Earlier this month, Diekola Ossai, CEO of Cedarwood Rentals, the biggest marque in Lagos, died after giving birth to her first child in the US. She was aged 44.
Dikeola Ossai’s death didn’t only shatter those who are close to her, many who also know her story haven’t stopped crying since she died a few days ago.
The beautiful Kwara State-born businesswoman who is the 2nd daughter of former Kwara State Governor, Cornelius Oluwasegun Adebayo has been married for over 10 years without a child.
Those who know revealed to Abiola Orisile that she tried many IVFs, which failed before she tried the last one at a popular Lagos Hospital and it was a success.
Many of her close friends who she told were happy and full of joy and expecting the arrival of the baby until the news of her death broke.
She was said to have gone abroad before Covid-19 but was stuck abroad due to the pandemic.
She was hale and hearty until her time was right to deliver and she went to a renowned hospital in Virginia, United State. She was said to have given birth to a bouncing baby boy before she died.
The news which first broke on Thursday was kept under wraps until some of her friends posted her picture on their social media handle asking why she had to take a bow after giving birth.
Mrs. Diekola is survived by her husband and friend of many years and her 5 sibblings, Bukola Ajayi, Mosunmola Jegede, Abimbola Dayo Adewoye, Ayobola Toyosi Thomas.
Her presence will also be greatly missed by many of Nigeria’s top event planners and decorators.
Many of them like Zaphaire Event, Funke Bucknor, Banke Meshida of Bmpro couldn’t help but speak so glowingly of her in their posts on their Instagram page.
The boss of Cedarwood Group, Diekola is also the brain behind D Venue Event Centre in Lagos and Abuja. If not for her death, she would have opened 2 big Marquee Event Centres in Lagos. Many haven’t stopped admiring her new marquee at Surulere.
Cedarwood boss is the first importer of Chiavari Chairs in Nigeria. Though young, she is a philanthropist per excellence and a great Christian and a passionate businesswoman. She is also the brain behind the Cedarwood Foundation, which helps to assist with the education of the less privileged.
Despite being so generous, she didn’t like to blow her trumpet.
Late Diekola spent all her growing up years in Ilorin, Kwara State. Her primary, secondary and tertiary institution was in Ilorin. She graduated with a degree in Law (BL). She then went to Abuja Campus of Nigeria Law School.
She later went to Howard University, School of Law, Washington DC, USA for her LLM (Master in Law). She worked as an In-House Lawyer at the Otunba Michael Agbolade Adenuga’s Globacom in 2004 and later moved to Conoil Producing, still owned by same billionaire, also as an in house lawyer.
She later left there to start Cedarwood and built an enviable brand.
Her burial service held today in Lagos.
Source: Tireni Adebayo