Chartered Accountant and UK-based lecturer Shafa has shared the heartbreaking story of losing his mother at the tender age of 10. This devastating loss marked a turning point in his childhood, forcing him to navigate life without the nurturing presence of a mother during his most formative years. However, he credits his survival and eventual success to the unwavering support of his maternal grandmother, who stepped in to fill the void.
Speaking on Talk-to-B with Biola Adebayo, Shafa revealed that his grandmother was not just any ordinary woman but the Iyaloja (market leader) of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government in Lagos. She was known as Alhaja Binta Adeshina Akangbe, popularly called “Iya Kongo” because of her extensive trading activities that took her as far as Congo-Kinshasa. She would travel from Nigeria with kolanuts and return with parrots and beads, establishing herself as a formidable businesswoman in her community.
Despite her busy trading schedule and prominent leadership role, his grandmother made his upbringing her priority. Shafa emphasized that without her grace and sacrifice, he might not have survived the challenges of growing up without a mother.
Her influence extended beyond just providing for his physical needs; she instilled in him values of hard work, consistency, and resilience that would later define his professional journey. Even today, he speaks of her with deep emotion and gratitude, acknowledging that her legacy continues to inspire his current philanthropic work through the Taeesha Empowerment Foundation.
Shafa said: “I grew up as a grandma’s son. So my grandmother looked after me. I lost my mom when I was very small, you know. I was about 10 years old when my mom passed away. And I was fortunate to have my grandmother. My maternal grandmother. In fact, my maternal grandmother then was the Iyaloja of Ajeromi-Ifelodun local government. She’s very known, very popular. Alhaja Binta Adeshina Akangbe.
May her soul rest in peace. They call her Iya Kongo. So she’s Iya Kongo because she is a trader. She travels to Congo Kinshasa. So they will travel from here to Congo. They will take kola to Congo and then when they are returning back they will bring the parrots, beads. So they will bring it back to Nigeria. She’s a trader and I speak a bit of Lingala by the way.”
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