By Olushola Ricketts

Florence, the beautiful wife of former Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, clocked 62 a few days ago and her children did their best to put a smile on her face.

Monday, April 5, marks the first time she would be celebrating without her beloved husband who died on June 25 last year from COVID-19 complications. The couple married in 1980 and the union was blessed with five children – four girls and a boy.

But despite the absence of husband, Florence didn’t have a dull day on Monday. Her daughter, Abisola Kola-Daisi, was at the centre of it all. She paid her a surprise visit, got her exciting gifts and made her dance to Afrobeats.

In one of the photos shared, Abisola wrote: “Birthday present from daddy. We will always hold it down for you, Papa.”

Although there was no elaborate party, family and friends visited the house. The late governor’s wife was showered with beautiful flowers, gifts and love.

By Oladapo Sofowora

Royalty is indeed sweet, the respect, allure, and grand opulence that comes with it soothes the heart but royalty is innate. He might have been dethroned by the Governor of Kano State Dr. Abdulahai Ganduje but the blue blood in his veins still flows with much ado.

Former Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi still commands much respect among all sundry. The reason he is being accorded that much respect even when he ceases to be the emir ancient Kano Emirate still raises concern as his influence keeps looming large like a wildfire. To some, his dethronement is politically motivated while some are indifferent but in all, he was a crusader for good governance and also spoke against the ills militating against the attainment of a just society.

One year after his dethronement saga, his popularity has transcended the shores of Nigeria more and Nigerians accorded him more respect like the Emir. Any functions he graces, his entrance is always grande with a display of royal opulence. The royalty in him keeps oozing out at every point. His royal entourage and presence can hardly go unnoticed.

Read Also: Why I sacked Sanusi as Emir of Kano – Ganduje

Last Saturday at the installation of his close ally high Chief Kola Karim as the Agba Oye of Ibadan Land at the Popo Yemoja’s palace of the Olubadan of Ibadan Land, the Economics graduate from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaira made another successful outing with a grand reception at the Olubadan’s palace. When he arrived in a Black Benz in the company of his royal aides, decked in his regal white turban, white and yellow patterned inner-wear, and a black and white dotted robe, his presence changed the atmosphere. He calmly walked down into the palace to sit beside the Olubadan and Ooni of Ife Oba Ogunwusi Adeyeye as guests came to pay homage to him.

“He will keep speaking against issues that affect the growth of the northern part of Nigeria. He would be 60 in the next few months; plans are already in place to give him a befitting 60th birthday celebration amidst pomp. He would forever be revered and respected for his giant strides in uplifting his people,” a source said.

By Olushola Ricketts

ENCOMIUM have continued to trail Prince Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, the Oyo State  Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) as the Ibadan apex socio-cultural organisation, the Central Council for Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) honours him with the Most Distinguished Ibadan Indigene award.

According to CCII, Aleshinloye was honoured for his exemplary conduct as the Chairman of Oluyole. Local Government… “and most outstandingly your courageous and brilliant leadership of the ALGON… in manner reminiscent of Ibadan warriors”.

Former First Lady, Dr (Mrs) Florence Ajimobi described Aleshinloye’s award as deserving that her late husband, former Governor Abiola Ajimobi would be proud of. She noted that Aleshinloye has continued to distinguish himself. “The award is thus a testimonial to what my husband saw in him- a dogged fighter, an epitome of democratic ideals, a dependable and reliable ally- before supporting his emergence as the Chairman of ALGON in the State”.

Continuing, she said the awardee has proved himself to be a formidable politician who has always stood, unwavering by his political belief.

Also reacting to the award, former Senate leader and Senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial district, Senator Teslim Folarin described Aleshinloye as a top notch community and political leader who was deserving of the honour. “It’s rare to find someone who has achieved your level of success but has been able to stay so humble and true to themselves. You have always worked at everything you do with your whole heart and it shows”, he said, adding that the award was a reward of his perseverance and excellent service delivery to the people.

In her comment, Member, House of Representatives for the Oluyole Federal Constituency, Hon. Tolu Shadipe-Akande said the ALGON chairman truly deserves the award.

In celebrating with the awardee, the All Progress Congress (APC),  Oyo State in a statement signed by its Caretaker Chairman, Chief Akin Oke  and Secretary, Hon Mojeed Olaoya respectively said the award was an “eloquent testimony to your astuteness, forthrightness and commitment in all aspects of your private and public life, particularly as it concerns your service to the society and humanity as a whole” .

