YUSUF, Chief (Mrs.) MORILI MORENIKE

Chief (Mrs.) Morili Yusuf was born on June 20, 1946 to the family of Pa Yusuf Sanusi Odukoya of Idoko Olowa, Ijebu Imusin, and Madam Simbiat Yusuf (nee Kadiri) of Yemodo, Ijebu Imusin. She attended Muslim Primary School, Ijebu Imusin, from 1961 to 1964. She later went to Zaria for a course in Fashion Design.  She went to Ibadan during the Nigerian civil war to trade in plastic and stainless products and was there till 1969.

As an outstanding politician and manager of men and materials, she was able to achieve the following:

1. Organise market men and women into various groups.
2. Contribute immensely to the expansion of the market space using parts of the land that were formerly used as a refuse dump.
3. Use her position to mobilize traders to stop the local government from collecting revenues until traders’ demands were met. This led to the stoppage of the stipend being given to her by the government.
4. In 2011, she was made a member of Oba Oloko’s 20^th Coronation Anniversary Committee, a body that planned and successfully executed the Oba’s coronation event.
5. In the past, cows were not slaughtered in the market. She was instrumental in the establishment of an abattoir in the market.
6. When there was a crisis between the soldiers from Ilese Barracks and Imusin traders, she boldly confronted them shouting ‘Wahala don start ooo’.  When asked by the soldiers to identify herself, she introduced herself as ‘The GOC of Imusin Market’ to the amazement of Oba Oloko, Maj. Gen. S.A. Odunsi (rtd), Alhaji Chief S.A. Badmus, and others were present.
7. She prevailed on the Ijebu-East Local Government to build an edifice for garri and fish traders.
8. She was instrumental in the tarring of the motor park at Imusin and the road that leads from Owu/Ikija Road to the maternity centre.
9. She also prevailed on the local government to build some lock-up shops at the market.
10. She suggested to Oba Oloko to recognize the Annual Ojude Oba at the new Palace.

She is a Member of Alasalatu General of the Central Mosque of Ijebu Imusin and Owonifaari Social Club of Ijebu Imusin. She is very politically active and has at different times been a member of the SDP, AD, ACN, and APC. She was a member of the Community Development Association (CDA), and member of the Association of Plastic Sellers, Ijebu Imusin. She was the first female member of Ijebu Imusin Vigilante (VGN). She holds the title of Iya Egbe.

Because of her managerial skills and business acumen, on February 26, 2000, she was honoured with the traditional title of ‘Balogun Oja’ of Ijebu Imusin by Oba Stephen Adedeji Onafowokan.  She was also the recipient of the Ijebu Imusin Community Merit Award.

She enjoys good music and loves dancing and traveling.  She is married to Mr. Segun Yusuf and they are blessed with three sons and one daughter.