₦airaland Forum

The Story Of IJEBU Businessman, Alhaji ADEGUNWA
The story of renowned business mogul, Alhaji (Dr.) Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa, can be likened to the proverbial Grass to Grace. He started his career as a Photographer and with the grace of God, he stepped up his game and became a big player in the Photography business.
He rose to become a big importer of photographic equipment before he veered into other areas of investment. Today, he owns several companies and he plays big in real estate and banking.
When this Ijebu businessman, turned 70 last year, he was celebrated in a big way. The stylish and deeply religious man has positively touched so many lives. For decades, he has been actively involved in philanthropy. He has, however, been silent about it.
In Ijebu, his image looms large because of his kind gestures. He is from Ososa Ijebu, the land of birth of the late Theatre icon, Hubert Ogunde, of blessed memory. He has also established businesses in Ijebu just as he did in Lagos. He also built a big mosque in his home town.
He recently completed a big multibillion dollar factory that has provided jobs for several Ijebu youths. If you approach Ososa town from the Benin-Sagamu expressway you will see the very expensive factory where he produces his RITE sausage rolls, and soft drink. That is what he has always been known for. His past achievements prime him a better prospect to industrially lift Ijebuland . A harbinger of good things, he is, by his present dispensation going to script a glorious future for Ijebuland.
His economic empowerment stride is spectacularly lifting Ijebu people out of quagmire of poverty. As he knows the benefit and value of kindness and selflessness, he keeps living those values. He is living an exemplary life, which is a source of inspiration for future industrialists. He treasures without any inhibition, love, integrity and hard-work as values
At 71, he is still vibrant, quick-witted, sharp and focussed as a prodigy in his teens. He is a model of tenacity of purpose and resilience, which have remained his benchmark. Strong, and courageous, he has never for once reduced the urge to strive higher for a much larger business conglomerate. Put in sharp focus, his unquantifiable contributions can be appreciated in major areas such as business, philanthropy and national unity. Alhaji (Dr.) Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa has perfected the art of working silently and letting his achievements speak for him, but then, success is a gold fish that has no hiding place. He has succeeded in getting his name written in gold. Thus remaining at all times an invaluable giant.
He is the Founder, Executive Chairman of many companies like Fototek Industries Ltd. (Adebola House), 40, Opebi Road, Ikeja. He set it up in 1980. The company, is a conglomerate with its sister company, Photo Palace Ltd. It operates photo labs, boasting of 56 branches across 28 states of the federation. The company also engages in sales of photographic equipment and materials.
He is the founder, Executive Chairman Photo Palace Ltd. (Adebola House) 40, Opebi Road, Ikeja. The company, which operates photo labs and offers for sale photographic equipment and materials provides its services from 33 branches across the country, He is the Founder, Executive Chairman Prints Specialty Ltd. (Adebola House) 40, Opebi Road.
This is a printing company that utilizes the most sophisticated printing technology in the printing industry today. It offers printing services in the areas of labels, annual reports, light packaging and general commercial printing. He is the Founder, Executive Chairman Top Communications Ltd. (Adebola House) 40, Opebi Road, Ikeja.
The company equipped with the most sophisticated systems available to date in information technology, serves the nation in Website Design, Graphics Bureau. Digital Imaging and Design, Multimedia Presentation and events marketing.
He is the founder, Executive Chairman Fototek, S.A. Cotonou, Republic of Benin. The company was established in the Republic of Benin to meet the increasing demand for the company’s services in that country and some other West African countries including Cameroun, Niger, Chad and Togo.
He is the founder, Executive Chairman Ess-Ay Holdings Ltd. (Adebola House) 40, Opebi Road, Ikeja. This is the parent company co-ordinating and consolidating all the companies in the Group namely, Fototek Industries Limited, Photo Palace Limited Prints Specialty Ltd and Top Communications Ltd.
Ess-Ay Holdings Ltd. holds the sole distributorship of Agf-Gevart of Germany as a representative in West Africa. He is the Chairman Atlantic Insurance Ltd. (Adebola House) 40, Opebi Road, Ikeja. This company offers insurance services in Marine, Non-Life and other businesses. The contributions of Alhaji (Dr.) Sulaiman Ade Adegunwa to national development are multi-faceted. They all underscore his abiding faith in the greatness of country and the ideal of service to humanity. Put in sharp focus, his contributions could be appreciated in four areas:
He currently presides over a vast industrial/trading/insurance empire, which through its 56 branches spread across the country is making an impact on the economy, and lives of people.
He has God-given resources to invest heavily in men, machinery and materials plus making corresponding enormous investment in manpower development and training. His conglomerates are heavy revenue contributors to the government coffers. Thus uplifting the country’s economy. By employing more than 1.200 workers of various categories, his companies are spreading economic welfare among workers.
Thus Alhaji (Dr.) Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa is contributing to the poverty alleviation aspiration of the country. He pioneered modern, large-scale technology photographic service today and his firm remains the largest network of Photographic Services in West Africa, establishing a Photographic company in a neighbouring country, Republic of Benin and boosting trade relations with other ones, mainly Franco-phone countries.
To him, the trading relationship is a fulfillment of contributing to the African economic development and galvanizing more than ever before, mutual understanding and respect among West African nations, in the spirit of ECOWAS. In other words, (Dr.) Adegunwa has moved towards taking up the challenge of fulfilling ‘the role of an economic ambassador in the West Coast of Africa Feelers from customers of his company show that so far, he has played this role well.
The insurance company-Atlantic Insurance Co. Limited – of which he is Chairman responds to patrons yearning for security, stability and confidence in Marine and Non-Life businesses. Bringing his years of business experience to bear on the firm. He has enormously succeeded in raising the company to its present enviable position as an emerging flagship in the insurance industry.
Alhaji (Dr.) Adegunwa believes in Education. He believes that with education, “you are not giving a man his food for the day, but a means of lasting livelihood” Thus, his invesment in the educational sector has so far been an addiction and a source of joy for him. His investment, in a property gifts, and financial assistance to education sector spreads across primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. The future educational prospect of the tots at the Sulaiman Kindergarten Centre is secure as adequate facilities are within their reach. Offering free extramural classes to secondary school students at the Sulaiman Continuing Education College, Ososa is one commendable intervention by a man, who has put his God-given resources at the disposal of his fellow men, including the less priviledged. The Faculties of Law of both Lagos State University and Olabisi Onabanjo University are today better for it, with the financial assistance rendered by (Dr.) Adegunwa. Just as the Audio Visual Centre donated by him to the Olabisi Onabanjo University College of Health Sciences, has proved such a wonderful asset to the University.

