Close family members, employees, the Nigerian
manufacturing industry and the nation in general, is
mourning the death of the late Chancellor of the Lagos
State University, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas.
According to family sources, Okoya-Thomas passed away
on Sunday, February 1. He was 79.
His daughter, Jumoke, told our correspondent on the phone
that the industrialist was ill sometime in December, but
had recovered and was back in form until Sunday.
“His death took all of us by surprise,” she said.
Jumoke added that the late billionaire was a father to all
and expressed the same degree of kindness to all his
children.
Until his death, he was acknowledged as the Asoju Oba of
Lagos, Babasuwa of Ijebu-Remo and Odofin of Ife. He was
also the chairman of the CFAO Nigeria Limited.
The Group Managing Director, CFAO, Mr. Stephen Faderin,
said the late Okoya-Thomas was more than a boss to all
the employees of the company.
He said, “He was like a father to all of us. Personally, I
have known him for 35 years and he was my first boss.
The biggest lesson I learnt from him is the lesson of
humility. He was the most humble man I have ever known.
He does not discriminate between the driver and the
manager; he addresses all of us with the same level of
humility, kindness and friendship.”
Marketing communications expert who consults for CFAO,
Oscar Odiboh, said, “He was very hardworking; a father to
so many people. He went out of his way to render help and
never said ‘no’ to anybody. He also helped the careers of
many young people. He ensured that people around him
understood and appreciated family values.”
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, in a press
statement by his media office in Abuja, noted that the late
Okoya-Thomas was a visionary and astute businessman
whose contribution to Nigeria’s private sector economy will
remain indelible.
“Although the late Molade Okoya-Thomas left the stage at a
prime age of 79, his death nonetheless is a huge blow to
the community of businessmen in Nigeria.
“He was a pioneer and a visionary leader. Okoya-Thomas
belonged to a generation of private sector investors who
saw opportunities in making investments in the economy
when it was risky to do so,” the statement read.
The President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, Mr. Remi Bello, described the deceased as a
great industrialist and good sports promoter.
In a short text message to our correspondent, Bello wrote,
“His death is shocking. His death is not good at this time.
He would be highly missed.”
Economic analyst and professor of Economics at the
Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Prof. Sherifdeen
Tella, expressed shock at the death of Okoya-Thomas,
noting that it was a time when the nation’s economy would
miss his mark most.
He also expressed hope that the industrialist left behind a
succession arrangement that would ensure that his good
legacy continued.
