The Nation Newspaper

Category: Happenstances

  • Timothy Oguntayo gears up for new challenge

    Timothy Oguntayo gears up for new challenge

    Not a few people have expressed the belief that Timothy Oguntayo has paid his dues to deserve being named the CEO of Skye Bank in a couple of weeks from now. His success as a banker has no doubt endeared him to many in the high society.

    The man billed to take the mantle from Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti as the Managing Director of Skye Bank in July has been preparing for his reign in the most meticulous manner. And few would dispute the fact that occupying such an eminent position demands serious preparation, particularly because of the big shoes a former MD of the bank, Akinsola Akinfemiwa, left behind for Durosimi-Etti.

    Celeb Watch gathered that Oguntayo expects nothing different from his predecessor. Hence, he is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that his tenure is devoid of any hitch, taking into cognizance the public expectation that he should surpass his predecessors’ achievements.

  • Femi Otedola plans high- octane burial for late father

    Femi Otedola plans high- octane burial for late father

    Odoragunsin, Epe, Lagos, will be the cynosure of all eyes in the next few weeks as billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, prepares for the burial of his late father, Sir Michael Otedola, a former governor of Lagos State.

    The influential Chairman of Zenon Oil is said to be pulling all the strings in the bid to give his deceased father a befitting burial. As you read this, Femi and his siblings are holding meetings in respect of the burial. His army of wealthy friends are also said to be warming up to honour the late father of one of their own.

    Sir Otedola, who  passed on at his private residence in Epe, Lagos State, a few days ago, was born on July 16, 1926 into a Muslim family at Odoragunsin, Epe, in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State. After moving to Lagos to pursue his education, he won a scholarship to study Journalism at the Regent Street Polytechnic in London where he graduated in 1958.

    He began his career as a teacher before working as a reporter with the St. Pancras Chronicle, then as a reporter and later sub-editor with The Guardian and The Times in England. On his return to Nigeria in 1959, he became an information officer with the Western Nigeria government, and and was later appointed the Editor of Western Nigeria Illustrated. In 1961, he moved into public relations, working for Western Nigeria Television/Western Broadcasting Service (1961-1964) and Mobil Oil Group of Companies (1964-1977), continuing as a consultant to Mobil after leaving the company.

    He was elected the governor of Lagos State on the platform of the National Republican Convention (NRC), leaving office in 1993 when the late former head of state, Gen. Sani Abacha, assumed power.

    He is survived by his wife, Lady Doja Otedola, children and

  • Sifax Boss, Taiwo Afolabi, marks 52nd birthday

    Sifax Boss, Taiwo Afolabi, marks 52nd birthday

    It was meant to be a low-key party, but the huge turnout of dignitaries at the 52nd birthday celebration of Taiwo Afolabi showed that the chief executive officer of Sifax Group is a gold fish which has no hiding place. It was another moment of jollity and conviviality at his Ikoyi home on Tuesday.
    The soiree had old and new friends of the shipping magnate in attendance. From bankers to big players in the oil and gas industry, and from politicians to top players in the corporate world, the ceremony was a roll call of who is who, and for that, the SAHCOL boss was full of excitement.
    Taiwo, no doubt, has done well for himself in the business world, even though some of his business moves had been dogged by controversy. For instance, the University of Jerusalem doctoral degree holder raised a lot of dust when he bought over SAHCOL sometime ago, following allegations from some quarters that the easy going socialite cum businessman was fronting for some top government functionaries. The allegation has since turned out to be unfounded.

  • Otedola’s daughter rides high as DJ

    Otedola’s daughter rides high as DJ

    Probably in recognition of her reputation as a hardworking lady, Florence Otedola, popularly known as DJ Cuppy, was recently honoured by the Federal Ministry of Tourism with an appointment as the nation’s Tourism Ambassador.

    The popular DJ and daughter of business tycoon, Femi Otedola, had chosen a career path that differs significantly from the one her parents had wished for. And from all indications, the Economics graduate is asserting herself pretty well in her chosen career, making her parents to be very proud.

    Based in London, DJ Cuppy is one of the major attractions on the social scene in the Queen’s country at the moment, and her services are said to be in high demand. Perhaps owing to her privileged background and good looks, DJ Cuppy has become the popular choice of the upper class in London and Nigeria. She is also a songwriter and music producer

  • Hon. Adejare buries dad

    Hon. Adejare buries dad

    It is no longer news that House of Representatives member, Hon. Samuel Adejare, was bereaved recently with the death of his father, Pa Amos Olugbade Adejare, the Aremo Oba Apondele of Ode Remo, Ogun State. The obsequies for the late community leader commenced early last week in Ode-Remo, where a mammoth crowd paid their last respects.

