SOCIETY WATCH

Femi Otedola: Champion Extraordinaire

Billionaire businessman and Executive Chairman, Geregu Power Plant, Femi Otedola, comes across as a phenomenon of sorts. Indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that his life epitomises a tenacity of purpose. His ability as a strategist and winner has never been in doubt. Every move he makes, either in his business or private life, has never escaped the attention of newshounds.

A delight to journalists and biographers, his uncommon feats are too numerous to fill the pages of a single publication.

Whenever the businessman dabbles into any business, it usually becomes a major story not only in the online and traditional media but among other business owners, the elites and even the layman.
In 2007 when Nigeria’s oil sector was shaken to its very foundation, the billionaire bought over African Petroleum and rechristened it Forte Oil. He rejigged AP from obsolescence to newness such that the company became the toast of the town. Therefore, it came as a surprise when the news hit the streets that Otedola was about to sell off his share in the company that he laboured to put back in shape. But he would later prove that he knows when to invest and when not to.

Just as the story of his Forte Oil sales grabbed headlines, the news of his diversification into power in 2019 triggered a similar effect.

Again, the Lagos State-born mogul recently shocked all with the news of his N30 billion investment in Nigeria’s leading bank, First Bank, a few days to his birthday.

A source revealed that the news caused a huge stir in the stock market.

Speaking on why he made such a huge investment at this period, Otedola was quoted to have said: “I believe in the Nigerian economy, it is resilient and has a bright future. The current security challenges will be overcome. Anyone who fails to see the future now will lose out.”

More than five decades after his birth, there is enough proof that he is truly living up to the description of his first name, Femi, typical of one whom God has continually lavished His favour on. Indeed, his paths in life have been laced with roses.

At home, he is the doting husband and caring father. In the business landscape, his profile continues to rise such that his competitors readily agree that he is blessed with the proverbial Midas touch!
A well-loved man by members of his immediate environment, Otedola is acknowledged as one of the few successful individuals who see the need to give back to society as a priority. He is generous to a fault.

So, whenever his birthday is approaching, his family, friends and others who have benefitted from his large-heartedness and benevolence always see the day as another golden opportunity to celebrate him.

The eulogies, no doubt, usually come in torrents. Society Watch gathered that they often do this out of deep respect for the man with the very creative moniker: “Ote$”

Surprisingly, however, as he turns a year older on Thursday, November 4, 2021, Otedola does not seem to see the day as significantly different from the others. His reason is not far-fetched. He owes his Creator praises and thanks Him every day for His abundant blessings in his life.

Whether he plans to throw a bash or not on his special day, no one can easily tell. Left to him, the day would have gone unannounced. That is the essential Otedola!

Oando Boss, Jubril Adewale Tinubu’s Glad Tidings

When in November 2011 Forbes Magazine named him King of African Oil, it was only an affirmation of his giant strides and daring exploits in the oil and gas business. The celebration by the international business magazine had come barely eight years after Jubril Adewale Tinubu rebranded Oando.

Though Tinubu, who is the Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc, had ventured into the oil business from the background of legal practice, where his forte was in corporate and petroleum laws, he did not have to grope his way for too long, because he was already armed with a bright torch of academic excellence that illuminated his paths, to the admiration of all.

As a businessman, he has had some bitter-sweet experiences that would take some pages of his memoirs, whenever he chooses to knit them in black and white.

It is not often we see a wealthy man with a good head, a good heart and a literate tongue or pen alongside his wealth.

Interestingly, industry watchers agree that 54-year-old Tinubu must be studied like a book by anyone coming into the industry, as he is acknowledged to know the ABC of the oil and gas business. One of the reasons is that he has always survived even the harshest of attacks and most inclement circumstances in the industry.
Indeed, his stories of triumph have confounded many, leaving even his worst critics to acknowledge the abundance of God’s grace in his life. A good pointer to this was during the peak of the pandemic last year. While many of his competitors were gnashing their teeth, following the outbreak of the Covid-19, Tinubu seems to be ending the year on a happy note.

Another development that has confirmed his business acumen is that, at the end of his company’s war with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), his reputation was not dented in any way. He shamed his critics when the war that many had thought would consume him was settled amicably in July.

His crowning glory was when the shareholders, at the company’s 42nd Annual General Meeting at the Wings Office Complex, Victoria Island, Lagos, passed a vote of confidence in him. The company’s AGM had come in the wake of an out-of-court settlement with the SEC that had suspended the company’s AGM in 2019.

After delivering such a resounding slap to the face of his numerous doubters who insist on remaining blind and deaf to his incontestable greatness, the trained lawyer has already set bigger targets for the current year which he is working harder than ever to achieve, as his primary objective is to keep putting smiles in the face of shareholders.

