Adekunle Ojora: Architect of Enterprise, Guardian of Heritage

With the passing of Otunba Adekunle Ojora at the age of 93, Nigeria has lost a rare blend of boardroom brilliance and traditional gravitas; a man whose life seamlessly fused enterprise with heritage, modernity with memory, writes 

Sunday Ehigiator

On the quiet morning of January 28, 2026, Nigeria bid farewell to one of its most enduring figures of post-independence enterprise and traditional stature. Otunba Adekunle Ojora, renowned industrialist, consummate boardroom strategist, and pillar of family and community, returned to his Creator at the age of 93, closing the final chapter of an extraordinary life that bridged journalism, commerce, governance, culture, and mentorship.

Born into the Ojora and Adele royal families of Lagos in 1932, Ojora’s very existence was shaped by tradition and expectation. From the earliest days, he was immersed in the rhythms of Yoruba culture and leadership; a heritage that instilled in him not merely titles, but deep responsibilities. These responsibilities would extend far beyond palace walls, shaping institutions, communities, and the very ethos of corporate Nigeria.

His life unfolded like that of a rare polymath. In an era when few Nigerians were visible on the global stage, young Adekunle ventured to the United Kingdom to study journalism at Regent Street Polytechnic in London. There, he joined the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in the early 1950s at a time when African voices in international media were scarce. The experience was foundational, honing his command of narrative, public communication, and strategic thought.

From the Airwaves to the Heart of Nation Building

Upon his return to Nigeria in the mid-1950s, Ojora’s skills found fertile ground at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC). He served as a reporter and information officer, including crucial work in Ibadan, then the administrative capital of the Western Region. His reporting was underscored by a profound respect for truth and clarity, qualities that would later inform his approach to corporate governance and public service.

But life would pull Ojora beyond journalism into arenas where the young nation needed architects of industry and policy. His transition from media to business was not an abandonment of his early calling but an expansion of it; communicating, bridging, and advocating for Nigeria across platforms of influence.

By the early 1960s, he had joined the United Africa Company (UAC), a major multinational conglomerate operating in Nigeria. His ascent was swift; by 1962, he had become one of the youngest Executive Directors in the company’s history. In doing so, Ojora signalled a broader shift in Nigeria’s corporate landscape; the emergence of a generation of Nigerian leaders capable of steering major economic actors in their own country.

This was not merely professional success. It was symbolic of Nigeria’s post-colonial ambition: for its people to assume control of their economic destiny, with integrity, competence, and an unshakeable belief in Nigerian talent.

A Life in Public Service and Boardroom Mastery

The political upheavals of the mid-1960s, including the coup that ended the First Republic, might have derailed lesser men. Yet Ojora’s calibre saw him nominated to the Lagos City Council in 1966, where he began to contribute to urban governance at a pivotal moment in the city’s evolution.

The following year, he held dual appointments: Managing Director of WEMABOD, a regional property and investment company, and Chairman of the Nigerian National Shipping Line.

These roles were not ceremonial. They demanded vision, resilience, and a nuanced understanding of Nigeria’s complex economic fabric. From managing urban investment portfolios to overseeing maritime enterprise, lifelines of trade, Ojora was shaping frameworks that would influence generations.

Yet it was perhaps in the private sector where his legacy became most profound.

In 1971, he assumed the chairmanship of AGIP Nigeria Limited, at the time a key actor in the downstream oil sector. Over the next three decades, under his stewardship, AGIP became synonymous with strategic growth, corporate resilience, and adaptability amidst shifting regulatory climates. He remained at the helm until 2002, leading the company through periods of nationalisation debates, oil sector reforms, and global price turbulence.

Through these years, Ojora did more than guide companies; he mentored boardrooms. He cultivated executive thought, institutional discipline, and governance principles that anchored Nigeria’s corporate culture, especially at a time when such frameworks were still taking shape. His voice in board discussions was both authoritative and tempered with humility; a rare mix that drew respect from multinational executives and local entrepreneurs alike.

