BY Taiwo George
Sir Michael Otedola, a former governor of Lagos State, has died, aged 87.
Born on July 16, 1926 into a Muslim family at Odoragunsin in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State, Michael studied Journalism at the Regent Street Polytechnic in London, after winning a scholarship.
On graduating in 1958, he taught briefly, before joining St. Pancras Chronicle in England as a reporter. It was from there that he moved to The Guardian as a reporter, and later The Times in England as a sub-editor.
He returned to Nigeria in 1959 to work as Information Officer in the Western Nigeria government. He subsequently worked for the Western Nigeria Illustrated, the Western Nigeria Television/Western Broadcasting Service, and Mobil Oil Group of Companies.
He was sworn-in as Governor of Lagos State in January 1992 on the platform of the National Republican Convention (NRC), but his tenure was truncated in November 1993 by the military regime of General Sani Abacha.
After his deposition from office by the Military, he continued writing and consulting, holding important positions on the board of a number of high-end companies. He was also very involved in philanthropy.
In 2010, ThisDay newspaper listed Otedola among 15 eminent Nigerians to have won its Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Otedola married Lady Doja Otedola, who will still be remembered for training and empowering women in trade and agriculture with her Better Life for Rural Dwellers project. Together, they have children, among who is Femi Otedola, the billionaire-owner of oil giants, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited.
Meanwhile, Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola has declared a seven-day mourning period during which flags in all state government offices and institutions would be flown at half.
The governor noted that Otedola was the one who chose the sobriquet, Centre of Excellence. He described his death as a great loss to the state, saying that the deceased made landmark achievements during his tenure.
He added that Otedola’s projects are still visible and will remain evergreen in the annals of history.
Fashola prayed for the repose of his soul, and asked God to grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss.
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