Drogbs:

Going by your daft logic there shouldn't be yorubas on LindaIkeji's blog cause she is Igbo or on Facebook cause its owned by Zukerberg a Jew...just plain daft.

Fineman87:
So yoloba losers are still fooling themselves on this thread. Smh

Iyaniwura123:
He is a Billionaire. Reputed to have not one, but 6 private jets. He owns a chateau in France, once occupied by Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor Of France. He is a friend Of Mobutu. Ally Of Kofi Annan. Associate Of Mandela.

I Call Him 'The Emperor of Blinding Swagger'. Terrific Swagger. He is so classy that when he enters a restaurant to eat, everyone else must leave because he takes over entire restaurants for the night, just to avoid others. (Chai! Poor Man Don Suffer). Of all the richest Nigerians I know, none comes close to this man when it comes to the level of Style, 'Tooshness' & Money-Backed Aloofness. But who is he? How did he make his money? His marriages? Why did he leave his house for a Hotel?

Welcome to the world of one of Africa's richest men: His Excellency, Oluwo Antonio Oladeinde Fernandez, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative, the Apesin Ola of the Egba clan (see his writings to the President of the United Nations Security Council and United Nations Secretary General on behalf of President Ange-Félix Patassé of the Central African Republic in 1998).

When it comes to the most impressive and exuberant display of the splendour of wealth, Fernandez dusts them all -by miles. The name 'Fernandez' is Portuguese in origin and shows that he is of the popular Fernandez family of Lagos. Historical accounts show that the Fernandezes were originally descendants of freed slaves from Brazil, where Portuguese is the official language.

Some of the first modern-styled buildings in Lagos were built by the Fernandezes, and these buildings are known for their spectacular Brazilian architecture. Portuguese navigators were also the first European explorers to reach Lagos State. Actually, they gave the state the name 'Lagos'

His wealth has dazed and fazed many, and left even many more speechless. Okay, enough of that. Let's get some bits on him:

-He is the perfect combination of a diplomat (you can also refer to that as ambassador), businessman and yes, a gentleman. He is multilingual, tall and dark (yeah, take a look at the pix again, will you?)



-Even though he is Nigerian, he was appointed the Permanent Representative of Central African Republic (CAR) at the United Nations in 1997 (ain't that classy?, but with the current turmoil in CAR, with former President Francois Bozize fleeing the nation, things are hazy). -

Fernandez is said to have interests in the CAR's oil industry (at a time, he was the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Central African Republic). That does not include his bauxite (for aluminum) exports, gold mines (in Angola) and diamonds pits.

He has an oil company called Petro Inett which obtained a 50% share with South African-based Energy Africa Limited in a deal with the state oil company for exploration rights in a 4,700 km2 area of Angola’s coast in 1996. He also has shares in View, Sandcat Petroleum, Sanantonio, Goldfields, Voguehope, Grantdalem Inuola, Sandcat Goldfields (now I understand those two cats...lol), Woods and Petro Inett Equatorial Guinea.

-Before then, he had served as the Special Adviser to the President of Mozambique on International Economic Matters. From 1992-1995, he was the Ambassador-at-Large for the Republic of Togo and Angola.

-He was also once the Consul for Benin Republic (then Republic of Dahomey) (1966), made the Economic Advisor to the Angolan Government in 1982 (just for perspective, only Nigeria produces more oil than Angola in Africa, shey you gerrit?). To be specific, he was a long-time adviser to President José Eduardo dos Santos of Angola (he’s been ruling since 1975).

In 1984, he was the Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Mozambique to the United Nations. At a point, he was a Deputy Minister of Finance in Swaziland.

-He has houses in Kano, built a tower for himself in Lagos (where he was born in 1936), New York (where he is said to stay almost permanently), Scotland, France, Belgium and the United Kingdom. But that’s not all, he has accounts in the Cayman Islands, France, Switzerland (I love that country joor), Ireland, Hong Kong, Scotland and the United States. Don’t ask me of Nigeria.

-He surrounds himself with the finest, classiest and the most exquisite things that money can buy. One of them was his luxurious yatch - "Yemoja."







