+ A Fruitful Journey Through Time and Space
Frontline politician and former secretary to the Lagos State Government, Princess Adenrele Oyebola Adeniran-Ogunsanya, who died on Tuesday, January 25, at their age of 74, was one woman who was loved and adored by many during her sojourn on earth.
Adeniran-Ogunsanya was a prominent society matriarch, a formidable politician and one of the leaders of the Lagos4Lagos Movement whose members recently defected to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Fondly called the People’s Princess by her teeming admirers, Adeniran-Ogunsanya admirers served as SSG during the first term in office of Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN between 2007 and 2011.
She was daughter of Prince Adeniran Ogunsanya, QC, SAN, a prominent Ikorodu-born politician and a close associate of the late Nnamdi Azikiwe. And like her father, she was reputed to have a very spot for other ethnic nationalities, especially the Igbos.
Princess Adenrele Adeniran Ogunsanya was born on January 18, 1948, in Manchester City, England, to the family of Otunba Adeniran Ogunsanya, QC, SAN, of Rademo Ruling House of Ikorodu and Ellen Joan both of blessed memory. Young Princess came to Nigeria for the first time as a 5 year-old girl with her father upon the completion of his law degree programme in the United Kingdom.
She cut her first scholarly teeth at St. Agnes Private Nursery School from where she proceeded to to the Anglican Girls Primary School, Broad Street, Lagos. When the curtain rose on the next stage of her academic pursuits, Princess Adeniran-Ogunsanya enrolled at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, where she spent the first year of her secondary education.
Upon her return to England to continue her education, she was admitted at Brentwood Girls School, Southport Lancashire, England and later changed school to St. Mary’s Baslow, England.
Princess Adeniran-Ogunsanya completed her Higher School education at Herons Field School, Chorleywood, Henfordshire with her Higher School Certificate
She berthed the ship of her academic sojourn at different times at the University of Paris, Sorbone, France and the University of Lagos Akoka, from where she obtained a Diploma in French and Law respectively
On completion of her law programme at the University of Lagos, Princess Adeniran-Ogunsanya began her career at Shell (Nigeria) Limited, which later metamorphosed to National Oil & Chemical Marketing Company (NOLCHEM) and now known as Conoil, as a Personal Assistant to the General Manager, Personnel and Training Development. One of her colleagues at NOLCHEM was the former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajumobi.
She also served as the company’s Employee Relations Officer. After 13 years of meritorious service, she left to set up her own business outfit named Razattazz. She also made forays into active partisan politics.
In the course of her life’s sojourn and service to fatherland, Princess Adeniran-Ogunsanya was appointed to serve on various adhoc committees, both at the state and national levels. She was a member of the Board of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC)
Between 2007 and 2011, she served as the Secretary to the Government of Lagos State, SSG.
She was a member of the World Constitution and Parliamentary Association (WPA); Patron, Law Society University of Lagos; Patron, Nigerian Youth Foundation and Patron, Nigeria Red Cross (University of Lagos).
She was the founder of Lagos State Women’s Forum
Her untiring drive in opening up the polity for participatory democracy and contribution to the development of the society, particularly the opening up the frontiers of the empowerment for the female and voice to the aspiration of the girl child, have not gone unnoticed by the appreciative Nigerian Society.
The honours and titles bestowed on her are not only well-deserved, but also highlights the recognition of a woman who, in all her life, consistently dared to be different, in raising the bar of political awarenesses, sometimes at personal costs and discomfort.
But Princess Adeniran-Ogunsanya remained unfazed as she trudged on to the finishing line of her earthly race.
She was honoured with the following traditional titles:
* The Tenigbade of Ikorodu
* The Omowomuade of Owu Kingdom
* The Mojibade of Emuren
* The Fiwagboye of It Ori
* The Yeye Oba of Odomola, Epe
Princess Adeniran-Ogunsanya was married to Dr Adeniran Adeniji, a dental surgeon, in a union that produced four children: Adeniran (Jnr.); Seun; Adeniyi and Adefola.