The Governorship candidate of the APC in the last General election, Oloye Adebayo Adelabu described Aleshinloye as an icon among leaders, describing his legacies as worthy of emulation. “ In the committee of the intellect, you stand out…you are simple, meek and unique. You have touched lives in ways too numerous to mention”, while the former Oyo State head of Service, Mr Soji Eniade said Aleshinloye’s award rewards his passion for the development of Oyo State. He described the ALGON chairman as an astute political strategist, brilliant public sector manager, strong team player and a selfless leader who deserved the award.

By Olushola Ricketts

Pastor Ituah Ighadalo is largely known as Senior Pastor of Trinity House but there is also a soft as well as the fatherly side of him behind the behind camera.

In celebration of his 60th birthday recently, he was spotted with his two adopted kids – a boy and girl. In the video, he tried to pacify the girl child when she complained about his brother. He made her understand that she was the elder one.

There was also a part in the video where he was chasing his son. The kids had just returned from their swimming classes when the mild drama ensued.

Things might not have gone the way the cleric wanted following the sudden demise of his better half, Ibidunni Ighodalo, on June 14, 2020, but he seems to have perfected his new role as a father and mother to their kids.

There was also a short praise and worship session held to celebrate his Pastor Ighodalo’s birthday. Church members and friends sang birthday songs for him and the cheerful pastor sang along too.

In 2007, Ighodalo married Ibidunni, who was open about her own struggles to conceive and her passion to help families suffering from infertility.

She did IVF 11 times and it failed every time. During the last attempt, she was pregnant with twins but unfortunately, she lost the pregnancy after three months. Before death, these experiences led her to establish Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation to create awareness on infertility and provide financial support for families seeking to do IVF.

By Olushola Ricketts

THEY don’t just call Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue the boardroom boss; she is called that name for a reason.

The elegant woman will be releasing a power package for business leaders, entrepreneurs, top management executives and new entrants to the field. These books, according to her, will help aspiring boardroom leaders to learn from the wealth of experience she has gained across the legal, retail and economic sectors.

Nnamdi-Ogbue believes at a time when the playing field has drastically changed due to effects of the pandemic, it is essential to have guidance in building or reinforcing leadership in the business or corporate world.

She said, “They are not called the “Power Five” for nothing. These books literally put the power to be, in business and organisational leadership in your hands, reducing the time and effort that would otherwise have been expended on charting a navigation path through knotty issues. My desire to see more people successful and fulfilled is the reason I write these books. Though they are independent titles, the ideas in one lean on the strength of the other to give a full and total continuum of knowledge delivery. The books will be available to the public in May.”

By Oladapo Sofowora

Nola Adetola is a young and upwardly mobile real estate entrepreneur who is headlining the advent of a new team of real estate communities consisting of developers, property consultants, and end-users. Nola’s experience in the real estate marketing and investment sphere brings to the fore an avalanche of credible expertise in that industry and beyond.

The CEO and Founder of Veritasi Homes and Properties Limited, one of the fastest-rising real estate companies in Nigeria, has over the years built credible relationships in Nigeria and abroad with the provision of top-of-the-range real estate solutions cutting across property sales, real estate advisory services, land acquisition, and property development, with a sales record of over N2 billion in less than five years.

Nola Adetola is certainly one of the youngest entrepreneurs in the real estate industry in Nigeria who is building houses worth several billions of Naira and the very humble entrepreneur is just 31 years old. The graduate of Chemical Engineering from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State is no doubt committed to offering consummate real estate solutions in a bid to deliver luxurious and affordable housing to all Nigerians in Nigeria and the diaspora.

He was also recently decorated as a member of the Forbes 30 under 30.

Nola, whose Camberwell Estate has been adjudged as one of the hot cakes in the real estate sector, is currently working on a 6.5 billion Naira project on Banana Island.

By Oladapo Sofowora

Ravishing beauty, style, poise graceful gait depicts Princess Fifi Ejindu like the fabled Cleopatra though she lacks the chicanery that characterised the personality of the Greek goddess. She is in totality, an earthly rind of humaneness and poise. Little wonder her presence was palpably felt on the social scene after a brief hiatus. She does not blow her own trumpet and it is not because she feels you are not fit to listen to the performance. The stylish rich businesswoman is many things to many people hence her portrayal in a variety of favourable portraits.