In a divorce case with one of his former wives, it was revealed that he splashed 200,000 British Pounds on his seven-storey townhouse to buy 1,000 books of gold leaf to ‘toosh’ up the already ‘tooshed’ cornices and balustrades.

-A high chief of the Ogboni Confraternity, he is highly revered in his Yorubaland and his family motto is: Aguntan meji kii mumi ninu koto kan na (see images for the insignia). Okay, what that simply means is that two rams cannot drink from the same container. Or some people will say, there cannot be two captains on a ship.

-He once married (some reports insist they were only romantically linked) the Erelu of Lagos, Abiola Dosumu but they fell apart and the Erelu of Lagos has since stopped using his name, Fernandez.

Today, he is married to a beauty from Kano State. Her name? Haleema, and has a daughter, Mahreyah. She is said to be of the Alhaji Muhammadu Maude (also known as Maude Tobacco) family of Kano. Alhaji Maude was the Presidential Liaison Officer for Kano State during the Shehu Shagari presidency. A wealthy businessman, he made attempts to become governor of Kano State in the 1980s but lost even though his campaign was one of the most colourful and was associated with the use of yan banga, local thugs.

In 2012, he denied reuniting with Aduke, his former wife. The chief thundered: ‘It’s a big lie. It will never happen, even in a million years.’

-He owns one of the most luxurious homes in Kano State (with one of the largest horse stables and farms in Nigeria, one of the Boko Haram battles in January 2012 during which the pregnant wife of one of the Boko Haram leaders was reportedly killed, was close to his property). But the house is now said to be falling apart. Well, he doesn’t stay at home!

He finished from Cambridge University and Columbia University (business degree) and has been using private jets long before people like Dangote and what is the name of that man again o…. ehen! Adenuga! started dreaming of a billion dollars.



-He has been in international business since 1966, so billions are not new to him. He has direct contacts to some of the most powerful world leaders, business executives and entrepreneurs. He is said to be very close to leaders like Nelson Mandela and George Walker Bush -and they address themselves by the first names. He surely pulls the strings.





IYANIWURA.

The late Chief Antonio Deinde Fernandez was a very deft diplomat, who was also instrumental to the Bangui Agreements of 1997. He has denied having any links with the Nkomati Accords signed in 1984 between Mozambique and South Africa, to which some have given him credits. He gave brilliant speeches at the United Nations, and below is an excerpt:

Mr. Fernandez (Central African Republic) I take pleasure in congratulating Mr. Opertti on his election to the presidency of the General Assembly at its fifty-third session, and I pledge my delegation’s full cooperation. I commend his predecessor, Mr. Udovenko, for bringing the fifty-second session of the General Assembly to a successful conclusion.

I take great pleasure in expressing my pride in our Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan. His leadership and many achievements during the short period of his tenure are highly commendable. Just as this session of the General Assembly coincides with the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it also coincides, providentially, with the fiftieth anniversary of the commencement of peacekeeping operations by the United Nations.

These coincidences are striking because, while one was envisaged in the Charter of our Organization and was the subject of painstaking negotiations, the other was a chance development, not having been envisaged in the Charter. Yet both have had a profound effect on the influence of the United Nations in global affairs and on the perception of the Organization by those whom it was established to serve and who were identified in the opening words of the Charter as “We the peoples of the United Nations”.



The double celebration this year should also enable us to appreciate better the interrelationship between human rights and peacekeeping. There can be no question of human rights being enjoyed in a situation of conflict. Put another way, conflicts create conditions for the most outrageous violations of human rights, since, contrary to all international law and rationality, the most vulnerable in society — children, women and the aged — are often targeted and deprived of the most basic of human rights, the right to life.

As we define and refine our Organization’s responsibilities in peacekeeping, which, by common consent, is now taken in its broadest sense to mean the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts, let us always be conscious that the universal enjoyment of human rights, one of the major aspirations of humanity, cannot and will not be achieved unless we devote as much effort to the elimination of the conditions that provoke the violation of those rights.

I believe that it is with this fact in mind that international organizations, whether global, regional or sub-regional, have been devoting considerable time, to devising effective means of preventing, managing and resolving conflicts in their various area of competence. Of course, the United Nations, with its unique role as the only global Organization invested with authority for the maintenance of international peace and security, is, appropriately, taking the lead in these efforts….





