Idahosa "Hosa" Wells Okunbo (7 January 1958 – 8 August 2021) was a Nigerian billionaire business magnate, investor, philanthropist, and trained commercial pilot. He served as chairman and director on numerous company boards in Nigeria, spanning multiple business sectors such as the agro-allied, petroleum, telecommunications, power, real estate, and banking industries.[1]
Hosa Okunbo | |
|---|---|
| Born | Idahosa Wells Okunbo 7 January 1958 |
| Died | 8 August 2021 (aged 63) London, England |
| Occupation | Business magnate |
| Years active | 1983–2021 |
| Spouse | Igbinosa Okunbo |
| Children | Osahon Okunbo |
Background and education
editHosa Okunbo was a native of Edo State in the southern part of Nigeria. He was born in Benin City to the family of Reverend Robert Amos Okunbo, a clergyman, teacher, and community leader. Okunbo had his primary education at Government Primary school in Benin City, old Bendel State, now Edo State. He proceeded to Federal Government College, Warri, in 1971, where he sat for West African Senior School Certificate Examination. Okunbo was a native speaker of the Edo language, and a fluent speaker of English.
Okunbo pursued a desire to become a pilot by studying at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Training Centre, Zaria, Kaduna State, and became a professional commercial pilot at the age of 21. He also attended ACME School of Aeronautics in Fort Worth, Texas in 1983, where he obtained an Airline Transport Pilot License.[2]
Career
editUpon graduation, Okunbo became a professional commercial pilot, and was made a captain in 1983 at the age of 25. He was a flight captain with Intercontinental Airlines for about two years, then was employed by Okada Airlines for three years. In 1988, he retired from piloting at the age of 30, having logged over 7,000 hours of flight time, and ventured into private business.
Okunbo established Hoslyn Ventures Nigeria Ltd., a company that was involved with procurement in the Nigerian petroleum sector.
Okunbo was the founder and chairman of the following Nigerian companies:
- CMES-OMS Petroleum Development Company (CPDC), which, in September 2019, signed "$875.75m alternative financing deal for the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) operated OML 65".[3][4]
- The Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments, Abuja[5]
- Wells San-Carlos Agro Farms Ltd., which, in March 2016, unveiled a $750 million, 9,000-hectare (22,000-acre) farm intended to "create 85,000 jobs in Edo State".[6][7][8][9][10]
- Ocean Marine Security Ltd., an offshore asset-protection company, rendering services to major oil companies in Nigeria, including NNPC. The company recently completed the building of the 46-kilometre (29 mi) Escravos–Warri Crude Pipeline, which was inaugurated by Nigeria's Minister of State for Petroleum, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu.[11][12]
- Westminster Security Solutions Nigeria Ltd, a franchise of Westminster Group Plc UK, of which he was major shareholder.[13]
- Wells Group of companies, which include Wells Dredging Ltd., Wells Property Development Company Ltd., and Wells Entertainments Ltd. – through which Okunbo financed the movie Black November.[14][15]
- Ocean Marine Solutions Tankers Ltd., which owns Nigeria's first marine tankers.
- Hoslyn Habitat Ltd., which is a design, construction and landscaping company.
- Gyro Air Ltd., operators of charter flight operations.
Okunbo was a director in the following companies:
- Joint Marine Environ Guard Ltd. (JMEG)
- Secure Anchorage Area Ltd. (SAA)
- Digisteel Integrated Services Ltd.
- Phil Nugent Nigeria Ltd.[16][17]
- Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Ltd. (IEDM), which is a core investor in Ibadan and Yola Electricity Distribution Companies.[18]
Okunbo was member of the Board of Directors of NatCom Development and Investment Ltd., which is the holding company of Nigerian telecommunications giant NTEL.[19][20]
Honours and recognition
editOn Saturday, 21 September 2019, in Geneva, Switzerland, Okunbo was bestowed with the Global Peace Award from the chairman of the Order of Lafayette Awards, "in recognition of his efforts in global peace and business innovations."[21][22] In March 2017, he received Businessman of the Year award at the '2016 Vanguard Personality of Year Awards'.[23][24] Okunbo received the Africa Titans Award in 2012, from the Congress of the United States in collaboration with the African Society Summit, in recognition of "strides on behalf of Africa in the international arena."[25][26]
In November 2012, the University of Benin conferred Okunbo with an honorary Doctor of Science degree.[27][28]
Okumba was granted the "Worthy Ambassador of Unity Award" as an old student of Federal Government College, Warri in March 2016.[29][relevant?]
