The story of Jubril Adewale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc, a sub-Saharan African indigenous integrated energy group, would make a compelling read, any time and any day. Indeed, if anyone could decide to venture into producing his biopic, such a person can be assured that he or she would make a return on his or her investment. Such is the interesting and inspiring lifestyle of this very dynamic entrepreneur who today is a big player in the oil and gas sector. His early life also portrayed him as a potentially great person in life. And, like most young men of his generation, his dream was to become one of the greatest businessmen in the world. Luckily, providence has granted him his heart’s desire.
At the outset of his business, Tinubu faced a lot of daunting challenges. But his uncommon daring spirit and survival instinct made him overcome the teething challenges. For the Lagos State-born magnate popularly called the King of African Oil, his emergence as a world-acclaimed businessman did not come as a surprise to those who knew him early in life. He started out with a small oil firm, Ocean and Oil Services many years ago. When he started, his clear vision was to lead the company into a leading indigenous exploration and production player on the African continent. With resilience and focus, today, he has achieved that dream as Tinubu has been able to grow the business into a conglomerate playing on the continent’s energy sector.
That he has grown head and shoulders above several of his competitors in the industry is no longer in doubt, and today, he is one of the few Nigerians that rub shoulders with other top executives around the world, making him a glittering star in the global business firmament.
In recognition of this feat, Tinubu, on Tuesday, October 11, was among eminent Nigerian personalities bestowed by President Muhammadu Buhari with various national honours. The high-flying tycoon received the medal of national award of Commander of the Order of Niger, CON.