-In 1987, his American wife of 25 years, Barbara J. Fernandez, filed for divorce, and the proceedings of the case was at the Supreme Court of the State of Connecticut (Barbara Fernandez v. Antonio Deinde Fernandez (13283) and the case ‘involved the applicability of the doctrine of diplomatic immunity to an action for marital dissolution and equitable property distribution.’

As at the time of the divorce, Barbara Fernandez stated ‘an international businessman and diplomat who has admitted to being one of the richest men in Africa. He heads dozens of companies, and I believe his net worth exceeds $75 million.’ She (plaintiff) also stated that, in her opinion ‘the defendant could easily sell or transfer assets that are relevant to her claims for relief.’ (Fernandez vs. Fernandez).

-Ambassador Antonio Deinde Fernandez ‘claimed diplomatic immunity by virtue of his status as an ambassador to the United Nations for the People’s Republic of Mozambique’, and moved that the court dismiss the entire suit for lack of personal jurisdiction. A waiver was later provided, and the full text of the waiver went thus, providing: ‘Limited Waiver of Immunity.’ ‘Pursuant to Article 32 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the People’s Republic of Mozambique hereby waives the immunity extended by the United States of America to Ambassador Antonio Deinde Fernandez under the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations to the following limited and restricted extent only…’

One very unique thing about this Yoruba high chief is that unlike many other moneybags in Nigeria today, he did not make his money in Nigerian public office, but rather by working as a suave and most talented diplomat for other African nations of the globe, at a time when IBB and others were struggling over coups to rule Nigeria, he was already dealing with governments one-on-one.



It is quite unfortunate that quite little is known about him (haha, I know how much I wrote on Adenuga na…lol!) because of intense privacy (which he has every right to), and what that means is that we may never know his real worth.

At any rate, I stick to Forbes and Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index which lists Aliko Dangote as the richest black person on the third planet in the Solar System. Maybe a day will come when the Big Masquerade, the Afobaje (Kingmaker), the Custodian of Prosperity & Panache, Olori Ogboni Agba (Supreme Ogboni Chief) and Olori Oluwo of Lagos, will come out and displace the Kano tycoon. If that day comes, this piece will be rewritten.

Let’s take a good look at some of his titles, honours and awards (he is a tribal Yoruba chief and said to be one of the most prominent members of the Ogboni Confraternity):

His Excellency, Ambassador (Chief) Antonio Deinde Fernandez:

-His Imperial Highness Garsan Fulanin Kano (Kano State, Nigeria).

-Baron of Dudley (England). -Grand Officier de l’Ordre National du Leopard (Grand Officer of the National Order of the Leopard, the Democratic Republic of Congo)

-Grand Officier de l’Ordre du Merite Centrafricain (Grand Officer of the Order of Merit, Central African Republic).

-Grand Officier de l’Ordre du Mono (Grand Officer of the Order of Mono, Togo).

-Commandeur de l’Ordre National du Merite du Gabon (Commander of the National Order of Merit, Gabon).

-Officier du Ouissam Alaouite (Officer of the Ouissam Alaouite, Morocco where the descendants of the Alaouite dynasty rule as kings. The present is King Sidi Mohammed VI)

Thanks for your time.
IYANIWURA.

Drogbs:

What opportunity did Seun give me you incontinent mo.ron? has Nairaland added anything useful to your life or account before you come here and analyze who passes faulty information or not? This is a public forum and its accessible to any and everyone that cares to express his/her opinion, so nobody gives a crap if its owned by a yoruba person or not, its totally irrelevant to the discourse.

kn23h:


Wa wa wa......

Nairaland serves as a public forum, yes?

NL created a platform for Nigerians everywhere and anywhere to converse, yes?

Without NL, Biafra woudn't be this popular, yes?

NL provided easy access to information concerning Nigerian politics, businesses, development etc, yes? Is Information not power?

Before NL, did Bella Naija and LI exist? NL set the trail for Nigeria social media, yes?

So, who created NL? Was it a Yoruba man?

And why shouldn't it matter?

