Category: Society

By Oladapo Sofowora

The Aare Onakakanfo of Owu Kingdom, Prince Bolu Akin Olugbade, might be gone from our sight but not our mind. While he was alive, he lived like a king. He was generous, stylish, and cosmopolitan. The trained lawyer never hid his passion and love for the popular high-end Rolls Royce automobile.

Anytime a new edition launches, he is ever ready to break the bank to secure the newest edition. With the sobriquet; ‘Mr Rolls Royce’, he is one of the world’s largest collectors of Rolls Royce automobiles.

At the height of the pandemic last year, the astute businessman was caught up in the United States of America as international flights were grounded globally to curtail the spread of the virus. He returned to the country late last year. Despite taking several precautions, he eventually caught the virus and died at Paelon Hospital in Ikeja Lagos, where he was being treated on January 13.

However, before his death, the 64 years old billionaire made the last reconciliation with his estranged old friend. It would be recalled that for many years, Akin-Olugbade was involved in a serious cold fight with his erstwhile friend and fellow billionaire property merchant, Sir Olu Okeowo, over irreconcilable difference, supremacy, and age.

Their fight was so messy that they never saw eye to eye even at social gatherings. They were like light and darkness and they chose never to meet again to avoid physical confrontation. Mutual friends of the hitherto besties tried to reconcile them but all efforts proved abortive.

Sources told Society Rendezvous that sometimes in December 2020, a former Governor of Ogun State and chieftain of All Progressive Congress, Chief Olusegun Osoba, reconciled the duo at a private location on Banana island, before they retired to Olu Okeowo’s palatial mansion at Parkview for celebration. “The most surprising thing was that Akin Olugbade made the move for the reconciliation after he got back from the United States of America. He made peace with his long time ally,” a close ally of the billionaires disclosed.

By Oladapo Sofowora

The success story of Barrister Allen Onyema, the head honcho of Nigeria’s leading aviation firm, Air Peace, can be likened to that of the biblical David, the man after God’s heart. He is highly favoured by God that everything he touches turns into gold. His success story teaches that doggedness, tenacity, hope, and prayers are strong virtues that will help a man succeed in life. If you are wondering how he was able to tower high far above his competitors in the aviation industry within a short while, he did not just attain his current status by luck, but with sheer dint of hard work.

Since his formative years, he has always wanted to be an employer of labour. Despite being a trained lawyer, graduating with fine grades from the University of Ibadan, providence granted his heart desires when he founded Air Peace in 2013, with just seven aircraft named after his wife and kids, blessing him with a workforce of over 3,000 direct and indirect staff.

The highly cerebral astute businessman, further registered his presence as the nation’s pride during the Xenophobic attack when he volunteered to bear the cost of repatriating hundreds of stranded Nigerians in South Africa in early September 2019. With the kind gesture rendered to hundreds of Nigerians, Onyema was regarded as a ‘National Hero’ with a large heart and was also honoured by the lower National Assembly. In late 2019, an allegation of fraud by the United State Government was threatening to tear him apart but his antecedents came calling as Nigerian’s stood by him in solidarity while he maintained his innocence.

Last year, during the heat of the Covid-19 pandemic, when many airlines were downsizing and throwing wage cuts at their staffs, Onyema showed his wizardry by carving out possible means to maintain his workforce and stay afloat in business. Onyema also kept increasing his fleet as he took delivery of a new 50-seater Embraer 145 jet, with two more brand new jets to be added before March 2021.

The Anambra state born father of four is in the quest to make Nigeria soar higher in aviation, extending his flight route outside the coast of Africa, most especially, after it completed a historic 11hours non-stop charter flight from Nigeria to the Caribbean Island Nation of Jamaica with 132 passengers on-board.

By Oladapo Sofowora

A few years ago, if a soothsayer had told HRM Nasiru Ado Bayero, he would today be Emir of Bichi, Kano State, he would have ignored it with a wave of the hand. He was just a principled man quietly impacting his immediate society, contributing his quota to uplift his people.

When he was announced as the next Emir of Bichi, he saw it as a clarion call to further serve his people in a larger capacity. After the announcement by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje in March 2020, when his elder sibling HRM Aminu Ado Bayero was announced as the Emir of Kano, he was showered with love from his people. During his coronation, all and sundry stood by him in solidarity, pledging their full support to enable his reign is a success.

After ascending the throne, he never disappointed his people. His popularity grew like wildfire. He attracted several developmental projects into the Emirate. With his exposure, most especially, as a communication graduate from the University of Maiduguri and later bagged a degree in the German language from the prestigious Harvard Business school, he never toyed with projecting his native culture at the slightest opportunity.

He was always fitted in his colourful regal robe with several displays of royal splendour of the Bichi Emirate. He never failed to display his alluring and stylish rich cultural outfit and paraphernalia when he rode on a horse during the wedding of one of his daughters, Zainab, last week.

The 9mobile Nigeria Chairman, in an elated mood, was a proud father as his look-alike daughter, Princess Zainab Umma Ado Bayero, tied the nuptial knot with her long-time heartthrob, Engineer Aminu Bature. The grand wedding ceremony which took place on Friday, January 7, was hosted for a week with a series of fun-filled events to spice it up.

The event had a carnival, dinner/cocktail party, royal parade, and lots more. The couple both exchanged marital vows amidst a VIP audience and top Government functionaries. The wedding soiree also hosted popular pop artist JoeBoy who thrilled invited guests at a private reception party.

