We believe the immortalization of Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji as a notable amazon of Lagos is important for the acknowledgement of the contributions of our past heroes in the development journey of Lagos and to signal to other great minds that their subtle contributions to community and mankind are not un-noticed.
In realisation of the need for the immortalization of Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, we have packaged an immortalization program comprising the Iyaloja Play Book Launch, the erection of a statue of Iyaloja and the adaptation of the Iyaloja Play Book for screen as movie.
The first phase of this immortalization project is the launch of the book ‘IYALOJA’. This is a play written by Omotayo M. Aderinola, a dramatist and theatre practitioner. The play is premised on the life and works of the late Iyaloja. It highlights the content of her character carefully blending her real life activities with a fictional edge to achieve a dramatic bang.
The launch is to take place on her posthumous 101st birthday – 23rd of October, 2017 and it is to be launched with the pomp her memory deserves. Guests are drawn from governors, royalty, leaders of trade and industry, political leaders, theatre practitioners and, of course, market leaders form all over Lagos State. The event is packaged by Adsense Media Services (publishers of Lagos Panorama Magazine) and hosted by the current Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Chief Folashade Tinubu-Ojo. The book is to be reviewed by Otunba Tunji Sotimirin and the MCs are Prince Jide Kosoko and Funmibi Akinduro. Admission is strictly by invitation.
We have included in the program of activities for the launch, the inauguration of ABIBATU MOGAJI ANNUAL SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT MICRO LOAN SCHEME which is conceived as an annual small business support scheme to signpost each posthumous birthday. The thrust for this scheme is to continue Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji’s life time legacy of promoting buoyancy of market women and men. On this occasion of her posthumous 101st birthday, we have in focus to support 101 small businesses with N20, 000 micro credit repayable in 12 months so that next batch will be 102 beneficiaries to mark her 102nd birthday next year. This micro credit is based on the premise that the poor have skills which remain unutilized or underutilized. It is definitely not the lack of skills which make poor people poor….charity is not the answer to poverty. It only helps poverty to continue. It creates dependency and takes away the individual’s initiative to break through the wall of poverty. Unleashing of energy and creativity in each human being is the answer to poverty, according to Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji.
Late Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji was a true amazon of the people generally so the scope of her positivity extended beyond market women and men. The general public will surely grace the occasion for the celebration of her fulfilling life. We have received word from far and near from various categories of people indicating their interest to be counted as guests for the commemoration.
To bring this commemoration to fruition, we have enjoyed various individual and corporate supports indeed too numerous to mention all but our unreserved appreciation goes out to everyone that inputted in one way or the other to help concretize the occasion. May God continue to grant them all grace.
Acknowledgement and appreciation of the hands of God in helping to lift up this project is unquestionable and we thank you all.
