An Educationist, Entrepreneur and a philanthropist, Yeye (Dr) Afolashade Shona-Aluko has urged women in the society to remain focused, hardworking and confident as they have to work twice as hard as men to succeed in life.
Yeye Shona-Aluko, who shared her experience in life as someone who moved from grass to grace through the help of God and hardwork with resilience, maintained that she did not after throne, but that throne found her through hardworking.
The Chief Executive Officer, CEO, DLA Children playground Equipment and Toys Ltd said, her commitment to Education made it easier for her to venture into supplying of playground equipment across the Federation for the past 15 years
Because of her integrity, and unblemished reputation, she has partnered Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC and many State Universal Basic Education Boards, SUBEBs to supply education equipment and materials to schools to aid teaching and learning across the Country.
Yeye shona Aluko, a philanthropist has also been using her God-given resources to support women, Youth, children, Persons With Disabilities to make life more bearable for them.
Her immense contributions to children’s education made Ikeja Junior and Senior Secondary Schools to honour her with an Award, as she is even paying salaries of the Teachers handling children with Special Needs.
The Yeye Bobajiro Oodua has empowered many women and youth through vocational trainings such as tailorings, baking, hairdressing and many other skills with a view to making the beneficiaries self reliant.
Born in Kaduna over 50 years, Yeye Afolashade Shona Aluko chooses discipline and determination as steps into greatness. She attended Queen Elizabeth School, Ilorin, Kwara State, she thereafter proceeded to the Federal College of Education, Kabuga, Kano State.
Her pursuit of education was not without hitches, but resilience and perseverance paved ways for her academic success. In furtherance of acquiring more knowledge, she proceeded to Ogun State University, OSU, Ago Iwoye, now Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU, where she earned a degree in Education Management.
Yeye Shona-Aluko began her career as Classroom Teacher, where she developed a reputation for discipline and commitment to her students, some of whom are doing excellently well in their various professions.
Over the years, Yèyé Shona Aluko’s contributions to education, entrepreneurship and humanitarian service have earned her numerous awards, honour, recognitions and Chieftaincy Title from the Throne of the Revered Monarch, The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.
Yeye Dr Afolashade Shona-Aluko was installed as the Yeye Bobajiro Oodua in October 2025 by the Ooni of Ifè with dignitaries across the globe in attendance. Ife, Osun State was agog on the Installation Day, with an economy boost.
Other recognitions include, Philanthropist of the Year, 2024, from the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ FRCN Ibadan Chapel, Oyo State, 2023 Sterling Award from the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria; CRAN, Lagos State Ministry of Education Award for contributions to Special Education; Ikeja High School Leadership Award for dedication to teachers and students; and Oodua Special Recognition Award OSRA 2024.
Others are the Golden Star Award for Empowerment and Community Development from Security Watch Africa in
Doha, Qatar; and Award of Excellence on Human Development and Social Services from the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers.
In 2025, Yeye Shona-Aluko bagged Honorary Doctorate Degrees from European American University and Kingdom Life University, Florida. A Fellow of the Institute of Purchasing and Marketing Consultant.
She is the National Matron, Association of Female Artisans, Nigeria, AOFAW, with membership strength across all the States of the Federation.
In recognition of her contributions to the Society and Human Development, she has received an invitation as Special Guest of Honour to the Pan-Afrikan Drum Festival in Canada in July 2026 while in June this year, she is selected to receive the Silent Hero in Philanthropy Award.
