The Ojora family of Lagos has announced the death of its patriarch, Otunba Adekunle Ojora, the Otunba of Lagos and Lisa of Ife, who passed away early Tuesday morning at the age of 93.
The announcement was contained in a statement signed by Mrs Toyin Ojora-Saraki on behalf of the family.
Ojora was a leading businessman and boardroom guru, who served as chairman of Nigeria Agip Oil Company from 1971 until its acquisition by Unipetrol in 2002.
According to the statement, the family said it received the loss with total submission to the will of Almighty Allah, noting that the revered elder lived a fulfilled and dignified life. “With total submission to the will of Almighty Allah (SWT), the Ojora family of Lagos hereby announces the passing of our beloved patriarch, Otunba Adekunle Ojora,” the statement read.
The family further affirmed its faith in divine decree, describing the late Otunba Ojora’s passing as a return to his Creator. “Surely, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall all return,” the statement added, quoting the Qur’an.
It disclosed that the late Otunba would be buried in Lagos in accordance with Islamic rites, in line with religious tradition.
Otunba Adekunle Ojora is survived by his wife, Erelu Ojuolape Ojora, as well as his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The family also called on members of the public to remember the late patriarch in prayers, urging Muslims and well-wishers to seek Allah’s mercy for him. “We urge all members of the public to join us in praying to Allah to grant His servant reprieve in the grave and a place in Al-Jannatul Firdaus,” the statement said.
Otunba Ojora was widely regarded as a respected traditional figure and elder statesman, whose life spanned decades of service, business leadership and community influence.
He began a career as a journalist with BBC in the early 1950s, in 1962 he became an executive of UAC and in the 1970s, he began to invest in a number of foreign firms in Nigeria including Bowring Group, Inchape, Schlumberger, Phoenix Assurance, UTC Nigeria, Evans Brothers and Seven-Up.
