The remains of Alhaja Alimotu Sadia Akanke Oloto (popularly known as Iya Oyo) a popular Lagos socialite and businesswoman has been committed to Mother Earth in Lagos today. The widow of late Oba Fatai Buhari Oloto passed away yesterday at the age of 70. She was buried according to Islamic rites at the Ikoyi Vaults this afternoon.
A prayer service, attended by family members, friends and sympathizers, as well as notable dignitaries, was earlier conducted for the deceased at the Lagos Central Mosque, Oke Sunna on Lagos Island. The burial was coordinated by leading Islamic clerics in Lagos, led by the Chief Imam of Lagos Central Mosque.
The late Alhaja Alimot Oloto during her lifetime, was a prominent woman in Lagos. She was a mother figure to many Lagos society ladies and an accomplished businesswoman who touched the lives of many positively. She is survived by a son who is based in the UK.
Though details of her last moments are not immediately made available, we gathered that she she was surrounded by her loved ones till her last breath.
A few years back, there were reports that the late Iya Oyo had suffered a life-threatening illness, but she braved it and bounced back, full of life. She made several appearances at a number of social functions thereafter too. She also recently just had an elaborate opening of her new shop on Adeniran Ogunsanya, Surulere, Lagos and a few weeks later, she celebrated her 70th birthday. Alhaja Oloto was a big fabric merchant in Lagos Island.
Her death yesterday (barely two years after the demise of her husband, Oba Fatai Buhari Oloto who died in July 2021) has thrown the Lagos social circuit into deep mourning -as most people who knew her are yet to come to terms with the reality.
At the burial today, there were a lot of good things said about the late Iya Oyo who made a notable impact on the social scene, which she rocked for over three decades.