By IFECHI OKOH

By now, the age phenomenon must have slowed down their agility and vibrancy which may have been worn out by the regular wears and tears of nature, thereby forcing them to be very weary to honour social invitations, no matter who was asking them over. But surprisingly, it is not so with the 10 top socialites still on the prowl, despite the fact that age is really not on their side any more. However, they manage, against all odds, to honour invitations to parties by both corporate and close associates. Most times, people may not even know that they were around until the musician on the stagebegins to acknowledge them by simply massaging their ego through special songs dedicated to them. Now, welcome five of these evergreen social butterflies in this part one showcase, starting with Abah Folawiyo, Erelu Abiola Dosunmu, Ireti Asemota, Folorunsho Akakija and Islar Animashawun.

ABAH FOLAWIYO

In the top social circumference, she is addressed as the custodian of style. Despite her age, the charming and ageless fashion pace-setter hardly misses top socials, peopled by the high and mighty in the society. In most of these gatherings with visible panache, you are likely to spot Senator Florence Ita-Giwa whom she shares a close social bond with over the years. Sisi Abah, as she is fondly addressed, has great wealth of experience in life and in fashion concern. She once ruled the fashion and style world through her legendary trademark label, Labanella Fashion House, a preferred brand among top socialites in the 80's till late 90's. When it boils down to honouring invitations, the top socialite with class, simply sincere to a fault in such matter, does not look down on the packager or packagers for whatever reason or reasons. The biological mother of another celebrated lawyer and socialite, Segun Awolowo, is yet to betray her natural humility in this area till date. It is on good source that bunch of young ladies who may have been moved by her good-heartedness and infectious modesty usually ask her over to their parties and she really finds time to honour them, to everybodys surprise.

ERELU ABIOLA DOSUNMU

Here's another front seat socialite with visible energy to make the rounds steadily over the years, despite her age. SHOWBIZ Xtra is constrained to describe the ever good-looking Erelu as a fleeting passage like the beep of a mobile phone on the scene with fellow socialites like her bestride same social scene with eternal grace. The estranged wife to billionaire Dehinde Fernandez is noted for her adding glitz and glamour always to any shindig thereby redefining the gathering quickly and quietly too. No wonder, she had been paparazi's delight who swarm around her, taking endless photos throughout any occasion she is present.

FOLORUNSHO AKAKIJA

The powerful presence of this richest woman in Africa at any social big do means a lot to everyone around. They feel it and go ahead to reverence her openly in her expensive and different silk wears with which she graces top notch parties. That is how it has been at every function for the conscious fashion icon. The over 70 year-old energetic socialite and oil baroness, runs a Foundation, "Rose of Sharon" which focuses on making life and living very meaningful for widows and orphans whom she has been giving business grants and scholarships regularly over the years. These kind gestures, according to feelers close to the ever charming lady of substance, maintained that her humanitarian gestures had always left the mouths of the lucky recipients with mouths agape till date.

ISLAR ANIMASHAUN

The pretty looking socialite is undoubtedly a big fish in the beauty concern in Nigeria as a whole. Anybody who claims not to have heard of her is simply behind happenings in the social news circle. One obvious interesting thing about her is that there's been hardly any hair style which made waves at a period in Nigeria without a mention of her name. That is why her name has remained synonymous today with different hair styles on showcase till date. The hair stylist, celebrated as Yeye Tuwase, has been on the saddle of beauty runs for over 47 years and has a clientele of top flight society women, actually proud to associate with her. When she isn't packaging women, Animashaun lets down her hair, attending functions of her A-list clienteles. This is something she has a passion for and still enjoys doing till today.

IRETI ASEMOTA

The lady who has since warmed her way to the hearts of many party hey-makers is the wife of automobile merchant, Sunny Asemota. His party loving wife is a close associate of Abah Folawiyo and Senator Florence Ita-Giwa. Like both firebrands in the social matters, Asemota has since perfected the art of being the toast of any party top butterfly by her titillating wears and dance steps. No wonder Abah Folawiyo and Senator Florence Ita-Giwa hate to miss her company over the years.