•As 100 Top Celebrities Flew Out With Him
•Details Of The Classy Event
The city of Seville in Spain was agog with a classy wedding last weekend, Saturday 21st September 2019 and it was staged by 2 prominent families from Nigeria, The Atedo Petersides and Ibitoyes. The beautiful nuptials between Gbemisola Ibitoye and Atowari Peterside may have come and gone but the memory still lingers in the minds of all the important guests that flew into the country for about 2 days. The wedding can be termed as the classiest and most expensive wedding by Nigerians in Spain as we speak. Everyone and everywhere was abuzz of the prep of the wedding and both families did not do less as they spared no cost to give their children a superlative wedding. Many of those who got invited to the great city had only one thing to say, that this is ”it’s one of the destination wedding of all time in terms of sheer extravagance & opulence.
The money spent rolled into several millions of naira. Seville, especially the venue used, would not forget in a hurry as Nigeria & Nigerians were put on the map for another reason entirely. Close to 100 guests flew to the city to honour both parents and it lived up to expectation as many of them gathered together to cherish the beautiful home away from home soiree. The entire Hacienda venue was used for the different segments of the wedding.
The classy wedding had the paraphernalia of the high society. Give it to Nigerians, they sure know how to party. It was a great day for the couple, Atowari and Gbemisola as they said ‘’I DO’’ in front of their families and friends. They both looked good in their wedding outfits for their day. The party was well coordinated and delicious 5-course was the order of the day. There was also a brunch session for many guests that were on the trip. All the hotel rooms were fully booked and also neighbouring ones were not left out either. For the entertainment of guests, there was a refreshing session where bartenders were already stationed at the entrance of the venue serving drinks to all guest before they go in for the wedding proper.
There was also the availability of brunch for guests afterwards at Villa Luisa. The floral decoration of the venue was superb in a very quiet environment. It was also an avenue for guests to tour Spain and have a nice time all around. The couple looked radiant in their designer’s outfit all through the event and it was one change of wardrobe to the another. Guests also did not disappoint in the colorful combo of their dinner dresses.
The journey to matrimony for Atowari and Gbemisola started in July when they had their traditional wedding. It was a very colourful moment when guests in hundreds came all the way to celebrate with the Peterside and Ibitoye. It was a wedding where the rich Kalabari culture from Opobo in Rivers was on full display joined with the Yoruba culture. The parents of the couple looked great in their black-tie outfits. The bride, Gbemisola is the CEO of a food and beverage company, Happy healthy foods. She looked radiant in a green aso oke from Bimms 24, her makeup was done by Bimpe Onakoya while her outfit was from Couturebytabik. The event planner for the wedding was Funke Bucknor of Zapphire events while EOP studio was in charge of photography, popular engagement anchor, Sokoyokoto coordinated the traditional wedding. The couple’s mothers, Dudun Peterside and Olamidepe Ibitoye were full of joy as their children got married in style. They both looked elegantly radiant in their choice of pearled outfits.
The wedding was one of the high profile weddings and many dignitaries from Nigeria flew in for the wedding which was solely hosted by the parents of the couple. It was a party galore as all were treated to a lot of fun. Some of the dignitaries sighted at the wedding and traditional wedding were Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, Access Bank MD, Hubert Wigwe, Ebonylife TV boss, Mo Abudu wearing a Roland Mouret magenta coloured dress, Catherine Bickersteth, Mosunmola Umoru, Betty Irabor, Joke Silva, Dr Ibijoke Sanwoolu, Cadbury MD, Oyeyimika Adeboye etc. Some of the Queen’s College Old Girls were also there to celebrate with the couple especially their friend, the bride’s mother, Olamidepe Ibitoye who is one of the Queens College Old Girls. Many of the invited guests all looked stunning and great in their choice dresses and beautiful fascinators. The couple’s siblings also played a huge role in supporting them. At the wedding were the groom siblings, Tariye and Tokinni Peterside while the bride’s siblings are Yosola and Dolapo Ibitoye.
The joyous groom’s mother, Abiodun Peterside popularly called Dudun by her teaming friends is happily married to Atedo Peterside and their marriage is blessed with three children Tokini, Atowari, and Tariye.
Dudun Peterside, a polo lover is a top member of Lagos Polo Club. She is a Psychologist and an Executive Coach who also works as a Human Development Adviser and Consultant Trainer. She is a Managing Partner at Narita Learning Centre, where she brings to bear her 31 years of experience in psychology and provides specialist services through her advanced training in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). Dudun has 12 years of experience in executive coaching and has coached private and corporate personnel, including company directors and senior management. Her clients include multinational and local organizations such as Diageo, Shell and Airtel. Dudun holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology & Education and a Masters degree in Educational Administration. She is a certified Trainer and Master Practitioner of NLP.
The billionaire groom’s father, Atedo Nari Atowari Peterside’s life is one such example. Banker and founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank, Peterside’s life achievements and philanthropic work place him among the most impactful personalities of his time. His feat as the founder of Investment Banking and Trust Company at a mere 33 years of age is not just remarkable; it is also inspiring. Atedo was born on 12 July 1955 in Port Harcourt to Dr Michael Clement Atowari Peterside, an ophthalmologist and a retired Controller of Medical Services in the Old Rivers State. Dr Michael Peterside who before is demise was believed to be Nigeria’s oldest medical practitioner was born in the historic Opobo town. A consummate leader and passionate believer in the cultural renaissance of the Niger Delta people, Dr Peterside no doubt sired a replica of his charismatic self in his son, going by what Atedo has turned out to become today. It would not be wrong to say that Atedo’s dawn clearly announced his day.
Atedo attended the prestigious King’s College for his secondary education before proceeding to the City University London for his Bachelors in Economics, graduating in 1976. A year later, he obtained his MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science and has since been flying uninterruptedly. At the age of 33, Atedo founded the Investment Banking and Trust Company and was a chief executive from 1989 to 2007. The bank on 19 December 2005 merged with Chartered Bank PLC and Regent Bank Plc to form the IBTC Chartered Bank PLC, with Atedo remaining as the Chief Executive Officer. Later, on 19 December 2007, the bank again went into another merger, this time with the Stanbic Bank Nigeria Limited to form the Stanbic IBTC Holdings. This dispensation saw Atedo assume the position of Chairman of the banking arm of the new company, the Stanbic IBTC Bank. He remained in this position till September 2014 when he became the Chairman of Stanbic IBTC Holdings. His time as Chairman of Stanbic IBTC Holdings came to an end on March 2017 when he resigned that position in order to pay attention to his other business ANAP Business Jets Limited, where he is currently Chairman. His career in the banking sector is marked by a few highlights. He chaired a number of national committees and was involved in developing the guidelines for auditing practice in the country. As their marriage has lasted for over 25 years, they had already set a new space for their son and daughter-in-law. The superlative event is forever memorable on guest minds and it was a colourful event that is still being talked about up till this moment.
–TAYO FAJORINOYEDIJI
