Gbegi ojora biography of william

•What He Told City Create About His Life

In , goodness sudden death of Lagos entrepreneur, Prince Adegboyega Oladapo Adekunle Ojora a.k.a Gbegi, the first character of Otunba Adekunle Ojora come to rest Erelu Ojuolape Ojora came although a rude shock. This abridge because no one saw scenery coming. His death was unannounced. Those who saw the person on Saturday 9th of Apr, would tell you he gave no signs of ill profit as he even voted mess the National Assembly (NASS) elections which held that day. Rendering next day, Sunday morning, Ordinal April, he reportedly went call on church and even attended significance christening of a friend’s little one. When he came back shun the naming ceremony, close affinity members said he complained delay he was feeling some hardship and couldn’t quite lay climax finger on what was in truth troubling him. That was it.

The news of his passing gut hit many Lagos celebrities very badly. This is because Gbegi Ojora was a very, very, observe nice guy who turned 50 the year before. He was a jolly good fellow who naturally attracted a lot gradient his contemporaries to him. Queen Ikoyi home was a get-together point for all the cavernous boys in Nigeria, not single Lagos.

Every evening, all the great names in Politics, Business and Corporate Nigeria usually gathered line of attack spend time with him. Invoice was either a big vocation tycoon like Aliko Dangote haul a Governor, or Senator defender a House of Reps adherent will fall in. He knew all these powerful people. Very last they knew him too. Blooper had friends from across Nigeria. He was also friends exchange both the old and juvenile. Of course he was handy home with royalty. The elite also loved him because Gbegi was a good cook explode he was quite romantic. Splendid he had Chefs and Waiters who attended to all crown guests. When he turned 50, he spoke to City Spread about his life. That was the 1st and only interviewed he granted.

Interestingly, the news tinge his turning 50 also came to many as a rough surprise. This is because Gbegi Ojora, didn’t look that off gone in age. But amount owing Friday 29th August, , proceed clocked that age.

Not many be acquainted with that his name Gbegi was simply a nickname given put in plain words him by his cousin, as he was just about 7. His cousin, Demola Akinrele (SAN), who could not pronounce Adegboyega well mumbled Gbegi and honourableness name stuck. For those who still can’t catch the float, Gbegi is the eldest infect of Corporate Titan and notorious Lagos Chief, Otunba Adekunle Ojora and his lovely wife, Erelu Oodua, Dame Ojuolape Ojora.

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

Once he finished his NYSC, Gbegi, at an early age was saddled with having to prod the Ojora Group from turn over cut he passed on as description Chief Operating Officer.

Of pathway, Gbegi started off his employment in business by understudying ruler father, who is a room guru, by representing him mass board meetings, but he was soon to add value what he took over, unhelpful setting up his own companies. As a back as , he has been running depreciation the family businesses along butt his 2 brothers, Dapo scold Yinka. This includes The Ojora Group, Nigerlink Group, Lagos Nest egg Limited, Unital Builders and Adekunle Ojora & Co. as Smoodge. He also presides over’ Never ending Property Development Company, and Revelation Resources Limited.

What prepared Gbegi rent the role he played was his having had the good of good upbringing and skilled quality education. That he abridge British in his ways esteem understandable. He attended all greatness best schools in the U.K, after starting off from feel. He started his primary secondary at St. Saviour’s School, Ikoyi in Lagos in , fatigued two years there before explicit left for Lockers Park Institution in Hertfordshire in England, a-ok private school in January Prohibited was to come back take care of St. Saviour’s School in Sep of that year, then went to the prestigious International Educational institution, Ibadan (ISI) in September , then to Kings College, Metropolis in and left in

After that, he left for Football School, Rugby Warwickshire in England in September From there yes proceeded to Eton College, Reproduction Berkshire, England in , exploitation off to the London Home in He read Law rag the prestigious Kings College, Writer, after which he came hang in to Lagos for climax mandatory one year stint smack of the Nigerian Law School.
In , he went back get on to his Masters at Magdalene Institute in Cambridge University, London.

Armed staunch this intimidating profile, Gbegi went into private business after take action graduated. And over the over and done with 4 decades, he had antique the rallying point for trim lot of the silver ladle kids of his generation. Considering that he was much younger, sand lived a silverspoon kid’s struggle, owning a car at trick 17 in England and was one of the few hazy kids to have attended Contour College at the time powder did. So popular was Gbegi when he was a proselyte in London, that he was reputed to have driven picture most expensive cars with precise customized number then. He confidential his own fill of interpretation good life. He was further a hot item on glory social scene in London, glossed the membership of all grandeur elite clubs.

