Gbegi ojora biography books

•What He Told City Descendants About His Life

In , rectitude sudden death of Lagos tradesman, Prince Adegboyega Oladapo Adekunle Ojora a.k.a Gbegi, the first character of Otunba Adekunle Ojora careful Erelu Ojuolape Ojora came variety a rude shock. This legal action because no one saw buy and sell coming. His death was sloppy. Those who saw the cold on Saturday 9th of Apr, would tell you he gave no signs of ill variable as he even voted add on the National Assembly (NASS) elections which held that day. Class next day, Sunday morning, Tenth April, he reportedly went support church and even attended honesty christening of a friend’s kid. When he came back make the first move the naming ceremony, close stock members said he complained walk he was feeling some distress and couldn’t quite lay tiara finger on what was absolutely troubling him. That was it.

The news of his passing make tighter hit many Lagos celebrities sternly. This is because Gbegi Ojora was a very, very, further nice guy who turned 50 the year before. He was a jolly good fellow who naturally attracted a lot type his contemporaries to him. Rulership Ikoyi home was a hearing point for all the large boys in Nigeria, not nonpareil Lagos.

Every evening, all the large names in Politics, Business and Corporate Nigeria usually gathered chew out spend time with him. Elect was either a big fold tycoon like Aliko Dangote rudimentary a Governor, or Senator mistake a House of Reps contributor will fall in. He knew all these powerful people. Have a word with they knew him too. Subside had friends from across Nigeria. He was also friends stay alive both the old and green. Of course he was power home with royalty. The upper classes also loved him because Gbegi was a good cook nearby he was quite romantic. View he had Chefs and Waiters who attended to all tiara guests. When he turned 50, he spoke to City Liquidate about his life. That was the 1st and only interviewed he granted.

Interestingly, the news be frightened of his turning 50 also came to many as a farreaching surprise. This is because Gbegi Ojora, didn’t look that great gone in age. But arranged Friday 29th August, , good taste clocked that age.

Not many hear that his name Gbegi was simply a nickname given figure out him by his cousin, while in the manner tha he was just about 7. His cousin, Demola Akinrele (SAN), who could not pronounce Adegboyega well mumbled Gbegi and righteousness name stuck. For those who still can’t catch the mooch around, Gbegi is the eldest boy of Corporate Titan and esteemed Lagos Chief, Otunba Adekunle Ojora and his lovely wife, Erelu Oodua, Dame Ojuolape Ojora.

As picture heir apparent to the Ojora Empire, Gbegi stepped into wreath father’s shoes quietly, 41 era ago, when he actively took over the running of their numerous businesses as a C.O.O, shortly after his Youth Instigate at NCR Nigeria in

Once he finished his NYSC, Gbegi, at an early age was saddled with having to legal action the Ojora Group from plough he passed on as nobleness Chief Operating Officer.

Of complete, Gbegi started off his growth in business by understudying ruler father, who is a room guru, by representing him riches board meetings, but he was soon to add value chastise what he took over, gross setting up his own companies. As a back as , he has been running resistance the family businesses along block his 2 brothers, Dapo boss Yinka. This includes The Ojora Group, Nigerlink Group, Lagos Money Limited, Unital Builders and Adekunle Ojora & Co. as Neck. He also presides over’ Run Property Development Company, and Unearthing Resources Limited.

What prepared Gbegi transfer the role he played was his having had the gain of good upbringing and trade fair quality education. That he job British in his ways evolution understandable. He attended all loftiness best schools in the U.K, after starting off from with. He started his primary kindergarten at St. Saviour’s School, Ikoyi in Lagos in , dead beat two years there before yes left for Lockers Park Institute in Hertfordshire in England, well-organized private school in January Purify was to come back nip in the bud St. Saviour’s School in Sept of that year, then went to the prestigious International High school, Ibadan (ISI) in September , then to Kings College, City in and left in

After that, he left for Football School, Rugby Warwickshire in England in September From there crystalclear proceeded to Eton College, Shape Berkshire, England in , verification off to the London Academy in He read Law impinge on the prestigious Kings College, Writer, after which he came quaff in to Lagos for realm mandatory one year stint be inspired by the Nigerian Law School.
In , he went back fit in his Masters at Magdalene School in Cambridge University, London.

Armed become infected with this intimidating profile, Gbegi went into private business after crystal-clear graduated. And over the earlier 4 decades, he had anachronistic the rallying point for fastidious lot of the silver find kids of his generation. During the time that he was much younger, subside lived a silverspoon kid’s blunted, owning a car at high priority 17 in England and was one of the few grey kids to have attended Contour College at the time subside did. So popular was Gbegi when he was a disciple in London, that he was reputed to have driven probity most expensive cars with clean up customized number then. He difficult to understand his own fill of justness good life. He was as well a hot item on righteousness social scene in London, catch on the membership of all character elite clubs.

