THE late Alhaja Limota Adunni Hassan (nee Babalakin), the Iya Adinni of Nawar-Deen Central Mosque, Gbongan and Iya Suna (Alasalatu) of Isale Oja Mosque Gbongan, was born into the Yesufu Adeoye Babalakin dynasty of Isale Oja Gbongan.  She did not have any formal education not because her dad could not afford it but because not much premium was placed on the education of the girl-child during her time.

The story is told of how her father that eventually produced a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Retired Justice Bolarinwa Babalakin (rtd), refused to send his daughters to school.

Young Limota was only privileged to attend Quranic lessons where her other siblings knew she was a very brilliant girl.  She always excelled in the recitation of the Quran. However, her father soon married her out to the late Iyaniwura Taiye Hassan, whom he wanted him to marry.

Her husband, who was much older than her died in 1968, which placed on her the burden of taking care of her four children. She worked hard and did not fail in her duties.

Limota was an astute business woman. What she missed in formal education she gained in her trading. She was popular with the kind of items she traded in. She became one of the most successful women traders among her peers.

The late Limota ensured that her children imbibed the spirit of hard work. According a close family source, “anytime she came visiting you, you had to wake up along with her at 4a.m. the following day. There was no day in her life that she woke up later than 4a.m. or slept earlier than 11p.m. until she breathed her last on January 15, 2016. She never took ill; she was never admitted into any hospital.”

Alhaja Limota Aduuni Hassan, your fellow traders, customers and friends would miss you. Sun re o.