-Her Leadership – Legacies and – Impact on Society
If you asked young Nigerian women today which other woman they’d wish to be, many would answer, ‘daughter of President Bola Tinubu’ of Nigeria. Those who know the specifics would say, ‘Chief (Mrs) Dr. Mujidat Folasade Tinubu-Ojo,’ first daughter of the President. The simple reason is that Folasade’s father, Bola Tinubu, former leading pro-democracy fighter and Senator, former State Governor, former national Party Leader and now President, Commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Nigeria, Africa’s most populous, top oil-producing country is, by all standards, a very famous personality. His name, like that of all famous people or celebrities, evokes wealth, power, influence, opportunities, comfort, and every good thing life has to offer – and so are the names of their children. Because of this, famous people, celebrities and their children often have a certain cache about them that typically pulls people to wish to be like them, to do what they can to be part of their lives or to be borne into their circumstances, with a silver spoon in their mouth.
But, beneath the attraction to the lives of children of famous parents lie some fallacies and stereotypes that haunt them. One falacy is that children of celebrities live a life of bliss all day, everyday, and all their lives. The truth, however, is that ‘the rich also cry’ for reasons ranging from the mundane to challenges which position, money, power, influence and other resources of the rich cannot overcome. Another falacy is that children of the famous are brainless and lazy, lack initiative and leadership qualities, but only live off the resources, influence, name and opportunities provided by their parents. Stereotyped this way, children in this category are made by society to live perpetually under the shadows of their parents, irrespective of whatever value they create. Their success is attributed to their parents rather than their own efforts. The reality, however, is that, the world over, across all generations, there are exceptions – many celebrity children who demonstrate exemplary intelligence, exhibit outstanding leadership qualities, and add enormous value to society just like other children, except that the larger-than-life image of their parents would not permit their sun to shine.
The Nigerian President’s daughter, Folasade is one of them. A born leader, Chief (Mrs) Dr. Folasade Tinubu-Ojo has been redefining leadership in her own way, attracting respect and honour from different quarters across the country and beyond. She has earned her own place in society through her personal leadership attributes, not just by leveraging on her father’s position. Her father’s position is only an added advantage, a typical case of opportunity meeting preparation. She has virtually moved out of the shadows of her famous and powerful father to become a front-line promoter and supporter of the causes of the less privileged, the disadvantaged people with special needs, market women and the downtrodden. Her unmistakable inprints are boldly stamped on market development, community service, women rights, philanthropy, etc.
Chief Tinubu-Ojo, 49, along with her siblings Jide Tinubu (late) and Seyi Tinubu were seered by the President’s first wife while the other three, Zainab Abisola Tinubu, Habibat Tinubu and the youngest, Olayinka Tinubu, were borne to her step mother, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. Now married to Hon. Oyetunde Oladimeji Ojo, a businessman, politician, former member of the House of Representatives, and presently the managing director of Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Chief Tinubu-Ojo acknowldges her stepmother as her mother. When her father became President in 2023, Chief Folasade Tinubu-ojo adopted the title of First Daughter of Nigeria to complete the trioka of her father, Stepmother and self as the First Citizen, First Lady and First Daughter of Nigeria.
She got the education worthy of her class at the time, attending Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, where she studied home economics. From there, she went to Middlesex University in London, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree. Later, she obtained a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the Intercontinental University in the United States. As a Chartered Marketer, she possesses extensive knowledge in business administration, economics, and hotel management. After completing her N.C.E programme, she gained industrial experience at Premier Hotel in Ibadan, Nigeria, and later worked as an Administrative Officer at Fast Links Limited and Parcel Force in the United Kingdom. Upon returning to Nigeria in 2006, she became actively involved in industrial farming, estate management, and non-governmental organization programmes. She holds the esteemed titles of Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Chairman of the National Market Council of Nigeria (NAMCOM), President General of the Association of Commodity Market Women and Men of Nigeria (ACMWMN), and Chairman of the Lagos State Market Advisory Council.
Market/community development
Armed with her preparedness in intellect, character and professional experience, it was time for Chief Tinubu-Ojo to seize whatever opportunities that came from her parentage to design initiatives for shaping the society in her image. One of such major breakthrough opportunities, one that has come to define the trajectory of her societal intervention, was bequeathed by her paternal grandmother, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji. She stood down from the position of Iyaloja-general of Lagos and Nigeria in 2013 and handed it over to her granddaughter. As the Iyaloja-General, Dr. Tinubu-Ojo is the leader of all market women, a position of power and influence, one that exposes her to the knowledge of the challenges and special needs of market women. Since assuming that role, she has made notable contributions to the market community.
She inaugurated a security outfit, Olopa Oja, to ensure adequate security of lives and property across all markets in Lagos State. She has demonstrated her capacity to do everything humanly possible to help the needy and the destitute.
She provided basic amenities across all the markets in Lagos and singlehandedly built recreation centres, primary health care and computer training centres, among others. She empowered market women and men by providing loans that would make their businesses grow and flourish.
The Iyaloja-general has ensured the maintenance of peace and conducive business environment among various market groups and unions by resolving seemingly intractable conflicts. One of the standout cases was the resolution of the crisis between the Lagos State Butchers Association and the National Butchers Union of Nigeria in 2024. It was marked by repeated attempts by the Lagos State chapter of the union, led by Alhaji Bamidele Kazeem, to withdraw from the national body. Dr. Tinubu-Ojo called a meeting which involved the union’s National President, John Adun, among other stakeholders in the national and state chapters of the union, where she played the role of a peace maker. She said, “since the state body pledged allegiance to the national body and was inaugurated by the same, the Kazeem-led group should embrace peace and work collaboratively with the national body.” She cautioned against greed and betrayal among leaders and emphasised the importance of resolving disputes swiftly to prevent escalation into violence or public unrest. “Only in an atmosphere of peace can growth occur.”