Drogbs:

What opportunity did Seun give me you incontinent mo.ron? has Nairaland added anything useful to your life or account before you come here and analyze who passes faulty information or not? This is a public forum and its accessible to any and everyone that cares to express his/her opinion, so nobody gives a crap if its owned by a yoruba person or not, its totally irrelevant to the discourse.

Drogbs:

More like without Biafran threads NL won't even generate traffic, we all know Ipob, Biafra, Igbos are the most used words on Nairaland, and NL set which trail for Nigerian social media? Una don start again

Drogbs:

More like without Biafran threads NL won't even generate traffic, we all know Ipob, Biafra, Igbos are the most used words on Nairaland, and NL set which trail for Nigerian social media? Una don start again

kn23h:


You didn't answer the questions. Had a Yoruba man not create this forum, would there be biafra threads?

Drogbs:

More like without Biafran issues would yoruba low lives like you on NL have gotten a life?...since you are so obsessed with Ipob and Nnamdi Kanu even more than Igbos themselves...and Biafra definitely transcends Nairaland, the world knows about Biafra not because of NL which is as inconsequential as it gets, Biafra is a world recognized concept of emancipation and black revolution which as you may know started in the 60's and got stronger, a struggle that predates both you and your NL.

ODVanguard:


Spoken like my useless father who is a true iDiot and iPig. Copyright Nnamdi Kanu.

Drogbs:

You don't need to tell me your life story man, I know misery loves company but keep that honor for your dad

ODVanguard:


Dude, vent your anger and frustration at your lord and savior Kanu who has continued to insult his own people with impunity (by first labeling 99% of Igbo women as prostitutes, and the rest of you all as iPigs and iDiots), not me. I'm only borrowing his very own words; hence the copyright inclusion. I wouldn't want to get sued for using his words without giving him due credit.

Drogbs:

So its Kanu's word against yours? Okay Sanusi once said yorubas are the problems of Nigeria, how about that for a fact?

veraponpo:
This is a statement from Laolu Akande,Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President.

Nigeria produces the best in every way, its citizens continue to shine in various ways around the world, and as we continue to do what is right in public service, the country is bound to reach the top globally as a people, according to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo was speaking at the Presidential Villa where he received Dr. Oluyinka Olutoye, Houston, US-based Nigerian doctor who successfully led a medical team that operated on a foetus, winning US and global acclaim for the feat.

In a rare medical feat that drew global applause, Olutoye brought out a foetus from a mother-Margaret Boemer’s womb to remove a tumour from the foetus, and then restored the unborn baby to the womb successfully. The mother then continued to carry the pregnancy to term, and later on, delivered the baby safely and well. She named her Lynlee Hope.

Osinbajo told Olutoye who was accompanied to the Presidential Villa by members of his family including his wife and parents that “our country continues to shine in various ways, your achievement is remakable in every sense. People are bound to wonder. It’s the kind that fables are made of. And this is from someone who is Nigerian-trained.”

According to the Acting President, “this country can be well run, we produce the best in every way, but it will take a lot of doing, by good men and women. This is what i have learnt in the past over two years here. If we do the right things, day by day, we’ll change and improve the Nigerian situation significantly.”

He continued, “the problem is not the about the availability of resources, but its the management,” recalling how it is that the Federal Government is now doing more when funds are scarce than in the days when oil was selling at over $100 per barrel.

“When we were making over a $100 per barrel, we were owing oil JVC cash calls, not able to pay salaries and owing contractors. Now that we are down in earnings by 60%, we have sorted out the problem of cash calls and are able to support states to pay salaries.”

Speaking earlier, Dr. Olutoye attributed his medical successes in the US to his Nigerian training and education up till the university. He is a graduate of Medicine from the then University of Ife.

“All we have achieved from primary to university is from Nigeria, and I believe that Nigeria will surpass what we have achieved out there."

http://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2017/8/nigeria-continues-to-shine-in-various-ways-produces-the-best-in-every-way-acting-president-osinbajo.html

Uglyojuku:
Laudate...Have they featured these few people?


