Category: Society

In Yoruba land one of the few monarchs, who is well loved and respected by all sundry, is Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, the Alake of Egba land. Some claimed his affable nature and his deep-rooted knowledge of the customs, culture, and tradition of Yoruba people and Egba land seems to be one of the reasons he is revered. Some claimed his lifestyle as one king who does not associate himself with pettiness and also not economical with the truth. Many see him as an epitome of royalty for his fearlessness and uncommon tenacity.

Since his ascension to the throne of his forebears in 2005, he has ensured that development ensued in his immediate environment using his goodwill and clout to ensure a major transformation project is facilitated in his kingdom. Apart from this he has thrown his palace door open to everyone and also proffers solutions to problems within his capacity and has also been a father to all. Today, the monarch has constantly called for the unity of Nigeria and also preached peace at every opportunity.

Alake loves to be celebrated all the time. For a monarch of his magnitude, who is selfless, he does not joke about his birthday. As the monarch will celebrate his 79th birthday on September 14, sons, and daughters of Egba land have started to celebrate his Imperial Majesty, who is currently on holiday in the United States of America. In celebration of his birthday, his train will move to London where he would be hosted by descendants of Egba and well-meaning Nigerians that would be waiting to throw a massive soiree for him.

Those who know Barr. Mariam Afolabi, daughter of Maritime guru and Vice Chairman of SIFAX groups and Marriott Hotel, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, would attest to the fact that she is a die-hard fashion enthusiast with no regret. She is a delight to handsome and upward-mobile guys in town as she is one of the hottest spinsters within the Lagos metropolis.

To show how much she admirers fashion and arts, she launched a multi-million Naira fashion complex, The Style Café which comprises a fashion label, Mademoiselle Aglaia, a unisex salon, a beauty parlour, a spa, and an eatery where local and intercontinental foods are served at the highbrow Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

Mariam’s beauty can make a full-blooded man drool. Anytime she saunters into an event, wearing her favourite Hanako cologne, she commands rapt attention. Her fashion statements, composure, gait, and charming smile also attract loud attention. Apart from her physical qualities, one thing that distinguishes her from her peers is her highly cerebral nature. She graduated from the University of Warwick, Coventry, England with a degree in Law and also obtained a Post Graduate degree (LLM with distinction) in International Maritime Law from the IMO International Maritime Law Institute, Malta.

Since she was appointed in 2018 as the Executive Director of Compliance SIFAX Groups, she has recoiled into her cocoon, staying off shindigs and other social functions. Sources disclosed that Mariam is quitting spinsterhood as she will be tying the nuptial knot with her boyfriend of many years. Her family will be ready to host the high and mighty in the society to her wedding soiree in mid-October at the Marriott Hotel in Lagos and also a foreign destination for the white wedding. Sources further disclosed that; the Lagos wedding will be the traditional wedding and engagement at the Marriott Hotel.

Philanthropist and czar, Femi Otedola, Chairman, Geregu Power Plant has rededicated his life to the upliftment of humanity. More reason at any opportunity to give back to humanity, he does not do it in half measure. Despite his distinct wizardry as a consummate businessman, Otedola’s philanthropic gestures, especially his wondrous donations now and then, are a testament to the goodness of a man who cannot stop giving without blinking an eye.

During the heat of the Covid-19 pandemic, Otedola and some others in CACOVID, the private sector-driven coalition spearheaded by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), pooled resources across industries to provide technical and operational support, while building advocacy through aggressive awareness drives with the sole aim of combating the deadly virus in Nigeria. He was one of the few who coordinated and donated heavily to cushion the effect of the virus on average Nigerians. Apart from the Covid pandemic, he has paid hospital bills for several people running into millions of Naira and he does not court media attention about his gestures.

As soon as he identifies any area of need for people anywhere, he moves in swiftly to address the situation by alleviating their sufferings through gifts in cash and kindness. His uncommon gesture has fetched him standing ovations, encomiums, accolades, awards, and recognitions not only in Nigeria but across the globe.

For his service to humanity, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him one of the executive members of the National End Malaria Council (NMEC), a body established to eliminate the scourge of malaria in the country. No one will forget in a hurry how he shattered all records in charity in Nigeria with a humongous donation of 5 Billion to the Save the Children Foundation in 2019. Otedola, in giving to the cause of humanity, believes it is far better and more gratifying to make a difference in the lives of the poor.