http://www.citypeopleonline.com/fototek-boss-adebola-adegunwa-started-photographer/

https://www.pulse.ng/news/metro/bbc-focus-on-rite-foods-the-challenge-of-creating-successful-nigerian-products/zvwhb98

Seun lalasticlala mynd44 Dominique

horsepower101:
Of course I am not accusing you specifically I am speaking of your brethren who harbor those strong sentiments. Maybe you can explain why they hate to see igbos unite with their people outside the south east. If you dont know, then move on. Nothing against you personally.

Maybe they just making fun of u and u are overreacting and being paranoid
The yorubas u see commenting are just being playful and living their lives
The people u should be concerned about is Hausa Fulani who don't speak on the net but are always scheming
That's where your problem lies,not yorubas

horsepower101:
Oga Lets say the truth for once. The real reason yorubas are not so called "crying" is that UNLIKE what you guys always do to Igbos, no one is accusing you of land grabbing. Yet you guys do that to Igbos

WHY?

I'm a Yoruba person and I didn't do anything to Igbo
U are living in a fantasy
I've never done anything to any Igbo in my life
So why accusing me

Charleys:
This people migrated from cameroun and do not deserve to be in Nigeria with true Nigerians.

They all have relations living in cameroun.

This is true but they refuse to tell us.

