IYA OGE OF LAGOS, CHIEF MRS. OPRAL BENSON STILL LOOKS RADIANT @ 85

Have you heard the news? Let's be the first to tell you that in the next few days, the Iya Oge of Lagos, Chief Mrs. Opral Benson (OON) will be 85. But she does not look it one bit. “That is what everybody says to me”, she told City People recently. At 85, she still looks refreshingly young. She is still very stylish and fashionable. She still loves to wear her high heel shoes.

She still loves to dance. She is a good dancer. She has remained forever beautiful and glamorous. She has kept her lovely figure. She has also kept her flawless skin, that glows like that of a newly born baby.

Apart from a few signs of old age here and there not much has changed about this undisputed Queen of Fashion & Beauty in Nigeria.

On account of her inimitable style, she was crowned the Iya Oge of Lagos. She is also a damn good  Cosmetologist who over the years has dominated the Beauty sector with her Chic Afrique Beauty Company Ltd. So into beauty was she that she set up Opral Benson Beauty Training Institute in 1985. It is today the best in beauty training.

A creation of the mid 30’s, Opral Benson has remained visible on the scene since the 60s, 70s and up till now. She has remained a veritable symbol of panache and elegance. Mama Opral created a stir with a Green and white beaded dress she wore to one of the independence celebrations in the 60’s.

Newspaper clippings of the 60s and 70s extolled her virtue and told the story of how she has eminently gained a reputation as the ultimate trend setter, on account of her uncommon carriage and panache. Wrote one writer,  “Opral Benson is clearly above the pack.

She is a pioneer of the African Fashion and Beauty industry. That Opral Benson was honoured with the title of Iya Oge by Oba Oyekan in 1973 didn’t come as a surprise. What is surprising is that over 4 decades after being bestowed with such a high honour, she has remained quite visible and a reference point.

It was in 1973, that the late Oba of Lagos, HRM Oba Adeyinka Oyekan II bestowed the title of Iya Oge on her. 47 years down the road, Mama has consistently carried the title with dignified Grace and elegance. The Iya Oge title, the very first to be awarded, is in recognition of the exemplary persona of Opral as a trendy woman and a pace-setter whose presence in any gathering elicits admiration of her carriage and trendy looks. 59 years on her arrival on the shores of Nigeria, Opral Benson has remained “the quintessential Queen of beauty and fashion”.

According to her, “I formerly came into the Beauty industry, when I left the University of Lagos. That was when I established Chic Afrique Beauty Centre. That was in 1979. Six years later, Opral Benson Beauty Training Institute came on stream in 1985. Before then, one could count the number of salons around on one’s finger tips. Everybody was calling them Hair salons. Then I opened a beauty centre which opened the flood gate of the deluge of salons that are now all over the place.

I also pioneered Beauty Fair in Nigeria exclusively for the Cosmetics and Fashion Industry. I also have an above average interest in the fashion industry. As a matter of fact, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do, even when I was involved in other professional engagements. It has always been part of me to use my spare time to do something in this industry.

So, it didn’t just come overnight. It started as far back as the 60's. Whenever I designed something, for myself, everybody would go all out to make the same thing”. “The beauty industry has grown tremendously. People once felt it was a waste of time.

I left my job at the University of Lagos because I wanted to fully involve myself in the industry and many people at the time told my husband I shouldn’t leave academics for Beauty. He didn’t tell me to go back. He said do whatever you feel happy doing and I started beauty shows, fashion designer shows, beauty services, skin and hair care.

I brought somebody from California who started doing hair extensions and look at where hair extensions are today” With benefit of hindsight, Opral Benson points out that: “Fashion has gone a complete circle. In the 60s, we wore our wrappers and buba sleeves a bit short, then longer. Over time, the hair ties changed. Now the wrappers are shorter again. We wore wedge heels which are back again and you find some people falling trying to walk in very heavy, chunky heels”.