The soft-spoken blueblood and Pratt Institute trained architect has a long and rich family history ladened with success such that it becomes impossible for her not to toe the line of her clan. Ejindu’s father was a well-known professor at the University of Ibadan who was also a former Minister at the defunct Eastern region. Her Great grandfather, James Ekpo Bassey, was a powerful and influential monarch during the colonial era in Cobham town Calabar, Cross River State. She is a thoroughbred silver spoon raised from an aristocratic background and fully equipped with western education. Anytime Princess Fifi saunters on the red carpet, she dazzles with her awesome dress sense and top-notch accessories. Nobody beats her to it as she has grown to become her competition. Her finicky nature transcends not just on her fashion sense but also the long list of her executed projects littered across the world. She gets her muse from globetrotting infusing ideas from ancient traditional architectural designs across the world to create her Magical designs.

Although years ago, the Starcrest Group’s boss graced high society circuits with enviable grace and aplomb, many averred that before the pandemic in 2020, she had withdrawn completely into her shell. In effect, Princess Fifi no longer appears in party circuits and celebrity journals. She will remain an enigma in the annals of Nigeria’s high society. Sources said the highly cerebral and well-respected woman is just taking out time for herself, family and attending to her chain business across the world. In a bid to retain the billionaire status, she now works round the clock. “She has been working round the clock shuttling Dubai, America, Germany, and many more before the pandemic started. Mid-March, she returned to the country after spending over 2 months in Dubai relaxing and enjoying private moments with her family. If you see her now she is now looking more relaxed and rejuvenated with her skin glowing like a newborn. She is approaching the age of 60 so she is taking things slow. She is still who she is. A cosmopolitan businesswoman, philanthropist, Style Connoisseur, and caring mother and loving wife. When the pandemic finally leaves, you all will be marveled at how she will resurface with a big bang.”

By Oladapo Sofowora

It was yet another addition to the highly decorated cap of young and enterprising businessman and politician, Honorable Olumide Araoyinbo. Araoyinbo, a former majority leader of the Ondo State House of Assembly, was recently installed as the Basorun Onisowo of Ibadanland. Expectedly, Hon. Araoyinbo’s large base of friends and business colleagues stormed the ancient city of Ibadan and painted the town red leaving trails of sweet stories that will be told for long.

A man of many parts, Akoko-born Araoyinbo is a businessman, humanist, security expert, entrepreneur, investor, community leader, and politician of repute. He is the President of Akoko Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, Industry, Manufacturing, and Agriculture, AKOCCIMA. His foray into the murky waters of politics, he said, was informed by his experience as a child and the determination to liberate the masses and give succor to the poor.

His international business concerns include interest in manufacturing, property development, hospitality and tourism, importation and exporting, security and mining.

Before his latest addition to a long list of traditional titles, Araoyinbo held the traditional titles of Otunba Ogbagba-Agbotewole of Idimu-land, Lagos, Olu-Omo of Irun Akoko, and Otunba-Bobagunwa of Ogbagi-Akoko among several others. As a Parliamentarian, Araoyinbo served as the Chairman of a very strategic House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, and other Committees like Vice Chairman of Transport & Utilities, also in the Committees on Sports, Commerce & Industry, Natural Resources, and the Finance & Appropriation.

By Oladapo Sofowora

Seasons pass but billionaire luxury real estate mogul, Oluwasijibomi Ogundele, the M.D and C.E.O of Sujimoto Construction Company, remains grand, like the nurturant guardian whose tenderness and warmth blesses the land. Following the description made by Late American Rapper 2pac Shakur in his poem titled; “The Rose That Grew from Concrete”, Ogundele is a rose that grew from Agege; a suburb part of Lagos. He is indeed a treasured rose who built a multi-billion Naira property empire currently changing the face of luxury real estate in Nigeria. No doubt, Mr. Luxury as he is fondly called has blossomed into a man of affluence, style, class and integrity. He looms large across generations into eternity. The story of his exquisite manhood resonates with a pleasant peal. To his staff, family, friends, beneficiaries and other loved ones, his smiles have been their anchor, his shoulders their rampart of comfort to lean.