Please
What's your tribe
The name, I mean

These people don't see the dumbness in their posts and it surprises me at times
Going by this novice logic
Yorubas are actually worse off in this mere geographical expression called Nigeria
For example
These people crying ,their states are actually not more than in 3 to 4 states at most where they have large numbers
Rivers delta are the ones having highest population
While Benue Kogi Edo have little population
Now contrast to yorubas who are not crying
Yorubas have their brothers in states that are not sw
Kwara state, Kogi state where they are bullied
They have little presence in Edo and itsekiri delta
Now let's go a bit far
The capital of Benin republic is porto novo also known as ajashe
U can Google about the capital of Benin republic
The past president of Benin republic came to meet ooni of ife ,his name is boni yayi
U can Google the news where he said he was yoruba
The capital of Benin republic is not Cotonou before some nonetity quote me
Now yorubas have huge lands in Benin republic
The capital of Benin republic is yoruba land,ajashe
Yorubas are also in another country again,Togo
Yorubas have every right to complain about yorubas being only in sw
What about kwara Kogi Edo delta itshekri Benin republic and Togo
These people are very paranoid

Richdad50:


Nigerians are very intelligent. Very skilled young men.

Richdad

Hmm
One of the dumbest comment I've read on a crme thread in a while
Nairaland keeps giving

Who let's dumb actresses like this into these events
Since it's Brazil its supposed to be kunle afolayan who they can better relate to

nku5:
Ondo is the natural choice.

Yea

Yorubas should become atheist like me
Or at least a traditionalist
Fake imported religion is doing our land problems

Metaphysical and osaze007
Pls no yorubas has any interest in ss or se
Please and please
We are yorubas,nothing concerns us
Thank
This is a Warning to yorubas who create dumb topics on nairaland
Nothing concerns us as yorubas with ss and se
They can go eat crap for all I care

Beautiful yoruba woman

Fine yoruba people

These people and crime

IamAtikulate:
Most of the brown roofs you are seeing there are owned by Yoruba migrants.

Hhmmm.,
U actually made me laugh
Congratulations

All these abokiii

healthserve:
The land I don't doubt.I have no issues with the dude. The reportage is faulty. 100 persons can't handle 45000 hectares even with tractors

Not all the 45,000 hectares can be used
At most only half will be in use

This guy still dey quote that propaganda waec ranking bullshit by some hungry people

Abfinest007:
Nigerians can lie

It was reported by Forbes and cowbell milk
U no see link there?
The guy is even on wikipedia

healthserve:
Trust me its not possible even with tractors. I'm a first grade agro entrepreneur its not possible even with 200 persons. 100,000 acres 100 persons. Lolz

45000 hectares in nassarawa
They have large land there

majamajic:
Money woman

on Osborne ikoyi , after Adenuga, on the left is Alakija is doing some finishing job there , go front a bit u see Julius Berger doing some fresh work for Dangote .

How large are adenuga and alakija properties
How many buildings are there
Can u take a pic for me

franchasng:
IBB's ex girlfriend who became rich through the oil block gift IBB gifted her for free while Niger Delta people wallow on poverty.


Little wonder Yorubas have sworn that Nigeria will never divide because all their so called billionaires became rich through siphoning Niger Delta crude oil, isorai


Ladies if u must do runz, do it with the big shots not with fine boy forming boxer sagging NFA boys you form Jay Z and Beyonce crazy in love with in an empty stomach, all sin na sin, sin big

Just like your Arthur eze was also given oil blocks
See pot calling kettle black

EmptyCoconutHead:
Afonja na tribalism go kill u

OK

healthserve:
Nice. But there's need for accurate reportage. 100 persons can never farm 45,000 hectares without dying within a year from excessive work

U never hear of tractors?

Beautiful yoruba woman

45000 hectares
8,000 tons of rice produced annually
Note, rice farm
45,000 hectares
Damn

Rotimi Williams is the owner of second largest rice farm in Nigeria
Nigerians consume more than 5 million metric tons of rice every year, with a significant portion of its consumption needs sourced from imports. Rotimi Williams, an ambitious 36 year-old Nigerian entrepreneur and rice farmer, is on a quest to change that.

Williams, a former Journalist, is the owner of Kereksuk Rice Farm, the 2nd largest commercial rice farm in Nigeria by land size. His farm, which is situated in Nasarawa state in northern Nigeria, currently sits on 43,000 hectares and employs more than 100 indigenes of Nasarawa.

