•How He Combines Business With Being A Socialite
Everybody that matters in Lagos, knows Aare Kamoru Danjuma. Those who have never met him must have heard about this easy-going man. This is the story of this ever-smiling businessman and socialite. Truth be told, Aare Kamorudeen Ajao Danjuma, has done well for himself. He is a self-made man who runs a chain of successful businesses.
He is also a big-time socialite, who is a valued member of the Island Club, Yoruba Tennis Club & Eagle Club. He is very sociable, that is why he gets invited to all the A-Class parties in Lagos and across the South-West. As it is, no major party seems complete without Aare Danjuma’s name being on the list of invitees. And despite his busy schedule, he finds time to attend all the parties he gets invited to. Many of the big-time musicians like KSA & Ebenezer Obey always sing his praise at parties. And he always looks prosperous in his flowing Agbada.
Not many know he is from Omupo, in Ifelodun Local Government in Kwara State. We can tell you more. He attended Apostolic Church Primary School, Ebute Metta, St. Michael Primary School, Omupo, Kwara State and Omupo Grammar School, Kwara State.
He had Audit committee training with KPMG.
He is Kajoson Ind (W.A) Limited – Chairman/CEO from 1981 till date. Kajo-Summit Construction Company Limited – MD/CEO from 1999 till date and Kingdom & Emirate International Ltd – MD/CEO from 2007 till date.
He is a member of The Island Club where he was Social Secretary, Island Club (from 2012 to 2014). He was also Assistant Social Secretary (3 years tenure). He is a Member, the Nigeria-British Chamber of Commerce, a Member, Black Country Chamber of Commerce UK, a Member, of Nigeria Shareholders Solidarity Association, a Former Member, the Audit Committee, Nestle Nigeria Plc., Member, of Nigeria – America Chamber of Commerce, Member, Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Council Member, Nigeria British Chamber of Commerce), Member Ad-Hoc Committee Hajji), in 2003, Member, Audit Committee Neimeth International Pharmaceutical Plc., Member, Yoruba Tennis Club and member, Eagle Club, Member/Chairman, Audit Committee Livestock Feeds, Member, Institute of Director Nigeria (100) Plc, Member, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria.
He is the Aare Tayese of Egbaland, Asoju Adinni of Lagos (NIAN), Aare Adinni Jakande Central Mosque, Lagos, Otun Aare of Iseyin land, Babalaje Akinmorin, Oyo State,
Baala Omupo Land, Kwara State, and Otunba Bobajiro of Itire Land, Lagos State, and Knight Commander of the Order of the Peacock (KCOP), Island Club.
Last Thursday, City People visited Aare Danjuma at his sprawling Magodo home, where he keeps a few peacocks strutting around his compound. In his study and sitting room, he has photos he took with a lot of Governors, Ministers and Politicians, many of who are his friends. He is well connected. He is a man of influence.
They all like Aare who is always ready to go the extra mile for them.
For 2 hours, he spoke about his success story. Below are excerpts of his interview with SEYE KEHINDE & SUNDAY ADIGUN.
Who is Aare Kamorudeen Ajao Danjuma? Please introduce yourself to us?
Aare Alhaji Kamorudeen Ajao Danjuma is the Aare Tayese of Egbaland, Aare Iseyinland, Aare Adinni, and so many more. I am married to 2 wives. I am a grandfather and past Social Secretary of Island Club. I am a businessman. I have been in business for over 40 years, I started very early, at age of 18 when I was still in secondary school. I am a native of Omupo Ifelodun Local Government in Kwara State but I was born and bred in Lagos, Ebute Metta to be precise. I am also an investor in Nigeria Stock Exchange. I usually call myself a trader. I have investments with over 100 companies in the stock exchange. I was formally part of the Audit Committee of Nestle Nigeria Plc, but today by the grace of God I am the current Chairman of Audit Committee Livestock Feeds Plc, a member of Neimeth International Pharmaceutical Company, and a Shareholder of many companies, just to mention few, but I give glory to God.
Looking at your profile, how have you been able to cope with all these?