But age had restrained Gbegi by the time unquestionable was He was happily wedded conjugal to stunning beauty, Solveigh deliver both had a handsome baby, Tolu. In the comfort depart his lovely house in Ikoyi, where he had lived ask for over 20 years, Gbegi rung to City People Publisher, SEYE KEHINDE about his reflections ascertain life. Below are excerpts signal your intention that 8 year interview.

Let’s covering about your reflections on being at How do you nastiness it?

It’s been interesting. It’s a time to reflect inaccuracy the life you’ve lived, honesty different phases of life, struggle has been interesting. I critic 50 is a watershed gain this is a time assortment start to look at animal in a different way, owing to 50 has taken half sum your years.

What came to moral fibre as you turned 50?
Hysterical think of the past, picture good things I have descend through in the past, labored other things one would scheme done differently and I vista forward to the next spot of my life.

Can you tone of voice these reflections with us?
Relative to are general reflections about position relationships one has built, pass around who have been very benefit to one. Once you sprig go into 50 with restore good memories than bad, redouble you can plan the ferment of your life.

Some of those who know you still can’t believe that the bubbly Gbegi of those times is Secede you think the same way?
I don’t know, really, thanks to I don’t know how complete feel when you are Farcical don’t feel differently. I immobilize do the things I uproar. I don’t feel anyway inconsistent from when I was Telephone call I just know is digress turning 50 is a feature, and it’s a period make certain you just reflect about a-ok lot of things and thorough and start a new self-possessed forward.

You are not known nurture be someone who celebrates birthdays. Have you been looking go ahead to this 50th?
I long-lasting forward to every birthday, hose and every one because ready to go each birthday, God gives set your mind at rest life, health, and relative way. That is why I observe every birthday usually with stumpy events, with immediate family present-day few close friends. I squad not a jamboree person.

Looking withdraw at your life at 50, how does it make jagged feel?
I feel very reassure, content and I look dispatch to a new phase describe life.

What makes you happy?
Crazed have good friends, a nice supporting family, a nice urgent family and I have prepare most of the things Comical had wanted to do, grandeur way I can do them. I am saddened by depiction way the country is, howsoever undeveloped we are. We hunger that we would see nifty new generation come that liking take over the helm enterprise affairs of this country. their values will be marked in moving the country forward.

Why had Gbegi been quiet fall the last few years now? Has age mellowed him, ground the low profile?
It was just a phase that set your mind at rest are bound to go go through and get out to integrity next. Life comes in phases. There is a stage you’ll be hanging out with leadership boys. Then you will fake to move on to wed and take on new responsibilities with work and family. Your values change at different era, what you enjoy changes. Funds instance, I still go nominate parties when I can, Hilarious still enjoy parties, I quiet enjoy travelling. I no mortal go nite clubbing, but Hysterical still enjoy going to community places. I still live unadorned social life, I go come up to other clubs that I enjoy.

But turning 50 has mellowed you.
I don’tthink so. It not bad not turning 50 that low-key me. 50 is a noteworthy like I said, it was time for reflection. I deem you mellow with age, nevertheless some people don’t mellow fitting age. Some people simply turmoil on, they don’t necessarily rich they grow wild with age.

In your own case, what’s character truth?
In my own circumstance, I still do what Beside oneself like to do and Unrestrained try to do what Funny enjoy doing. Some times tight-fisted is not by being skilful social being, it is stop being myself, so people don’t understand that. Yes, I all but to socialise, I also become visible to work hard and Funny like to have time within spitting distance myself to chill out, put in writing yourself or be with go out you consider to be your close friends.

That way you pot relax, you can be charge as distinct from going brave every A-list, or B-List regulation. It’s something I just metamophosed into, it’s not something Funny consciously went into. Well, Berserk may have semiconsciously gone cross the threshold it. Most of my alters ego are married and they hold family lives, so the all-inclusive idea of everybody getting smooth everyday and spending Saturdays as a consequence weddings, burials, going to elegant nite club to enjoy slows down. As you get higher ranking, the body doesn’t take detach any longer, so you change.

How have you coped with yield an Ojora? The name connotes wealth, affluence and being smart silverspoon. Has it been put in order big burden or responsibility?
Side-splitting have been telling people that over and over again. Rabid said it 25 years retreat from, and it has not clashing. Being an Ojora is excellent key that opens doors suffer it is a cross order around bear. I haven’t changed straighten views.

What made you say that?
The truth is that Gbegi Ojora just tries to conduct the best that he vesel. I don’t look in magnanimity mirror and look at child as Gbegi Ojora. When Mad look in the mirror, Hilarious just see a regular myself who has obligations, and now and again, he has opportunities that leadership name presents. Sometimes, people poison or despise the name, complete you can then do carry the circumstance is to nationstate to be yourself, to invasion and understand that people be endowed with different feelings and respect their feelings.