Senator Umar Kibiya is one of the few men, who infused his transformation agenda into the immigration service during the transition of Nigeria to democratic rule before his retirement in the year 2000. As acting Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service, He ensured Nigeria’s borders were properly manned and the influx of foreign nationals and other neighbouring countries reduced drastically. At that time, he also ensured swift collection of passports among other things he did during his tenure. After meritorious service to the immigration service, he was rewarded by his people with a seat at the Upper National assembly to represent the Kano South Senatorial District from 2003-2007. While in the red chambers, he was active. He sponsored and co-sponsored several bills which are till today a reference point to the development of the country.

At the end of his tenure in the Senate, he also obeyed the call of his people as he was turbaned as the Sarkin Kibiya of Kibiya Local Government Area of Kano State following the death of Late Sarkin Kibiya Alh Ado Abdullahi Kibiya. Since then he has since stayed away from playing national politics. The political science graduate from the University of Maryland, College Park is indeed an elated man. Despite keeping a low profile, his son Amir Kibiya threw him into public consciousness last weekend when he performed all traditional rites to tie the nuptial knot with his fiancée turn wife Ruqayya Ado-Bayero, daughter of the Emir of Kano His Imperial Majesty Aminu Ado Bayero last weekend.

Today, September 2, at the Emir’s palace in Kano city, the couple will finalize their nuptial rites as they will be officially married as husband and wife. Sources say the wedding party will be an all-royal affair as top guests have already jetted into Kano State since yesterday to celebrate with the royal fathers of the bride and groom.

The name Mariam Anako connotes beauty and splendour with an uncommon aura. She is a top management executive of Nestoil Limited. She was quietly doing her thing until she caught the rapt attention of Nigeria’s influential monarch Ooni of Ife HIM Adeyeye Babatunde Ogunwusi who we gathered asked her to be his wife. Royalty is sweet, and the aura and sartorial elegance that comes with the ‘Olori’ title is very tempting so without wasting time she accepted to be the wife of the youthful monarch. The news spread like wildfire thereby generating mixed reactions. Mariam kept it lowkey as she adorned herself with the graceful gait of an Olori anywhere she goes.

She comes from a very influential family in Kogi State. Her elder sister, Medinat Anako is a lawyer, businesswoman, and also Special Adviser on Intergovernmental Affairs and Kogi State Diaspora Focal Point Officer (DFPO) to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State. While another of her elder siblings, Mrs. Raliat Abdulrahman nee Anako is a Special Adviser to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila. Her grandparents are of Kogi State descent Igbira to be precise but settled in Kwara state Ilorin with their family house situated Adewole Estate. Despite losing her father at a tender age, she was raised by former IGP Mohammed Dikko Abubakar who reigned as the boss of the Nigerian Police between 2012 to 2014.

Sources say Mariam is not in a good mood lately especially when her dream of being the number one Olori to the Ooni of Ife is beginning to look bleak. When she was announced as Olori many thought she was going to move into the Ile-Ife palace but sources disclosed that her agreement with her husband is that she will be resident in Lagos and will keep working. Those close to the Lagos big girl disclosed that she is currently not happy with the latest development from the Ooni’s palace who is planning to take another bride.

For everyone living in Nigeria, the level of insecurity in the eastern part of Nigeria has become a collective concern for all sundry.

Prominent people within that axis have openly condemned the level of insecurity and also proffered lasting solutions through dialogue and appeal to all aggrieved people responsible for insecurity which has stalled the rapid growth of the region. Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, representing Anambra South, has worked assiduously to ensure the safety of his people through the legislature.

At one point, he tried to visit Nnamdi Kanu in detention via a lawsuit he filed before the federal high court. All his effort to speak to Kanu proved abortive.

He wanted to appeal to Kanu to speak to those who were causing mayhem within the region to cease fire. This further showed how committed he is to the lives and properties of his people.

In his capacity, he has partnered with the federal government and his state government to bring a lasting solution to the security threat within his domain.

Tomorrow Saturday, September 3, he would be celebrating his 51st birthday but due to the security issues within his immediate environment, he has appealed to his friends and well-wishers not to throw any birthday soiree for him.

In the very saturated real estate industry, there are some industry players who are doing things differently and getting the right result. One of the very few is Dr. Muibi Hammed, the Chief Executive Officer CEO of MKH Investment Limited and Destiny Crest Building Engineering Ltd who has dedicated his life to entrepreneurship. When he started, many didn’t believe in his dreams. In fact, those he shared his plans with started sneering at him spewing disparaging comments but his belief and his ability to turn things around in the lowest of situations worked for him. Today, with a business conglomerate with hands tied in several pies of business, all he sowed with tears he is currently reaping bountifully from with smiles on his face. Today, with estates running into billions of Naira on the Lekki-Epe Axis, Muibi is enough to show that his hard work over the years has finally paid off.