Also, as the Chairman of NAMCOM, Chief Tinubu-Ojo plays a pivotal role in overseeing and coordinating market activities across Nigeria. Her responsibilities include developing and implementing policies to enhance market efficiency and organization nationwide; ensuring that markets operate within legal frameworks and adhere to regulations; representing market traders’ interests at various government levels and forums; and organizing training and capacity-building programs for market traders. Others are: mediating disputes among market traders and between traders and authorities; spearheading initiatives to provide financial support and resources to market traders; and implementing health and welfare programs for market traders.
Friend of the less privileged.
Following the inauguration of her father as Nigeria’s president in 2023, Dr. Folasade Tinubu-Ojo founded the NGO, Friends of Iyaloja Initiative (FoI) to focus on youth and women empowerment, supporting individuals with special needs, and assisting the vulnerable population. She said of the organization which was launched in Abuja: “I have decided to use my little wealth of experience, connections and human resources available to me to support my dad’s administration.
“FoI shall be focusing on youth and women empowerment. Empowering people with special needs. Empowering the vulnerable and several other programmes aimed at affecting the lives of Nigerians, especially, those in the grassroots…I will fight for this cause and I believe that God Almighty shall crown our efforts with unprecedented success,” she wrote on her Twitter.
Chief Tinubu-Ojo has lived up to her promise. Through collaborations with other NGOs and governmental agencies, she is positively impacting the lives of Nigerians, particularly those at the grassroots. Her commitment to improving the lives of others and her extensive contributions as Iyaloja of Nigeria demonstrates her dedication to the community’s welfare. She continues to significantly impact various sectors through her initiatives and leadership. She has become a strong advocate for women’s rights, actively raising awareness about gender inequality and domestic violence. Through collaborations with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community leaders, she offers support and resources to women in need.
Dr. Tinubu-Ojo’s support for the vulnerable in the society has been widely noticed and acknowledged by a number of organizations. For instance, she was appointed Ambassador for the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education. The appointment, according to the Commission’s Executive Secretary, Muhammad Sani Idris, was on account of her passion for supporting disadvantaged communities, particularly Almajiri and out-of-school children, promoting trade and commerce and advocating for resources and opportunities for market women.
Similarly, she was inducted as an Associate Member of the Professional Statisticians’ Society of Nigeria (PSSN) for her contributions to promoting the adoption and use of statistical data for national growth and development. At the induction ceremony which took place during the 8th International Conference of PSSN at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, the President, Professor Waheed Yahya said: “Mujidat Folashade Tinubu-Ojo advocated and championed the interests and well-being of women marketers in the country which brought unquantifiable happiness to hardworking entrepreneurial women…Her love for humanity and support for the vulnerable recently propelled her to enrol over 10,000 children of common traders and less privileged Nigerians into different tertiary institutions across the country on scholarship to eliminate disparity among the children of the rich and the downtrodden.”
Dr. Mujidat Tinubu-Ojo’s various outstanding contributions have earned her over a dozen awards and recognitions in Nigeria and beyond, including, ECOWAS Youth Council – Award of Distinguished Female Personality of the Year, Common Wealth Business Women – Award of Excellence 2019, The Top10 magazine Woman of the Year 2024, etc. Significantly, she’s most decorated by communities and traditional institutions across the country, a domain dominated by men, highlighting the spread of her impact in society. She holds over 20 chieftaincy titles in different states across Nigeria and beyond, including the Iya Oba of Aworiland; Yeye Oba of Ogudu, the Timi of Ede; Yeye Oba of Igbogbo Land, Apesinola of Ayede Ekiti Kingdom; Yeye Oba of Igbobi Sabe; Yeye Oba of Ologudu of Ogudu Land; Yeye Aje of Ekunpa Kingdom; Yeye Oba of Ago – Iwoye; Inna Zuru of Kebbi State; Yeye Oba of Ijanikin Kingdom; Yeye Oba of Odo Jobore; Yeye Oba of Mushin; Yeye Oba of Ikirun Land; and Yeye Oba of Aje Gbogbo Agbaye. Others are: Iya Afin Elemoro; Apesin Ola of Shasha Kingdom; Asiwaju Obinrin of Awowo Land; Iyaniwura of Itori Land; Yeye Oba of Awori Land; Aare Aje of Ikale Land; Aare Atajese of Ikare Akoko; Mogajia Motan Arewa of Keffi; Aare Oja of Okun Land, Kabba; and Yari-Jari Nupe, Bida. The latest of such traditional honours is her installation as the Aniyikaye of Ikorodu kingdom bestowed on her by his royal majesty (Oba) Dr. Kabir Adawale Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu as part of activities commemorating the royal father’s 10th coronation anniversary. The honour was in recognition of her contributions to market development and grassroots empowerment, leadership and unwavering commitment to uplifting the lives of men and women nationwide.
Chief (Mrs) Folasade Tinubu-Ojo’s marriage to Hon. Oyetunde Ojo has been blessed with two children, a boy and a girl. They maintain a relatively private family life, focusing on their professional and personal commitments.
