The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ernest Azudialu

  • Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi adds a year

    Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi adds a year

    When it comes to identifying crowd pullers and men of the people, it is easy to separate the wheat from the chaff. There are those who, having nothing tangible in the form of a legacy to show for all their fame and fortune, rent crowds to sing their phantom praises just to give off the illusion of popularity. And then there are others like the boss of Obijackson Enterprises, Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi, whose tangible achievements litter the landscape and are visible even to the blind.

    Azudialu is the boss of Nestoil, a leading indigenous oil and gas company with interests in the upstream and downstream sectors. He also sits on the board of Julius Berger and Smile Communications, among others. As popular as he is in the business world, he is no less a household name at the grassroots, especially in the East. This was evident during his recent birthday celebration when there was an outpouring of acclaim for the man of means whose initiatives have gone a long way in making the lots of his people better.

    The ‘Osuofia’ of Okija in Anambra State is revered by his kinsmen in Okija for transforming the town into a cosmopolitan city with dozens of eye-popping properties. His Obijackson Foundation has dispensed scores of scholarships and grants to indigent students and skilled people. The Obijackson Women and Children Hospital is another initiative of his that has quickly become the place to be for those seeking medical attention in Igboland.

    Mindful of the needs of his people, his palatial mansion in Okija provides employment for scores of the town’s people. The Face of Okija is a cultural event funded by Obijackson, which helps to unearth talented artists and musicians every year. These initiatives have no doubt endeared him to his people who now regard him as a saviour of sorts.

  • Ernest Azudialu marries off daughter in style

    Many Nigerians may be groaning under the weight of economic recession, for wealthy men like NESTOIL boss Ernest Azudialu, recession is just a word. Not the threats of economic recession could stop the charming head honcho of NESTOIL from putting on a spectacular show of opulence at the wedding of his daughter in Okija, Anambra State.

    At the occasion, the bride shone like a million stars, dazzling the assemblage of eminent personalities who thronged the legendary town to witness the couple’s union. But it was the lavish display of wealth that caught most people off guard as they had expected a modest celebration due to the well documented struggles of the bride’s father.

    But that does not obscure the fact that the fun-loving dude, fondly called Obijackson by admirers, has been engaged in some struggles of late. This is best exemplified by the fact that construction has stalled on his private mega mansion in Ikoyi, Lagos.

  • Ernest Azudialu fades off social radar

    ON first encounter, Ernest Azudialu, comes across as a hard worker and a resilient entrepreneur. But while he loves his job and perhaps works harder than most other entrepreneurs, he also parties as hard as a rock star. Surprising, however, his face has been scarce on the social scene for quite a while. These days, trying to find him at a social event or celebrity gig is akin to looking for boiled eggs in a Sallah stew prepared by a rich Muslim woman.

    His sudden disappearance has led many to wonder what the multiple business award winner must be up to. The social scene could certainly do with the flamboyance and irreverence which made the fresh-faced founder of Obijackson West Africa once throw a party where things happened that could turn nuns to nursing mothers and make men of God forsake the good news.

    But those days seems to have passed away for the top dog at oil and gas giant, Nestoil, as he seems to have swapped parties and bashes with business proposals and boardroom activities. The owner of four private jets, including a Gulfstream four, and no fewer than 20 exotic cars even confessed that he spends a lot of time in the air these days. No wonder he has faded off the social radar.

  • Ernest Azudialu adopts low profile

    Ernest Azudialu adopts low profile

    A first encounter with Ernest Azudialu reveals a hard working and resilient entrepreneur. But while he loves his work and works perhaps harder than most entrepreneurs, he parties as hard as a rock star.

    Surprisingly, he has been scarce on the social scene for a while. His sudden absence has caused many to wonder what the bubbly dude is up to. The head honcho of Nestoil Group seems to have chosen to maintain a low profile lifestyle rather than rock the social scene like he used to.

    But now, Azudialu has embraced privacy and has surprisingly decided to be socially elusive.

  • Ernest Azudialu stages jaw-dropping party in Texas

    Ernest Azudialu stages jaw-dropping party in Texas

    Two things are likely to strike anyone who is just getting familiar with Ernest Azudialu: his penchant for hard work as a resilient entrepreneur and his ability to seize every opportunity he can to party as hard as he works.

    A few days ago, the head of Nestoil Group hosted a jaw dropping party at his magnificent mansion in Houston, USA where half clad women gyrated to tunes that boomed from loud speakers at the venue.

    The party took a more racy turn when Azudialu urged the ladies he had as guests to dance as much as they could and heaped loads of dollar notes on the best dancers. The tale of the lavish party is still on the lips of many who attended.

  • Ernest Azudialu escapes death

    The presidential and National Assembly elections held on March 28 with the owner of Nestoil Plc, a multi-billion naira indigenous oil and gas company, Ernest Azudialu, escaping death by a whisker.

    The oil magnate, a kingmaker of sort in his Ihiala, Anambra State community, was said to have tried to intervene in a post-election issue concerning the altering of election results in favour of some candidates who obviously had lost the House of Representatives election.

    His move was said to have angered one of the politicians that would benefit from the unlawful act. The politician promptly assaulted Azudialu, while political thugs also started shooting at his Mercedes Benz G-Wagon SUV as he tried to run into safety.

    Since the incident, family members and friends of the oil magnate have been thanking God for keeping him alive.