AND MERRIER THEY SHALL LIVE! AMB. DEMOLA SERIKI GIVES DAUGHTER’S HAND IN MARRIAGE TO MAKINDE ARAOYE; BIGWIGS CELEBRATE THEM
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
L-R: Groom Parent, The Araoye; Chairman of the Occasion/Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; the Couple, Mr and Mrs Araoye; Bride’s Mother, Alhaja Wosilat Seriki; Bride’s Father, Amb Demola Seriki and CEO of Eleganza Group, Chief Dr. Folashade Okoya
Not a large party with a lot of people, it was nevertheless a gathering of the crème de la crème of the society to celebrate the Serikis, the Okoyas, and the Araoyes. The grand reception was simply merrymaking to the peak. It was the grandiose event of the wedding of Alimah Demola-Seriki to her heartthrob, Makinde Araoye.
The Bride, Alimah (now Araoye) is one of the daughters of Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain and former Minister of State for Defence, Amb. Ademola Seriki, and a famous socialite, Wosilat Seriki nee Okoya who is the sister of Billionaire Businessman and Philanthropist, Alhaji Rasaq Okoya. Alimah Demola- Seriki Hails from Lagos State. She works with a leading commercial law firm, Dentons ACAS-Law, Lagos, Nigeria.
The groom, Makinde Araoye, son of Late Emeritus Professor of Medicine, Professor Akinyemi Araoye and Mrs. Olufunmilayo Araoye is the Special Adviser (Federal Matters) to the Governor of Ekiti state, Gov. Kayode Fayemi.
The Couple Dance
The wedding which held last weekend at the Balmoral Convention Center, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos covered by Oki Samson of Trek Africa Newspaper had in attendance Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, and Gov. Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State.
Also in attendance are the Deputy Governor of Lagos, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; the Minister Of Youth & Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare, and Minster Of State For Health, Sen Olorunimbe Mamora.
L-R: Chairman, UBA Plc, Mr Tony Elumelu; Father of the Bride, Amb Demola Seriki; Chairman, Dangote Group, Alh. Aliko Dangote and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo
The Founder, Eleganza Group, Chief Rasak Okoya and his adorable Wife, Chief Dr. Shade Okoya; Chairman/CEO, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Chairman of UBA Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu; Founder Doyin Group, Prince Samuel Adedoyin; Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Mudashiru Obasa; Deputy Speaker of Lagos State, Hon. Wasiu Eshinlokun Sanni; Head of Service to Lagos State Government, Mr Muri Okunola; Sen. Iyiola Omisore; Chief of Staff to Lagos State Governor, Mr. Tayo Ayinde; Prince Segun Oniru; Aare Mutiu; Mr Tayo Ayeni; Chief Mrs. Kofoworola Adebutu, Wife Of Billionaire Magnate, Sir Kesington Adebutu; Billionaire Business Woman, Princess Dr. Folashade Omotade; CEO of Sujimoto Construction, Mr. Sijibomi Ogundele, former Chairman of Lagos Island East LCDA, Hon. Kamal Olawale Salau-Bashua, Hon Sola Giwa led other captains of industry to celebrate with the team.
The diplomatic community was also present as Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to The United Kingdom, Justice Adesola Oguntade and Ghana’s Ambassador to The Kingdom Of Spain, Muhammad Adam were in attendance.
The Araoyes
Other personalities include former Deputy Governor of Lagos State Otunba Femi Pedro; Chairman, Multichoice Nigeria, Mr. Adewunmi Ogunsanya; Sen Musiliu Obanikoro; Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, Executive Director, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mr. Segun Awolowo, Wife of the Honorable Minister of Works and Housing, Dame Abimbola Fashola, Princess Olatorera Majekodunmi-Oniru, Mrs Bukky Olatunji, Presidential Aspirant and Chairman of Ovation Group, Chief Dele Momodu, Chairman of BISCON Communications, Prince Dr. Bisi Olatilo, Ekiti State Governorship Aspirant, Engr. Kayode Olubunmi Ojo, CEO of Saheeto International Ltd, Prince Saheed Kekere-Ekun, Mr Dotun Adebayo among others.
Gaily dressed in grey, the CEO of the Eleganza Group, Chief Dr. Shade Okoya called the shots at the ceremony ensuring that all the personalities were promptly attended to and every detail of the party was in proper place.
