PAGE 16—SUNDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 6, 2013
TRIBUTE
tribute TRIBUTE IN BRIEF Celebration of a man who towers above his peers on his birthday
Hosa, a Humble Achiever, at 55 cial pilot in 1979 at the age of 21, consequent upon which he started his professional career as a co-pilot with Aero Contractors Limited, which sponsored him to NCAT C . He attended ACME School of Aeronautics, Fort Worth Texas in 1983 where he obtained his Airline Transport Pilot Licence and was made a captain in the same year at the age of 25. He flew as captain with the Intercontinental Airlines and, in 1985, joined the services of Okada Airlines from where he
H
E moves about without putting on airs; he is as in scrutable as he comes; yet he has all it takes to deliberately bludgeon his way into and dominate the consciousness of Nigerians: vast business interests, mega bucks, heavyweight and influential connections, et al. But Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo (aka Captain Hosa), who turns 55 on Monday, January 7, 2012, has chosen to don the garb of minimalism, which is, perhaps, a product of his humble upbringing, made possible by the discipline of a clergy father, teacher and community leader, the late Reverend Robert Amos Okunbo. Even now as an adult, Hosa remains well-taught and advised, in line with the Igbo aphorism that those whose palm kernel has been cracked for them by the benevolent spirit should learn to be humble. It is the humility together with other salient qualities of this cosmopolitan businessman, titanic philanthropist and perceptive politician that this piece is celebrating. Validation: his accomplishments have not denatured him nor have they gone into his head. In spite of the very high pedestal he occupies, he believes that his best is yet to come; and he has therefore consistently kept his eyes on the ball of expanding his business empire. He has been quietly working at it. Hosa’s recent breakthrough was the winning of the bids by Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Lim-
Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo ited, a company in which he is a director, for the Ibadan and Yola Power Distribution Companies (Discos). And just in case you think he is a captain of the Nigerian Army, your thought is wide-off-the-mark: he is a retired commercial pilot with intimidating business engagements that have spanned a 25 year-period. Born on January 7, 1958, he started his education at Government Primary School, Benin City, from where he proceeded to the celebrated Federal Government College, Warri, in 1971. There, he sat for his West African School Certificate Examination and passed in flying colours in 1975. Desirous to become a pilot, he attended the Nigerian Civil Aviation Training Centre (NCATC), Zaria, where he graduated as a professional commer-
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BY SUFUYAN OJEIFO
It is the humility together with other salient qualities of this cosmopolitan businessman, titanic philanthropist and perceptive politician that this piece is celebrating
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retired in 1988 at the age of 30, having logged over 7,000 hours in flying time most of which were jet time. He moved on to establish Hoslyn Ventures Nigeria Limited, a company that was into procurement in the oil
and gas sector. He is, today, chairman of Ocean Marine Security Limited, a company responsible for offshore asset protection for major oil companies in Nigeria, including the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC); and PPP Fluid Mechanics Limited, a crude oil logistics company. He is a major shareholder in Westminster Group Plc, United Kingdom, and chairman of Westminster Security Solutions Limited, a franchise of Westminster Group Plc UK. He chairs Wells Dredging Limited, involved in dredging, sand filling and shore protection in the Niger Delta region, as well as Wells Habitat Limited, a company partnering the Abuja Environmental Protection Agency in the area of waste management. Hoslyn Habitat Limited, a foremost design, construction and landscaping company, and Wells Property Development Company Limited, involved in the development of affordable properties for low-income earners, high networth individuals and office development are both under his chairmanship. In 2012, the American Congress honoured him with the “African Titan” Award for being a voice of the Niger Delta people through his movie: “Black November”. He was recently conferred with the Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) by the University of Benin for his invaluable contributions to economic development. This is wishing him many happy returns of the day. · Ojeifo, a journalist, sent this tribute from Abuja.