Adeola Aishat Moshood isn’t the stereotypical society woman. Amiable, down-to-earth and quite industrious, she celebrated her 41st birthday on September 19, 2020 amidst pomp and pageantry. She runs the popular fabric store, Moshade Fabrics and she is into skincare products too. Married to Chief Abiodun Mohammadu Jamiu Moshood, who is the Oluomo Adinni of Ilugun Oke-Ona Egba, he is also a businessman with interest that spans oil and gas and real estate, he runs the Turaki Garden City in Warewa which is situated along the Lagos Ibadan Expressway. This couple is an example in humility. Their undying love for each other cannot be contested. In this special edition, they both speak to Owambevibes on their union and other sundry issues
Owambevibes: Celebrating your 41st birthday must really mean a lot to you considering how you feted guests at your 40th birthday party in 2019.
Aishat: Just looking back, I believe celebrating birthdays is an opportunity to thank God. Life has treated me well and Alihamdulilahi, God has been good to me. Everybody in life has their ups, downs, pains, and time to laugh, cry, and rejoice. But above all, we thank God.
Owambevibes: In your life’s journey what would you say are lessons learnt as you grew older?
Aishat: In life, fate will always come to play and no matter how you run, if God isn’t available, you will run in futility. I remember vividly my experience when I was searching for a child. I wanted to be pregnant and have children of mine but I didn’t become a mum until 11 years after. Waiting period is a very terrible time. Most waiting mums are not happy even though some look happy.
This is something you have longed for and even labored for, yet no result. I did explore a lot of medical means. In 2010, a fertility expert in West end, London told me that I shouldn’t bother about having kids because if he over-stimulates my ovaries, I could lose my life. Looking for a child is a very desperate time and you believe anybody. At a point, I decided not been desperate again and I handed over to God. In that period I wasted all that I have ever worked for in my search for a child. I then learnt that it’s only God that gives children without stress.
Owambevibes: What will be your advice to women who are experiencing infertility now?
Aishat: I always advise women who are looking up to God for kids that they should keep away from spiritual clerics— Pastors and Alfas. They should also not patronize herbalists. Not that there are no genuine ones among them but majority are scammers especially to women who are childless and frantically looking for the fruits of the womb. I believe a woman should go for comprehensive medical check-up and you will discover what is wrong. After seeking medical help, pray on your own, pray to God and await his answer. Now God has given wisdom to medical technology—surrogacy, adoption, Invitro Fertilization.
My experience was not pleasant and I sought medical help. At a point my doctor in England told me to stop trying because I wanted to have a surgery which he advised against—it could take my life. So, I gave up and believed God for the best.
Owambevibes: So, when you eventually had a baby in 2016, after a long search, what was the feeling like?
Not even the day I held my baby. I think the excitement started when I discovered that I was pregnant. Every week, I was doing scan. If I didn’t feel any movement in my body, I would run to my gynecologist. I was so excited. I have cousins, who got married after me, who are my younger ones who had babies and I would be like, ‘God, what have I done wrong?’ After I had my firstborn, a girl, some didn’t believe and some family members said that I adopted the baby. But God shocked everybody. After my firstborn in 2016, I got pregnant gain and had my second in 2017. God gave me enough proof to say He is faithful.
Owambevibes: How was growing up like?
Aishat: I was born 41 years ago and I am from Ilesha, Osun State. I grew up with my mum but I was born into a polygamous. My mum, who is late now, was the second of five wives and we were over 20 kids.
Owambevibes: At a point you were living abroad, why did you leave for Nigeria?
Aishat: I left when I just got tired of England. There is no place like home. My immediate elder sister was worried when I was about to leave but I made her understand I knew what I was doing. I returned to Nigeria in 2012. Now, I can’t live abroad again, even while on vacation, I don’t exceed two weeks.
Owambevibes: Marriage seems to have struck the right chord in your life…How has it been married to a man like your husband?
Aishat: My husband would always say ours is ordained from heaven. My marriage was the best thing that happened to me. It wiped away my tears. It brought joy. Alhamdulillah, the union has always brought me joy.
My husband is concerned everything about me including my businesses. He is a man that has a good relationship with God. He is a God-fearing man who understands God’s precepts about his religion. I have married my friend and till date, I have no regrets being married to him. We have not had issues of infidelity, adultery etc.
Owambevibes: Do we say you were lucky to have met him?
