CELEBRATING SOCIETY MATRIARCH AND BOADROOM AMAZON, NIKE AKANDE AT 70 - A PICTORIAL TOUR (PART 1)

Onikepo Akande, CON

Two-time minister and boardroom guru, Chief (Mrs.) Nike Akande (CON) is one society woman who seems to get better with age. Like the fabled phoenix, she appears more regal and charming just when you think you have seen the best of her. Little wonder the high society can hardly wait to celebrate with her as she marks her 70th birthday this Saturday, November 1, at Eko Hotels& Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Information gathered from the home front of the Akandes indicates that she is set to celebrate her 70th birthday with pomp and ceremony. Her husband and Eketa Olubadan of Ibadanland, Chief (Dr) Adebayo Akande (MFR), is pulling all the stops to celebrate his graceful wife. The  invitation letter is exquisite in quality.
Every step of the preparation appears to indicate that the celebration would be her classiest shindig so far. Major fashion designers around the Lagos metropolis are said to have been very busy on account of the impending ceremony.

The ELITES takes you inside the amazing world of this woman of substance, via a pictorial tour.

The society matriarch and style maven

Nike Akande and her mother, Mrs. Jadesola Adisa

Her grandmother, late Iyaafin Janet Alatede Aboderin

Her mother, late Mrs. Jadesola Adisa

Her father, late Mr. Alfred Adisa

Nike Akande's late uncle, the Founding Chairman of Punch newspapers, Chief Olu Aboderin and her mother, Mrs. Jadesola Adisa

Nike Akande, her sisters and her first cousins with her maternal grandmother, Iyaafin Janet Alatede Aboderin

Nike Akande, her maternal uncle, Chief Moyosore Aboderin and her first cousin, Lola Aboderin

Nike Akande during her maternal grandmother's burial in 1970

Nike Akande during her cousin, Gbeminiyi Smith's wedding in 1974

Nike and her husband, Chief Bayo Akande

Nike Akande at 50 with her husband

With her younger sister, Laide Alatishe

With her daughter, Mrs. Tinuke Adetunji (nee Akande)

Nike and Bayo Akande with daughter, Bisi

With uncle, Professor Bashiru Akande during her 40th birthday

With her uncle, Chief Ajibola Ogunsola, former Chairman of Punch Newspapers

With her sisters and first cousins

With first cousin, Lola Aboderin

With her first cousin, Gbeminiyi Smith and her husband, Engineer Kehinde Smith

With her cousin, Foluke Aboderin

With her cousin, Yetunde Ogunsola

With her cousin, Wole Aboderin

With her husband, uncle, Chief Lekan Are and his wife

With Iyabo Kuye, Bolaji Aboderin and Angela Emuwa, her cousin

With her cousin, Wunmi Obe

With her uncle's wife, Iyabo Ogunsola

With her husband and cousin, Gbeminiyi Smith

With her husband and Chief MKO Abiola during daughter, Tinuke's wedding

With her husband and the Olubadan of Ibadan

With her best friend of many years, Otunba Laitan Adebanjo

With old students of Queens School, Ede

With classmates at Queens School, Ede (1958-1962)

With friends- Laitan Adebanjo, Bukky Ajomo and Funmi Yakubu

With friends- Bukky Ajomo and Kemi Davies

With sisters- Laide Alatise, Olori Mojisola Abass and Mercy Yesufu

On cruise on Queen Elizabeth 11 in 1981 with husband

With husband on holiday in Singapore

With husband on cruise on Queen Elizabeth 11 in 1981

With her children, grandchildren and cousin during her 50th birthday in 1994

With Chief Ayo Adebanjo during her husband's 70th birthday in 2009

With husband, children and Chief Kola Daisi

With her cousin, Wunmi Obe and her husband, Tunde Obe

With her husband at a dinner

The elegant style mazen

In her favourite colour- Orange