Chief Esther Bisoye Tejuoso (1916 – 19 September 1996) was a Nigerian businesswoman from Abeokuta.[2] She was born into the family of an Egba farmer who was also a chief in Abeokuta. She herself held the chieftaincy of the Iyalode, a fact which made her very prominent in Egba affairs.
Esther Bisoye Tejuoso | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1916 |
| Died | 19 September 1996 (aged 79–80) Abeokuta, Nigeria |
| Occupation | Businesswoman |
| Children | Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, Karunwi III[1] |
Life
editTejuosho was born into an Egba royal family, her grandfather was Oba Karunwi, Osile of Oke-Ona, Abeokuta. She studied at Igbein Primary School, Abeokuta before attending Idi Aba Teacher's Training College, Abeokuta.[3] At 18 years old, she married a teacher, Joseph Somoye Tejuoso and later accompanied him to Zaria, where he was working. At Zaria, Tejuoso thrived in trading foodstuff with southern Nigerians; she used the railway to transport goods from Zaria to Lagos. In the early 1950s, she became an agent for the United African Company,[citation needed] and in later years, added Vono industries to her list of suppliers. She became very successful during this period and acquired real estate in various parts of the country. In the early 1960s, she was a major dealer of Vono mattresses in Broad St and was approached by a Norwegian businessman for a partnership in a foam manufacturing venture. The partnership took off in 1964 when Nigerian Polyurethane Ltd started producing its own brand of Cool Foams.[citation needed]
Career and death
editIn 1970, after disagreeing with her partners in a foam and carpet manufacturing venture, she decided to build her own factory. She got a loan from the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank and established, Teju Industries, a firm specialized in foam manufacturing. Over the years, she ventured out to other businesses. She is remembered as a pioneering woman who attained the summit of financial independence and success.[4]
She was murdered on 19 September 1996[5] at age 80 amid controversy over the obaship of Egbaland. To date, her murder has not been solved by Nigerian authorities.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "THE RICH AND THE FAMOUS: Old Money vs New Money". The Vanguard. 26 November 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
- ^ "Alaafin Adisa on Instagram: "-Mrs Bisoye Esther Tejuosho is Nigeria's first female industrialist. Bisoye Tejuoso was a prominent Nigerian businesswoman from Abeokuta.…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- ^ Kuti, A. (1999). Ten years on, a decade of royal selfless service 20 May 1989 to 20 May 1999: Salute to Kabiyesi Alaiyeluwa Oba Dr. Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso. Abuja, Nigeria. P. 74-76
- ^ "Bisoye Tejuoso biography, net worth, age, family, contact & picture". www.manpower.com.ng. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- ^ "A harvest of assassinations", The Architecture of Fear : Urban Design and Construction Response to Urban Violence in Lagos, Nigeria, African Dynamics, IFRA-Nigeria, pp. 121–122, 3 April 2013, ISBN 9791092312065, retrieved 30 October 2019
- ^ "Thisdayonline.info". Archived from the original on 31 August 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2010.