Abiola Dosunmu

Chief Abiola Dosunmu (formerly Dosunmu-Elegbede-Fernandez, born July 29, 1947), is a Nigerian businesswoman, socialite and traditional aristocrat. In addition to a variety of other chieftaincy titles, she currently holds that of the Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos.

Abiola Dosunmu
Erelu Kuti of Lagos
BornAbiola Dosunmu
(1947-07-29)29 July 1947
Kano, Nigeria
SpouseMajor Adekunle Elegbede (widowed)
Chief Antonio Deinde Fernandez (divorced)
Issue
  • Kunle Elegbede
  • Adewunmi Elegbede
  • Antoinette Oyinkansola Fernandez
House
  • Dosunmu (by birth)
  • Olumegbon (by marriage)
FatherOmoba Adewunmi Dosunmu
MotherAdejoke Dosunmu

Early life

Abiola Dosunmu was born in Kano on July 29, 1947, into the royal family of Omoba Adewunmi and Mrs. Adejoke Dosunmu of Lagos Island. She is a direct descendant of Oba Dosunmu of Lagos, and is therefore of both royal Yoruba and royal Bini origins.[1][2] Amongst her numerous aristocratic Lagosian relatives was Chief Justice Taslim Olawale Elias, an uncle who advised her on her choice of future profession when she later considered becoming a lawyer as a young woman.

The Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos

Abiola Dosunmu was made the Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos by her relative Oba Adeyinka Oyekan of Lagos in 1980.[3] In this capacity she serves as the ceremonial queen mother, and reigns as regent of Lagos upon the death of an incumbent monarch until a substantive successor is chosen by the college of kingmakers. She has since served as Erelu Kuti for most of her life and holds a position that only princesses from the ruling houses can attain.

Chiefly roles and responsibilities

In Lagos

The Erelu Kuti of Lagos' official duties include:

  • Being a close confidant of the traditional rulers of Lagos.
  • Being an adviser on all social matters, such as the conferment of traditional and honorary chieftaincy titles.
  • Being the traditional leader of the Lagos women's organisations (such as the market guilds).
  • Being a member of the kingmakers' council.

Elsewhere

Controversy

A woman that bore the same name as Dosunmu also made claims to the Erelu Kuti's title. She died in 2019 and it is not clear who had the better claim. At the time of her death, she was 79.[4]

Business career

Dosunmu is a business woman who studied business administration in London.[5] In the petroleum industry, she subsequently achieved some significant feats to the benefit of the nation.[2] She is also said to have "revolutionized the traditional Aso Oke business to become the multi-million dollar industry it is today".[2] Abiola Dosunmu promoted the culture of the Yoruba people, and indeed Nigeria, through the Aso Oke. She later served as the interior decorator of the Nigerian Embassy in London.[2]

Influence

The Erelu, a fashion trend consisting of a skirt and short agbada worn by women in the 80s and early 90s, is also credited to Abiola Dosunmu.[6]

A strong advocate for the recognition, restoration and reward of the indigenous people of Lagos, Dosunmu facilitated the upward review of the salaries of the white cap chiefs in Lagos, thus helping to raise the bar from N6,000 to N20,000.

Charitable endeavours

Dosunmu set up the Erelu Abiola Docemo Foundation (alias ERAF).[7] Through ERAF, the queen mother is involved in the rehabilitation of street children and school dropouts in Lagos. She also offers free skills training and vocational education projects, as well as the rehabilitation of drug addicts.

Her project, The Valley of the Kings, is a monumental museum about the history of Lagos and its kings. Dosunmu proposed to the Federal Government the project ‘National Pride Cohesion Commission’, which metamorphosed into the Heart of Africa campaign under the Ministry of Information and Culture.

Dosunmu belongs to several socio-economic organisations. Some of these include African Business Roundtable, ABR, where she serves as the Cultural Ambassador for the African Continent. A founding member of NEPAD Business Group Nigeria, NBGN, she was selected at inauguration in 2004 by President Olusegun Obasanjo. She is a coordinating chair of the Council of Traditional Rulers and Eminent Persons for Good Governance in Nigeria.

