TRIBUNE
Chief (Mrs) Elizabeth Omolara Akintonde is an industrialist and businesswoman She shared her life story with TUNDE ADELEKE.
What circumstance actually surrounded your birth?
I made my entrance into this beautiful world as the ninth child of my parents. My parents told me that the joyous greetings given to new parents was as a result of previous births of seven children and their death at infancy leaving the first child, a girl and myself. Truly and behold, the Almighty God answered my parents’ sincere and genuine prayers. I thank God I’m alive today after three and a half scores on earth.
Can you still recall your growing up years?
My growing up and schooling were mixed; it’s practically impossible to separate the two. My father was at the time of my birth an employee of UAC Nigeria Limited at the Ile-Ife branch and my mother, though with minimal education, was a full-time housewife. On my fifth birthday, I started primary education as one of the beneficiaries of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s free education programme at Enu-Owa Primary School, Ile-Ife in 1955 as soon as my right hand could reach my left ear. Shortly after, in 1956, my father was transferred to the Lagos office of UAC and the entire family had to move with him. On arrival in Lagos, we stayed at his brother’s house at Ebute Metta. I was subsequently enrolled at United African Methodist Church School, Eleja, in 1957 and completed my primary education in 1964.
Lagos educational system then was packaged as primaries I and II and then Standard I – Standard VI. I sat for the common entrance examination and my first choice was Methodist Girls’ High School, Yaba; second choice was Anglican Girls’ Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode. My parents, unknown to me, had decided that I should leave my secure home environment and go ahead to pay the deposit required for Anglican Girls’ Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode, even though I passed and gained admission to both schools.
Finally, it was time to leave home for the first time for serious education; all items for boarding life purchased, labelled and packed by my mother. She had made up her mind to give me the opportunity she never had. To the glory of the Almighty God, I spent five years at Anglican Girls Grammar School. I learnt a lot as a boarding student, made friends but remained a Lagos girl with no serious attachments to any student that was not from Lagos.
