President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Has Expressed Profound Sorrow

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed profound sorrow at the passing of Otunba (Dr) Adekunle Ojora, one of Nigeria’s most respected industrialists, business leaders, and traditional figures, who died at the age of 93. In an official condolence message signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu condoled with the government and people of Lagos State, as well as members of the Ojora and Adele royal families and the business community. The President described Ojora’s passing as a significant loss to the nation, the private and public sectors, and Nigeria’s traditional institutions. Tinubu prayed for the repose of Ojora’s soul and for “comfort and strength” for his family, friends, and associates.
President Tinubu highlighted the late Otunba Ojora’s life and career, marked by humility, perseverance, hard work, tenacity, and generosity, which guided his many achievements in both public service and private enterprise. The President noted Ojora’s role as a trusted adviser to governments, providing counsel on best practices for safeguarding the future of key institutions at national and subnational levels.
Tinubu emphasized that Ojora’s influence extended beyond commerce, as he remained a towering figure whose counsel and experience enriched Nigeria’s development landscape.
Born in 1932, Otunba Adekunle Ojora trained as a journalist at Regent Street Polytechnic in London and began his career with in the early 1950s before returning to Nigeria.
On his return, he worked with the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation and later transitioned into the corporate sector, joining the United African Company (UAC) and rising to executive leadership.
Ojora became widely known as Chairman of the Board at AGIP Nigeria Limited from 1971 until 2002, elevating the company’s role in the oil and gas industry. Beyond petroleum, he invested in diverse industrial sectors including manufacturing, insurance, real estate, and services, and served on numerous boards of Nigerian and multinational firms.
He bore esteemed traditional titles such as Otunba of Lagos and Lisa of Ife, serving also as the Olori Omo Oba of Lagos and commander of the Ojora royal lineage. The Ojora family announced that Otunba Adekunle Ojora returned to his creator early Wednesday and that burial arrangements will be conducted in Lagos according to Islamic rites. He is survived by his wife, Erelu Ojuolape Ojora, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. National Mourning: President Tinubu described Ojora’s death as a major loss to Nigeria’s socio-economic and traditional fabric. Life of Service: Ojora’s life embodied enterprise, public service, and cultural leadership, inspiring successive generations of business leaders. Legacy: His legacy spans journalism, corporate governance, industrial growth, and traditional leadership, leaving an indelible mark on Nigeria’s development story.