By Kammonke Abam & Tammie Edet Kammonke

She is in a class of her own. She’s incredibly endowed with unusual creative abilities. She’s a suave businesswoman and fashion icon, described by her admirers as one of Nigeria’s quintessential style-makers. Today, January 3, she turns 60.

To those who know her closely, Obioma Liyel Imoke, daughter of Zion, wife, mother, entrepreneur, political activist, is simply phenomenal. She has achieved unprecedented success in business, public life, and personal endeavours.

Lurked in her is undiscovered transformational leadership endowment. She possesses administrative acumen and action-performance grace that makes her effortlessly transform any space she finds herself in. She is a leader who has mastered the art of multitasking.

Although married to the equally classy Liyel Imoke, a nationally known political brand, she has carved a niche for herself as a hugely successful entrepreneur. She’s known by the strides she has made in life. She is credited with owning the first indigenous discount supermarket in Nigeria, Value Mart Supermarket, in Lagos, a business she opened in the early 90s. Value Mart soon became a family supermarket which catered to the day-to-day needs of families resident in the Victoria Island area of Lagos. A power couple, both Mrs. Imoke and her husband, ran the shop as a family business.

The passion and efforts they put into the business soon translated into good returns on their investment….