Nigeria’s South-West region erupted in a blaze of glory regaled with glitz and glamour as the immediate past Managing Director of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), Engr. Tony Attah, and his lovely wife, Mrs. Omataikpo ‘Omah’ Attah were conferred with the prestigious chieftaincy titles of Aare Gbobaniyi and Yeye Aare Gbobaniyi of Owu Kingdom in Abeokuta.

The conferment, which was part of activities marking the first coronation anniversary of the incumbent Olowu of the great Owu Kingdom in Abeokuta, Ogun State, His Royal Majesty, Oba Professor Saka Adelola Matemilola Oluyalo, Otileta VII, took place on Saturday, August 5, 2023 at the Olowu Palace, Ago-Owu in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Abeokuta, capital city of Ogun State, is renowned for its deep history and Tourism underpinned by the famous Olumo Rock, Adire Tie and Dye industry, the Ransome Kuti family, Arch Bishop Ajayi Crowther legacies, and more recently, the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library.

Abeokuta is also home to several eminent Nigerians, prominent amongst whom are former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is also the Balogun of Owu Kingdom; Chairman, Board of Directors, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Dr Mutiu Sunmonu; ace High Life Maestro, Chief Ebenezer Obey Commander, foremost Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka; June 12, 1993 Presidential Election winner, late Chief MKO Abiola; and former Head of Nigeria’s Interim Government, late Chief Ernest Shonekan, just to mention a few.  

Recall that the celebrants, Engr. Tony Attah, a key player in the oil and gas industry, management guru and business leader, and his wife, Mrs. Oma Attah, a world leading network marketer and business coach, have in December 2021 been conferred with the ancient revered and most prestigious title of Amaopusenibo and Amaopuorubo by hosts of his former company, the ancient Grand Bonny Kingdom.

At that event, the revered Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Grand Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Dr Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple, CON, JP, DSSRS, Perekule XI, Edward I, noted that conferring Engr. Tony Attah and his wife with the prestigious and celebrated titles of the Ibani Race became imperative given his unique and exceptional contributions to the development of the island kingdom.

In the words of the reverred Monarch, “Tony Attah is one of us and he has done the kingdom proud with his selfless and insatiable quest to keep driving the development of our dear kingdom, we will never forget him and his dear wife”.

Several key strategic interventions by the NLNG across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones stem from Engr. Attah’s tenure as chief executive of West Africa’s foremost gas company, particularly the Decade of Gas policy being mainstreamed by the Federal Government of Nigeria which hopes to see the country transit effectively from fossil fuel consumption to cleaner energy.

More recently, the celebrated gas expert’s proposition for the nation to have a Minister for Gas has been implemented by the President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s government, a testament to his vision for Nigeria and for Gas as the wings on which Nigeria can fly onto the league of industrialised nations.

Responding in Abeokuta, Aare Chief Tony Attah, who was accompanied by his daughter, Ms. Tosin Attah, expressed gratitude for the honour done to him and his wife, pledging his loyalty and allegiance to the Olowu of Owu, stressing that he would discharge with integrity and humility the duties associated with the title conferred on him and his wife as the Aare Gbobaniyi of Owu Kingdom.

Alongside Engr. Attah and his wife, a former Managing Director of Waltersmith Petroman Oil Ltd, Ugumba Chikezie Nwosu, and his wife, Lolo Joannes Nwosu, were also conferred with the titles of Aare Bobaseye and Yeye Aare Bobaseye of Owu Kingdom, as well as their friend from the United States of America, Otunba Asiwaju Bobajiro Jerry Bamgbade, and his lovely wife, Yeye Asiwaju Omolayo Bamgbade, respectively. 

Among the sea of eminent personalities from far and near in attendance at the event were former Governors of Ogun State, HE Chief Olusegun Osoba, CFR; and HE Senator Ibikunle Amosun, CON; and Senator Sanusi Mohammed Daggash; Member representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Fred Agbedi; Orangun of Oke-Ila, Osun State, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adedokun Abolarin; Otunba Professor Bimbo Ashiru; Otunba Kunle and Gbenga Makinde; Chief Alfred Temile, The Azanor of Okpe Kingdom, Chief Chris Odiete; and former Commandant, National Defence College, Abuja and Balogun of Akure, Rear Admiral Samuel Alade.