Segun Adewale (Aeroland)
Jimi Agbaje
Salami Agbaje
Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan
Stephen Akintayo
Olatunji Ajisomo Alabi
Ralph Alabi
Demola Aladekomo
Adeyemo Alakija
Kola Aluko
Ayo Animashaun
Chief E. O. Ashamu
Adekunle Ayeni
John Olatunde Ayeni
Tayo Ayeni
Wale Babalakin
Ade Bajomo
Dele Bakare
Alani Bankole
Richard Beale Blaize
Talabi Braithwaite
Bankole Cardoso
Folorunsho Coker
James Pinson Labulo Davies
T. A. Doherty
Shafi Edu
Tunde Eso
Joseph Fadahunsi
Luti Fagbenle
Henry Fajemirokun
Samuel Fawehinmi
Antonio Deinde Fernandez
Tunde Folawiyo
Charles Joseph George
Akinpelu Obisesan
Jacob Odulate
Akin Babalola Kamar Odunsi
Adeola Odutola
Chris Ogunbanjo
Hubert Ogunde
Adebayo Ogunlesi
Ayo Ogunsheye
Wole Oguntokun
Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi
Toun Okewale Sonaiya
Molade Okoya-Thomas
Razaq Okoya
Femi Olubanwo
Otunba Fatai Olukoga
Jide Omokore
Lawrence Omole
Debo Onifade
Oluseun Onigbinde

hilroy:


I'm supposed to start writing profiles on this list but Nairaland stupid spam bot banned for 2 days
Thank God today is public holiday where I am, I will touch on some of them today and continue later during the week.

Segun Adewale, popularly known as Segun Aeroland, born May 15, 1966, is a Nigerian philanthropist, entrepreneur turn businessman, politician and the Lagos West Senatorial Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 senatorial election.

Segun Adewale was born in Lagos. He attended Seventh Day Adventist Primary School, Abule-oja, between 1972 – 1978 and Oriwu College, Ikorodu, where he obtained his secondary school leaving certificate in 1983. He attended University Of Ibadan, Oyo State where he earned his B.Sc degree in geography in 1990 and a master's degree in public administration from the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos, in 1995. He also obtained the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Montreal Certificate in 1999 and a Diploma in Virgin Atlantic Airways (UK) in 2009. He is married to Victoria Taiwo (Nee Owoeye) and have two children

In 1997, Segun Adewale founded his own company, Aeroland Travel Limited, a business travel management, Air charter and Aviation training company. The company has won over 20 awards, including the Delta Airlines Award for Excellence in 2013, the Lufthansa Top Performer 2012, British airways No. 1 Retail Agency in Nigeria.He is currently the Chairman of Aeroland Group, the Managing Director/CEO of Skyrace Nigeria Limited, the Chairman, Board Of Trustees Segun Adewale Foundation for Community Development. He was the sole representative from Nigeria in the Virgin Atlantic/GTMC Training Institute. He is the National Vice Chairman, National Association of Travel Agent of Nigeria (NANTA). Aside the business angle, Segun is a Deacon at Word of Faith Ministry (a.k.a. Winners Chapel). He also holds the title of Otunba Bobajiro of Egbeda Land, from Alimosho, Lagos.

hilroy:


I'm supposed to start writing profiles on this list but Nairaland stupid spam bot banned for 2 days
Thank God today is public holiday where I am, I will touch on some of them today and continue later during the week.

Fineman87:
So yoloba losers are still fooling themselves on this thread. Smh

Pigsandidiots:
pig and idiot, go to where you belong, this thread is for human, not for pigs.

deomello:



That spam bot thing is just retarded, you get bamed for what you don't know and what you don't even ok know how to avoid. You are not even spamming, all you are doing is contributing content.

NL is one of the most hard to use and unfriendliest sites ever.

I used to mail the mods to release the account, but sometimes they rectify it and sometimes they just ignore you and look the other.

Now I just create another id and keep it moving.

Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje (popularly known as Jimi Agbaje or JK; born March 2, 1957), is a Nigerian Pharmacist, and Politician.

He was born on March 2, 1957 in Lagos State to late Chief Julius Kosebinu (Banker) and Mrs. Margaret Olabisi (teacher) Agbaje. He is the second born and first male child of five children (two female and two male siblings) including Segun Agbaje, CEO of Guaranty Trust Bank.

