This interview with 90-year-old Mrs. Yetunde Sampson offers a compelling glimpse into her extraordinary journey, blending personal history, career highlights, and valuable life lessons. Born in Enugu and later moving to Lagos, she experienced a rich multicultural upbringing, learning Igbo as her first language and growing up in a multilingual household with Efik and Yoruba influences.

Her educational journey took her to the UK, where she pursued Secretarial Studies and became actively involved in the West African Students’ Union. Despite financial challenges, she persevered, gaining resilience and resourcefulness. Upon her return, Mrs. Sampson built an impressive career, working at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), where she eventually became the Chief Executive Officer of Protocol and Hospitality. This position allowed her to manage high-profile events and dignitaries, including overseeing major university ceremonies.

Mrs. Sampson also reflected on the significance of her 1981 title, ‘Erewa Olokun of Ife,’ given by Oba Okunade Sijuwade, acknowledging the bond she formed between traditional institutions and academia. She shared challenges faced in her career and the joy of successfully coordinating large-scale events.

In her personal life, she discussed meeting her husband in the UK, the challenges of living in Ghana as a non-Ghanaian wife, and her later relationships that enriched her family. Balancing her career and motherhood, she provided a nurturing environment for her children and stressed the importance of maintaining a balance between career and family—a piece of advice she offered to younger generations of women today.

Mrs. Sampson’s reflections on Nigeria’s development post-independence highlight the inflation and economic instability affecting daily life, while her advice to young women emphasizes hard work, perseverance, and a balanced approach to career and family.

Now retired, she enjoys the joy of family life, celebrating her 90th birthday surrounded by children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. For Mrs. Sampson, reaching this milestone is a time for gratitude and reflection on a life well-lived.