Hosa Wells Okunbo

Idahosa (Hosa) Wells Okunbo (born 7 January 1958) is a Nigerian business magnate, investor, philanthropist and trained commercial pilot. As of October 2016, he serves as either chairman or director on numerous boards of companies in Nigeria, which span multiple business sectors like agro-allied sector, petroleum industry, telecommunications, power, real estate and banking industry.^[1]

Background and education

Hosa Okunbo is a native of Edo State in the southern part of Nigeria, where he grew up as a kid. He was born in Benin to the family of Reverend Robert Amos Okunbo, a clergyman, teacher and community leader. Hosa Okunbo had his primary education at Government Primary in Benin, old Bendel State, now Edo State. He proceeded to Federal Government College, Warri, in 1971, where he sat for West African Senior School Certificate Examination, and passed. He followed up his desire to become a pilot when he went to study at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Training Centre, Zaria, Kaduna State, after which he became a professional commercial pilot at the age of 21. He also attended ACME School of Aeronautics, Fort Worth Texas in 1983, where he obtained Airline Transport Pilot License.^[2]

Career

Upon graduation, he became a professional commercial pilot. He was made a captain in 1983 at the age of 25. He was a flight captain with the Intercontinental Airlines for about two years. In 1985, he went on to join the services of Okada Airlines, where he stayed for three years. In 1988, he retired at the age of 30, having logged over 7,000 hours in flying time. He ventured into private business afterward. He established Hoslyn Ventures Nigeria Limited, a company that was into procurement in Nigerian petroleum sector. Hoslyn Ventures was an indigenous oilfield service company that was responsible for the Early Production Facility (EPF) project at NNPC/NPDC, between 1998 and 2001. He is founder and chairman of the following companies in Nigeria:

• Wells San-Carlos Agro Farms Limited, which in March 2016, unveiled a $750million, 9,000-hectare farm, designed to “create 85, 000 jobs in Edo State”.^{[3][4][5][6][7]}
• Ocean Marine Security Limited, which an offshore asset protection company, rendering services to major oil companies in Nigeria, including Nigeria Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The company recently completed the building of the 46-kilometre Escravos-Warri Crude Pipeline, which was inaugurated by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu.^[8][9]
• PPP Fluid Mechanics Limited - marine and logistics company
• Westminster Security Solutions Nigeria Ltd, a franchise of Westminster Group Plc UK, of which he is major shareholder.^[10]
• Wells Group of companies, which include Wells, Dredging Limited, Wells Property Development Company Limited, Wells Entertainments Limited, through which Okunbo financed Black November, a movie directed by Jeta Amata. The movie narrates the story of a Niger-Delta community's struggle against their government and a multi-national oil corporation to save their environment which is being destroyed by excessive oil drilling The movie starred Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Mickey Rourke, Kim Basinger, Fred Amata, Sarah Wayne Callies, Nse Ikpe Etim, OC Ukeje, Vivica Fox, Anne Heche, Persia White, Akon, Wyclef Jean and Mbong Amata.^[11][12]
• OMS Tankers Limited, owners of the first indigenous marine tankers in Nigeria.
• Hoslyn Habitat Limited, a foremost design, construction and landscaping company.
• Gyro Air Limited, operators of charter flight operations.

He is either a director or member of Board of numerous companies, including:

• Joint Marine Environ Guard Ltd (JMEG)
• Secure Anchorage Area Limited (SAA)
• Digisteel Integrated Services Ltd
• Phil Nugent Nigeria Limited^[13][14]
• Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Limited (IEDM), core investor in Ibadan and Yola Electricity Distribution Companies.^[15]
• He is member, Board of Directors of NatCom Development and Investment Limited, chaired.^[16][17]

Honours and recognition

Okunbo was awarded “Africa Titans Award in 2012, by the Congress of the United States in collaboration with African Society Summit, in recognition of “strides on behalf of Africa in the international arena.” According to the letter announcing the award, Okunbo had been one of those “who seek to project a new and hopeful light on Africa. Members of Congress in conjunction with the African Diplomatic, and the US business community, want to show their support for addressing challenges and taking advantage of the diverse opportunities that exist throughout Africa.”^[18][19] In November 2012, the University of Benin conferred Okunbo with honorary Doctor of Science degree.^[20][21] Hosa Okunbo bagged “Worthy Ambassador of Unity Award” as an old student of Federal Government College, Warri in March 2016.^[22] On Thursday, October 2, 2014, the traditional ruler of the Benin Kingdom, Benin, Edo State, Oba of Benin, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Erediauwa, adorned Okunbo "with the 'Traditional Beads' for being a worthy son of the ancient Kingdom."^[23][24] "

Language

Okunbo is a native speaker of Edo Language. He is fluent speaker of English.

Personal life

Okunbor is married with kids

References

External links

• Ocean Marine Solutions Official Website
• Oil Offshore Combinations Ltd Official Webpage