By Oladapo Sofowora

When most of his peers were busy having fun, investing in designer outfits and exotic automobiles, without proper investment, Sijibomi Ogundele, Managing Director of Sujimoto Construction Company, was busy carving a niche for himself in the luxury real estate business. He has sowed on fertile land and is currently reaping the bountifully. During his formative years, he has always had the spirit to excel in business. At age 8, he already learned the rudiments of running a business successfully under the tutelage of his mother.

Drawing inspiration from luxury builders, Sijibomi Ogundele has been consumed with redefining the Lagos skyline with gigantic luxury projects that can rub shoulders with other architectural masterpieces littered across the world. When he launched his Sujimoto Construction Company years ago, many thought he was going to crash land. His competence and survival chances, most especially, for a young man like him was doubted. With hard work and fervent prayers, he is today regarded as the king of luxury buildings in Nigeria.

Read Also: Leo Stan Ekeh launches new edifice

From his previous projects like Guiliano by Sujimoto, Lucrezia by Sujimoto, and ongoing Leonardo by Sujimoto, he has put his footprint on the sands of time. His projects on Banana Island, Ikoyi Lagos, cemented his commitment to affordable luxury apartments for all sundry. To verify that Sujimoto works with credibility and sincerity, one of his Banana Island projects, currently houses Pop Star, Davido. “His current project, LeonardoBySujimoto, currently under construction, is a hot investment hub for investors. He has also delved into ‘Sujimoto Short Let’ with cheap luxury rooms in the Ikoyi area of Lagos for lease. For his LeonardoBy Sujimoto project, he is offering to give investors a 400% return on investment in two years. One of the biggest investment turnovers in the country,” a source disclosed.

The smooth-talking trained lawyer is currently having the best of time. What he envisaged for himself years ago, he is now initializing. He recently signed a deal to build the ‘Queen Amina of Zaira By Sujimoto’, one of the nation’s treasure houses located in Abuja, with a touch of the medieval and modern northern building pattern fitted with Arabian luxury housewares.

By Oladapo Sofowora

If Tony Elumelu, the head honcho of Heirs Holding, were to pen down a memoir on his journey in life, apart from being a successful businessman, one of the highlights would be marrying Dr. Awele Elumelu and welcoming beautiful children. Tony never jokes with his family. His schedules are quite tight and his travel itinerary/globetrotting quite broad, yet, he always creates time out of no time to play his fatherly role.

Tony and Awele’s close to two-decade nuptial union, showed observers and admirers that it takes more than love to make marriage blissful and flourish. They both have exhibited resilience, doggedness, truthfulness, the sincerity of purpose, fear of God as tenents in which their marriage is built on.

Read Also: Elumelu makes TIME’s 100 List of Most Influential People

Both Tony and Dr. Awele are proud parents as their eldest daughter, Ogechi Elumelu, who graduated from St. Catherine Bramley School, UK, is currently following the footstep of her father to actualise her dream of being a seasoned economist and financial expert.

A highly cerebral Ogechi, during her leisure, spends more time in her father’s UBA office, learning the rudiments and concepts of the modern banking system as an intern. She recently got admitted into the London Business School, where she would be bagging a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, a discipline which has been her choice of career path. An emotional Tony and Awele could not hold their joy as they escorted Ogechi to school for resumption.

By Oladapo Sofowora

Leo Stan Ekeh connotes the description of a goldfish that has no hiding place with his achievement in business – most especially the ICT sector. With his Zinox conglomerate, he single-handedly led a revolution in the Nigerian digital space.

At the point when most companies are folding up due to global obstacles, the Imo State-born businessman was able to navigate through the tides and sustain his workforce, thereby extending his business tentacles to the faraway United Arab Emirates. With this move, Ekeh launched himself in the Middle East with a brand new office situated in Dubai.

The lanky generous money bag alongside the Hon. Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, will officially launch his ‘Yudala Height’ building valued at over N15 billion.

