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By Vera Wisdom-Bassey
Olori Rebecca Temitope Oloko, wife of Oba Sulaiman Owolabi Oloko, Oba of Iwaya-Yaba Kingdom in Lagos State, has been married to the monarch for over a decade. An events planner, motivational speaker, stage host and a mother from Ayetoro Town, Ile-Ife in Osun State, she is also CEO of BECS Signature. She partners with Superkids 360 Talent Auditions, a platform that nurtures musical talents in children aged 4 to 15 years in Iwaya-Yaba.
Olori Rebecca holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from the University of Ibadan. She and her husband have long been active in humanitarian work, using their palace as a training centre for youths and a hub for women’s skill acquisition programmes.
She spoke with Sunday Sun on life in the palace, meeting her husband and how she’s been combining her role as the king’s wife with her other responsibilities.
How do you feel as an Olori?
I feel privileged to be the queen. This is the Lord’s doing, and it gives us a greater opportunity to give back to the community. For me, being an Olori hasn’t changed my personal life much because I’ve always been committed to community service. Now, the scope is simply larger, and I have a bigger platform to do what I love.
What is life like for you as a woman married to a royal father?
The queen has a lot of work, a lot of duties included in that portfolio. For me, being an Olori, I don’t see anything that has changed in my own personal life, because I have always been in the humanitarian field where I do a lot of community work, giving back to the society.
I like to help the less privileged and what have you. So, for me, it’s a much larger scope, bigger opportunity to do what I love to do. An opportunity to expand and have a space where you can perform very well, do your job properly.
What were the things you were engaged in before becoming an Olori?
Before becoming queen, I volunteered with the Red Cross Association, worked on school and church projects, and participated in leadership events. I’ve always liked to help the less privileged,
Did you ever dream of becoming an Olori?
No, not really, even though when I was young they did call me Ayaba (wife of a king.)
How did you meet the Oba
I met my husband more than a decade ago while on humanitarian duty. He’s a man of passion, also involved in giving back to the community. Our work brought us together, it was God’s design.
As a couple, we got married long before he became king, and his ascension came unexpectedly. Even his late father, who was the former king, did not plan it that way. It was simply God’s will.
Usually, using the royal platform for service, my position enables me to do more for the youth. I have a passion for young people. I want them to avoid life’s mistakes and discover who they are, so they can achieve their goals.
What would you like to do differently now from how you did them in the past?
I would love to do a lot of things differently. I have a passion for the youths, and I would not want them to make mistakes in life. What I would have loved to do differently is channelling more energy into letting the young people know who they are and what they can achieve. Even as the country is now, they can do more. Things we’re learning now, you can impact into these youths. There is this saying that children are the leaders of tomorrow, so you should put them on the right path.
I derive my strength from God. I would attribute my strength to God. The Holy Spirit has been my strength, while life has taught me to be patient, prayerful and have faith.
How do you balance life as royalty with business and family?
As an experienced events planner and producer, the title does not hinder my career. But rather, being an olori actually complements what I do because we host events in the palace and the community. I have a professional team that ensures everything runs smoothly, even when I’m not physically present. My husband understands the demands of the job, so we work together effectively.
What have been the challenges in your events planning business?
I must admit that the rising cost of goods and services in Nigeria has affected the events industry but l see it as a chance for innovation. We can always come up with creative ideas to deliver beautiful events within budget.
What is your philosophy on work and life?
I prefer not to flaunt my title while working. We are professionals; we don’t do trial and error. Clients respect that. l will attribute my strength to God. The Holy Spirit has been my strength. Life has taught me patience, prayer, and faith.
What advice do you have for women married to kings and royals?
I always say we are all still students in the school of kingship and queenship. Each kingdom has its own unique traditions, but we should all work within our capacity to support our husbands and give back to society.
Could you tell us more about yourself?
I was born and raised in Ibadan, Oyo State. l am the first of four children. A devout Christian married to a man from a Muslim background. l will continue to bridge cultures while leading initiatives that uplift our community.
