Nigeria’s corporate titan, boardroom guru and industrialist, Otunba Adekunle Ojora has reportedly died at age 93.
Otunba Ojora died on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, after a brief illness, at his Ikoyi home in Lagos.
His career spans journalism, business, and public service, marking him as one of Nigeria’s most accomplished corporate leaders. His investments, leadership roles, and mentorship have shaped the development of several key industries in Nigeria, particularly oil, shipping, and finance.
Beyond business, his family continues to impact governance, healthcare, and social advocacy in Nigeria, extending his influence across generations.
Otunba Ojora pursued a career in journalism, but eventually yielded to the pull of business. After studying journalism at Regent Street Polytechnic, London, he had a stint at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) where he rose to the position of assistant editor.
He joined the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) as a reporter in 1955, and was transferred to Ibadan as an information officer in the office of the regional premier.
His move to United African Company (UAC), where he became public relations manager in 1961, possibly opened his eyes to possibilities in the business world, and he developed interest in commercial enterprises. He became an executive director of UAC in 1962.
He gained some experience in grassroots governance, following his nomination as a member of Lagos City Council in 1966. His appointments in two government agencies in 1967 reflected his capacity. In the same year, he became managing director of Wemabod Estates Limited, a regional property and investment company, and also became chairman of Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL).
He later became an investor in various firms, including AGIP petroleum marketing and technology company NCR Nigeria. He was notably chairman of the board of AGIP Nigeria Limited from 1971 until it was acquired by Unipetrol in 2002. He also founded the private firms Nigerlink Industries, Unital Builders and a holding company, Lagos Investments.
A member of the Ojora and Adele royal families of Lagos, he is a prince who nearly became king. He lost the succession battle for traditional rulership that followed the death of Oba of Lagos Adeyinka Oyekan in 2003.
The introduction of the Nigerian Enterprise Promotion Act led to his expansion as an investor. He acquired equity interest in some foreign companies operating in Nigeria, including Bowring Group, Inchape, Schlumberger, Phoenix Assurance, UTC Nigeria, Evans Brothers and Seven-Up.
