The Nation Newspaper

Category: Celebrity

  • Five years memorial for Oladotun Okubanjo

    SOME memories are like annual plants: they open their leaves and sprout in summer, withering as soon as winter rolls in. Others are like perennials which bloom all year round in the hearts and minds of men. For those who came to the world and left lasting legacies, their memories remain like the latter, permanently engraved in the hearts of those they left behind.

    For people whose lives were touched by the late former chairman of International Distilleries Limited (IDL), Oloye Oladotun Okubanjo, August 22 was a day to vividly call to mind a man whose greatness is etched in the sands of time. Before his sudden elevation into the realm of saints five years ago, Oloye Okubanjo had made a name for himself as one of the country’s finest industrialists. Apart from being the founder and chairman of IDL, he also headed the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce as its longest-serving president.

    In life, he was greatly honoured. In death, he is fondly remembered by all and sundry, particularly his widow, Edith, who gathered friends and family together at the late Okubanjo’s Badore, Lekki home, Lagos for the fifth year remembrance.

  • BUA boss Rabiu completes Banana Island mansion

    BUA boss Rabiu completes Banana Island mansion

    WHILE most Nigerians are scaling down on their lifestyles as they battle the general economic downturn in the country, the super-rich have far more glamorous ideas on their minds. They are acquiring the latest wonders on wheels and building palatial mansions.

    The bug has even bitten the normally reclusive boss of BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu, who has left tongues wagging with his new Banana Island home. The recently completed edifice is an architectural masterpiece that has set the super-rich dude back by a couple of billions.

    The new haven on Banana Island is just the latest in a collection of million-dollar homes acquired by the Kano-born billionaire in the four corners of the globe. Rabiu’s appetite for the good things of life is like that of a baby for the breast milk of its mother.

    Having spent decades to build BUA Group to an enviable position in the comity of billion-dollar companies, Rabiu is not shy to treat himself to the fruits of his labour.

  • Friends rally round Ooni’s wife

    Friends rally round Ooni’s wife

    IF there is one lesson the wife of the Ooni of Ife, Olori Wuraola, has learnt in the last couple of weeks, it would be to keep her friends very close and her enemies at arm’s length, because when the world came crashing down on her, it was her friends who formed the wall of protection that prevented her from being crushed into dust.

    While her detractors gleefully sharpened their long knives, closing in for the kill, it was those whose friendship with her ran deeper than fame that served as her armour and shield, deflecting the enemy’s blows.

    It was just over a week ago that a tabloid site went to town with the ‘news’ that Olori Wuraola had been sent packing from her position as Ooni Enitan Ogunwusi’s queen due to some “unspeakable” acts she allegedly committed.

    While the Bini beauty was running from pillar to post trying to defuse the situation in the wake of allegations that she had been involved with older men in a more-than-friendly way, it was her friends like Polo Avenue boss, Jennifer Obayuwana, who rallied to her aid and helped her to fight back at the vicious rumour alleged to be the handiwork of some people who were not comfortable with her position as a Bini queen consort on a Yoruba royal stool.

  • Across-the-seas wedding for Niyi Adebayo’s son

    AFTER the rain comes sunshine is one of the trite adages among the English. But for Otunba Niyi Adebayo and his family, it is also one of the truest. Only a few months ago, the dark clouds cast their pallor on the home of the Adebayos as the patriach of the family, Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo, passed on.

    A few months after the last respects were paid to the former military governor, however, sunshine is back in the Adebayos’ home. Richard, son of Otunba Niyi Adebayo, recently tied the nuptial knot at a high octane ceremony witnessed by the crème de la crème of high society.

    Though a long absentee from the seat of power, Otunba Adebayo’s enduring clout was on full display at the event, going by the calibre of dignitaries that trooped to the Balmoral Events Centre on Victoria Island venue of the traditional solemnisations between Richard and Reni, the beautiful daughter of Femi and Lola Young. The white wedding is slated for New York sometime next month.

    Among those in attendance were billionaire businessmen Aliko Dangote and Femi Otedola; a couple of past and present governors, including Adams Oshiomhole, Ibikunle Amosun, Abiola Ajimobi, James Ibori and Olusegun Osoba; as well as Senator Daisy Danjuma, Hajia Bola Shagaya and Hajia Abba Folawiyo, among many other dignitaries.

  • Who wants Ooni’s marriage crashed?

    Who wants Ooni’s marriage crashed?

    A FEW days ago, the social media were awash with the sensational story of the crashed marriage of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, and his queen, Olori Wuraola. According to the authors of the story, Olori Wuraola, whose wedding to the Ooni last year and the subsequent honeymoon remains a reference point in social affairs, was guilty of certain misdeeds considered both unprintable and unpardonable. The marriage contracted just a little over a year ago was reportedly bedeviled by mutual suspicions and ego fights.

    Some said the monarch had lost patience with the Olori who hails from Benin City and had decided to dump her for a new beauty that would formally take Olori Wuraola’s place by September. The more adventurous of the rumour mongers even said that seeing the handwriting on the wall, Olori Wuraola had cut short her trip overseas and ran to former President Olusegun Obasanjo to seek his intervention in the royal rumble.

    But while many were getting ready to sing the dirge for the royal marriage, the Ooni himself came out to pour cold water on all the speculations. In an interview with an online medium, the young monarch dismissed the story as a baseless rumour peddled by mischief makers. Case closed.

