By Tadeniawo Collins
Respected actress and broadcaster, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett (OON) is 74years old today, February 3, 2015. And to mark the celebration of the accomplished thespian’s 74th birthday, congratulatory messages flooded her Facebook account from across the world.
Born in 1941 in Lagos, Taiwo was honoured with an OON (Officer of the Order of the Niger) in 2006 by then President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, during the country’s 47th Independence Day Anniversary.
She was, also honoured in the same year, with a Heritage & Honours Award of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, for her services to the profession of advertising in Nigeria, and as a former Executive Member of the Association.
Mama, as she is also fondly referred to by younger actors whom she mixes with very well, is also a Fellow of the Society of Nigerian Theatre Artists (SONTA). For her meritorious service to the cause of Creative Arts, Education, Business and Community Development, Taiwo has received several other awards including the ‘Outstanding Role & Enviable Accomplishment Award‘ in 1997 (Neimeth/Pfizer-CKC Partners); the ‘REELS Merit Award‘ (the Academy of Creative Arts in Nigeria) in 1999; the ‘Amazon Award – for Outstanding Contributions to Nation Building’ in 2002; ‘Award for Service as a Mentor in the FATE Programme for Aspiring Entrepreneurs‘ in 2001; the Lagos State Government’s ‘Merit Award and several others.
