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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

How I turned bread selling to mega business — 80-year-old ex-civil servant

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • An 80-year-old retired businesswoman, Mrs. Esther Awolana, celebrated her birthday in Lagos, reflecting on her life journey.
  • Awolana shared her childhood experiences, including her father's initial reluctance to fund her education and the impact of Chief Obafemi Awolowo's free primary education program.
  • She detailed her transition from trading to a successful bread business in Abeokuta before moving to Lagos, emphasizing the importance of good health and family support in her later years.

At 80, retired businesswoman and former civil servant Mrs. Esther Awolana reflects on a life marked by resilience and gratitude. Celebrating her milestone birthday in Lagos, Awolana shared insights into her childhood, marital journey, and the lessons learned along the way.

I am very excited and grateful to God for sparing my life so I can celebrate this milestone birthday.

— Mrs Esther AwolanaOn her feelings about turning 80.

Her early life was shaped by her father's initial reservations about her education. "His excuse was always that the children he had invested in were not brilliant," she recalled. This changed in 1955 with the introduction of free primary education by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the then Premier of the old Western Region. This initiative allowed Awolana to enroll in school, a privilege she cherishes. She was even among the schoolchildren who marched during Nigeria's Independence Day celebration in 1960, the year she completed her primary education.

My greatest wish is to remain hale and hearty. I do not wish to fall sick.

— Mrs Esther AwolanaOn her aspirations for her 80th birthday.

Awolana's entrepreneurial spirit emerged early. Before marriage, she engaged in trading, notably buying and selling bread. Her business grew significantly, establishing a depot where customers bought in bulk, making her a popular figure in Abeokuta. She later moved to Lagos in 1971. "It was about meeting the basic needs of people," she explained about her venture into the bread business, which expanded as demand increased.

It was about meeting the basic needs of people.

— Mrs Esther AwolanaExplaining her inspiration for venturing into the bread business.

Looking ahead, Awolana's greatest wish is to maintain good health. "I do not wish to fall sick," she stated, understanding the profound value of well-being. She also expressed a deep sense of gratitude for her blessings and the support of her successful children, considering it a great privilege to be cared for in her advanced years.

He saw his investment as a waste of time and resources.

— Mrs Esther AwolanaDescribing her father's initial stance on her education.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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