Top dignitaries spotted at the wedding soiree were; Governor of Kano state; Abdullahi Ganduje and Governor of Niger State; Abubakar Sani Bello, Minister of Communication and Digital Economy Dr. Isa Alli Pantami, Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Works Engr. Abubakar Kabir Abubakar Bichi, Speaker Kano State House of Assembly Engr. Hamisu Ibrahim Chidari, Leader of Qadriyya Movement in West Africa Sheikh Qariballah Nasir Kabara, Imam Buhari, and several other religious scholars were there, same with serving and former commissioners, and other top government functionaries, among others.

By Olushola Ricketts    

For the past few days, it’s been all celebration in the household Chief Razak Okoya, owner of Eleganza Group of companies.

On Tuesday, January 12, the industrialist and his wife, Shade Okoya, had two reasons to celebrate – the Aare of Lagos turned 81 and their pretty daughter, Resheeda, turned 20.

Although it was a modest celebration by all standards of the Okoyas due to rise in COVID-19 cases, they still found a way to have fun. Family members and celebrant were thrilled with indigenous performances such as eulogy, dance and poetry by a cultural group.

Taking to social media, the billionaire’s beautiful wife showered accolades on the duo. The socialite labelled her husband and daughter her two favourite people in the world, adding she was lucky they shared the same day.

By Olushola Ricketts   

Death has visited one of the most respected families in Nigeria and it has taken away their patriarch, billionaire Bolu Akin-Olugbade.

During his lifetime, the socialite who reportedly died due to COVID-19 complications made news headlines for his love for the Rolls Royce. He recently acquired a brand new Rolls Royce automobile called The Cullinan. It was his 63rd birthday gift to himself and the number plate is BOLU 10.

At a time, it was gathered that he had 10 Rolls Royce Limousines in his exotic garage and has been driving the automobiles since 1984.

By Olushola Ricketts   

There is fire on the mountain following the sudden demise of popular billionaire, Bolu Akin-Olugbade, former military administrator of Imo and Lagos States, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd); Lagos State Deputy Governor’s brother, Dr. Haroun Hamzat and Planet One Hotel owner, Shaka Momoh.

Their passing has sent a shock wave to their well-heeled friends.

What makes this more dreadful is that all these deaths were reportedly caused by COVID-19 complications. Although last year, the virus took the lives of socialites like Senator Buruji Kashamu and former Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, things returned to normal and everyone thought the pandemic was under control. But then, suddenly, the second wave sweeps in and high society is bearing the brunt.

Mayegun Wasiu Ayinde Marshal was even quick to warn guests at a recent Lagos party of the danger of COVID-19 and the need to take social distancing seriously. Although it was in his usual Yoruba dialect, he sang: “Don’t put the king of Fuji in trouble. I am here to talk about Coro. It is not a child’s at all. Please give me social distance. It is not child’s play.”

Due to the fear of coronavirus, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, had to postpone his 50th coronation anniversary indefinitely. This is a landmark celebration for the royal father and all plans had been concluded to push the boat out for him.

Yearly, Chief Rasak Okoya hosts high society to a lavish party for his birthday anniversary. But days ago as he turned 81, the celebration was limited to family members due to the pandemic.

A source who refused to give names due to the sensitivity of the matter told Social Circuit that some other top society figures were in different isolation centres, while more are now concerned about their health. The source added that it would take God’s grace for some to survive the pandemic.

OLUSHOLA RICKETTS    

When a position is vacated voluntarily or involuntarily, it is normal for it to be filled by another person.

Finally, Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, has found a befitting personality for the vacant position of the highest honorary chieftain tittle in Ibadan, Agba Oye.  It would be recalled that until his death, billionaire Ibadan indigene and businessman, Chief Harry Akande, wore the cap.

Now, Captain Kola Karim, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Shoreline Natural Resources Ltd, has emerged as the new Agba Oye.

Considering Akande’s reputation in Ibadan, this is indeed a big shoe for the new occupant to step in.  It was learnt that Olubadan’s carefully considered the options before him before concluding that Karim would be the best fit.

Apart from being a man of class and affluence, Karim has built a business empire for himself. He is also current Chairman of the Board of Directors of Costain Plc, Nigerian Ropes Plc, and serves as a Director in companies like Shoreline Power Company Ltd, Shoreline Energy International Ltd, Ecobank Nigeria Plc, Schlumberger Testing & Production Services Nigeria Ltd and Trans Amadi Facilities Ltd.

OLUSHOLA RICKETTS    

Turning 70 deserves a big celebration and that was exactly how Olori Subuola Animashaun, wife of Oloja of Epe, Oba Kamorudeen Animashaun, was celebrated few days ago at the Balmoral Event Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, in Lagos.

Before the lavish celebration of the Epe King’s first lady was declared open, Alhaji Abdullateef Olumoko and Alhaji Aliyu Ajiyobiojo blessed the celebrant and loved ones with prayers. The decoration of the hall in white and gold was a beauty to behold.

The party started immediately Olori Animashaun, dressed in a white traditional outfit along with her family, stormed the venue.

Apart from the soothing sounds of King Wasiu Ayinde, a major talking point of the event was the cutting of the birthday cake which was cheered by the elated guests, and followed by wining and dining.

Faces spotted at the party included wife of the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat, Oba Saheed Elegushi, Chief (Mrs.) Shade Okoya, Chief (Mrs) Kofoworola Adebutu, Alhaja Kuburat Okoya, Mrs. Modupe Oguntade, Mr Habeeb Okunola, Chief Adebola Dosunmu, Hon. Abiodun Tobun and MC Oluomo.