The Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has expressed his deep sorrow upon hearing the news of the passing of Chief Alaba Lawson, the Iyalode of Yorubaland, News About Nigeria reports.
Chief Alaba Lawson was a renowned business magnate, educational entrepreneur, and administrator.
She was also the former National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture. She was best known as the founder of the Alaba Lawson Group of Schools in Abeokuta.
Chief Alaba Lawson passed away in the early hours of Saturday, leaving behind a legacy that touched various aspects of Nigerian society.
Governor Dapo Abiodun, in a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Lekan Adeniran, described her death as a significant loss to the nation.
While the news of her passing was received with shock, Governor Abiodun took solace in the fact that Chief Lawson left a lasting mark on the Nigerian landscape. Her contributions have been a blessing to thousands of Nigerians, particularly in the areas of education and entrepreneurship.
“The passing of Chief Alaba Lawson is without doubt a shocking development, but we are consoled by her sterling record of service to humanity and unblemished contributions to the development of Ogun State.
“Born into the highly distinguished Jibolu-Taiwo family of Abeokuta, Chief Lawson was an exemplar of the popular Yoruba dictum of one born into nobility but who goes on to achieve self-rebirth, showcasing the timeless Omoluabi qualities that the Yoruba hold so dear.
“From her education in Nigeria to her sojourn in the United Kingdom, teaching in several schools while studying at the St. Nicholas Montessori Teachers’ Training College at Prince’s Gate, England, in 1973, where she set a record by becoming the first African to obtain a First Class Diploma in Education, Chief Alaba Lawson showcased uncommon commitment to excellence.
“When she returned home, she established a string of schools that have shaped the lives of generations of students and contributed immensely to Ogun State’s profile as Nigeria’s education capital,” the statement read in part.
Governor Abiodun expressed that Chief Alaba Lawson would be greatly missed.
He extended his condolences to the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, and his chiefs, the Lawson family, and the entire nation.
He offered his prayers for the Almighty God to grant them the strength to bear this irreplaceable loss.