 Life beyond Commerce

Ojora’s business interests were wide and varied. He invested in manufacturing, insurance, shipping, real estate, and services; sectors critical to broad-based economic development.

Through entities like Nigerlink Industries, Unital Builders, and Lagos Investments, he helped nurture enterprises that contributed jobs, fostered skill development, and encouraged Nigerian ownership in industries often dominated by foreign capital.

In the wake of the Nigerian Enterprise Promotion Act, Ojora strategically acquired equity in the Nigerian operations of several global firms, including Bowring Group, Inchcape, Schlumberger, Phoenix Assurance, UTC Nigeria, Evans Brothers, and Seven-Up. His foresight in local participation exemplified a belief that Nigerians should not only be consumers of global brands but stakeholders in their operations and success.

Amid all this, he emerged as a staunch advocate for corporate governance. Long before governance became boardroom jargon, Ojora championed accountability, transparency, and fiduciary responsibility; principles that would later underpin Nigeria’s corporate reform movements.

He served on boards both at home and abroad, and was a fellow of several professional bodies, earning respect not merely for the titles he held, but for the ethical standards he embodied.

Custodian of Culture and Community Pillar

Despite his international exposure and corporate ascendency, Ojora’s heart remained tethered to his roots. In addition to being Otunba of Lagos and Lisa of Ife, he was Olori Omo Oba of Lagos and held other esteemed chieftaincy titles. These were not mere decorations; they were acknowledgements of his role as a custodian of Yoruba culture, heritage, and communal unity.

To the communities he touched, Ojora was more than a businessman. He was a steward of tradition who honoured the past while carving pathways for the future. He contributed to cultural initiatives, community development, and the preservation of heritage; efforts that often went unnoticed by the public eye but were deeply felt on the ground.

Within his own family, he was revered as a loving husband to Erelu Ojuolape Ojora, and a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who embodied devotion and warmth.

His daughter, Mrs Toyin Ojora-Saraki, herself a figure of note, announced his passing on behalf of the family, reflecting a legacy of dignity and family cohesion.

A Legacy of Humility, Wisdom, and Generosity

In mourning Ojora’s passing, Nigeria’s leaders emphasised virtues that echoed throughout his life. President Bola Tinubu highlighted his humility, perseverance, hard work, tenacity, and generosity; qualities that underpinned his contributions to both public and private sectors.

Tinubu described his death as a significant loss to the nation’s institutions, acknowledging Ojora’s role as an adviser to governments on safeguarding institutional futures.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo went further, calling Ojora’s passing painful and his place difficult to fill. Obasanjo celebrated his legacy of integrity, wisdom, and dedication, calling him a captain of industry and commerce whose memory would linger through his countless contributions to Nigeria’s socio-economic development.

According to Obasanjo, Ojora’s mentorship and leadership inspired a generation of entrepreneurs, and his counsel remained a source of guidance for many.

Final Journey and Eternal Rest

At the age of 93, Ojora “returned to his creator… in full submission to the will of Almighty Allah (SWT).”

In accordance with Islamic rites, his burial will take place in Lagos, a city that watched him grow, lead, and give back for nearly a century. His family has called on all to join in prayers for his soul, asking that he be granted reprieve in the grave and a place in Aljannah Firdaus.

His passing marks the end of an era; a life whose scope of influence was as broad as Lagos’s horizons, yet as deep as its ancestral roots.

To narrate Ojora’s story in mere paragraphs is to attempt to capture the breadth of a lifetime in a few breaths. He lived through Nigeria’s colonial twilight, witnessed its dawn, and shaped its economic and cultural contours through decades of change.

At every stage, he remained true to core principles: service before self, integrity before gain, and heritage as a compass.

From the BBC’s newsroom to the boardrooms of Nigeria’s corporate world; from traditional palace halls to national advisory circles; his was a life that intersected with the soul of a nation in motion.

In the quiet resonance of his departure, one truth remains clear: Otunba Adekunle Ojora did not merely exist in history; he shaped it. His legacy endures in the institutions he strengthened, the communities he served, and the countless lives he inspired. Keep resting, Otunba Adekunle Ojora. Adieu!