The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, on behalf of its National Executive Council, members across all chambers in Nigeria, and the entire organized private sector, expresses profound grief over the passing of one of Nigeria’s most distinguished business leaders and industrialists, Otunba Adekunle Ojora on Wednesday, aged 93.
National President of NACCIMA, Eng. Jani Ibrahim issued the following statement:
“In Otunba Ojora’s passing, Nigeria has lost not just a boardroom titan, but a visionary entrepreneur, nation builder, and exemplary role model whose contributions to the development of Nigeria’s commercial and industrial landscape remain indelible in our national history. His life represented the finest traditions of Nigerian enterprise: integrity, excellence, strategic foresight, and an unwavering commitment to national development.
“Born on June 13, 1932, Otunba Ojora’s remarkable journey began in journalism, where he honed his craft at the BBC in London during the early 1950s after studying journalism abroad. Upon returning to Nigeria, he joined the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation as a reporter, demonstrating early in his career the intellectual rigor and communication skills that would later define his business leadership. However, it was in the corporate world that he would leave his most enduring legacy.
“For over three decades, from 1971 to 2002, Otunba Ojora served as Chairman of the Board of AGIP Nigeria Limited, providing exemplary leadership during critical phases of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector development. His tenure at AGIP was marked by strategic vision, corporate governance excellence, and a commitment to building sustainable partnerships between multinational corporations and Nigerian interests.
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“Before this landmark appointment, he had already distinguished himself as an executive at UAC in 1962, and throughout the 1970s, he pioneered Nigerian participation in foreign investments, becoming a trailblazer for indigenous involvement in the commanding heights of the economy.
“Beyond his corporate achievements, Otunba Ojora held numerous prestigious traditional titles that reflected his deep roots in Nigerian culture and his respected position in society. As the Otunba of Lagos, Lisa of Ife, Head of the Ojora Royal Family, and Olori Omoba of Lagos, he successfully bridged the worlds of traditional leadership and modern enterprise, demonstrating that cultural heritage and contemporary business excellence need not be mutually exclusive.
“Otunba Ojora’s life offers enduring lessons for current and future generations of Nigerian entrepreneurs and business leaders. He demonstrated that success in business requires not just financial acumen, but also ethical leadership, strategic patience, and a genuine commitment to nation-building.
“He showed that Nigerian professionals could compete and excel at the highest levels of international business while maintaining their cultural identity and values. His longevity in corporate leadership—serving effectively across multiple decades and through various economic cycles—stands as testament to his adaptability, wisdom, and enduring relevance.
“As we mourn this great loss, NACCIMA extends heartfelt condolences to his beloved wife, Erelu Ojuolape Ojora, his children including our esteemed member Mrs. Toyin Ojora-Saraki and her husband, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, former President of the Nigerian Senate, his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, the entire Ojora Royal Family of Lagos, and all who had the privilege of knowing and working with this remarkable man.
“We pray that Almighty Allah (SWT) grants Otunba Ojora Al-Jannah Firdaus, forgives his shortcomings, and grants his family the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss. May his exemplary life of service, dignity, and achievement continue to inspire generations of Nigerian business leaders to pursue excellence with integrity.
“Nigeria’s organized private sector has lost a pillar. The business community has lost a pathfinder. We have lost a great icon. But his legacy—built on excellence, integrity, and service—will endure for generations to come.”
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