His peers from diverse sectors of the economy trooped out en masse to felicitate with him and his wife, include the Managing Director/CEO, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor; former Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCO), Bayo Ojulari; former General Manager, Offshore and Shallow Water Projects, SPDC, Toyin Olagunju; Engr. Mesh Maichibi of Shell; former Managing Director, Shell Pensions, Akeeb Akinola; former Chief Economist of Shell, Alhaji Taaj Shobayo; former COO, Gas at Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Yusuf Usman; Executive Director/CEO, Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), Gwueke Ajaifia; Executive Director, Corporate Services, TotalEnergies Nigeria, Tunji Akinwunmi; and Managing Director/CEO, Sidmach Technologies Nigeria, Chijioke Eke.

Others are the Founder, Shoreline Group, Chief Kola Karim; Founder, Genesis Group, Dr. Nnaeto Orazulike; Mr. Anselm Orazulike; former President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata; Chairman, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc, Dr Seinde Oladapo Fadeni; Chairman, Century Group, Ken Etete; Chairman, StockGap Fuels Limited, Dr Obiamarije Stanley; Chairman, Board of Directors, Dorman Long, Dr Timi Austen Peters; Chairman/CEO, Ecogas Energy Resources Limited, Oloye Shina Luwoye; CEO, TheWill Newspaper, Austyn Oganna, Managing Director, Future Concerns, Tony Oguike; and Chairman, Radial Circle, Chief Ranti Omole.

There were also the CEO, Vhelbherg E&P Limited, Engr. Bank Anthony; Managing Director, Heirs Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, Engr. Osa Igiehon; Chairman, Board of Directors, Sterling Bank, Chief Asue Ighodalo; Chairman, Board of Directors, Boff and Company Insurance Brokers Limited, Chief Babajide Olatunde-Agbeja; Chief Dr. Godfrey Odigie; Chairman/CEO, Chief Tunde Imoyo; Chief Kay Global; Managing Director/CEO, Gremoore Limited, Engr. Valentine Ugbeide; Mr. Kamal Ahmed; CEO, Aradel Oil and Gas, Gbite Falade; CEO, ND Western, Engr. Eberechukwu Oji and Group Head, Sales & Customer Relations, Oceanic Health Management Limited, Oloye Kunle Adeosun.

A very strong NLNG contingent led by the General Manager, Production, Nnamdi Anowi, his predecessor, Engr. Adeleye Falade, Rudolf Epelle, Lukeman Longe, Paul Bakare, Olumide Ilori, MC Ukaegbu, Debo Oyelahan, Kayode Oresanya (Kay Baba), Judith Asogwa, Sophia Horsfall, Engr. Goke Korede, and lots of other colleagues.

Also in attendance were the Chairman, Nigeria Entrepreneurship Summit Honors (NESH) Foundation, Emeka Ugwu-Oju; Chairman, Ekiti Internal Revenue Service, Muyiwa Ogunmilade; as well as his friends from Shell, ETS Krukrubo Tunde Adams, Dr Ntia, Greg Akhibi, IG Onofua, David Nosike, Yemi Adeleye, Segun Edun, SD Thomas, Chief Ebi Pinnick, Lady Angela Michelle, Dr Nosa Omorodion, Dr Peter Obaseki, Tonbara Okoria, Victor Ude, Mr Michael Albert, Tayo Akinwunmi, Oghale Ojiaburu, and Rosario Osobase, Mike Alawode Engineer S Olu, Chief Oseme Oigiagbe, Oloye Robbie; Engr. Ohimai Aikhoje; Engr. Mike Ogunleye; Managing Director, Trewan Energy, Chief Kayode Ogunjimi, and Omo Omorodion of ND Western.

The golfers refused to be left behind with their well organised Golf Kitty in honour of the Aare Gbobaniyi of Owu kingdom, wherein over 50 golfers battled it out including Peters Omaruaye, CEO of Old Mutual Insurance, Otunba Segun Omosehin, Dr Eddie Egesi, Kaduna Captain Alhaji Ibrahim Bagudu, and former Lady Captain of Abeokuta, Lady Yeye Aare Maiyegun of Egbaland,  The overall winner of the tournament which is being cultured as a standing annual kitty is Chief Eddie Efekoha while Alhaji Ganiyu Musa, Mr. Anthony Ellis, Lady Deanne Mamza were on hand to support of the former board member of NNPC, Hajiya Lami Ahmed to do the honours of presenting the prizes.

Abeokuta will never forget this day with the roll call of who is who in attendance, especially, the strong contingent from Forever Living Products Nigeria led by its Country Manager, Mr. Daniel Ikechukwu, Dr Clement Idigo, Lady Justina Ekperigin, Noella, Babajide, Lady Eunice, and the Erukunakpos.