The Groom Special adviser on Federal Matters to Ekiti state Governor, Mr Makinde Araoye and wife former Miss Alimah demola Seriki a Lawyer cutting their wedding cake.
The bride’s father, Amb. Demola Seriki was resplendent in his agbada and couldn’t hide his joy as he danced and beamed with smiles throughout the wedding celebration of his daughter. The joy of the bride’s mother was written all over her face as she showed forth her vive and vitality during the dance session with her daughter.
The Chairman of the occasion, the Governor of Lagos state, Gov. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu while extolling the virtues of marriage encouraged the young couple to imbibe patience, tolerance, selflessness, and communication as bedrock for a great marriage.
L-R: Father of the Bride, Amb Demola Seriki; Chairman of the Occasion/Governor, Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Bride, Alimah Araoye and Mother of the Bride, Alhaja Wosilat Seriki
On his part, the Governor of Ekiti State, Gov. Kayode Fayemi praised Makinde Araoye for displaying remarkable character on different fronts. He encouraged him to continue to portray these values which have made him exceptional in politics and governance in his marital life.
In her goodwill speech, the cousin of the Bride, Hadiza Alao -Akala wished the new couple a lifetime of Love and Happiness.
Ibukun Falusi, a friend of the Groom also encouraged them and prayed that their love life will wax stronger even as they age together.
The groom, Makinde Araoye was in jubilant mood as he had his first dance with his beautiful wife, Alimah. He was also full of gratitude to the family, friends, and special guests who trooped out to celebrate the big day with him and his beautiful wife, Alimah.
The day was capped with a wonderful display by the Legendary King of Juju Music, the ageless King Sunny Ade who dished out melodious songs to the dancing steps of everyone in attendance.
L-R: Father of the Bride, Amb. Demola Seriki; Ogun State Governor, Dr Dapo Abiodun; Jigawa State Governor, Alh. Muhammad Badaru; Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Couple Alimah and Makinde; Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki and Kwara State Governor, Alh Abdulrahman Abdulrrazaq.
L-R: Senatorial Aspirant in Ogun Central, Princess Olatorera Majekodunmi-Oniru; A philanthropist Bukky Latunji; Billionaire Business Woman, Princess (Dr) Folasade Omotade; MD/CEO Eleganza Group, Chief (Dr) Mrs. Shade Okoya; Billionaire Daughter Tope Adebutu.
L-R: Mother of the Bride, Alhaja Wosilat Seriki; Wife of the Minister of Works and Housing, Dame Abimbola Fashola and a guest.
L-R: Chairman of the Occasion and Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Bride, Alimah Seriki Araoye; Groom, Mr Makinde Araoye and CEO of Eleganza Industry, Chief Dr. Folashade Okoya
L-R: Former Executive Director, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr Segun Awolowo; Senatorial Aspirant, Princess Olatorera Majekodunmi-Oniru and Chairman/CEO, Skymit Motors Limited, Mr Tayo Ayeni.
Head of Service to Lagos State Government, Mr Muri Okunola (2nd left); the Couple, Alimah and Makinde Araoye
L-R: Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Mudashiru Obasa and Governor, Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun
L-R: Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State; Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; Governor Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa State; Chairman of Dangote Group, Alh Aliko Dangote and Father of the Bride, Amb. Demola Seriki
L-R: Former Executive Director, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr Segun Awolowo; Couple, Mr and Mrs Araoye and Chairman/CEO, Skymit Motors Limited, Mr Tayo Ayeni.
Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo (2nd right); His Son, Mr Dotun Adebayo (left); his Daughter 
Chief Dr. Folashade Okoya and her children
 
L-R: Alh Mutiu Are; Mr Wale Edun; Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Deputy Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Wasiu Eshinlokun Sanni
The Bride, Alimah Araoye with her Parents
R-L: Minister Of Youth & Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare; CEO of Sujimoto Construction, Mr Sijibomi Ogundele(m).
The Bride, Alimah Seriki Araoye with her father, Amb Demola Seriki on the dance floor
L-R: Sen Iyiola Omisore and Gov Dapo Abiodun
L-R: Mr Muri Okunola (left); Wife of the Minister of Works and Housing, Dame Abimbola Fashola (2nd right); Prince Segun Oniru
Chief Dr Folashade Okoya and her Daughter
L-R: CEO of Saheeto International Ltd, Prince Saheed Kekere-Ekun and Wife of the Minister of Works and Housing, Dame Abimbola Fashola