On 2 October 2014, the traditional ruler of the Edo people in Edo State, Oba Erediauwa, gifted Okunbo "with the 'Traditional Beads' for being a worthy son of the ancient Kingdom."[30][31][who said this?]
Personal life
editOkunbo was married to Igbinosa Okunbo, and had 11 children, Nosa Okunbo, his first child, Olori Atuwatse III, Queen of Warri Kingdom, the first son, Mr. Osahon Okunbo, Adesuwa Okunbo-Rhodes, Deborah Okunbo, Osariemen Okunbo, Oghogho Okunbo, Nosa Okunbo, Esohe Okunbo, Omosede Okunbo.[32] He died of cancer on 8 August 2021, at a hospital in London. He was aged 63.[33]
References
edit- ^ "Season of blessings for Capt Hosa Okunbo". Encomium. 7 November 2014.
- ^ Sufuyan Ojeifo (6 January 2013). "Hosa, a Humble Achiever at 55". Vanguard.
- ^ Amos Abba (23 September 2019). "Nigeria closes in on $88 million oil deal with CPDC, to rake in more from royalties and taxes". International Centre for Investigative Reporting.
- ^ "New NPDC-CPDC deal to fetch Nigeria $6.35b in taxes and royalties". PM News. 22 September 2019.
- ^ Fred Ezeh (19 December 2018). "How Abuja stood still for Wells Carlton". The Sun.
- ^ Tony Osauzo (15 March 2016). "Edo investor, Okunbo, unveils $750m farm". Sun.
- ^ "We Will Have Sufficient Food In The Next Harvest Season – Min. Of State Agriculture". NTA. 12 July 2016.
- ^ Simon Ebegbulem (20 March 2016). "Okunbor's N150billion farm project to create 85,000 jobs". Vanguard.
- ^ Adibe Emenyonu (13 April 2016). "Oshiomhole to Edo PDP: I'm Proud of My Friends Who Invests in Edo". ThisDay.
- ^ Simon Ebegbulem (13 April 2016). "I'm proud of my friends, Oshiomhole replies Ize-Iyamu". Vanguard.
- ^ Ernest Chinwo; Chineme Okafor; Adibe Emenyonu (24 April 2016). "Kachikwu Recommissions 46km Escravos-Warri Crude Pipeline". ThisDay.
- ^ Tajudeen Adebanjo (30 November 2012). "A deserving honour". TheNation.
- ^ "Chairman of Westminster Security Solutions Nigeria Honoured by US Congress". 25 June 2016.
- ^ Donu Kogbara (7 December 2012). "Movie Magic". Vanguard.
- ^ ""Black November" Screening At The Library Of Congress, Washington D.C." Getty Images.
- ^ "Key Principals of the Group".
- ^ "Management Profiles".
- ^ Sylvanus Ojeikere (20 October 2013). "Integrated Energy: Breaking into the league of huge power sector investors". Vanguard.
- ^ "ntel appoints TY Danjuma as chairman". Punch. 27 July 2016.
- ^ "Ntel Appoints Danjuma as New Chairman". Punch. 28 July 2016.
- ^ Patrick Ochoga (25 September 2019). "Billionaire Okunbo Bags Global Peace Award In Geneva". Leadership.
- ^ Sufuyan Ojeifo (24 September 2019). "Captain Hosa: Lifting Humanity, Decorated With Honour". African Examiner.
- ^ "2016 Vanguard Personality of the Year Awards". Vanguard. 12 March 2017.
- ^ Adekunle Adekoya (1 January 2017). "Businessman of the Year: Hosa Okunbo: The business conqueror on land, sea, air". Vanguard.
- ^ "Chairman of Westminster Security Solutions Nigeria Honoured by US Congress". 25 June 2016.
- ^ "Between Okunbo's existential accomplishments and hubris". Vanguard. 20 June 2012.
- ^ Tajudeen Adebanjo (30 November 2012). "A deserving honour". TheNation.
- ^ "University of Benin honours Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo". Nigeria Magazine.
- ^ "Celebrating Greatness". Thisday. 18 March 2016.
- ^ Sufuyan Ojeifo (10 October 2014). "Okunbo's heart of gold and royal recognition". Vanguard.
- ^ "Season of blessings for Capt Hosa Okunbo". Encomium. 7 November 2014.
- ^ "Captain Hosa: An Incredible Life, A Memorable Exit - THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ "Captain Hosa Okunbo dead: How Idahosa Wells Okunbo, Nigeria business magnate die". BBC Nigeria. 8 August 2021.