Edo State-based billionaire, captain Hosa Wells Okunbo, is dead.
He died on Sunday in the United Kingdom where he has been receiving treatment for cancer.
A formal official statement on his transition is being awaited from his family.
Four record purpose, TheNewsGuru (TNG) made a compilation of some interesting facts about the deceased billionaire who was born in Benin City, 1958 to the family of Reverend Robert Amos Okunbo, a clergyman, teacher and community leader.
1. Okunbo, is the father-in-law to the soon-to-be coronated 21st Olu of Warri, Prince Tsola Emiko, died abroad.
2.Education: Okunbo had his primary education at Government Primary School in Benin City, old Bendel State, now Edo State. He proceeded to Federal Government College, Warri and studied at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Training Centre, Zaria, Kaduna State, and 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 an Airline Transport Pilot License.
3.Career: Upon graduation, Okunbo became a professional commercial pilot, and was made a captain in 1983 at the age of 25. He was a flight captain with Intercontinental Airlines for about two years; then was employed by Okada Airlines for three years. In 1988, he retired from piloting at the age of 30, having logged over 7,000 hours of flight time, and ventured into private business.
4. Entrepreneur: Okunbo established Hoslyn Ventures Nigeria Ltd. a company that is involved with procurement in the Nigerian petroleum sector and from there he began to flourish.
Okunbo is the Founder and Chairman of the following Nigerian companies: CMES-OMS Petroleum Development Company (CPDC), which, in September 2019, signed “$875.75m alternative financing deal for the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) operated OML 65”, The Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments, Abuja, Wells San-Carlos Agro Farms Ltd., which, in March 2016, unveiled a $750 million, 9,000-hectare (22,000-acre) farm intended to “create 85,000 jobs in Edo State”.[ Ocean Marine Security Ltd, Westminster Security Solutions Nigeria Ltd, a franchise of Westminster Group Plc UK, of which he is major shareholder. and Wells Group of companies, which include Wells Dredging Ltd., Wells Property Development Company Ltd., and Wells Entertainments Ltd. – through which Okunbo financed the movie Black November.
5. Humanitarian/Public service: In 1997, as part of his contribution to Nigeria’s electoral process, Capt. Okunbo was the leader of a business team that nurtured the idea that led to the introduction of transparent ballot boxes for use in Nigeria’s elections.
He also participated in numerous national and international fora as a resource person and has been honoured by different organisations and institutions.
In 2007, this distinguished gentleman was honoured with the Justice of the Peace (JP) in recognition of his astounding contributions to the promotion of peace and good governance as well as development of his constituency.
An Honorary Doctorate Degree was conferred upon him by the prestigious University of Benin for his contribution and benevolence to humanity as well as his achievements as an entrepreneur.
Captain Hosa is survived by wife, Nosa Okunbo, and children.