29/01/2026
Saraki's Father-In-Law Ojora Dies at 93
The father-in-law of former Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki, Otunba Adekunle Ojora is dead. He died after a brief illness, at his Ikoyi home in Lagos. He was aged 93. Ojora was Nigeria’s boardroom guru, corporate titan, industrialist and the grand Patriarch of the Nigeria’s Social Establishment. He was the Otunba of Lagos and the Lisa of Ile-Ife.
One of his children, a philanthropist, Toyin Saraki is married to former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
The family confirmed his dead in a statement, announcing that Otunba Ojora “joined his ancestors in the early hours of Wednesday 28th January, 2026.”
Born on June 13, 1932, Otunba Ojora occupied numerous distinguished traditional and familial positions. These included Chief Olori Omoba of Lagos, Head of the Oba Ologunkutere & Oba Adele Ajosun Royal Family, Head of the Ojora Royal Family, and Head of the Aiyeomosan Chieftaincy Family of Lagos. He also held the revered titles of Otunba of Lagos and Lisa of Ile-Ife. The family noted that details of burial arrangements would be communicated in due course.
In honour of his ancestry and enduring legacy, the family released his aanegyrics (Oriki), recited thus: “Omo Ojora Apasa, Omo kekeniju, Omo oyinbo Dudu ni ita iganmu, Omo afomo loko toun ti ele die, Omo olumokun okosho yun, Omo opayun Pade, Omo alowo loko bi oyinbo, Omo ogbe obinrin ta fi owo ra akobi… Omo olowu oduru. Sun re ooooooooo.”
Otunba Adekunle Ojora’s life journey cut across journalism, commerce, and public administration, earning him recognition as one of Nigeria’s most formidable corporate leaders. His business acumen, strategic investments, and mentorship left a lasting imprint on critical sectors of the Nigerian economy particularly oil and gas, shipping, finance, and real estate.
His influence extended well beyond commerce. Through successive generations, his family has remained actively engaged in governance, healthcare delivery, and social advocacy, reinforcing a legacy that continues to shape national development. Interestingly, Ojora’s professional life began in journalism. After studying at Regent Street Polytechnic in London, he worked with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), rising to the role of assistant editor. In 1955, he returned to Nigeria to join the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) as a reporter and was later redeployed to Ibadan as an information officer in the office of the regional premier.
His transition into the corporate world came after joining the United African Company (UAC) as public relations manager in 1961. The move proved pivotal. By 1962, he had become an executive director of the company, marking the beginning of a lifelong engagement with business leadership. Ojora also gained experience in grassroots governance following his nomination to the Lagos City Council in 1966. A year later, he took on multiple high-level roles, becoming managing director of Wemabod Estates Limited and chairman of the Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL). These appointments reflected the confidence placed in his leadership and administrative capacity.
Over time, he expanded his investment portfolio across a wide spectrum of industries. He became involved with companies such as AGIP Petroleum Marketing and NCR Nigeria and served as chairman of AGIP Nigeria Limited from 1971 until its acquisition by Unipetrol in 2002. He also established private enterprises including Nigerlink Industries, Unital Builders, and Lagos Investments, a holding company. The enactment of the Nigerian Enterprise Promotion Act further accelerated his growth as an investor, enabling him to acquire stakes in several foreign-owned firms operating in Nigeria. These included Bowring Group, Inchcape, Schlumberger, Phoenix Assurance, UTC Nigeria, Evans Brothers, and Seven-Up.
His business interests spanned oil and gas, food manufacturing, insurance, office equipment, pharmaceuticals, real estate, information and communications technology, and financial services both within Nigeria and internationally.
Even in advanced age, Ojora remained actively engaged in corporate discourse. At the 50th anniversary celebration of Evans Brothers (Nigeria Publishers) Limited in Ibadan in 2016, he then 84 and serving as chairman remarked on the challenges facing the publishing industry, citing piracy and structural constraints despite Nigeria’s large population.
Similarly, in 2017, when Insurance Brokers of Nigeria (IBN) unveiled a new brand identity to mark its 62nd anniversary, Ojora, as chairman, reaffirmed the firm’s enduring values, stating that “one thing that has never changed is our commitment.”
A prince of the Ojora and Adele royal lineages of Lagos, Otunba Ojora once came close to ascending the throne of Lagos. He, however, lost the succession contest that followed the death of Oba Adeyinka Oyekan in 2003. His professional credentials were equally impressive. He was a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (FNIM), the British Institute of Directors, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (FNIPR), and the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA). In 1992, Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio, awarded him an honorary doctorate in recognition of his contributions.
He was also a recipient of Nigeria’s national honour, Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), underscoring the nation’s appreciation of his service and the esteem in which he was held.