The new oval design-like building is an eight-floor high rise and architectural masterpiece. Situated on the highbrow area of Idowu Martins street, Victoria Island, Lagos, investigations revealed that the property, before its new look, housed Ekeh’s office over two decades back.

Society Rendezvous gathered that after the official launch of Yudala Heights on October 1, Ekeh will be relocating his office from Oshodi Apapa Expressway to the new tastefully furnished space in Yudala height. Information at Society Rendezvous disposal says the Ekeh’s new office comes with a Penthouse, where he can receive private visitors, sophisticated musical equipment.

According to a close source, Ekeh has fixed his retirement for 2022.

”Leo Stan has finally set a retirement plan for the year 2022. He would resign as the Chairman of his business conglomerate and pass the baton to a younger generation. Though many of his admirers argued that his retirement was motivated by his plans of delving into politics in the year 2023, his target was to build his company’s net worth to over 10billion Dollars, a feat which he has since achieved before the targeted time”

The yet-to-be-launched ‘Yudala Height’ edifice, proudly boasts of 24 hrs central UPS security service, CCTV cameras surveillance, 3 soundproof generators, an elevated porch with disability entry, a spacious car park, an advanced fire fighting system, central air-conditioning system, plug and play Internet facility, stylish sanitary, 2 lift elevators, sewage/wastewater treatment plant, kitchenette, and storage space on every floor.

OLUSHOLA VICTOR

CHALLENGES will come, but no one prays for them. At present, former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode aka FFK, is fighting battles that are capable of consuming the weak.

A few weeks ago, he was widely condemned for lashing out at a journalist who asked him an uncomfortable question. The reporter wanted to know the sponsor of his tour of some PDP-controlled states.

Now, a fresh controversy has arisen. There are strong indications that his marriage to former beauty queen Precious Chikwendu is in crisis after six years. She’s his fourth wife. He was formerly married to Saratu Atta, Yemisi Olasunbo Adeniji and Regina Amonoo.

Fani-Kayode has threatened to sue a blogger over a report alleging domestic violence as the reason for the marital trouble. It is a claim he vehemently denies.

The blog had claimed Precious moved out without her sons and that the ex-minister took over the kids, put them under the care of a nanny, and forbade his estranged wife from coming near their house.

Read Also: FFK: Arrogant disdain for responsibility taken too far

Lawyers are demanding that the blogger coughs up a token N2 billion for sullying their clients reputation, and publishes an apology in two national dallies within 14 days.

Since the story broke, different reasons have been quoted as responsible for the separation. Apart from the alleged domestic violence, it is also suggested that Precious is battling a health challenge.

Meanwhile, the minister’s wife has piped up on social media with a cryptic Instagram post which many are decoding as her take on her marital situation.

She posted Psalm 126:1-3 with love emojis: “When the Lord turned against the captivity of the Zion, we were like them that dream. Then our mouth filled with laughter, our tongue with singing: then said among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.”

Well, make of that what you will!

Fani-Kayode and Precious’ marriage produced four boys, including triplets.

Our Reporter

Two leading Nigerian businessmen, Abdul Samad Rabiu of BUA Group and Alhaji Aliko Dangote of the Dangote Group, have shown all that truly the “sky is big for all birds to fly” and two people can excel in the same thing without being enemies.

For years, the duo has been the leading producers of cement in Nigeria and share many similarities. They both hail from Kano State.

During the week, Rabiu kick-started a move to build a refinery in Nigeria by collaborating with France’s Axens. The new project will go head-to-head with a refinery project being built by the Dangote Group.

Read Also: BUA Group, Africa CEO Forum seminar holds

While some industry watchers may conclude that Rabiu is only trying to continue a rivalry as he seems to be interested in everything Dangote does, the sector is big enough for more players to come in, which will be in the best interest of Nigeria as a country. It is on record that Nigeria imports 90% of its petroleum products and spends 35% of the country’s foreign exchange on importing petroleum products.