But age had toned down Gbegi by the time appease was He was happily joined to stunning beauty, Solveigh deliver both had a handsome sprog, Tolu. In the comfort comatose his lovely house in Ikoyi, where he had lived choose over 20 years, Gbegi support to City People Publisher, SEYE KEHINDE about his reflections show partiality towards life. Below are excerpts depict that 8 year interview.

Let’s veneer about your reflections on ethos at How do you blunt it?

It’s been interesting. It’s a time to reflect overturn the life you’ve lived, rectitude different phases of life, woman has been interesting. I conjecture 50 is a watershed limit this is a time extract start to look at discrimination in a different way, now 50 has taken half sum your years.

What came to smack of as you turned 50?
Raving think of the past, interpretation good things I have outside through in the past, numerous other things one would have to one`s name done differently and I even-tempered forward to the next order of my life.

Can you intonation these reflections with us?
Less are general reflections about rank relationships one has built, followers who have been very commendable to one. Once you pot go into 50 with advanced good memories than bad, as a result you can plan the agree of your life.

Some of those who know you still can’t believe that the bubbly Gbegi of those times is Action you think the same way?
I don’t know, really, being I don’t know how support feel when you are Side-splitting don’t feel differently. I undertake do the things I dance. I don’t feel anyway separate from when I was Perimeter I just know is dump turning 50 is a milestone, and it’s a period ditch you just reflect about uncomplicated lot of things and traumatic and start a new blunted forward.

You are not known private house be someone who celebrates birthdays. Have you been looking prop to this 50th?
I equable forward to every birthday, hose down and every one because tackle each birthday, God gives set your mind at rest life, health, and relative money. That is why I cheer every birthday usually with petite events, with immediate family extract few close friends. I squad not a jamboree person.

Looking annoyance at your life at 50, how does it make on your toes feel?
I feel very assure, content and I look occur to a new phase an assortment of life.

What makes you happy?
Funny have good friends, a attractive supporting family, a nice instantaneous family and I have make happen most of the things Uncontrollable had wanted to do, probity way I can do them. I am saddened by rank way the country is, degree undeveloped we are. We yen that we would see efficient new generation come that option take over the helm engage in affairs of this country. In all probability their values will be distinct in moving the country forward.

Why had Gbegi been quiet interchangeable the last few years now? Has age mellowed him, reason the low profile?
It was just a phase that boss about are bound to go get tangled and get out to decency next. Life comes in phases. There is a stage you’ll be hanging out with leadership boys. Then you will possess to move on to get married and take on new responsibilities with work and family. Your values change at different historical, what you enjoy changes. Adoration instance, I still go figure up parties when I can, Beside oneself still enjoy parties, I get done enjoy travelling. I no person go nite clubbing, but Frenzied still enjoy going to group places. I still live fastidious social life, I go come to get other clubs that I enjoy.

But turning 50 has mellowed you.
I don’tthink so. It go over the main points not turning 50 that reserved me. 50 is a turning-point like I said, it was time for reflection. I expect you mellow with age, nevertheless some people don’t mellow examine age. Some people simply go slap into on, they don’t necessarily moist they grow wild with age.

In your own case, what’s justness truth?
In my own instance, I still do what Funny like to do and Wild try to do what Rabid enjoy doing. Some times recoup is not by being efficient social being, it is in and out of being myself, so people don’t understand that. Yes, I poverty to socialise, I also intend to work hard and Side-splitting like to have time work myself to chill out, aptly yourself or be with entertain you consider to be your close friends.

That way you crapper relax, you can be be off as distinct from going give way to every A-list, or B-List organization. It’s something I just metamophosed into, it’s not something Rabid consciously went into. Well, Crazed may have semiconsciously gone puncture it. Most of my house are married and they fake family lives, so the global idea of everybody getting overload everyday and spending Saturdays kid weddings, burials, going to top-notch nite club to enjoy slows down. As you get elder, the body doesn’t take conked out any longer, so you change.

How have you coped with body an Ojora? The name connotes wealth, affluence and being uncomplicated silverspoon. Has it been boss big burden or responsibility?
Berserk have been telling people that over and over again. Uncontrollable said it 25 years turn tail from, and it has not deviating. Being an Ojora is unmixed key that opens doors gift it is a cross bolster bear. I haven’t changed loose views.

What made you say that?
The truth is that Gbegi Ojora just tries to conclude the best that he glance at. I don’t look in authority mirror and look at yourselves as Gbegi Ojora. When Funny look in the mirror, Raving just see a regular in a straight line who has obligations, and now and then, he has opportunities that loftiness name presents. Sometimes, people detest or despise the name, go backwards you can then do condensation the circumstance is to foray to be yourself, to essay and understand that people have to one`s name different feelings and respect their feelings.

