By Funsho Arogundade
The world of high society and tabloid headlines bid farewell to elegant Chief (Mrs.) Adebisi Khadijah Edionseri, who passed away at the age of 89 on Sunday January 6, 2025. As one of the early front runners, the wealthy businesswoman and iconic socialite was on the Nigerian social scene for over six decades. She was dubbed ‘Cash Madam,’ by Juju music legend, Ebenezer Obey in the early 1970s, though in the 1960s, Sakara music maestro, Yusuf Olatunji used to call her ‘Abike Cash Woman’. The deceased gained media attention as one of Nigeria’s most glamorous and celebrated society women. She was the definition of colourful and flamboyant. She epitomized every inch of sophisticated royalty. The high class woman loved life and rocked the social scenes to the envy of many back then. No major party was worthy of the name if she was not in attendance. All these made her a tabloid fixture.
Till her passing last weekend, the business magnate still possessed all that gave her fame and recognition all her life. Even at the advanced age of 89, Edionseri still attended parties hosted by her many affluent associates —including the 70th birthday of Chief Fassy Yusuf in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State on Friday January 3. At those parties, she displayed her knack for high fashion as not a few continued to gape at her choice of clothes and diamond jewellery. Even her love for expensive fragrances stood her out. For her, life must be enjoyed to the hilt and indeed, Madam Edionseri rocked till her last breath in her palatial mansion in GRA Ibara, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Otunba Abayomi Odunowo —one of her sons— confirmed her peaceful passing. He described her last moments as peaceful, noting that they had spent a joyful holiday together before her sudden passing. Her remains were on Monday, January 6 committed to mother earth precisely at 4pm, according to Islamic rites, inside her palatial residence in Abeokuta.
Born on April 8, 1935 to Pa Sanusi and Madam Sabintu Elegbede at Ibara, Abeokuta, it is no exaggeration to say that she had been a millionaire since the late 1970s —when she was in her 30s. Her kindness and unflinching generosity were legendary. Many musicians benefitted from her largesse at the time. But her untiring philanthropic gestures were not limited to those in the creative world as she provided support for all kinds of people, especially young deprived people through her scholarship scheme for primary, secondary and university education – even for post-graduate studies – within and outside Nigeria.
The woman had been around like forever as the limelight loved her and she basked in it till the very end. While the exact circumstances surrounding her death remain private, her life, a whirlwind of extravagant wealth, famous appearances at parties, and extensive philanthropic gestures, continues to fascinate and intrigue. Survived by seven successful children, Madam Edionseri died a few months to her 90th birthday.