Honours and recognition
  • National honour of the Royal Kingdom of Belgium.[2]
  • Life achievement award by Vanguard newspaper[2]
  • Honorary Doctorate Degree, D.Cul-Doctor of Culture at the 4th convocation ceremony of Igbinedion University, Okada.[8]
  • Pan African Exemplary Leadership 2016 Honour /Icon of True Silent Mega Philanthropist in Africa - In recognition and appreciation of her immense contribution to Nation building, massive job creation, consistent assistance to the less privileged, excellent mentorship towards youths, youth employment, public service delivery with integrity in her discharge of duty, Promotion and Preservation of African culture and values including her selfless service to God, Humanity, Nigeria and Africa.
  • The Commonwealth Journalists Association Award.
  • Nigerian Institute of International Affairs Award.
  • West African Students Union Parliament Award for Exemplary Leadership.

Personal life

Dosunmu was married to Chief Antonio Deinde Fernandez, an Amaro member of the Olumegbon chieftaincy family of Lagos. Fernandez was a businessman who traveled the globe for his work. They met in 1972 during a time when Fernandez was married to an American woman named Barbara; these two would divorce in 1987.[9] Dosunmu and Fernandez were married in Nigeria at the Palace of the Oba of Lagos in April 1973 in a ceremony attended by famous Nigerians including Admiral Adekunle Lawal.[10] They had one child, a daughter named Antoinette Oyinkansola Fernandez - a London-based writer and filmmaker.[11][12] Nigerian musician King Sunny Adé wrote a song honouring Dosunmu titled "Biibire Kose Fowora".[13] Fernandez and Dosunmu worked together to bring industry to Nigeria.[14] When Fernandez was visiting in Lagos, he stayed with Dosunmu at the Tower Fernandez, which they built together. The marriage lasted fifteen years. In 2007, Dosunmu was publicly ordered by Fernandez to stop using his surname,[15] and he cut off relations with their daughter. Before Fernandez, Dosunmu was married to Major Adekunle Elegbede, the union producing two children, Kunle Elegbede and Adewunmi Elegbede. The marriage ended when Major Elegbede died in the early 1970s. When she met Fernandez in 1972, she was a widow with two children.[16]

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See also

References
  1. Published (2017-12-10). "Lagos is an extension of Benin – Erelu Dosunmu – Punch Newspapers". Punchng.com. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  2. "Erelu Dosunmu : A voice for the recognition of indigenous Lagosians". Vanguard News. 2019-01-18. Retrieved 2020-02-01.
  3. "Dosunmu 70th Birthday Lecture Holds Friday". July 25, 2017. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  4. "Erelu Abiola Dosunmu To Be Buried In Lagos On Valentine's Day". urbanlifeng.com. Retrieved 2020-02-01.
  5. Metrofile: Personality Profile Features Erelu Of Lagos HRH Abiola Dosumu, retrieved 2020-02-01
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-02-02. Retrieved 2020-04-02.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Erelu Abiola Docemo Foundation". eraffoundation.org. Retrieved 2019-07-04.
  8. "Contact Support". Thenigerianexpression.com. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  9. https://www.leagle.com/decision/1988537208conn3291514
  10. "Fernandez: At last 'the veil is lifted' - Vanguard News". Vanguardngr.com. 2015-09-16. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  11. "SLUMBER: A SHORT FILM BY ANTOINETTE FERNANDEZ". Folu Storms. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  12. "Antoinette Fernandez". IMDb. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  13. "[THROWBACK]: King Sunny Ade- 'Bibiire Kose Fowora'". oshakmusicblog.com. 2018-02-27. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  14. News, The Light. "How I helped Fernandez build his empire-Erelu Abiola-Dosunmu's moving tribute | The Light News". Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  15. "Erelu Dosumu refuses to talk about late husband, Fernandez | Encomium Magazine". Encomium.ng. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  16. Elites, The (2015-09-23). "EXCLUSIVE: How Erelu Abiola Dosunmu Lost The Three Men She Cherished Most Within Six Months - The Elites Nigeria". Theelitesng.com. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
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