A significant milestone in women empowerment and entrepreneurship was recorded in Ile-Ife on Thursday as Her Royal Majesty, Olori Aderonke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, Global Ambassador of the Queen Moremi Ajasoro Initiative, officially inaugurated the Queen Moremi Ajasoro Concept Store, a new platform designed to empower women through skills acquisition, enterprise development and access to markets.
The Concept Store, located at Ojaja More, Ile-Ife, is the latest initiative inspired by the enduring legacy of Queen Moremi Ajasoro, the legendary Yoruba heroine celebrated for her courage, sacrifice and leadership. The project seeks to translate those values into sustainable economic opportunities for women, particularly young entrepreneurs.
The launch attracted royal dignitaries, stakeholders, entrepreneurs, community leaders and guests who gathered to witness the unveiling of what organisers described as a transformative platform for creativity, innovation and indigenous enterprise.
Speaking at the event, Olori Aderonke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi said the initiative is intended to create lasting economic opportunities for women while preserving and promoting Yoruba cultural heritage through entrepreneurship.
According to her, the programme will commence in Ile-Ife with a special focus on carefully selected female student entrepreneurs of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who will benefit from mentorship, business development support, skills acquisition and opportunities to showcase and commercialise their products.
She explained that the long-term vision is to expand the initiative beyond Ile-Ife to other states across South-West Nigeria, creating a wider network of empowered female entrepreneurs capable of building sustainable businesses and creating employment.
“Our goal is not just to open a store but to build a platform that nurtures dreams, supports innovation and equips women with the resources and opportunities they need to succeed. We are starting from Ile-Ife because this is the Source, but our vision extends across Yorubaland,” she said.
The Olori noted that the initiative reflects the timeless values represented by Queen Moremi Ajasoro—service, courage, resilience and sacrifice—and aims to inspire a new generation of women leaders through enterprise and innovation.
The initiative enjoys the support of His Imperial Majesty, Arole Oduduwa, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, whose reign has continued to place significant emphasis on youth development, women empowerment, cultural preservation and economic advancement.
The Ooni has consistently advocated the use of culture as a catalyst for development, encouraging initiatives that preserve Yoruba heritage while creating opportunities for economic growth and self-reliance.
The newly inaugurated Concept Store brings together a wide range of locally produced items including Adire, fashion products, footwear, beauty products, crochet, accessories and other creative works produced by women entrepreneurs. Beyond functioning as a retail outlet, it is expected to serve as a hub for mentorship, networking, product development and business incubation.
Observers say the initiative has the potential to become a model for community-driven entrepreneurship by connecting culture with commerce while giving emerging women-owned businesses greater visibility and access to markets.
With the official launch now completed, organisers expressed optimism that the Queen Moremi Ajasoro Initiative will continue to grow into a regional platform that empowers women, promotes indigenous industries and strengthens the creative economy across South-West Nigeria.
Ifecityblog gathered that the launch represents another step in the royal family’s broader commitment to investing in people, preserving Yoruba cultural values and creating opportunities capable of transforming lives through enterprise.
