Fashionista of Great Repute, Opral Benson’s Celebratory Moment
The Iya Oge of Lagos, Chief (Mrs.) Opral Mason Benson, simply can’t be happier now.
In all imaginable ways, her peregrinations in life have been filled with more roses than thorns. Even if her biography is not yet on any bookshelf anywhere, her guests, during the celebration of her 85th birthday last Friday, agreed that her story will be a compelling read if it is written in black and white. Even at 85, the Liberia-born octogenarian still possesses all that has given her fame and recognition all her life. Though she is now well advanced in age, everything about her still points to the fact that life has been fair to her.
This respectable woman of substance has lived her life in absolute dedication to her first love - fashion, style and beauty therapy - an occupation that has always given her the greatest joy. Benson, the brains behind the popular Opral Benson Beauty Training Institute (OBTI), Lagos was eulogized beyond words at a classy and exclusive birthday dinner attended by her close friends, families as well as close associates last Friday.
Since 1996 when she set up The Outreach Foundation, a visionary nongovernmental, non-religious, non-profit organisation, she has been committed to the development and empowerment of Nigerian women and youths.
Benzon, who holds a Master’s degree in Education from the Atlanta University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, had had an impressive Public service career both in Liberia and in Nigeria.
Before she was literally uprooted from Liberia to Nigeria following her marriage to the late T.O.S. Benson, she had worked as chief administrative officer as well as coordinator for administration at the department of Agriculture, Commerce and Labour that laid the foundation for the formation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU).
Between 1966 and 1967, she served as Registrar for Student Affairs, Admission Officer, Appointment Officer and Information Officer at the University of Lagos, Nigeria.
She was a foundation’s board member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Nigeria (1971).
Also, between 1970 and 1977, she was, amongst others, a member of the Governing Board of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Principal Liaison Officer, FESTAC 77 (1971) and member, Nigerian Olympic Committee (1982). She was made the honorary Consular General of Nigeria to Liberia by the Liberia President in 2012.
In recognition of her involvement in the culture and tradition of various communities in Nigeria, she has been honoured with about 10 traditional titles, namely: Iya Oge of Lagos, Iya Mesho of Ikorodu, Lika of Imota, Adetilehin of Ijede, Atoloye ofIle-Ife, Yeye Lafin of Ode Remo, Yeye Oba of Ipakudo, Iya Mokun & Iya Mosa of Egbaland, Nwanyi Di Ebube of Ibagwa Nike, Ezeokwe Ancient Kingdom, Enugu.