A 95-year-old woman, Alhaja Olabode Banjo has been appointed and installed as the President of Fish Sellers and Seafood Association of Nigeria (Ogun State chapter).
At a ceremony in Sagamu last Thursday, the nonagenarian, who is the mother of a former governorship candidate of the National Conscience Party, Ogbeni Lanre Banjo, was unanimously appointed by members of the association to lead them.
The ceremony was well attended by members of the association across the 20 Local Government Areas of the state, as well as other guests within and outside, who came to grace the occasion.
Dressed gorgeously in a white lace material, the new president was ushered into the venue by a large number of members of the association and other guests, who sang her praises.
She could not hold back her joy and demonstrated her dancing skills in the swarm of members, majority of them comprising of women in uniformed ankara.
In an interview, Banjo expressed appreciation to members for considering her for the exalted position to lead the association to greater height.
She recalled her journey into the fish selling trade, which she said she started at age 10 with her late grandmother at Ijokun.
She said: ‘I met fish selling from my grandmother, Efunpelu when she was selling fish at Ijokun, I was just 10 years old when I struggled with her, I followed her to Apowa, I hawked and fish business is sweet. The business is enough for me.
‘I wore buba mini skirts to struggle with her in the selling business, and today among the elders and leaders of fish sellers in Ogun State I’m the one crowned as the No. 1 of Egbe Eleja in Ogun State’.
She disclosed that the ceremony was the brainchild of her children, who contributed in bringing her to limelight and prayed for them, adding that she is excited reaping fruits of her labour on them.
‘My children are doing great for me today. They supported and brought me to the limelight, and they made me a successful woman, making this installation as Iya Egbe Eleja in Ogun State easier for me, I pray that they all enjoy the fruits of their labour and also, be celebrated amongst their peers’, the President said.
About 40 years ago, Banjo was installed as Iyasuna, a Muslim title, at a ceremony attended by prominent lawyer and activist, Gani Fawehinmi.
The association boss called on the government to support fish production and sales, stressing that she was in a better position to guide the government on how best to do it, if invited.
‘I want the government to come and support us. We can tell them how to go about it if they are ready to listen. My demand from the government is to make sure that they take care of fish sellers and meet up with their demands’.
She lamented the epileptic power supply, which is a major challenge for the fish business, appealing to the government to rise up to the challenges for the business to continue to strive.
The state Chairman of the association, Chief Egbejobi Owolabi Aremu said Banjo was appointed as President because of her dedication and commitment to the progress of the association.
He, however, urged the members to be patient in view of the battered economy, affecting all sectors of trade, expressing optimism that the challenges would be surmounted.
The son of the new President, Mr. Nurudeen Olakunle Banjo expressed gratitude to the association for finding their mother worthy of the high rank position, recalling that she raised all her children with the trade.
He praised his mother for her zeal and commitment towards the fish selling trade, which she is known for, and has remained relevant in the business to have been considered to lead the body.
