King of Oil, Jubril Adewale Tinubu Counts Blessings at 56

Even if Jubril Adewale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc, chooses to put his mobile phone on silent mode from midnight, its screen will flash continuously and may rouse him from his beautiful sleep, as it will be bombarded with calls and text messages from family members, friends, business associates et al. Interestingly, the undisguised expressions of love by his loved ones from that dead of night have become like an annual ritual of sorts that they perform whenever the oil guru marks his birthday.

 On his part, the University of Liverpool-trained lawyer has so much to thank God for, as he turns 56 tomorrow, Monday, June 26. A reliable source told Society Watch that Tinubu, who began his career with his family law firm, K.O. Tinubu and Co., in 1990 and later co-founded Ocean and Oil Group in 1994, would be organising a prayer to thank God for the rare grace to have lived an eventful life thus far.

Also, the occasion will afford Tinubu, fondly called African King of Oil, another great opportunity to reflect on his earthly sojourn so far and pray for greater blessings in the coming years.

It was also gathered that he would use the occasion to put smiles on the faces of the needy around him in his characteristic magnanimity and sense of fellow feeling.

This may not be surprising to those who know him too well, as he had used the occasions of his birthday in the past to act as the Angel of Hope to the disadvantaged members of society.

Just like his name, Jubril, he has been an angel to many whose paths have crossed with him on many occasions. He has lent support and been a shoulder to lean on for numerous less-privileged and the poor.  He is indeed a bellwether in the acts of generosity to others. He sees sharing love with them as a sacred devotion.

The man who today is Africa’s pride in oil and gas is usually driven by an abiding quest to change the lives of his people for the better.