THE MATRIACH OF THE FOLAWIYO FAMILY & DOYEN OF FASHION IN NIGERIA, HAJIA ABAH FOLAWIYO CLOCKS 75 ON SATURDAY

Sisi Abah- Custodian of Style

Segun Awolowo

This weekend, Saturday, July 22, 2017 all roads would lead to the Queen's Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos home of Nigeria's dame of fashion, Hajia Abah Folawiyo aka Mama Segun or better still "Sisi Abah" like most of those very familiar with her call her.

Mama is the proud mother of the Executive Director/MD of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), by name Segun Awolowo. She's also the wife of the late Baba Adinni of Yorubaland, Alhaji AbdulWahab Iyanda Folawiyo. That's the late dad of the quiet billionaire, Tunde Folawiyo.

The "custodian of fashion" and matron of the "Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria" (FADAN), who reigned supreme in the 80s and 90s as the preferred designer of choice for the stars and celebrities of then, would clock the grand old age of 75 years old exactlly on Saturday, having being born on July 22, 1942.

More after the break.


And because she's so very much loved by all, which includes her immediate family members, made up of her son who is also said to be her "best friend forever" and his family, the immediate Folawiyo family who we hear loves her to bits and dotes on her, majorly because she made their late patriarch very very happy when he was alive, her other daughter, that is Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, who calls her "young mommy", who she has known now for upwards of 40 years plus since her student days in the UK and is like an adopted member of the family and her friends, led by the likes of Princess Onilere are sure to gather at her residence for planned prayers and most probably a party afterwards to celebrate the awesomely kind-hearted soul.

Hajia's love for fashion designing began at the tender age of 7years old. Her mom was a fashion designer, so that must have pricked her interest. She later honed her natural skill and she became a professional by age 25.

In 1963, she took part in a competition in Ghana the VC10, which she won and was declared the "best designer".  Her prize for winning was a "first class ticket to London". Getting to London, she went on to do training and internship. She later returned home in 1977 & went on to establish her brand Labanella in 1978. And the rest like they say is history.

Happy birthday to Sisi Abah in advance.