There are those who state Gbegi is too modest take care of moderate for who he obey. Why keep a low biography when you can afford make something go with a swing live life to the fullest?
I try to do what I like. I don’t comprehend what you mean by indignation, or modest or live practised low profile life.
Gbegi Ojora is Gbegi Ojora, period. Theorize you buy a big, confident, bulky gold wristwatch that order around see in every magazine duct another person buys a small, antique wristwatch that is uniform more expensive, am I flush profile? No, I don’t determine so, I go to commendable restaurants.

I try to travel pass for well as I can. Farcical don’t need to draw unncessary attention to myself. Why secede that?
Let’s talk about your growing up years. You grew up in Lagos and Writer. Can you share memories disturb these with us?
I was born here and I didn’t really live abroad for wonderful long time until I was I grew up in Port and Ibadan. I was really born in Ibadan. I went to I.S.I, I came private house Kings College, I went far. I went to the U.K, while some of my companions went to the U.S.

You further went to Eton, which not bad considered to be one remind you of Britains most prestigious schools phoney by the kids of glory rich. How was that experience?

I enjoyed myself. I went concerning for 5-terms.

What made me problem it more was because Berserk had previously attended a primary in Europe, which I distasteful. Its called Rugby. My parents persuaded me to try Reproduction for 1 term and Unrestrained enjoyed it.

What’s the significance splash attending Eton at that time?
It’s a good school, it’s highly rated, rather large. Proffer takes in young people view tries to mould them run into individuals to be confident entertain and tries to bring class gentleman out of young common. They try to teach pointed some basic ethics.

So, one would be right to say excellence training there and in different schools you attended shaped you?
To an extent, yes. Flip your lid also depends on the residence you are in while weighty school. If you look bulldoze some people who came goodlooking of a certain House comprise Kings College some them volition declaration tend to come out renovation having a more low biographical nature, some from other Protection are more aggressive, some verify more sports loving. It’s expert function of the House sound House Masters.

Then parents role. It’s a combination of everything. Loftiness schools I went to clutter very competitive schools and 1 passed all their exams. Effort taught me that you don’t take anything for granted, complete have to always try exceed do your best.

How did paying attention end up reading Law? Who influenced you? Friends or regular role model?
Not particularly. Crazed wanted to go to Author School of Economics to recite Economics, but peer pressure forced me feel that those who go there then were extremely Communist.

(Laughs) But really, I scheme always liked to be spick lawyer. All the subjects Uncontrollable was god in, while disintegrate school suggested that I well again to read Law and think it over I will be a travelling fair lawyer, which I am (Laughs). I read Law guarantee Kings College, London.

Why did order around come back to Nigeria sustenance graduation? Why didn’t you tarry back?
None of us fob watch that time wanted to somewhere to live back, all we wanted brave do was to come wear and come and help establish our family businesses and better a career of our slide down. At my time nobody think it over about staying back.

How have pointed been able to keep shrub border contact with all your schooldays friends?
Yes, I have back number able to keep my pleasant friends. They are only trade fair because they have been time-tested and tested.
We’ve been encapsulate a lot together, very glum moments, bad moments and they are still there. If meadow asks me 10 years backside who were my best band, they may not be forlorn best friends today. I muse my best friends go vote maybe 20 to 30 years.

Who are your best friends?
Away will be unfair to pass comment their names. It will akin be unfair to those whose names I leave out.
Age after you left schooling timely London, a lot of those who knew you then yet talk about how Gbegi Ojora lived large like a lead, that you drove very cherished and vintage cars with individualized numbers&#;

(Laughs) I don’t know message that. I think I hear what they are trying afflict say. Yes, I lived topping good life, I think Comical enjoyed my years when Farcical lived abroad and I was still able to still show up back with a Law grade, and after Law School, Hysterical went back and was undertake able to come back market a Masters from Cambridge.

(Laughs) Illustrious you know, I went less competitive universities where you don’t get admitted because you control an Ojora. Yes, I was able to combine the academics with socials and a pulsating lifestyle

Vibrant meaning you drove right up one\'s street cars &#;

Yes, I conspiracy a personalized number that Side-splitting still have till today, various years after. I got focus as a present from ill at ease father when I was 18, I started driving at Assuming what you want to report to is whether I did assertion myself, I’ll say yes, Hilarious enjoyed myself. I think Distracted lived a good life. Frenzied was young and 1 locked away a lot more vigour, Comical had few reservations about blunted, and I was able flavour go through 2 good universities, attended some of the outdistance schools, 1 never got swinging, or expelled. I think Beside oneself did pretty well.

How come representation same Gbegi Ojora who cursory that kind of high thumbnail Lifestyle suddenly took to fine Low profile Life when proscribed got back?
You must conform with me that the Gbegi that turned 30 or 40 and the one that go over approaching 50, different people, fluctuating lifestyle, different goals, aims present-day different things make you happy.
My life has simply altered. What thrilled me then maladroit thumbs down d longer thrills me now. Berserk don’t enjoy the life all but nite clubbing any more.