But one side of Tinubu’s life that is under-reported is his philanthropy. He gives without inviting the cameras, as his life in entirety is guided by the Quranic teachings.

Olori Olusola Adedoyin-Alao’s Passion for Humanity

Olori Olusola Adedoyin-Alao, the beautiful daughter of billionaire businessman, Chief Samuel Adedoyin, has tasted the seriocomic side of life, almost in equal measures.

When the former Managing Director of City Express Bank was hovering between life and death, having been battling cancer, no one, including her doctors, believed she could survive it. One of the best doctors in Europe predicted in 2006 that she had just four days to live. She was expectedly traumatised, but she held on to her faith in God. Miraculously, she survived the ailment.

Shortly afterwards, her career was threatened when City Express Bank failed to survive the new regulations of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). But the graduate of Marketing/Accounting from St. Joseph’s University, Philadelphia did not despair, as she kept her head up and moved on.

While she went through all this, she learnt a great lesson about life, which has now drawn her even closer to her Creator. She believes so much in the deathless quotes of Roy T. Bennett that ‘’Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people.’’

In fact, many have benefitted from her magnanimity.

She has saved so many from the jaws of the dreaded cancer through her foundation, MariaSam Foundation, which she founded shortly after her own bitter encounter.

Since the foundation was established, she has been spending her hard-earned money for the treatment of cancer patients, except occasionally when she gets corporate sponsorship and donations from well-meaning individuals.

Speaking with journalists recently, she disclosed that it had been tough for her, but that her love for humanity had taken a better part of her. She also revealed that the government had not supported her in any way since she started.

According to her, “The government is not forthcoming in too many things. If the government is not forthcoming in feeding its people, which is an everyday essential, or on electricity, water that you need to survive, isn’t it a bit strange expecting them to be forthcoming when it comes to cancer treatment?

“Every house in Nigeria is a factory. You are basically providing everything you need. Why would you be expecting them to be forthcoming when it comes to medicals?”

Nevertheless, if for anything else, she is happy that she is having the best in her marriage to Oba Francis Olushola Alao, the Olugbon of ile’gbon Kingdom in Oyo State.

The marriage has just been blessed with a set of twins (two boys). Why this is news is that she was blessed with bundles of joy at 59!

Siju Iluyomade’s Charitable Heart

That the beautiful and elegant woman, Siju Iluyomade, has chosen charity above any other thing, is an understatement. The pretty wife of Pastor Idowu Iluyomade has vowed to give all that she has in the service of humanity.

Yesterday, Saturday, October 30, she fulfilled the promise of assembling powerful and influential female professionals for the 2021 Arise Women Conference. The 13th edition, which was held at the Recreation Complex of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David, Lagos attracted millions of viewers.

It was televised on Channels TV and was also streamed live on all social media platforms of Arise Women.

It was gathered that six wives of serving governors participated in the Conference. They include Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu of Lagos; Mrs. Bisi Fayemi of Ekiti State; Mrs. Olunfunke Makinde of Oyo-State; Mrs. Chioma Uzodinma of Imo State and Dr Zainab Bagudu of Kebbi State.

Others are the wife of Deputy Governor of Lagos, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat; Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Pauline Tallen and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, among others.

Arise Women has played a major role in contributing to the empowerment of the less-privileged in Nigeria and has been involved in the provision of several social amenities.

Businesswoman Folasade Omotade-Odumosu Remembers Late Husband

An American children’s author, political cartoonist, illustrator and poet once said: “Sometimes, you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”

Everyone remembers their first love, and it is only natural to feel sentimental when thinking about them. Such was the feeling in the heart of Mrs Folasade Omotade-Odumosu for her late husband, Ayodeji Olaseni Omotade.

On that faithful Saturday, October 22, 2005, Omotade who was then the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industries and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, was leaving Lagos for Abuja. He never envisaged that it would be his last flight. The Bellview flight he boarded that day had crashed at Lisa village in Ogun State shortly after taking off.

To say Folasade was distraught and devastated is, to put it mildly. She was inconsolable, as her world seemed to have crashed before her eyes.

Sixteen years later, the billionaire businesswoman, who is now married to the Lagos Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, has not hidden the fact that her late hubby is still indeed a part of her memories.

Consequently, on October 22, 2021, she took to social media to pen beautiful words in memory of her late husband, writing “My late husband, my closest friend and confidant. Thank you for watching over our children from heaven, may your soul know everlasting peace.

“Happy birthday, My husband. I miss you more and more every day. Today, you are 70. I wish you were alive to see your children and celebrate with us, but God chooses the time we are ready to die and for you, it was 16 years ago. We wish you a happy birthday wherever you are and accept our best wishes.”
The couple had three children.