Can you tell us about yourself?
Thanks very much, am Chief (Mrs) Kemi Adedapo Aisida nee Olotu, am born and breed here in Akure, I graduated from Ekiti state university, Ado Ekiti about 28 years ago and ever since I have been into trading business. I own Josek Aso-oke cottage. While growing up, I grow up to know my mother as a trader and a big player in the traditional Aso Oke business. Before her death, she was the president of Nepa market. Aside aso_oke, she was into fabrics business like lace etc. Though I was into the business and at the same time, I was into, politics, I was appointed Special Adviser to late Gov. Dr. Olusegun Agagu on Trade and union matters. So when my mother died I took over her Aso-Oke business fully in the last 12 years but eight years ago I was made the Iya Oloja of this market following the death of Madam Dada Aliu who took over from my late mother. The Late Kabiyesi Oba Adebiyi Adesida, the Deji and Paramount ruler of Akure kingdom took a decision to appoint one person each per market to act as the market leader, so they approached me and I was made the head of this market in 2012 and I blessed God who have been helping me.
So ma when you were approached 8 years ago to become the Iya Oloja of this very market what was running through your mind?
Initially I was scared and I thought I was too young for the postion because I felt there were people who are older than me and have more experience than I do who are fit for the position because if you look round the market, you we will see that we have my mother’s age group but then the Kabiyesi said he wanted an educated person and I told him there were many people that are educated in the market due to the calbire of personality we have here at Akure Nepa Mall but kabiyesi said no that he wanted me to head the market. You see the first day they brought the letter to me, I was very scared, because I thought it was something fetish but to God be the glory the rest is history today and thanks to my husband for his support and encouragement.
How do you feel stepping into your mother's shoe as Its Oloja?
Waoh, I will say it had not been easy stepping into my mother's shoe as the Iya Oloja of this popular Nepa mall, it was Nepa Market before now but since the market was rebuilt some years ago to this standard it had been change to Mall. There is no doubt that I eliminate some of her features in terms of leadership skills but I will say God had been helping me. I believe it was an honour for my late mother and she will be happy that I took over her. So am happy.
How have you been coping with the challenges as the Iya Oloja?
There are lots of challenges, as you will agree with that to bring people together both old and young its hasn’t been an easy but with God on our side we are overcoming our challenges on a daily basis and I want to use this medium to appreciate every store owner in this market, they have been very cooperative but then there are ups and downs but with prayers we have been able to overcome it like I said.
Wow, that was another milestone for me and I will say boldly that I didn't lobby for the position. You see when they started the planning on who they want to give this or that position I never thought I was going to be involved because my late mother, Mama Olojugba, Mama Ogunsusi started this association together but at a point they stepped down, so when my mother died and I was made the head of this market, mama ogunsusi came to me and said I can’t run away from them that I should come and I joined the association of which I did, so when Mama Ogunsusi died in February this 2017, the constitution says when the president died, the vice becomes the president automatical, so the position of vice president and other positions was vacant. I was attending their meeting but I never knew their plan because I didn’t know it was going to be zone to Akure because late Mama Ogunusi was an Akure person while her vice was from Ondo town, when they were filling the vacant space with people, the fact that the late president was from Akure, that left Akure slot to be vacant, someone now suggested that Akure wants the vice again, inside me I felt, why the vice again is there no any other positions, so I then suggested that Akure should take the speaker position rather been the vice but they said no, that they want the vice president slot. Little did I know that they were planing to make me the Vice president. So Akure eventually got the vice president slots and I was nominated to represents Akure on the state level and I asked why me? because I felt there are people that are older than me who could represent Akure but they insisted that I it's me they want, so after due consultation, I accepted the offer and I thank God for his mercy.
So ma what actually attracted you to Aso-Oke business ?
Actually I was into all sort of things before I decided to settle for Aso-Oke, I do travel outside the country to buy my goods but later there was an incident that happened which changed my life. Having stock my shop as usual, days later my shop was boggled and I was so devastated, that where would I start from though my mother was into Aso-Oke business, most of what she was selling then was Aso-Oke, so I decided to go into Aso-Oke business because that doesn't involve so much travelling and that was how I started and I deal with various aso-oke. Don't also forget that aso-oke is one of our tradition and party are not complete without aso-oke either for the celebrant or their guests. So I will say, my late mother makes me go into the business and I blessed God for his grace on it.
Hmm, I will say am coping with God on my side, it has not be easy, but it involves planning and it almost 2 years now and 8 years of me leading my follow men and women so I will say am coping. The position does not require much, as we all know that it just involve managing the women and men who are traders in Ondo state, intereacting on their behalf with the state government and getting somethings from the government for the market women and men and at the same time supporting the government. Don't forget that I have once served as late Dr Agagu’s Special Adviser on market and I manage the market affairs then, so its not that much.
So what was your husband reaction?
Honestly am married to a very supportive husband who believes in me. Did I tell you that it was my husband that makes me accept the Iyaloja of this place. Though when I told him that I have been nominated for the vice president, he said why initially, that I wont have time and I said you were the one that pushed me in accepting the head of this market, because I said no then, and he said “kemi the position they are offering you is because of your mum”, not because of you that I should honour my mother, so when this one came, I explained and he gave me his support.
So let talk about your fashion, you are one of the top fashion women in ondo state, how fashionable are you ma?
Am just trying, I wear what fits me, am not into competition with anybody, when I want to go out, I put on what fits me, am a trendy person but then, I don’t go out of place to make myself fashionable, I wear something that fits on me and with the little education, I try to combine it.
So ma, aside your S.A what other political position have you held or are you inspired to contest for any post?
As an iya oloja now, I cant go into politics anymore, because iya oloja’s are for all government. Any government in power, we work together with them and make them accessible to women, so politics no more.
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