Diamonds are their best friends

It is an exclusive preserve of the wealthy. Diamonds are the most coveted gemstones; they cannot be easily accessed by every woman. Always referred to as a ‘girl’s best friend’, these timelessly fashionable women adorn top grade gemstones, which are encrusted on precious metals

Erelu Ojuolape Ojora

Petite and urbane in her fashion, the wife of multi-billionaire businessman, Otunba Adekunle Ojora, is a show-stopper anyday. A lover of French lace which she usually sews into long flowing gowns, she is said to be one of the most treasured clients of De Beers Diamonds. This is aside other notable designers’ names she adorns.

Aristocratic in all sense, Ojora, who is the mother of former Kwara First Lady, Toyin Saraki, has been confirmed to be the number one society matriarch who beats others to the use of exquisite diamonds. In her late 70s, Ojora’s diamonds come with the most formidable cut, colour, clarity, carat and they are internally flawless (IF). She also adorns flawless (FL) pieces which are intricately woven in layers of troy ounces of precious metals. Reputed for exotic coral, which she strings with multiple embellishments of pure diamonds, her collection is on an unprecedented scale.

 Daisy Danjuma

You can never mention Daisy without the prefix- diamonds. She loves and collects them! Elegant and beautiful, she loves dainty pieces and is not a complex dresser. Her style is simplicity at its best. From emerald to tiger’s eye, topaz, and opal, her acquisition is unequalled. Married to former Minister of Defence, Lt. General Theophilus Danjuma, the fair-complexioned Edo-born beauty is not a pushover as she ranks very high in the social circuit.

A former Senator, she currently serves as a delegate at the National Conference in Abuja. Danjuma, who is in her 60s, possesses a rich history of wearing top of the range accessories, especially diamonds. Though a collector of De Beers diamonds, she is on the clientele of renowned diamond designers, including Mikimoto Pearls.

 Folorunsho Alakija

Folorunsho Alakija was in 2012 listed by Forbes as the richest woman in Africa. Then, her estimated net worth was between $600 million and $3.2 billion. Trained as a secretary, the business tycoon is the Group Managing Director, Rose of Sharon Group and the executive vice chairman, Famfa Oil Limited.

A former president of Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria, Alakija, who is in her 60s, is stylish and spares no cost to ensure she ranks very high in that department. She is also a jewellery connoisseur and loves to wear eye-popping diamonds, mostly encrusted on platinum 950T.

 Bola Shagaya

She is a good friend of Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. Also a member of the Order of the Niger, she hails from Ilorin, Kwara State. Born in 1959, Shagaya’s business empire spans oil, finance and photography. Blessed with youthful looks, she is a fashion enthusiast who elegantly steps out in not only exotic attire but also cannot do without flawless diamonds. With big names in the diamond world in her collection, she wears the most flawless of emerald diamonds which run into multi-million dollars.

 Nike Akande

Married to Chief Debo Akande, she will be clocking 70 later in the year. Chief Nike Akande is one stylish, woman who seems to always have the perfect outfit for every occasion. Twice, she was a Minister but she succeeds in delivering a knockout effect anytime she appears in public, either in formal or traditional attire.

Maybe what most society personalities would always remember after any high-octane event she attended is her taste for exotic jewellery especially diamonds. For one who often visits fashion capital cities such as Paris, Milan, London, it is not strange that the Ibadan-born businesswoman flaunts flawless (FL) diamonds.

 Florence Ita-Giwa

She is one of the fashion icons in the country. Despite her age (68), she knows what to wear to stand out. A lover of classy pieces, she cannot be ignored in the league of diamond aficionados. Her designs are very intricate— agate, ruby, sapphire fancy, Rose de France Amethyst, Mandarin Citrine, jasper, kunzite and Mikimoto Pearls. Senator Ita-Giwa, who wears Rolex wrist watch on a daily basis, would tell you she cannot put a price tag on what makes her look good.

 Fifi Ejindu

An architect by training, Cross River State-born Fifi Ejindu is one of the diamond queens in high society. The CEO of Starcrest Group of Companies, which is involved in real estate, building construction and project management, oil and gas, is married to Amaechi Ejindu. Of royal extraction, light-skinned and very beautiful Fifi has a rich wardrobe of clothes and accessories that stand her out at functions. Her appearance causes a stir what with her diamonds which are a rare display of the best of colour, cut, clarity and carat weight.

 Dame Patience Jonathan

Forget whatever fashion pundits say of Nigeria’s First Lady, she is a bona fide member of the league of diamond collectors. Her dainty designs cannot be ignored either. Married to President Goodluck Jonathan, the position she occupies attracts praises or criticism to her wardrobe but she has succeeded in dressing age-appropriate. With a love for traditional blouse, wrapper and sometimes blouse/long skirt, her diamond accessories are eye-popping. With a good sense of taste for choice French lace, she upped her style ante when she diverted to diamonds and other precious stones.