Tonye Cole’s Graceful Heart

Today, Tonye Cole, an oil magnate and co-founder of the Sahara Energy Group, can’t be happier.

He has so many reasons to be thankful to his Creator. His paths have been laced with more of roses than torns.

In recognition of the special grace of God in his life, he recently rolled out the drums when he turned 50. For obvious reasons, the day meant a lot to him and he took his time to send out invites to family members, friends and business associates to join him in the celebration. 

But it was not all a wining and dining affair, especially as the respected businessman regaled the guests with the story of his rise to fame as well as the chequered history of the business in the past 20 years.

At the event, over 40 prominent individuals who had contributed in meaningful ways to the success of the group were honoured with awards. The long list of awardees includes Funsho Kupolukun, a former Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); Obumneme Chukwumobi Okonkwo, former Managing Director, Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) a subsidiary of the NNPC; Mr. Joe Makoju, a former Director,  Dangote Group and Tema Oil Refinery,  Ghana and Bayo who was the first banker to grant the group a $10 million US dollar loan for its first cargo of petroleum products.