    Hon. Adejare and his siblings proved to be good hosts as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, and the Chairman of House Committee on Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, top the list of guests that attended the event.

  • Adenuga’s son emerges from father’s shadow

    Adenuga’s son emerges from father’s shadow

    Train a child the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it. This biblical injunction must be holding true for Jide Adenuga, the first son of the Chairman of Globacom, Mike Adenuga.

    There is no gainsaying the fact that Mike Adenuga’s enterprise and boldness are rubbing off on his son, whose interest in wine business is more than legendary. Although a committed director in Mike Adenuga’s business empire, Jide has shown a desire to be his own man by his diversifying into wine trading. The self-effacing dude is into the importation of exotic wines.

    Unlike some of his silver spoon friends who depend entirely on their parents’ businesses or engage in frivolous and wasteful lifestyles, Jide is bent on carving a niche for himself beyond Nigeria’s business firmament. Within his short stint in wine business, he has become a success as his brands of wine and champagne are enjoying heavy patronage from Lagosians.

  • Jani Ibrahim treads unfamiliar path

    Jani Ibrahim treads unfamiliar path

    Former Managing Director of the defunct Nigeria Airways, Jani Ibrahim, is said to be warming up for the governorship race in Kwara State. He is said to have mentioned the idea to quite a number of his friends and associates. He is said to be pursuing this ambition on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has torn into factions in the state.

    Surprisingly, those who should rally round Ibrahim are said to be taken aback by his ambition, which many of them see as nothing more than a mere illusion. But the Offa-born former Nigeria Airways boss is getting things fixed ahead of the battle for the party’s governorship ticket.

    Those allegedly eyeing the ticket include Chief John Dara, Dele Belgore, Prof. Shuaib Oba Abdul Raheem, Senator Simeon Ajibola and Senator Suilaman Ajadi. Jani is the owner of Lubcon Oil, with factories in Nigeria, Ghana and Ethiopia.

  • Debbie Ogunjobi in fresh marital bliss

    Debbie Ogunjobi in fresh marital bliss

    Leading female clothier and owner of Everywoman boutique, Debbie Ogunjobi, has not quite changed from the low-cut wearing, enterprising woman that thrust her into national prominence. But after going through two marriages, which produced a kid each and ended in heartbreaks, she now appears to be much wiser about life.

    Beautiful Debbie has finally pitched her tent with a widower, Pastor Jide Ojo of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Incidentally, Debbie is a member of the church and was said to be very close to Pastor Ojo and his late wife, whom she fondly called Aunty Remi.

    There have been side talks about her new-found life but Debbie would not be distracted by them, preferring to cling to her third husband like the pincers of a lobster. Even at public functions, she is always cozying up to the pastor, tweaking his fingers and shutting her ears to side talks.

  • Happy times for Edozie Madu

    Happy times for Edozie Madu

    These are joyous times for Abuja big boy, Edozie madu. He recently held a lavish dedication service for his twin children at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Maitama, Abuja.

    Edozie Madu is reputed as the founder of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), a political platform intended for youths’ participation in national development, which later metamorphosed into a political party. The self-styled youngest national party chairman in Nigerian then claimed that CDC, with its strong youth base, would give the ruling parties in Nigeria a run for their money. But for some time now, neither Madu nor his party has made any attempt to inform the populace what is happening to CDC. Has Madu given up on politics?

  • Francis Inegbeniki takes heartthrob to altar

    Francis Inegbeniki takes heartthrob to altar

    The social scene in Lagos is experiencing some feisty changes, and a watering hole on the Island is at the centre of this revival. It is none other club than Quilox, a fun spot owned by Shina Peller, son of the late popular magician, Prof. Abiola Peller.

    That the re-invigorated fun spot is one of the hottest in Lagos at the moment can hardly be disputed. It has suddenly become a point of relaxation and recreation for Lagos big boys and girls, after the lull the night club experienced a few months ago.

    Since Shina, a London-based businessman, opened the night club on Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, it has literally become a social terminus for night life freaks. The fun spot is swanky and relatively large, providing a cozy ambience with a kind of table setting that adds to its romantic theme.