His birthday was a few days ago. Otunba Adekunle Ojora marked his 91st birthday. There was no owambe. Papa just wanted a low-key birthday with his wife, children and family members.
The good thing about it is that the Great Otunba is ageing gracefully with his jewel of inestimable value, his dear wife, Erelu Ojuolape Ojora. His daughter Toyin was the former 1st lady of Kwara State. She is married to Senator Dr.Bukola Saraki.
Papa Adekunle Ojora has come a long way. In those good old days, he was always making headline news on account of his exploits in the boardroom. He was Chairman of several blue chip companies and served on the board of many other companies in Nigeria.
He was then a mentor to many young Turks in Corporate Nigeria. Many of them later became MD/CEO of banks and corporate establishments.
But at 91, Otunba has slowed down tremendously. He no longer goes to events like before with Mama Ojora. Both now just play hosts to guests at their Ikoyi residence, in Lagos.
He is an accomplished businessman and industrialist. Born on 13th June 1932, he is a blue blood, a Prince from the popular Ojora family in Lagos. He got married to the forever delectable Erelu Odua Ojuolape in 1959. They have a beautiful family.
Otunba is very polished and he is very British in his way of life. He speaks Queens English. He was educated at The London Polytechnic, Regent Street, London; Central State University, Ohio, USA; Harvard University School.
Before becoming a Boardroom guru ,he had a beautiful career, as a Journalist.He was appointed Assistant Editor, BBC London, 1954; appointed into Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation; appointed into The Nigerian Civil Service, 1955-61; attached to Manchester Guardian as Assistant Commonwealth Editor, in Manchester, England, 1958; Public Relations Manager, United African Company Nigeria Limited, 1962-67; Managing Director, Wemabod Estates Limited, 1967-73; Chairman, Nigerian National Shipping Lines, 1967-72; Director, Agip Nigeria Limited, 1967-70; member, British Institute of Public Relations; member, British Institute of Management; Fellow, The Nigerian Institute of Management; Fellow, The British Institute of Directors; Fellow,The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations; Fellow, Royal Society of Arts; member, Council of Manufactures Association of Nigeria;Assistant Chief Commissioner, Boy Scouts of Nigeria, 1974; Vice-President, Nigeria/America Business Council; Vice- President, Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry; Vice-President, Nigeria/British Chamber of Commerce; Chairman, Evans Brothers, UK Limited; Chairman, EcoBank Nigeria PI; Chairman, Agip Nigeria Limited; Chairman, Schlumberger Nigeria Limited; Chairman, Associated Parmaceutical Products Limited; Chairman, Unital Builders Limited; Chairman, Lagos Investment Limited; Chairman, NCR Nigeria Pic; Chairman, Ivory Products Limited; Chairman, Ikoyi Estates Development Limited; Chairman, Nigerlink Industries Limited; Chairman, Inchcape Inspection and Testing Services (Nig) Limited; Chairman, Sun Insurance Nigeria Limited; Chairman, Capital Trust Brokers Limited; Chairman, Magcobar Manufacturing Nigeria Limited; Chairman, Vetco Grey (Nigeria) Limited; Chairman, Voest Alphine (Nig) Limited; Chairman, Evans Brothers Nigeria Limited; Director, Commerint Nigeria Limited; Director, UTC Nigeria Pic; Director, Equity Trust Finance Limited; Director, Ecobank Transnational International; Director, Phoenix of Nigeria Assurance Pic; Director, Nova Products Nigeria Limited; Director, Trufoods Nigeria Limited; Director, Insurance Brokers of Nigeria; fellow,Nigerian Institute of Management (FNIM); fellow, British Institute of Directors; fellow, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (FNIPR); fellow, Royal Society of Arts (FRSA); member, The British Institute of Public Relations; member, The British Institute of Management; member, The Nigeria Stock Exchange; Vice-President, Lagos Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture, member of Council, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN); member, Lagos City Council; member, Institute of International Affairs; member, Historical Society of Nigeria; member, Metropolitan Club; member, Ikoyi Club; member, Polo Club; member, Lagos Motor Boat Club;and member, Island Club, Lagos.
He holds many honorary degrees like a Doctorate Degree from the Central State University of Ohio, Wilberfore, U.S.A, 1992.
He also holds so many powerful traditional titles, like The Otunba of Lagos, 1979; Lisa of Ife, 1981. He also holds many National Honours, like the Silver Eagle Award of the Boy Scout of Nigeria, 1964; Officer of the Order of the Niger.
That he is a corporate guru can be seen in his various roles as Chairman, Evans Brothers, UK Limited; Chairman, EcoBank Nigeria PI; Chairman, Agip Nigeria Limited; Chairman, Schlumberger Nigeria Limited; Chairman, Associated Parmaceutical Products Limited; Chairman, Unital Builders Limited; Chair man, Lagos Investment Limited; Chairman, NCR Nigeria Pic; Chairman, Ivory Products Limited; Chairmam, Ikoyi Estates Development Limited; Chairman, Nigerlink Industries Limited; Chairman, Inchcape Inspection and Testing Services (Nig) Limited; Chair man, Sun Insurance Nigeria Limited; Chair man, Capital Trust Brokers Limited; Chairman, Magcobar Manufacturing Nigeria Limited; Chairman, Vetco Grey (Nigeria) Limited; Chairman, Voest Alphine (Nig) Limited; Chairman, Evans Brothers Nigeria Limited; Director, Commerit Nigeria Limited; Director, UTC Nigeria Pic; Director, Equity Trust Finance Limited; Director, Ecobank Transnational International; Director, Phoenix of Nigeria Assurance Plc; Director, Nova Products Nigeria Limited; Director, Trufoods Nigeria Limited; Director, Insurance Brokers of Nigeria.
He is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (FNIM); fellow, the British Institute of Directors; a fellow, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (FNIPR); a fellow, the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA); member, The British Institute of Public Relations; member, The British Institute of Management; member, The Nigeria Stock Exchange; Vice-President, Lagos Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture, member of Council, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).
Otunba (Dr.) Adekunle 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 was Chairman of the board of AGIP Nigeria Limited from 1971 until it was acquired by Unipetrol in 2002.
Only very few Corporate players can match his accomplishments in the world of business.
He is also a man of great sartorial elegance. He wears richly embroidered Agbadas and has a peculiar royal design for his Yoruba caps.
Happy birthday the Great Otunba.
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