Sometimes people think achieving things is very hard. The most important thing in business is your working capital, whether you are a businessman or an artisan, you must have working capital. Even many professionals you see, like Lawyers, Engineers are into business too. Anybody can approach you now despite being a journalist that “Seye I want you to do this for me” definitely you will need working capital to do that. When I started the business it was very easy. You will see people coming from the North, coming from the East that they needed something and you will quickly pick your store key as if you have what they are asking for. I will go to Balogun to pick some goods and they will release it because they have trust in you. You will supply your customer, collect your money, and then return their money to them. Sometimes some people from abroad too will give you goods from their catalogue to sell for them, sell it then return their money to them.
Having said that, I didn’t know it would be like this. I had planned a lot of things for myself in life. I didn’t even know I was going to be in construction. I registered my first construction company in 1989 and the 2nd one in 1996, I have not even been close to the government then. But to answer your question, when you have trust in yourself and you believe in God, who is your background, you can be able to do things. Today alone I have attended 3 meetings online. Sometimes when you have people that need something from you, you will quickly approach your supplier. Some of the goods I import I don’t see them. I import them, I call my customer and my driver will deliver to them. Sometimes I will not see some of my customers for 2/3 years, we only talk on the phone and our business is going on. And to invest in the stock exchange is very easy with your portfolio manager, who gives you guidelines on what is going on in the stock market. I have a company and when the job comes, I have my engineers that will attend to it, it now depends on the funding either from the investment, we have been doing that and we give glory to God. Like I said, the most important thing in business is your working capital. Sometimes if we cannot meet up we meet with our bank. I manage all these things by the grace of God with the help of my father, because I started the business with my father, and my mother was the one that trained me. Glory be to God both of them are still alive and that is why I always take my time to take care of them because they really trained me. They took care of me and they are still doing it.
You are also a very big socialite, how do you cope?
I remember in 1979 when I wanted to start being a socialite, my father told me “Ajao you can join Gbajumo with N200, but you cannot maintain Gbajumo with 200 million”. Sometimes it’s good to be a socialite, once you can be yourself and you don’t pass your boundary, even if you face any challenges in life you will be able to adjust yourself. So to be a socialite is very easy, the only thing it takes from you is your sleep. For now, if I want to go to Yoruba Tennis Club and Island Club, I will be at Yoruba Club between 4 pm-6 pm then will be at Island Club from 6 pm, then I know those of us at Eagle Club, we are nightcrawlers, so I would leave Island Club around 8 pm to Eagle Club. And why do I have to do this? It’s because I need information, at the club we have so much information, we share so many ideas. We hear about different businesses and supplies. So, sometimes at clubs, it’s not about drinking beer or wine. We meet ourselves, we get information. Most people I am close to today I met through the social clubs, especially in the Island Club. The likes Babatunde Raji Fashola, he is a very good friend and brother, somebody you can rest assured about. Talk of Asiwaju Tinubu, talk of Senator Ashafa, my mentor, my role model, a lot of people like that. Being a socialite will let you meet people who are influential. The club helps a lot of socialites. But you must mind yourself, mind your pocket, and know what you are doing so you don’t allow your involvement to affect your business, to affect your working capital.
Tells us how you joined Island Club?
It’s going to be about 27 years now. I just approached a friend that I would love to be a member of Island Club and I collected the form. Joining Island Club, Yoruba Tennis Club, and Ikoyi Club is like going to the embassy for an interview because they want to know you. I was one of the youngest then and I had to pay N42,500. I looked for the money, when I joined some thought I was brother to Theophilus Danjuma. When you join Island Club the ego you are bringing from outside you must bring it down because people will be watching you. And to tell you the truth Seye, I utilise Island Club. Island Club is my 2nd home. I have achieved a lot from Island Club. Joining the Island Club almost 30 years ago really helped me and I give glory to God.
How about Yoruba Tennis Club?