Oftentimes, he has tagged his astronomic rise in business to his quest and love for education. Bagging an Ordinary National Diploma OND in Mathematics and Statistics; a BSc. degree in Business Administration, MSc. in Project Management also an honorary doctorate in Estate Management and Property Development from the European-American University, Republic of Panama this has shown that knowledge is power more reason through his personal capacity through his sheer passion for philanthropy, he has sponsored several students whose parent can’t afford fees to school under his scholarship scheme and has donated heavily to charity works.

Sources say; that in his quest to support the effort of the government in providing affordable housing units to the general populace, his newest housing project named ‘The wealthy place’ is fast becoming a sold-out venture creating opportunities for new homeowners under a very minimal pocket-friendly budget.

For erstwhile Group Managing Director GMD of First Bank of Nigeria; Chief Bisi Onasanya, celebrating birthdays with a loud fanfare has never been his forte. He is a man who does not court unnecessary attention and loves to celebrate with his few circles of friends and family. He is a man noted for excellence most especially reading through his rise in the banking industry before going on to seat atop Nigeria’s oldest bank as its GMD for close to 5 years before his exit in 2015. After his exit from the first bank, many didn’t have a clear picture of what was next for the Ijebu man. Some even disclosed that he might likely move to Dubai or London to start a new life there but little did they know that Onasanya has an undying passion for the booming real estate terrain. Immediately after his tenure ended, he founded Address Homes Limited, a real estate business firm that is investing in luxury building apartments in the country with the most projects located in Lagos and Abuja. His 61st birthday on August 18, coincided with the AFRIMA’s Patron’s Dinner, and Onasanya was caught by surprise with a befitting birthday cake. The event was held at Ebony’s Place on Victoria Island and a super elated Bisi could not hold his joy along with his wife Helen Omowunmi Onasanya.

If you were to take a long analysis on the sojourn of Dr. Alimi Abdulrazaq, the Mutawali of Ilorin in life, his story teaches a long list of virtues which is required for the growth of anyone who carefully studies it. Despite toeing the path of his late father as a legal luminary of high repute; one thing was sure for him, he ensured he raised the bar high which earned him several feats as a successful businessman and educationist. After joining his late father’s law firm house of Law as a managing partner, he became a fearless lawyer who rose through the ranks, and his love for his background spurred him to invest in education. He founded the Bridge House College Ikoyi Lagos also following the footsteps of his father who founded Ilorin College before the Government took over the school. As Commissioner, Legal Licensing and Enforcement of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC), Chairman, National Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe, and Member, National Council on Privatization Dr. Alimi performed excellently well where he infused his expertise as a corporate amazon and a boardroom guru.

Despite failing in his attempt at the seat of the Governor of Kwara state in 1999, he played a pivotal role in the emergence of his brother, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq who is the incumbent Governor of Kwara State today. Today, the ideas and ideals he had for Kwara state, we gathered, had been handed over to his younger sibling who is currently doing a good job to ensure the people of Kwara enjoy the dividend of democracy. Sources say that; Ever since he took over from his father Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Folorunso AbdulRazaq as the Mutawali of Ilorin (Financial Minister) of the Emirate earlier this year, he has never failed to use his resource for the upliftment of humanity. He has since raised the bar high and carried on from where his father stopped.

Displaying wealth and conviviality amidst grand opulence, Sir Chief, Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion loves to live the good life but one thing about him that never changes is his golden heart which earned him the title the Esama of Benin Kingdom which means (Son of the People). Ever since his ascension to that office he has since stayed above board playing his fatherly role. If there is one thing the well-traveled billionaire magnate is thankful for, it’s his creator granting him good health and wealth with a thriving empire that would outlive him. So at every opportunity for him to celebrate his birthday, he does not leave any stone unrolled. In fact, he will spare no cost to enable him to make the necessary noise to the high heavens.

In celebration of his 88th birthday, the Edo high chief is bent to paint the city of Benin red. His birthday will not be forgotten in a hurry as he plans to pamper himself with the aesthetic display of rich African culture amidst fanfare. We gathered that cultural troops from all 36 states of Nigeria will take turns to perform at the much anticipated 88th birth celebration of the iconic Patriarch of the Igbinedion dynasty and the Honorary Romania Ambassador to Edo and Delta states respectively from September 5 to September 12, 2022.

Sources claimed that invitations are being sent across the country to an array of personalities from the diplomatic circle, politicians, royal fathers, business moguls, and Religious groups among others.