That Chief (Mrs) Dr. Mujidat Folasade Tinubu-Ojo is the first daughter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is no longer news to Nigerians. What many don’t know, however, is that she has moved out of the shadows of her father to carve a distinct identity and role for herself as a front-line promoter and supporter of the causes of the less privileged, the disadvantaged, people with special needs, market women and the downtrodden.
The vehicles through which she plays this role are her position as the Iyaloja-General of Lagos and Nigeria and her Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) called the ‘Friends of Iyaloja Initiative.’ As the Iyaloja-General, Dr. Tinubu-Ojo is the leader of all market women, a position that exposes her to the knowledge of the challenges and special needs of market women. Since assuming that role in 2013, 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 to grow and flourish.
Dr. Tinubu-Ojo founded the NGO, Friends of Iyaloja Initiative (FoI) following the inauguration of her father as Nigeria’s President in 2023 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 spositively 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 on Friday, the President, Professor Waheed Yahya said: “Mujidat Folasade 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.”
She was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and began her educational journey at the Federal College of Education (Special) Oyo, where she studied Home Economics. She proceeded for further studies at Middlesex University in England, earning a Bachelor of Arts (B.A Double Honour) degree in Business Studies and Management and obtained a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) from the American Intercontinental University in London. As a Chartered Marketer, she possesses extensive knowledge in business administration, economics, and hotel management.
Chief Tinubu-Ojo’s professional career is marked by significant contributions across various sectors. 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.
Dr. Mujidat Tinubu-Ojo has received about a dozen awards in Nigeria and beyond in recognition of her outstanding contributions, including, ECOWAS Youth Council – Award of Distinguished Female Personality of the Year, Common Wealth Business Women – Award of Excellence 2019, etc
She also 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, etc.
Chief (Mrs) Dr. Mujidat Folasade Tinubu-Ojo has been selected as the Top10 Magazine’s Woman of the Year in recognition of her inspirational leadership and numerous accomplishments as the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, coupled with her support and services which have impacted on the lives of many Nigerians.