  • Glamour on parade at Nasiru Danu’s wedding

    FOR APC bigwig, Nasiru Haladu Danu, the past few months are like one long pleasurable dream from which he would not want to wake. It was just in May that the royalty and nobility of the country came together to witness his turbaning as the Dan Amana Dutse of the Dutse Emirate in Jigawa State. Little did he know that fortune had more in store for him. While he was bestowed a noble title in May, last week, he was bestowed with love from lovely Miss Amne Kam Salem, who became his wife to love and to hold at an exquisite society wedding witnessed by the crème de la crème of high society.

    In attendance at the International Conference Centre venue of the traditional engagement and Nikkah ceremony were eminent personalities like the country’s number two woman, Dolapo Osinbajo; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun; Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi; Julius Rone; Festus Keyamo (SAN); Ayiri Emami; Senator Andy Uba and many others.

    Indeed, it was a convention of the Who’s Who in high society as captains of industry, politicians, socialites and celebrities stepped out in expensive convertibles bedecked in costly and glamorous outfits. In the midst of it all was the recently turbaned Danu whose face was an epitaph of joy as ‘African Queen’ crooner TuFace Idibia serenaded guests.

  • Femi Akinrutan explores new grounds

    Femi Akinrutan explores new grounds

    WHEN depression hits a country like the tsunami, a billionaire’s thoughts change from how to make money to how to secure the money already made. Not so Prince Femi Akinruntan, the head honcho of Obat Petroleum. Even as his firm, one of the big players in the oil sector, grappled with some issues engendered by the economic situation in the country, rather than bemoan the situation like many businessmen are wont to, the energetic Ondo prince was busy mapping out strategies to ensure a smooth future for the company. Now he is ready to spread his wings and explore new grounds.

    Obat Oil & Petroleum recently joined the exclusive club of oil marketers who have ventured into liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) also known as cooking oil. With the gradual transition of Nigerian homes from the kerosene stoves to gas-powered ones, LPG is undoubtedly an area where billions of naira can be generated, and the prince has wisely decided to cash in before the market becomes saturated.

    Like a man of strong convictions taking a giant leap of faith, Prince Akinruntan has decided to throw a lot of eggs into the LPG basket. Already, his land at Lekki Free Trade Zone is being considered for a multi-million naira gas plant. The capacity of Obat’s main depot is also being enlarged in anticipation of future needs.

  • Overseas party for billionaire Indimi at 70

    Overseas party for billionaire Indimi at 70

    A festival of sorts is currently going on at choice vacation spots in France and Spain, courtesy of billionaire oil baron, Muhammed Indimi. The Chairman of Oriental Energy Resources clocked 70 years on August 12 and is treating family and friends to an extended grand birthday bash. The one-of-its-kind celebration has seen guests ferried all the way from Maiduguri to Costa del Sol, Spain for a high octane party on August 12 and 13.

    The celebration scheduled to continue till August 28 will see even more people flown to France and Spain for an all-expense paid vacation, courtesy of the Borno-born billionaire’s capacious pocket. His son, Ahmed, who got married to President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, Zahra, last year, and Rahama Indimi, the estranged wife of IBB’s son, Muhammed Babangida, were on hand to wish their father a happy entrance into the club of septuagenarians.

    Muhammed Indimi is a name that commands respect in the circle of the wealthy and powerful. A few days earlier, Gombe State governor, Ibrahim Dankwanbo, had treated him to a surprise birthday dinner.

  • Shina Peller, wife bag new chieftaincy titles

    Shina Peller, wife bag new chieftaincy titles

    FOR the boss of Club Quilox, Shina Peller, honour is the final seasoning for a well-cooked broth. The son of Prof Peller, the famed illusionist regarded as the greatest magician to come out of Africa, Shina has been charting his own path even though he has learned a lot from his famed father and lived by his example.

    Seeing a yawning need for night fun in metropolitan Lagos, he established Club Quilox many moons ago and has since then been honoured with the well-earned moniker of ‘King of Nightlife’. Not resting on his laurels, the head honcho of Aquila Group of Companies spread his tentacles into other areas like music and hospitality. More importantly, he has been stretching out his arm in aid to people who are in need of one thing or the other. His philanthropic spirit came to the fore recently when he sponsored a football competition for the youth in Ogun State in honour of his late father.

    In recognition of the foregoing, he and his wife were recently surprised by the traditional ruler of Iseyin, Oyo State who conferred him with the title of Aare Gbobaniyi of Iseyin while his wife was installed as the Yeye Aare Gbobaniyi.

  • No drums rolled out as Herbert Wigwe clocks 51

    No drums rolled out as Herbert Wigwe clocks 51

    LIKE a seasoned war captain whose brave exploits are undersold in his time but will be told and retold for generations, Herbert Wigwe does not get near enough credit for his achievements. In a sea of mediocrity which is threatening to submerge all traces of vitality in Nigeria’s business space, the MD of Access Bank remains one of the few shining lights. An epitome of humility and resolve, he is as privately unassuming as he is a trailblazer in the business world.

    While many a man perched atop the mountain of his profession would declare a day of monumental fanfare to celebrate a new age, Herbert Wigwe remains as humble as a monk, untwined by the ropes of vanity that compel many a man to make a public display of self-adulation. As he turned 51 on August 15, the dynamic young man made no song or dance of the occasion. Rather, as has become his trademark, he celebrated the day quietly in the company of a few friends and family members.

    Since he stepped into the hot seat as the CEO of Access Bank, many who treated his name with scepticism have become his big fans, won over by the rapid innovation that has transformed the bank into one of the best-run around. The introduction of Africa’s first digital banking platform, Paywithcapture 5, is just one of the many innovations that have earned Wigwe the superstar billing in the banking industry.