In 1982, Jimi Agbaje founded his own company, JAYKAY Pharmaceutical and Chemical Company Limited and was Managing Director until 2005 when he decided to venture into politics. A consummate professional, he was a member of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (1999 – 2006); National Secretary of the Nigerian Association of General Practice Pharmacists (NAGPP) from 1987 – 1990; National Chairman NAGPP (1990 – 1993) and Chairman Pharmaceutical society of Nigeria Lagos State (1994 – 1997). He was a member, Lagos State Task force on Fake and Adulterated Drugs (1989 – 1993), National Drug Formulary and Essential Drugs List (1986 – 1993) and Lagos Hospitals Management Board (1994 – 1997). Jimi Agbaje also sits on the Board of other organizations including Oakwood Park Ltd, Atlantic Hall Secondary School Epe, Jimi Agbaje Outreach (a project dedicated to helping the less fortunate) and has served as business mentor at Fate Foundation

Agbaje attended St. Gregory's College in Lagos and was graduated in pharmaceutical studies from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife). From 1987 to 1990, Jimi Agbaje served as National Secretary of Nigerian Association, General Practice. From 1990 to 1993, Mr. Agbaje held various professional appointments which include National Chairman of Nigerian Association of General Practice Pharmacists. From 1994 to 1997, he served as Chairman of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (Lagos State). He also was Chairman of 1994 National Conference Planning committee of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria. Since 2000, he served as National Treasurer of Afenifere. Agbaje was also active with the Alliance for Democracy (AD), the predecessor of the AC. Mr. Agbaje serves as a Director of Vigeo Holdings Limited. He has participated in various international programs such as the Executive Management Program at the Wits Business School, Johannesburg & Cape Town Business School, South Africa; World Health Organization training course on Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) in the Pharmaceutical sector; UNICEF Oral Rehydration Therapy program (train the trainer course). He sits on the Board of other organisations including Oakwood Park Ltd and Atlantic Hall Secondary School Epe. He is a Fellow, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (FPSN); Fellow, West African Post Graduate College of Pharmacists (FPCPharm); Merit Award Winner (MAW), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (Lagos State)
https://www.naij.com/tag/jimi-agbaje.html

Law, politics and journalism apart, Alakija was a man of great learning and high stature in esoteric orders of Masonic Ontology. As a Freemason, he was the first Nigeria District Grandmaster of the English constitution. Similarly, he will be remembered as the Master in Nigeria’s Masonic history, who reigned three times in Lodge Scotia —a leader member of the Scottish Constitution.

Among his colleagues were Dr. Henry Carr, Dr. Magnus Macaulay, Mr. Justice S. Bankole Rhodes, Chief Adegunle Soetan, The Rt. Revd.Adelakun Howells, former Anglican Bishop of Lagos and Sir Kofoworola Abayomi, first president of the association of Lagos titled chiefs.

In the divine sector however Sir Adeyemo will be remembered as the foundation president of the Cathedral Torch Bearers’ Association, Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos, which was founded September 1942 and remains the most senior social male organization of the Cathedral Church of Christ, Lagos. Here perhaps we should draw the curtain on the life and times of the honourable Sir Adeyemo Alakija. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adeyemo_Alakija

Gbenga Daniel (born 6 April 1956) is a Nigerian politician and Governor of Ogun State of Nigeria from 29 May 2003 to 29 May 2011, making him the longest-serving governor of the state. He is a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP). He is the owner of the Nigerian Compass, a daily newspaper.and also Kresta Laurel, a company he started in 1990.

Daniel was born on 6 April 1956 in the old City of Ibadan of the then Western Region. He attended the Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta from 1969 to 1973, followed by studies at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, and the School of Engineering of the University of Lagos. His decision to study engineering was influenced by the brilliant engineer and teacher Ayodele Awojobi. Daniel spent much time with Awojobi, and was a winner and champion several times over, on his television quiz show "Mastermind".

Daniel became a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers. He taught briefly as a lecturer in the School of Engineering of Lagos State Polytechnic. In 1983, he obtained a job with Schroeder (W.A.) Limited, Lagos, rising to Deputy managing director becoming the first African to hold that position in the history of the company. He left Schroeder to start his own business. In 1990 he founded Kresta Laurel, an engineering firm specialising in elevators, overhead travelling cranes and hoists.