Nigerian corporate mogul and father-in-law to former Senate President Bukola Saraki, Otunba Adekunle Ojora, has been reported dead.
The Billionaire’s family said Ojora died this morning at the age of 93.
His death was announced in a statement issued on behalf of the family by his daughter and
former First Lady of Kwara State, Mrs. Toyin Ojora-Saraki.
The Billionaire leaves behind his wife, Erelu Ojuolape Ojora, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The statement said: “With total submission to the will of Almighty Allah (SWT), the Ojora Family of Lagos hereby announces the passing of our beloved patriarch, Otunba Adekunle Ojora, the Otunba of Lagos and Lisa of Ife, who returned to his creator early this morning.
“We say Alhamdulilahi for a life well lived, and we comply with Allah’s words that ‘Surely, to Allah we belong and to Him we will all return’ (Q2: 156).”
The family announced that his remains would be interred according to Islamic rites, adding: “We urge all members of the public to join us in praying to Allah to grant His servant, who has lived a dignified life, reprieve in the grave and a place in Aljannah Firdaus.”
Life
BIOGRAPHY (WIKIPEDIA)
Ojora is a member of the Ojora and Adele royal families of Lagos and is himself the holder of the chieftaincy of the Otunba of Lagos. He studied journalism at Regent Street Polytechnic, with the intention of developing a career in journalism.
He started work as a staff member of the BBC where he rose to become an assistant editor. In 1955, he switched his services to the Nigerian government as a reporter with the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation. He was soon transferred to Ibadan as an information officer in the office of the regional premier.
Ojora’s stint with NBC lasted until 1961 when he took up appointment as the public relations manager at United African Company.
Ojora soon developed interest in the commercial units of enterprises, he became an executive director of UAC in 1962.
After a military coup truncated the first republic, Ojora was nominated as a member of Lagos City Council in 1966.
A year later, he was given political appointments in two government agencies, in 1967, he was managing director of WEMABOD, a regional property and investment company and also in 1967, he succeeded Kola Balogun as chairman of Nigerian National Shipping Line.
After leaving WEMABOD, he became an investor in various firms including AGIP petroleum marketing and NCR Nigeria.
He also founded the private firms Nigerlink Industries, Unital Builders and a holding company Lagos Investments.
After the Nigerian Enterprise Promotion Act, he took equity interest in some foreign companies operating in Nigeria such as investments in the Nigerian operations of Bowring Group, Inchape, Schlumberger, Phoenix Assurance, UTC Nigeria, Evans Brothers and Seven-Up.