Also, healthy competition is allowed in businesses provided all parties are winning. That seems to be the case between Dangote and Rabiu.

OLUSHOLA VICTOR

IN the past few days, billionaire Femi Otedola has been in the news following his decision to splash millions of naira on his three daughters, DJ Cuppy, Temi and Tolani. He got each of them the luxury Ferrari car.

Ever since his daughters broke the news on social media with eye-catching photos, Otedola has been on the lips of Nigeria’s teeming youth. Some are now using him as a prayer point and others jokingly describe him as a yardstick to judge a “father.”

Read Also: Billionaire daughter, Temi Otedola, makes acting debut

It has also been observed that Femi Otedola has lost some weight. It was even more glaring in his latest Instagram post, where he said he was set to leave London for Monaco.

Some followers couldn’t but comment on his looks. A follower observed: “Sir, you’ve slimmed down so much.” Another asked: “What is the secret to your flat tummy is.”

Although Otedola was born into affluence, he has ensured the legacies of his late father, former Governor of Lagos State, Sir Michael Otedola, are kept alive. The exciting thing is that he didn’t have to venture into politics to achieve this.

OLUSHOLA VICTOR

OTUNBA Lekan Osifeso is not a new face on the social scene and in the business world. In July, the businessman launched a new company, Retro Construction Limited.

With the title, Olotu-Olowa, accorded him by the Awujale of Ijebu Land, Oba Sikiru Adetona, for his contributions to the socio-economic transformation of Ijebu Land, Osifeso is now a highly revered chieftain of Awujale.

Read Also: Laycon, Ozo, Vee, Nengi, Neo win N1.5 million

To celebrate this title, an event was held at the residence of the paramount ruler in Ijebu-Ode. It was graced by Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat; Senator representing Ogun-East Senatorial District, Senator Lekan Mustapha; Fuji Maestro, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde and House of Representatives member representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency, Shina Peller.

OLUSHOLA VICTOR

DO you remember Pastor Bimbo Odukoya, the celebrity pastor who lost her life to the Sosoliso Airlines crash on December 10, 2005?  Although she survived the initial impact after the airline crashed during landing at Port Harcourt International Airport, she died from injuries sustained on the next day.

Married to Pastor Taiwo Odukoya of Fountain of Life Church, she left three kids behind – Tolu, Jimmy and Tobi. While her first two kids have been married for years, the last one, Tobi just tied the knot a few days ago in a private ceremony.

Read Also: Lekki Pastor in auto crash

Tobi got engaged to her Delta lover, Oluchi Enuha, on December 25, 2008. But the traditional ceremony took place at The Providence By Mantis Ikeja GRA, Lagos, September 12, the same day of her mother’s posthumous 60th birthday.

With gratitude, Pastor Taiwo shared on his Instagram page: “Thank you everyone for your prayers. My daughter, Oluwatobi got married today in a close family ceremony. We will continue to give God all the glory for His faithfulness. God bless you all.”

OLUSHOLA VICTOR

FEMALE singer, Ahigbe Omoye Blessing, aka Calis Bless, doesn’t think talented female artistes are getting enough support from established musicians and wealthy showbiz lovers or investors.

Calis Bless, who just released an Afro-pop track “You”, has challenged Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Simi and others to support the upcoming female singers so as to increase the number of females in the music industry. According to her, artistes like Olamide, Don Jazzy and Davido have picked interest in many male upcoming artistes and helped them to stardom by giving them great platforms and support.

Read Also: I will love to spend a day with Yemi Alade — Remi Crown

The Edo-born songstress admitted that her passion for music has kept her going in the industry despite the tough terrain.

She said: “Talent is not enough to excel in music because money is needed to record and promote even a good song.

Starting out her music career in 2018, Calis Bless released two singles – “Without the Money” and “Don’t Go.”  And in 2019, she dropped “Ijo Cuppy” and “For You.”

This year, despite COVID-19, she has released singles like “Jaye Lo”, “Party” and the latest one, “You.”