Unlike the fabled explorer, Christopher Columbus, who didn’t have a business plan when he discovered America, Sujimoto had a well-thought plan when he founded his luxury real estate dynasty Sujimoto Construction Company over 5 years ago. He proved that he was no rookie in the cut-throat world of business in the country’s real estate sector. When himself into the luxury real estate industry, he came with beyond-the-ordinary ideas, aiming at shattering the stereotype to be the shining light that would redefine the skylines of Nigeria with an audacious architectural masterpiece project that will compete with the rest of the world. Providence granted his heart desires as he was able to prove naysayers wrong with his incredible list of completed and ongoing projects littered across the country. At a point, like the title of Dr. Tai Solarin’s New Year message in 1964; ‘May Your Road Be Rough’; His road was indeed rough. Engaging the spirit of tenacity, not giving up on mediocrity and passion he was able to navigate through the murky waters of business typhoons directed to sink him.

Read Also: ‘How I went from hardwork to owning Sujimoto’

He is a skilled survivalist; for instance, just when many have written him off on the strength of his brush when Nigeria entered recession and his LorenzoBySujimoto project could not continue. He had to refund over 450Million Naira to off-takers. At this point, doubting Thomas’ thought it was the end of his business career. But with the heart of Hercules and the fearlessness of Achilles, he was able to rise above his travails, re-strategize and reconfigured his dreams and gave it another shot. This time around he was able to succeed despite all odds against him. Being a witness to the Sujimoto boss’ exploits is quite inspirational and replete with interesting anecdotes to ambitious young men and women seeking his kind of entrepreneurial success and acclaim.

As the young billionaire luxury property mogul sauntered into Age 40 yesterday the 8th of April, many leaders and entrepreneurs across the world sent their goodwill message to share in his pot full of joy. The Billionaire who learned the rudiment of business from his mother would be entrenching a culture of success and acclaim that has been the inspiration for generations of aspiring entrepreneurs and Nigeria’s nouveau riche. For the Law graduate from Anglia Ruskin University, England, there are many things he has envisaged to have achieved before entering the age of 40. Unlike his peers who are still struggling to find their feet in business, Sujimoto has redefined Banana Island; the wealthiest residential neighborhood in Nigeria with amazing projects like: GiulianoBySujimoto, LucreziaBySujimoto, LeonardoBy Sujimoto all in Banana Island. The S-Hotel Ikoyi and QueenAminaBySujimoto currently taking off in Abuja.

To mark his 40th birthday, sources said; the Motomatics theory originator is not relenting in his oars, most especially until Nigeria finally takes a new look at the European medieval, renaissance and modern luxury designs making it a tourist attraction and a point of reference as the giant of Africa. “Sujimoto is taking his trade out of Nigeria with his newest idea, a 44 storey building Sujimoto tower to be erected on 6,500 Psm land in the corner of Dubai downtown. The 44-floor edifice will conveniently boast of ultra-luxury residences, hotel suites and top-notch retail. Hotel franchise Fourseasons and Bacarrat will likely come on board. Other Luxury retails like Graff Private, Pateck Phillip, Vacheron, Costatine, Vertu and many other ultra-luxury retail brands. Top restaurants like Cipriani, Nusret and many others. The Sujimoto tower will be the first African tower in the middle of Dubai. He will also be the first African to build a tower in the Middle East.”

By Oladapo Sofowora

For Reverend Mother Esther Abimbola Ajayi aka Iya Adura, birthdays mean a lot to her.

Sauntering into age 58 is indeed a moment to celebrate and thank her creator for allowing her to witness yet another year on planet earth.

Most especially in a period when many have lost their life due to the deadly global pandemic. For the prayerful woman, being alive in good health is a testament that she is indeed blessed by her creator.

The generous clergywoman and Minister in Charge, Love of Christ Generation Church (C and S), who is known for cheerful giving, was caught off guard in the celebration of her big day on April 3 during the Easter break.

Last Saturday, at a private location in Shiro Landmark beach Lagos, she was surprised by her immediate family, friends, church members as they converged at the location to give her the surprise of her life at the birthday dinner to celebrate her 58th birthday.

The celebrant in her usual smiling and respectful nature arrived at the venue in the company of her husband and close family members fitted in a white gown looking different from the regular prayer attire.

She was looking way younger than her age as she could pass for a 30-year-old woman. Overwhelmed by the love shown to her by those around her she rained prayers on those who organized the surprise party in her honour.