SAM IWUAJOKU: THE MILLION-DOLLAR MAN

I had passed through his terminal. It is the private jet wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. You know when you are big, you are big. I was with a client who I will not mention his name just yet. We were headed to Abuja for a quick meeting with Dr. Bukola Saraki, then Senate President. That is how traffic catch us on Maryland o. My client just made three calls and we were on a Private Jet to Abuja. On our return journey, I surveyed the terminal and the adjoining Legend Hotel and they said, “It is one man that own the place.”

Today, I met the man. Sam Iwuajoku says he is a Nigerian. He has built this franchise to the point where his aircraft maintenance business services aircraft for four major outposts including Dornier. He also provides packing services for almost all the people that matter in this country with private jets.

His Legend Hotel- apart from being managed by the Hilton-perfectly takes advantage of its proximity to the International Airport and the legendary gridlock on Lagos roads to pull in 100% occupancy. Hence, the ambitious $35m expansion project which is expected to move it from a 60 room edifice to over 231 sand a massive conference centre that can seat about 2,000 people.

As he speaks, I see the strength of a man that has built from scratch with his bare knuckles a business that has redefined his essence and continues to give fillip to the fact that Nigeria is still a very great country. Welldone sir. I hail and bow.