Aishat: Yes, I would not erase luck but women need to be humble and submissive. I have observed that once women have started making money, we hardly listen to our husbands again, neither are we submissive. I am ‘local’ in my reasoning when it comes to marriage. I have always seen the husband as the head of the home and he should be respected in all areas.
Owambevibes: So what would you give as panacea for a healthy marriage?
Aishat: There are no hard and fast rules about having a healthy marriage. First, I believe keeping too many friends isn’t healthy for any marriage. My husband doesn’t have friends. I don’t have too—we are each other’s friend. Whenever there is any event, we pack ourselves including the children and if it’s compulsory, we take two vehicles with nannies who would attend to the children. We hardly spend an hour at any event. He doesn’t like parties despite being an Egba man.
Then a couple should be on the same page on all issues. During the time of my waiting, my husband stood by me. We were on same page and he kept praying. I believe the waiting period is not a time to be fighting. No. Pray together and attend clinics together if the need arises.
Chief Moshood: Before we got married, I consulted with an 85-year-old man who is my mentor, and asked him what the secret of his wealth is. He is such a wealthy man white man. He answered me, “Biodun marry one wife. With one wife, you have one mind but many women will bring you too many minds.’ I always tell my wife that we are twins from heaven. My wife is one woman doing the jobs of four wives. She is humble too and I always pray to God that I would not marry any woman again. She is enough for me.
As she said earlier, I don’t have friends, I don’t smoke, drink, or womanise. I follow the rules of the Quran. When a couple does such, the marriage will last long and they will be happy.
Owambevibes: What will be your advice to women generally?
Chief Moshood: Women, try to be humble. Since my wife and I met, she has never called me by name. I read in the Quran that when a woman treats a man badly, God would visit the sin upon her children. A woman who doesn’t have a good character incurs wrath from Allah on her children. An obedient woman gives birth to good children. She is a good woman and if I say No, it remains No with her. She gives me peace of mind and I appreciate her. Even if the husband is bad, a woman with good character will win him over. I love my wife and I want her to be as wealthy as I am. I am a selfless person and I don’t do things for people to praise me.
Owambevibes: you converted her to Islam?
Chief Moshood: I met her as a Christian and I told her I would not want a woman with another religion to be mine and raise my kids. She agreed and when she saw how I behaved, she became a convert.
Owambevibes: Madam, what made you delve into skincare despite your booming fabric business?
Aishat: My husband and I Iove good complexion. In 2019, we were looking for good body cream and we patronized a dermatologist. The products given us had adverse effects on our skin and we had to stop using the products. My husband is so particular about his skin. We approached another skincare expert but didn’t get any positive results. Whenever I apply chemicalised products I react. Therefore, I started an online class on skincare and since March 2019, I have been into organic skincare products. That’s what we use in my family—husband and children. I don’t produce bleaching products. The dangers of bleaching are far more than you know. I tell my customers that I don’t have bleaching products. The Moshade skincare range is one of the best for African skins.
Owambevibes: What will be your take on Nigerian women and fashion?
Aishat:I sell and I can attest that Nigerian women are great buyers. But I am not as fashionable as buying expensive fabrics of N500, 000. My fashion is with sense. I love HoH fabrics but I cannot buy it. I’d rather buy gold with such an amount and resell at a better price. I sell lace fabrics but I cannot sell fabrics of N150K in my shop because I cannot wear such.
Imagine buying gold jewellery when it was N13, 000 per gram and now that it’s almost 30,000 per gram. If you sell, imagine how much you are making. I believe women should invest in reasonable ventures and not just wasting money on fashion.
Really, I am not against women wearing expensive fabrics. There are some women who have worked hard and want to treat themselves well. They buy such fabrics but some women who are still hustling but wanting to belong to a certain class would go borrowing to look good.
But I feel its high time women bought lands, gold bars or jewellery. Those are investments that would yield returns in future. They are invaluable. When you trade in gold, you cannot be put to shame. Some women who are aspirational and want to belong to a certain class would trouble their husbands and even accuse him of not buying Saco shoes/bags. I don’t really care about fashion. I dress to be comfortable and I am not a trendy dresser. I dress according to my mood.
Aishat: I started business 2003 when I was in South Korea. There, I worked in some lace factories and that was how I knew much about laces. Even when I was in London, I was supplying geles to some companies in Austria who would later put their logo and resell at higher prices. By 2006, I started selling online via Face book..
Owambevibes: What are your dreams?
Aishat: I feel much fulfilled and thank God for that. I don’t have any dreams at the moment. I am over-fulfilled and I just need to pray and move closer to God.
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