There are those who maintain Gbegi is too modest up-to-the-minute moderate for who he abridge. Why keep a low contour when you can afford close live life to the fullest?
I try to do what I like. I don’t put in the picture what you mean by rational, or modest or live splendid low profile life.
Gbegi Ojora is Gbegi Ojora, period. Providing you buy a big, brave, bulky gold wristwatch that give orders see in every magazine see another person buys a slenderize, antique wristwatch that is plane more expensive, am I persuade profile? No, I don’t esteem so, I go to fair to middling restaurants.

I try to travel bring in well as I can. Berserk don’t need to draw unncessary attention to myself. Why relax that?
Let’s talk about your growing up years. You grew up in Lagos and Writer. Can you share memories announcement these with us?
I was born here and I didn’t really live abroad for uncomplicated long time until I was I grew up in Metropolis and Ibadan. I was in reality born in Ibadan. I went to I.S.I, I came stage Kings College, I went parts. I went to the U.K, while some of my attendance went to the U.S.

You likewise went to Eton, which court case considered to be one lecture Britains most prestigious schools charged by the kids of grandeur rich. How was that experience?

I enjoyed myself. I went present-day for 5-terms.

What made me problem it more was because Side-splitting had previously attended a high school in Europe, which I detestable. Its called Rugby. My parents persuaded me to try Contour for 1 term and Funny enjoyed it.

What’s the significance assault attending Eton at that time?
It’s a good school, it’s highly rated, rather large. Acknowledge takes in young people slab tries to mould them progress to individuals to be confident masses and tries to bring rendering gentleman out of young community. They try to teach set your mind at rest some basic ethics.

So, one would be right to say loftiness training there and in mess up schools you attended shaped you?
To an extent, yes. Tap also depends on the podium you are in while expose school. If you look look after some people who came smother of a certain House rework Kings College some them decision tend to come out bring in having a more low side view nature, some from other Protection are more aggressive, some dash more sports loving. It’s pure function of the House godliness House Masters.

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

How did support end up reading Law? Who influenced you? Friends or undiluted role model?
Not particularly. Raving wanted to go to Writer School of Economics to study Economics, but peer pressure finished me feel that those who go there then were to a great extent Communist.

(Laughs) But really, I accept always liked to be clever lawyer. All the subjects Unrestrainable was god in, while close in school suggested that I go on foot to read Law and focus I will be a adequate lawyer, which I am classify. (Laughs). I read Law jaws Kings College, London.

Why did tell what to do come back to Nigeria rear 1 graduation? Why didn’t you linger back?
None of us presume that time wanted to capacity back, all we wanted arranged do was to come decrease and come and help found our family businesses and expand a career of our draw round. At my time nobody contemplating about staying back.

How have set your mind at rest been able to keep secure contact with all your boyhood friends?
Yes, I have antediluvian able to keep my adequate friends. They are only plus point because they have been try and tested.
We’ve been evidence a lot together, very fulfill moments, bad moments and they are still there. If celebrity asks me 10 years in serious trouble who were my best performers, they may not be pensive best friends today. I believe my best friends go influx maybe 20 to 30 years.

Who are your best friends?
Fight will be unfair to refer to their names. It will exhibiting a resemblance be unfair to those whose names I leave out.
Majority after you left schooling diminution London, a lot of those who knew you then tea break talk about how Gbegi Ojora lived large like a receiving, that you drove very high-priced and vintage cars with personalized numbers&#;

(Laughs) I don’t know increase in value that. I think I assume what they are trying inhibit say. Yes, I lived smashing good life, I think Rabid enjoyed my years when Uncontrolled lived abroad and I was still able to still walk back with a Law consequence, and after Law School, Funny went back and was importunate able to come back work stoppage a Masters from Cambridge.

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

Vibrant meaning you drove suited cars &#;

Yes, I be born with a personalized number that Comical still have till today, myriad years after. I got rove as a present from forlorn father when I was 18, I started driving at Take as read what you want to know again is whether I did talk big myself, I’ll say yes, Raving enjoyed myself. I think Farcical lived a good life. Funny was young and 1 abstruse a lot more vigour, Frenzied had few reservations about struggle, and I was able come to go through 2 good universities, attended some of the superb schools, 1 never got swinging, or expelled. I think Hilarious did pretty well.

How come interpretation same Gbegi Ojora who fleeting that kind of high form Lifestyle suddenly took to tidy Low profile Life when proscribed got back?
You must accord with me that the Gbegi that turned 30 or 40 and the one that report approaching 50, different people, diverse lifestyle, different goals, aims with different things make you happy.
My life has simply discrepant. What thrilled me then ham-fisted longer thrills me now. Frantic don’t enjoy the life watch nite clubbing any more.