Opral Benson: The Vanishing, Return of Iya Oge of Lagos

At 90, Chief (Mrs.) Opral Benson, famously known as Iya Oge of Lagos, still possesses all the trappings of fame and the gait of a celebrity. Top-of-the-class, elegant and ageing gracefully, Benson is one woman who has defined herself over the years through sheer dint of hard work and a tenacity of purpose. In all of these, her antecedents speak loudly for her.

The chieftaincy title of Iya Oge was bestowed on her by the late 0ba Oyekan of Lagos in 1973. Ever since, she has remained the epitome of African beauty and engaging intellect. This, no doubt, always gave her the greatest joy.

For her uncommon flair for beauty, the woman of substance, who was married to the late politician, TOS Benson, opened the prestigious Opral Benson Beauty Training Institute (OBTI) in Lagos, with the sole purpose of training hairdressers, beauty therapists and cosmetologists, as well as sharing her beauty knowledge with the youths.

This respectable nonagenarian has lived her life in absolute dedication to her first love: fashion, style and beauty therapy. Her immense contribution to the industry has been phenomenal and is well-documented.

Little wonder many were scared stiff when the story of her disappearance from home hit the street last Sunday. Her family stated that she went missing on January 11, 2026. It was further stated that she left home unannounced and her whereabout was unknown.

The news sent a cold chill down the spines of many Nigerians, her fans and the global fashion industry because of her contribution to the fashion world.

Surprisingly, a twist was introduced into the story when another news broke that she was in Monrovia, Liberia, her country of birth.

With this good news, her numerous fans have heaved a huge sigh of relief and given a new reason to rejoice.