Pius Nsabe
On Friday, June 6, 2025, all roads will lead to the Civic Center at Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Victoria Island, Lagos, where an amazon and jewel of inestimable value, Chief Dr. Opral Benson, will once again capture the spotlight. The event, which will undoubtedly attract the crème de la crème of Lagos and beyond, is the launch of a book, Opral Benson: Life and Legend, by Dr. Udu Yakubu, Nigeria’s leading biographer. The book is published by May Publishing Limited, Lagos.
The epoch-making event, under the chairmanship of astute businessman and philanthropist, Sir Dr. Kesington Adebukola Adebutu, will also feature the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, as the Royal Father of the Day.
As prominent Nigerians converge to celebrate the success story of this iconic woman, it has become pertinent to once again beam the searchlight on her background.
Opral Benson was married to renowned Nigerian, Chief T.O.S. Benson, from 1962 until his death in February 2008.
She is an entrepreneur and holds the chieftaincy title of Iya Oge of Lagos. A former university administrator, Chief Benson joined the board of Johnson Products Nigeria as chairman and established the Opral Benson Beauty Institute and Chic Afrique Enterprises in Yaba, Lagos. She also served as a pioneer board member of the National Youth Service Corps and was a member of the Nigerian Olympic Committee in 1982.
There are very few Africans who have traversed the continent’s socio-cultural landscape for as long—and with as much panache and penetration—as Opral Benson. In Nigeria and Liberia in particular, she has been a steady and recurring cultural cardinal for over half a century, defining, reconceptualising, and re-creating subliminal and popular trends in cultural and cross-national dialogue and diplomacy, and in beauty and fashion.
Opral Benson has been a constant figure in the movement for women’s development on the continent, playing crucial roles that have not only awakened many women to the imperatives and strategies of advancement but have also positively engaged men and leaders at various levels in the cause of developing women.
As a beauty icon, she has been at the forefront of defining trends and customs for her contemporaries and younger generations. She has also explored beauty as an industry and a strong driver of business, economically empowering thousands of young people in the process.
As friends, family, and associates from all walks of life gather at the Civic Center in Victoria Island to celebrate success, experience, and finesse—all bundled in one individual, Opral Benson—the highlight of the event will be the review of her book by Bashorun J.K. Randle, while Chief Olawunmi Gasper will serve as guest speaker. Thereafter, the book will be launched, accompanied by a documentary about her life during a luncheon.