Sanwo-Olu presents 3-bedroom flat to Iya Awero

....Names estate after ex-deputy gov, Ogunleye

By Iyabode Ishola

GOVERNOR Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, yesterday, handed over three bedroom flat key to a veteran Nollywood actress, Mrs Olanrewaju Adesina Hassan, popularly known as Iya Awero, out of the 360 units of three-bedroom apartments in the LagosHOMS Igbogbo 2B Housing Estate, in the Ikorodu axis of the state.

Sanwo-Olu also presented keys of three-bedroom apartments, each to the best teacher and best principal for 2020 in the state.

He also renamed the estate after a former commissioner for Finance and one time deputy governor of the state, Mr. Abiodun Ogunleye.

According to Sanwoolu: “It is necessary to celebrate heroes who are impacting society positively. while they are alive.

“We don’t need to celebrate them when they are dead; we can celebrate them when they are alive.”

The housing estate has 360 homes, comprising 120 one-bedroom, 120 two-bedrooms and 120 three-bedroom apartments in 30 blocks.

The governor, who presented the gifts at the commissioning of the estate, said his administration would continue to bridge the housing deficit by providing affordable, accessible and decent housing for the people.

He said: “This housing scheme symbolises our unwavering commitment to the Greater Lagos Project, and our determination to build and deliver modern homes, so that irrespective of social or economic class, all Lagosians can enjoy the dividends of democracy and good governance.

“The completion and opening of this estate, comprising 360 units, is a promise kept and sends a strong message about our determination to truly make Lagos a 21st Century Economy. We will continue to bridge the housing deficit by providing decent and affordable houses to our people.

“We recognise that decent housing is a crucial component of sustainable development, and this is why our housing projects are being funded through direct budgetary allocations and public-private-partnerships, which have yielded remarkable results.

“We have adopted the Global Housing Policy, which gives people the option of becoming homeowners, over some time, through the Rent to Own policy. This policy, which is targeted at the working class (in the formal and informal sectors) promotes continued prosperity and decent living as beneficiaries pay only a percentage of their earnings as mortgage monthly just like it is done in modern and developed economies.”

The estate is the seventh housing scheme inaugurated since Sanwo-Olu assumed office in 2019.

He said that his administration adopted global housing policies desirous of improving the socio-economic wellbeing of residents.

According to him, the Igbogbo 2B estate compromised of 360 units.

The project, he said, was conceived by his government in fulfilment of a promise to bridge the shelter gap in the state.

“At the commissioning of Alhaji Lateef Jakande Estate, Igando in 2019, I promised that all ongoing housing projects in various parts of the state would be delivered on schedule.

“I am happy to inform you that since then, we have delivered affordable and decent shelter to many families by commissioning six housing projects.

“The completion and commissioning of this estate, comprising 360 units, is a promise kept. This sends a strong message about our determination to truly make Lagos a 21st Century Economy.”

Who is Iya Awero?

The name Iya Awero rings a bell in the Nigerian Nollywood industry, especially in the Yoruba genre, having taken part in scores of movies.

Her real name, Olanrewaju Adesina Hassan, was born on October 3, 1950.

During her time, the Nollywood industry was not as prosperous as we have it today, but then, the movies had good plots.

Despite playing several roles in movies, she is not financially bouyant, as she was almost ejected from her apartment until Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu came to her rescue.

In her active days, Iya Awero took the Yoruba movie industry by storm.

She featured majorly in the Yoruba-language cinema of Nollywood, although she also featured in English-Language productions as well. Since she started her acting career with Ojo Ladipo Theatre Group, Iya Awero has starred in multiple films.

In one of the movies, Ògìdán, she starred along actors like Hanks Anuku, Lilian Bach, Lanre Balogun, Clarion Chukwura-Abiola, Ernest Asuzu, Jide Kosoko, among others.

Fears for her wellbeing in 2020 led another actress, Foluke Daramola-Salako sharing photos of herself with Iya Awero during a visit to the veteran thespian’s home.

Iya Awero was born on October 3rd, 1950 at lsale Eko, an indigene of Lagos Island (Isale-Eko), Lagos State, Nigeria. Her mother hailed from the Bankole family house and her father from Imaro Hassan Afoke family house of Lagos Island. Lanre Hassan was raised by her paternal grandmother named Kosoko Moronfolu Okunoye, she is from a polygamous home. 

She is popularly known as Iya Awero owing to her role is the well-watched television comedy series “Comedy Half Hour”, by the Ojo Ladipo theatre group.

Lanre Hassan’s Education

Lanre Hassan (Iya Awero) started her elementary education at Oduabore memorial school in Mushin, Lagos, she later attended the St. Peters Faaji school in Lagos Island (Isale Eko), and later the Children’s home school in Ibadan, Oyo State. She moved from school due to frequent relocations.

She relocated back to Lagos for secondary school education, and attended Molas High School in Lagos Island (Fadeyi area of Isale Eko). She started acting while in high school, she was opportune to meet the English Literature Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, who introduced her to his School of Drama. 

Lanre Hassan (Iya Awero)  joined the School of Drama upon finishing her high school education. The program was for 6 months. She didn’t further her education after this school, missing out on the opportunity of gaining direct entry into the university at the time. 

Lanre Hassan's acting career

Her acting career was met with resistance from her parents and guardians in the early days, it took the much convincing before her guardian the Late Olayemi Shashegbon (Mrs. Berkeley) finally consented and convinced her parents to accept her career choice.

She met the Late Ojo Ladipo (Baba Mero) while in the School of Drama, upon graduation, they with some others (like Tawa Adamson, mother of the famous fuji musician Pasuma ) started a drama group named “Young Star Concert Party” in 1964. In 1966, they elected the Late Ojo Ladipo as the leader and changed the group name to “Ojo Ladipo Theatre Group”.

Lanre Hassan (Iya Awero)  also faced career resistance from her late husband upon marriage, he was later convinced by Late Diran Ajijedidun (of the NTA) and Bank Olemo.

On the passing of Baba Mero in 1978, the group elected Adebayo Salami commonly referred to as Oga Bello as the group leader, the group also changed the name to Awada Kerikeri Theatre Group. Oga Bello had earlier joined the group in 1964.

The relationship between Lanre Hassan (Iya Awero)  and Adebayo Salami (Oga Bello) was deep as Oga Bello’s mother was Iya Awero’s daughter guardian. Lanre Hassan was often on the road and had to leave her daughter in Oga Bello’s mother’s care.

In 2018, Lanre Hassan featured as “Iya Loja” in the crime blockbuster movie titled “King of Boy”, directed by one of Nigeria’s leading female director Kemi Adetiba.

Some of the movies she took part are:

Ìlù Gángan

Iró Gunfun

Adelebo

Aje Metta

Baba Lukudi

Iyawo Tunde

Igba Ewa

Ìkúnlè Kèsán

Ìrírí Mi

Mama Lanre

Oníbárà

Àtànpàkò òtún

Ejide

Okun Emi

Dokita Alabere

Fadùn Sáyémi

Ire Aye Mi

Eto Ikoko

Idajo Mi Tide

Ishola Oba-orin

Ogo-Nla

Sade Blade

Ògìdán

Ògo Idílé

Okun Ife

Orí

Jawonbe

Ogbologbo

Ojabo Kofo

Pakúté Olórun

Boya Lemo

Back to Africa

Owo Blow: The Genesis

Aso Ásiri

Family on Fire

Omo Elemosho

Ayitale