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Ex-LAGOS Deputy Governor, FEMI PEDRO
Otunba Femi Pedro is a name that resonates very loudly among Lagosians. Many will remember him as that good looking, glittering ebony complexioned gentleman who was deputy governor of Lagos State alongside Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was governor at the time. He was always dressed in his signature impeccably white traditional outfits and at other times, he was dressed in suit which often sat well on him. Lagosians will remember his brilliance and the fact he complemented his then boss, Asiwaju, pretty well, though he did not do two full terms with him. He was deputy governor from 2003 to 2007 and he and the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have maintained a very close relationship ever since. He has gone on to take up appointments such as the chairman of the APC Registration Exercise Committee in February 2014 in Ondo state. In 2018, he was appointed the pioneer chairman of the Lagos Sports Trust Fund and in same 2018, he was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari as the chairman of the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).
As a banker, Femi Pedro was hugely successful. He had a brilliant career with impeccable accomplishments. Otunba Femi Pedro started his banking career in 1982 when he joined the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). He rose to the post of assistant manager in 1985, and became a research economist. In 1986, he was admitted as an associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, London, United Kingdom. He worked at First City Merchant Bank (now First City Monument Bank) afterwards in 1988, where he became the executive assistant to the bank’s chairman and chief executive officer (CEO). He became the deputy manager and head of corporate planning in the same year.
Pedro became one of the first investors in Guaranty Trust Bank with Fola Adeola, Tayo Aderinokun, Gbolahan Osibodu, Femi Akingbe, and Akin Opeodu. He later took up a senior managerial role at its inception in 1990, and was responsible for opening a multitude of its branches across the southern and northern parts of Nigeria. He served in various capacities at the bank until 1997, when he voluntarily retired. On the eve of his retirement, he was admitted to the fellowship of Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).
In January 1998, Pedro ventured into private business as the chairman of Agro-Corp Ventures Limited, a commodity processing company. The same year (Nov 1998), he was appointed managing director and CEO of Comet Merchant Bank (now FinBank, following the acquisition of the bank by a consortium of investors including himself).
Otunba Femi Pedro, is one man who tries to keep his lifestyle as simple as possible. He is both a technocrat and a politician, remember he was an accomplished banker before the lure of politics came knocking. And after he left office as deputy governor, he still remains relevant, taking up a handful of federal government appointments which have kept him busy in the last few years. He has done a great job delivering on every task given to him and leaving behind impeccable footprints in the process.
Another area of his life that this handsome looking gentleman has recorded resounding success is his married life. His marriage of almost 40 years (he’s been married to his beautiful wife, Justice Jumoke Pedro for 39 years) has been absolute success. Family and friends envy their marriage and have made them the benchmark of what a truly successful marriage should be like. They both met each other when they were teenagers. He was 19 and she was 16 when they met. By the time they got married years after, she was only 25 years old while he was 28. And today, that 39 years old marriage is still standing strong. How have they been holding their marriage together for that long in a society where marriages crumble like a pack of badly arranged cards almost on a daily basis?
“We give God the glory but more importantly, the secret lies with the type of personality and character my wife possesses. She is extremely patient, very resilient and bestowed with tremendous wisdom, even at a young age. She was only 25 years old when we got married but she had the wisdom and maturity of a 40 year-old. Because of her, it was easier to navigate through the challenging early years of marriage. We got married on February 5, 1983. That’s about 39 years ago.”
But how did he meet his adorable wife, we wanted to know? “She came to visit her friend whose house was opposite our family house. I had just completed my A-level at the time and waiting for admission into the university. She was preparing for her A-level. I was 19 and she was 16. That was in 1974; al,ost 50 years ago now.”
And what does he think has strengthened your marriage till date? He replies, “I have a lovely wife who is very caring, patient and understanding. She takes good care of me and handles all my private affairs. She is very tolerant and respectful. We love each other and protect one another. I consider myself blessed.
Loving each other unconditionally and communicating very well with each other are our strengths. My wife is my best friend and confidant. We share the same faith and try to be close to our God. We pray together as a couple. We try to manage our conflicts without allowing third party interference. No matter how busy we are, we make it a priority to spend time with each other. God has brought us through life changing experiences. Our trials and triumphs have drawn us closer to each other.
How did they meet? Who noticed who first? And what made her fall in love with his wife? The former deputy governor of Lagos state has this to say: “She came to visit her friend whose house was opposite our family house. I had just completed my A-level at the time and waiting for admission into the university. She was preparing for her A-level. I was 19 and she was 16. That was in 1974; almost 50 years ago.
And what made him fall in love with her? Otunba Femi Pedro says, “I just loved her humility, elegance, and intelligence. She is dark, beautiful, tall, elegant and sexy but shy. I fell for her almost immediately.
How did the relationship progress into marriage? Did it take them quite a while before they realised they were both meant for each other? “We got married when both of us had a young but promising career. I was 28 years old just starting a career in banking, while she was a 25-year-old fresh lawyer. Both of us were very ambitious but she was able to manage her career such that our marriage was strengthened. We had our first child that same year. I have a lovely wife who is very caring, patient and understanding. She takes good care of me and handles all my private affairs. She is very tolerant and respectful. We love each other and protect one another. I consider myself blessed.
Loving each other unconditionally and communicating very well with each other are our strengths. My wife is my best friend and confidant. We share the same faith and try to be close to our God. We pray together as a couple. We try to manage our conflicts without allowing third party interference. No matter how busy we are, we make it a priority to spend time with each other. God has brought us through life changing experiences. Our trials and triumphs have drawn us closer to each other.
-WALE LAWAL
(08037209290)
