It was a homecoming of sorts for Chief (Mrs.) Tawa Sharafadeen Alli, Aare Egbe Omo Iyalode of Ibadanland, as she returned to Agbaje Market in Ibadan on Thursday, October 1, 2026, reconnecting with market men and women she described as her people.
Tawa Alli, wife of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, used the visit to familiarise herself with members of the Agbaje Market Men and Women Association, listen to their concerns and seek their support for her husband ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Her appearance generated a warm reception among the traders, with the atmosphere reflecting a personal connection that went beyond politics.
Her appearance generated a warm reception among the traders, with the atmosphere reflecting a personal connection that went beyond politics.
Having previously operated as a businesswoman in the market, Tawa was received as someone returning to a familiar environment rather than a visitor encountering the traders for the first time.
Addressing the gathering in Yoruba, she expressed appreciation for the welcome, describing the occasion as both a great honour and a deeply meaningful moment for her and her family.
She particularly commended the women in the market for their daily sacrifices, noting that their activities go beyond trading to supporting families, raising children, sustaining businesses and contributing to the development of their communities.
“Jije onisowo kii se ojuse ti o rorun. O nilo agbara, igboya, suuru ati ipinnu lati ma se juwo sile,” she said, stressing that being a trader requires strength, courage, patience and determination.
Tawa also acknowledged the multiple responsibilities carried by market women, describing them as mothers, fathers, traders, community leaders and, in many instances, the pillars of their families.
Against the backdrop of the 2027 election, she told the traders that their voices and concerns mattered, saying her engagement was partly aimed at understanding the challenges confronting them and the kind of support they require to expand their businesses and improve their livelihoods.
She subsequently appealed for their support for Senator Alli, who is seeking to become the next governor of Oyo State on the APC platform.
According to her, her husband’s proposed priorities include affordable loan schemes, improved security, infrastructure development in markets and surrounding communities, as well as financial assistance for small scale businesses if elected governor.
Tawa urged the traders to work together and participate actively in the 2027 electoral process, while making a direct appeal for their support for the APC candidate.
She also used the occasion to emphasise the importance of unity among traders, particularly women, saying collective strength could create opportunities for more people to succeed.
“When a woman or trader succeeds, let her success open the door for another person to succeed,” she told the gathering.
Beyond seeking electoral support, Tawa encouraged the market association to continue speaking about its challenges, opportunities and needs, assuring them that such feedback was important in shaping conversations around policies that could make their businesses and everyday lives easier.
She described women and hardworking traders as indispensable to the building of strong communities, invoking the popular Yoruba saying, “Obinrin ni wura ile” — women are the gold of the home.
Tawa’s Agbaje Market visit also reinforced the community dimension of her ongoing grassroots engagements as the 2027 political season gathers momentum.
For the traders, however, Thursday’s encounter carried a distinctly personal touch, with Tawa reconnecting with a market where she once participated directly in business before her public profile expanded.
She ended her address with prayers for the traders and their families, asking for divine blessings upon their businesses, children and communities.
The visit adds another grassroots engagement to Tawa Alli’s public activities as she continues to interact with different groups ahead of the 2027 Oyo governorship contest.
Addressing the gathering in Yoruba, she expressed appreciation for the welcome, describing the occasion as both a great honour and a deeply meaningful moment for her and her family.
“Jije onisowo kii se ojuse ti o rorun. O nilo agbara, igboya, suuru ati ipinnu lati ma se juwo sile,” she said, stressing that being a trader requires strength, courage, patience and determination.
Tawa also acknowledged the multiple responsibilities carried by market women, describing them as mothers, fathers, traders, community leaders and, in many instances, the pillars of their families.
Against the backdrop of the 2027 election, she told the traders that their voices and concerns mattered, saying her engagement was partly aimed at understanding the challenges confronting them and the kind of support they require to expand their businesses and improve their livelihoods.
According to her, her husband’s proposed priorities include affordable loan schemes, improved security, infrastructure development in markets and surrounding communities, as well as financial assistance for small scale businesses if elected governor.
Tawa urged the traders to work together and participate actively in the 2027 electoral process, while making a direct appeal for their support for the APC candidate.
She also used the occasion to emphasise the importance of unity among traders, particularly women, saying collective strength could create opportunities for more people to succeed.
“When a woman or trader succeeds, let her success open the door for another person to succeed,” she told the gathering.
She described women and hardworking traders as indispensable to the building of strong communities, invoking the popular Yoruba saying, “Obinrin ni wura ile” — women are the gold of the home.
For the traders, however, Thursday’s encounter carried a distinctly personal touch, with Tawa reconnecting with a market where she once participated directly in business before her public profile expanded.
She ended her address with prayers for the traders and their families, asking for divine blessings upon their businesses, children and communities.
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