Yoruba Tennis Club and Island Club are very close. I joined Yoruba Tennis Club over 10 years ago. Yoruba Tennis Club too is very cool and they respect elders a lot, the same thing with Island Club. I also get influenced at Yoruba Tennis Club too, I met people there too especially, the Lawyers and Justice. I love the 2 clubs because they are close to each other and they help each other.
So at the end of the day, what sort of a person is Alhaji Kamorudeen Danjuma?
Aare Alhaji Kamorudeen Danjuma is a good father and a good husband. I don’t need to write it on my forehead. The most important is I have the fear of God, and I am a Prayer Warrior too. I pray for people that are close to me. I am a God-fearing human being. I am very humble, people can testify to it. I am somebody that doesn’t like cheating and you cannot cheat me I used to trust people a lot but immediately I see your style it’s very easy for me to run back and I am myself. I have learnt a lot of lessons in life. I pray to be a philanthropist even though I give. I help people but I don’t go out of my capacity. I am a businessman, a socialite and a family man. I am somebody, that wants the progress of others. That is me, I always love myself and I love to look good. I do what I like, I eat what I like and I believe God is on my side.
At times when people hear Danjuma, they think you are from the North, how do you always respond to that?
Though my state is located in the North, which is North Central, Kwara State I am from the Yoruba part of Kwara State. So, Danjuma is the same thing as Jimoh, Danjuma is a name from the North Central. When I started going to Saudi Arabia in the 1980s, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia relates more with Danjuma. But I am from the Yoruba part of Kwara State, I am from Igbomina, Ifelodun Local Government. So, Danjuma is not really a Hausa name. But it is my trademark now.
Let’s talk about your style. How did you develop your love for looking good all the time?
It’s from my father, Alhaji Chief Jimoh Iyanda Olarinde Lawal a.k.a. Danjuma. He is a very fashionable man. I copied everything from my father not knowing I will do more than him. I also look at people that dress well too. Sometimes I tell my tailor how to sew my clothes. I love fashion. I do read books on fashion, I copied many great people’s sense of fashion too. Seye, if I have $1000 to spend I will spend $800 on fashion and I love jewellery to. I started going to Saudi Arabia in my 20s when I performed my 1st Hajj.
Now, I have performed 16 Hajj and I have performed over 40 Umrah. When I was fully into business I went to Saudi Arabia almost every month, at least I go to Saudi Arabia 10 times a year, from 1990 up to the year 2000. To buy fabrics, ladies’ underwear, ladies’ shoes and spiritual products.
Talking about life, what has life taught you?
Life has taught me a lot of lessons, but the most important thing about life is not to inherit other people’s enemies. Play your own role, be yourself. That your friend you are taking his or her own friend your enemy will settle their fight and that will pain you most. I have learnt to be myself, to believe in myself and not to depend on anyone, and you must always plan for yourself. Life has taught me a lot of things because I started very early in life. I have hawked from Lagos to Kano State. In this life just be yourself, anybody can disappoint you just be yourself. It’s only God that you should rest on. Life has taught me a lot. It has been long Seye, an experience of over 40 years. But I thank God I can share my stories with happiness today, not sadness.
But like I said, the most important thing is to be yourself, don’t inherit another person’s enemy.
Work, pray and wait for your destiny.
You are close to many of the powerful politicians in the South, how have you been able to manage your relationship with them?
I am close to many of them, we talk, and I always send them messages. Like Hon. Minister for Mines and Power, he is my brother and friend. My friend, His Excellency, Babatunde Raji Fashola is also a very good man, a very dependable man to the core. My Egbon, Sen. Ashafa, is a good man, a dependable brother, mentor, and role model. A man I copied most of my styles from, just like BRF too. I am very close to him and his wife. Obanikoro is my close friend, retired DIG is my friend, Kokumo is my friend. Most of these people we meet at clubs. Most of them don’t come often but when they want to know what is happening in the club, they call us “Danjuma what is going on in the club”.
So, I am close to many of them but I am always careful, so I don’t take the relationship for granted. Most of the Hon. Commissioners are my friends. I am also close to many musicians too, it’s only Fela I wasn’t close to. I give glory to Almighty God and to all these people in my life and I am loyal to them as well.
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