Born Efunporoye Osuntinubu Olumosa around 1805 in Ojokodo, Egbaland — Her mother’s name was Njieddee. After her first husband died, leaving her with two sons, she took to business and succeeded before marrying Prince Adele Ajosun In 1833, which resulted in her moving to Agbadarigi (Badagry), Lagos amid claims that she seduces men with charms.
Sadly, she lost two sons to malaria while in Badagry — a famed slave port in Nigeria that transported over 550,000 slaves across the Atlantic. While her husband returned home in 1835, she stayed back and prospered through her newfound status.
By this time, she dealt in arms, ammunition, tobacco, salt and most importantly, she became a slave trader. After Oba Ajose died, she used her influence to install Oluwole , the Prince as King, despite the circumstances and married her husband’s military strategist, Yesufu Bada .

Slave Trade
By this time, Pulse reports that her, “ continued to grow her business and created a monopoly in the palm oil business and in slave trade well. The ammunition she got from selling slaves were used in the Yoruba wars of 1840s and 1850s. Her business acumen in this area made her very rich and powerful. ”
Just as this was happening, she established Palm Wine trading routes with Brazil , Portugal and Europe which opened trading opportunities with the British for slaves. Reports however exists that she couldn't distinguish between Nigerian and foreign slaves.
Upon the sudden death of her son, Oluwole, she again made her brother-in-law, Akintoye to become King of Lagos to whom she became the close ally. Akintoye in turn rewarded her with an incredible status in real estate and influence for her business.
She however contacted trouble when she wanted to stop slave trade after she learned of their torture and sufferings aboard slave ships and in plantations.

Exile and Slavery Abolition
In May, 1856, she challenged the power of British Consul, Benjamin Campbell while rooting against the British government and their rule. He retaliated by confronting her with gunboats to exile her from Lagos.
Of her later years, she “moved to Abeokuta where she traded in firearms and gunpowder being a major supplier during the war against Dahomey. Through her political influence and power, Madam Efunroye was able to get many traditional rulers including Oba Akintoye to sign documents that ended Africans selling other Africans to the Europeans .”
She later also flourished in her coconut oil business, as news of her witchcraft spread far and wide. However, she was named ‘Iyalode of Lagos ’ which roughly translates to, “ Women leader”, an influential post that belonged in the king's inner circle.
While rumours swirled that she continued slavery till her death, she died in Abeokuta in 1887. Tinubu square is named after her.

https://www.nigerialog.com/culture/how-iconic-yoruba-merchant-aided-abolishment-of-slavery-in-1800s/new/#new

Madam Efunroye was able to get many traditional rulers including Oba Akintoye to sign documents that ended Africans selling other Africans to the Europeans .”

Her end turned out better than her beginning.
Story of our life!

My fellow Egba person. God bless her. Yorubas setting the pace for humanity since 3333 BC.

Everyone keeps blaming whites for slavery.
But is it not blacks that were selling d slaves?

But she did sell and own slaves didn't she? She ended Transatlantic slave trade but she still kept slaves according to the article

Yoruba Amaka

dominique:
But she did sell and own slaves didn't she? She ended Transatlantic slave trade but she still kept slaves according to the article

Well we can't be completely perfect, she tried for her time.

OneCorner:
Everyone keeps blaming whites for slavery.
But is it not blacks that were selling d slaves?

Oga they are always forgetting that.

H

Madam Tinubu, Efunroye your story is inspiring. It's quite painful that our modern girls/women are now slay Queens enslaving their vagina for money. What does the future holds 4 Nigeria?!

Lol

died 1887, wow we got cameras in Nigeria back then? that's great!!

Aweeesome!

I heard the Senator Ahmed Tinubu is related to her, is it true?

Looking at the neo slavery today in Africa today, I have this premonition that tells me that the 400 years of slavery Africans long suffered what a choice to them. Because its obvious we are very much under neo slavery in the hands of British and America.

Adonbilivit...

Lame attempt to twist history
Claims about Madam Tinubu's repentance from the Trans Atlantic Slave TradeEdit

Many publications (notably those that promote black history)[23][24] have asserted that Madam Tinubu became a changed person after learning about the evils of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade.[25][26][27]

However, an often cited hagiography about Madam Tinubu by Oladipo Yemitan paints a different picture of an unapologetic and profit minded human trafficker.

On one occasion, during her final sojourn in Abeokuta, she was alleged to have sold a young boy into slavery and was accused of it. When arraigned before Ogundipe Alatise over the matter, she reportedly explained: 'I have a large house-hold and I must feed them well. I need money to do that, that's why'.

— Oladipo. Yemitan, 'Madame Tinubu: Merchant and King-maker'

[28]

She tried to repent but accurate details are needed to verify this

How is it that I find this “Tinubu” report manipulated

Okay, tomorrow “history” will tell us it again that this woman is Jagaban's grandmother. Awwww, kindness and tenderness runs in their family. Awwwww he's fit run for presidency in 2023.

Dear electorates, behold the preliminary “image-making”

I am a Igbo but u can't help but admire the rich culture of our afonja brothers. Our aboki brothers are also good people. The people of Nigeria are good but it's the useless leaders we have that divide us

lawalosky:
H

I

And the slaves are back with the pulpit scammers molesting them ceaselessly on the pretence of prosperity

Benjamin Campbell was a novice to African voodoo
We could have used it on Lugard too

OneCorner:
Everyone keeps blaming whites for slavery.
But is it not blacks that were selling d slaves?

@dominique

Africans did not write the histories. The Europeans wrote it and they could have put whatever they wanted in the books from where we picked it up. Slavery had been going on in Europe for over 2,000 years before white people arrived Africa. When slavery ended in Europe, they simply moved their trade to other continents not just in Africa. They were also in North America, South America.

The True History of Slavery and Slave Acquisition in Africa www.africason.com/2016/03/the-true-history-of-slavery-and-slave.html

Ok

dominique the post actually said she kept slaves based on rumours and not truth.

flyca:
How is it that I find this “Tinubu” report manipulated

As do I...

We are always quick to blame the West but we literary started the slave trade and even continue long after the west have abolished theirs. Slavery was a choice indeed.