By Funsho Arogundade
Music legend, Robert Nesta Marley sang: ‘Who the cap fits, let them wear it’. Obviously, the choice of socialite and successful fabrics merchant, Deaconess Elizabeth Busola Isikalu as the new Iya-Oloja General of Ikorodu Division recently by Oba Abdulkabir Adewale Shotobi, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, fits perfectly.
As if the task of running her thriving fabrics business is not daunting enough, the chief executive officer of Busiq Fabrics, has assumed the role of the new Iyaloja with a flash of turning the bustling Lagos’ north east city into a market hub for economic activities where neighbouring towns and communities around can buy whatever they desire.
The former Iyaloja-General of Ikorodu, Alhaja Taofikat Allison, had died and was buried on July 2, 2023. This left a vacuum for more than a year until the Ayangburen in-Council thought about having another person to fill the gap. Eight candidates showed interest in filling the position. After being screened to four, the review panel sat again and came up with a candidate (Isikalu) that was brought to the Ayangburen who ratified her in the presence of others and they gave their blessing. The Busiq Fabrics Boss was later given a royal blessing and had a grand Iwuye ceremony recently at the popular Ikorodu Music Village in Ota-Ona, Ikorodu. The glamorous birthday cum Iwuye ceremony was attended by several royal fathers, top politicians, notable dignitaries and market leaders from different parts of Lagos. This marks the beginning of a new era for the markets in Ikorodu and Isikalu, as the new Iyaloja-General, has since set to put Ikorodu on a high pedestal in terms of market development.