended at the State level”, she declared.
She gave the list of her State newly installed Executives to include, her State Vice President, Mrs. Funmilayo Iwaloye from Owo local government; her State Treasurer, Chief Tope Ijiniga from Ore Kingdom in Odigbo local government who doubls as the Babaloja of Odigbo local government area; her State Secretary from Ose local government area, who is also currently the Vice Chairman for Ose local government area of Ondo State, Chief Mrs. Olowofose Christiana.
Others included the Babaloja and Patron of Idanre local government area, Honourable Wale Gbolagun; Mrs. Ibironke Beitun, the Iyalaje of Idanre Kingdom; Chief Mrs. Anawoye Beatrice, the Otun Yeye Oge Oloja of Idanre Kingdom; Chief Mrs. Ademodi Aderiyike, the Iyalaje Obajare of Idanre local government area; Chief Mrs. Grace Titilayo Akinmola, the Otun Iyalaje of Idanre Kingdom and the Chairman and Patron for Idanre local government area and also the leader of the dancers in the Association, the Asoju Oloja (one market) and the Yeye Oge Oloja of Ondo State, Chief Mrs. Remi Ojo who is also the Bobasewa of Idanre Kingdom”.
“All of them will soon be installed formally with my State Vice President in their various local government areas when we will visit them”.
The Chairperson and wife of the Executive Chairman for Idanre local government area of Ondo State, Princess Rose Kayode Aroloye speaking with PMParrot after the programme commended the Iyaloja of Ondo State, Princess Nike Aroloye Akingboye for putting up the event and also congratulated her on her 70th birthday.
She said “I found it very important to forgo other activities to attend the event because the Iyaloja is my younger sister’s mother-in-law.”
The Chairperson described the Iyaloja of Ondo State as a nice, generous, a party woman, somebody who will always attend to everybody, a wonderful and a compassionate woman.
“Anything she wants to do, she puts her entire body, spirit and soul into it and she is equally a no-nonsense woman”.
She went on to praise her for supporting market women with N5,000 free interest loans to support their businesses since she was installed as the new Iyaloja of Ondo State few weeks ago.
Packaged by Emmanuel Adeniran