I recently caught up with the budding entrepreneur in Lagos, and had a brief chat with him where he recounted his journey and mused on how Nigeria can attain self-sufficiency in rice production in the near future.

What’s your educational and professional background?

I attended King’s College in Lagos. After attending secondary school at King’s College I proceeded to obtain my first degree at University of Aberdeen where I graduated with a degree in Economics. I also obtained a Master’s Degree in Economics from the same institution. My quest for more knowledge led me to enroll for yet another Master’s Degree at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London where I gained an MSc. in Finance and Development Studies.

Upon graduation, I landed a role as an analyst at the European Economics and Financial Centre in London. Afterwards, Euromoney Magazine- employed me where I covered the African space.

I would say that this is where my journey truly started.

Given your background as a journalist, what informed your decision to venture into rice farming?

While at Euromoney, I had the opportunity to travel around a few African countries. These trips exposed me to countries like Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia and Ghana. A common thread amongst the aforementioned nations is agriculture. Agriculture is at the very core of these countries and this got me thinking. After a few more trips, I decided to move back to Nigeria and sink my teeth into the agricultural space. Nigeria remains the largest economy in Africa from both a GDP perspective and also the strength of the size of our population.

Upon my arrival back in Nigeria, I got a job at a premier Bank where I was promised to sit on the agriculture desk – my hope was that I would gain enough knowledge of the Nigerian agricultural industry and develop myself from there.

Unfortunately, the agricultural desk at the Bank never quite achieved its set goals. I pushed hard for the Bank to adopt policies and gain inroads into the agricultural industry but my attempts were somewhat frustrated. I sincerely feel that the bank wasn’t quite ready to launch fully into the agricultural space.

As my frustration grew, I decided to quit banking and planned to go it alone into agriculture. Frankly, my decision led to a challenging sojourn as attempts to raise funding with my partner proved difficult. We started a Structured Trade and Commodity Finance company. After a while I started consulting for small agriculture companies seeking to raise capital both locally and internationally.

You currently own the second (2nd) largest rice farm in Nigeria with 45,000 hectares in Nasarawa, Nigeria. What’s the story behind your acquisition of such vast land, and what are some of the challenges you’ve encountered in farming in the volatile northern region?

Two years had past and we still had no funds, so I made an offer to the farm owner, that with a 50-50 split, I would develop the farm with both personal funds and external funding. He agreed and that’s how I became part owner of 17,296 hectares of farmland. Knowing that agriculture would become the integral area of focus in Nigeria, I was bullish and ramped up the land to 55,000 hectares. I later parted with my partner as a result of unaligned views and strategy. I maintained 45,000 hectares for myself and today we have started producing, with our quality paddy being sold to major milling companies in Nigeria. However, I must add the following, I often have people ask how I learned abut farming, as everyone thinks you need a special degree in agriculture to be a farmer, but I always tell them the truth, I learnt it all on Google. I downloaded every article I could find on rice production, consumed it and then practiced it in the fields.


http://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2016/06/27/meet-the-36-year-old-entrepreneur-who-owns-nigerias-2nd-largest-rice-farm/#78ba921171fd

Www.wikipedia.org/-u_4400b9bdac408dd6fcd53332230b90dbe587fc2c-/wiki/Rotimi_Williams?iorg_service_id_internal=1547440102204384%3BAfoYp0dDOxIW3V-Z

Nice
Congratulations to akwa ibom people

SLAP44:
Scared of your future.

Hmm

SLAP44:
You're scared bro, don't lie

Scared of what

kettykin:
The people in Lagos are no complaining but the rest of nigerians are complaining, so the best thing is to leave Lagos for Lagosians and create a bespoke commercial capital thats is tailored for a multi ethnic , multi cultural society like Nigeria

Nobody cares about your place
Thank u and stick your opinion up your ass

U are the one that made it to be dead abike
These people and their dumb post on the net
The people living in Lagos do not even complain
If u like ,your tribe should move out of Lagos and go to your state that's not dead
Don't be surprised if this dumb topic make front page