Michael Ibru, one of Nigeria’s most revered and accomplished business leaders, has passed away.

According to a report by Nigeria’s’ Guardian newspaper, Ibru, who was the patriarch of one of Nigeria’s foremost business dynasties, passed on at a medical facility in the United States in the early hours of Tuesday, September 6, 2016.

Ibru, who was 86 at the time of his passing, was the founder of the Ibru Organization, one of Nigeria’ s largest privately owned conglomerates.

Ibru started his business in 1957 when he started importing frozen fish and selling it from the back of his truck. He went on to establish a full-fledged, vertically integrated fishing company in the 1970s. Over the next several decades he parlayed that fishing operation into a conglomerate with interests in shipping, agriculture, aviation, oil and gas. The group today employs thousands of people and is headed by his son, Oskar Ibru.

Ibru is survived by his wife, Nigerian banker Cecilia Ibru, and several children and grandchildren.

The Editor of the Guardian, Mr. Abraham Ogbodo

It was Mrs. Cecilia Ibru calling. “Hello ma!” The voice at the other end was subdued, actually struggling to lay the message across. Amid sobs, she let go: “My husband passed on this morning.” I knew whom she was talking about. She called him “my husband” which at any rate remains the case till the end of time, but the man so described, is the one and only Olorogun Michael Christopher Onajirivbe (MCO) Ibru, the Otota (Prime Minister) of Agbarha-Otor Kingdom. He was 85 and would have been 86 years old by next Christmas day, December 25, 2016.

I share the same cultural and cartographic space with Olorogun MCO Ibru and so he was so much part of my consciousness as a growing child in the 60s and 70s. Then, he was in his late 30s to early 40s but we saw him as the ultimate in aspiration. To aspire beyond him was something close to a taboo or at best wishful thinking. We did not know or hear of any man on earth that was wealthier. He approximated the best in everything positive. He was the wealthiest, brightest, strongest, most charitable, best-behaved odafe on earth, most handsome and many more.

There were other wealthy men in Urhobo land but none got close to Michael Ibru in overall estimation. The tyranny that comes with capital accumulation escaped him completely and perhaps for the first time, in Urhobo land, there was an okpo odafe (a very wealthy man) who did not threaten to Kaaren (lock up in prison) every poor man in town. The Olorogun bore till death a permanent mark of nobility, which forbade him from using power offensively, even in his telling magnificence.

His was a rare combination of wealth, competence and character. And so, what defined him till death in Urhobo land and everywhere was not so much his wealth as his character, which found accommodation with all classes. The poor loved him much as the rich and his enemies, if there were any, might as well qualify as public enemies.
Early enough, the Olorogun understood his role as a mere custodian of the goodness of God. He understood for instance that His acquired and endowed strengths would only be meaningful if deployed at all times in the defence of common good. When the wealth started manifesting, he saw the need to manifest same in all quarters. He became a friend of humanity, recreating where he could, the natural and sociological circumstances, to deliver greater good for mankind. His factor alone reworked the Ibru name into a dynasty of wealth creators even as he unleashed a range of socio-economic land marks – a secondary school, airstrip, a brewery, electricity, university and roads – on his native Agbarha-Otor Kingdom. 

As he expanded in time and space, the Olorogun became increasingly unmatchable in many regards. He was also becoming more mythical than real. People just said things to capture his essence. For instance, as the founder, he was the MD of the Ibru Organisation but that was not enough to discharge the myth around his being called MD.
Instead, there was this story told by a local opinion leader to explain the sobriquet: Former military head of state, Olusegun Obasanjo had signed the Indigenization Decree when he suddenly realized government didn’t have the money to pay for the Oyibo’s companies that would be acquired. Obasanjo was already contemplating rescinding the historic decree when Theophilus Danjuma walked into his office brandishing a solution. Danjuma said one man called Michael Ibru could provide the whole money needed to pay for the companies. On the appointed day, Olorongun loaded two personal helicopters with cash and flew into Dodan Barracks to meet Obasanjo. About 10 soldiers were detailed to off load the money and it took them three hours to finish. Olorogun saved the country and in appreciation of his great intervention, Obasanjo appointed him a permanent Managing Director (MD) of Nigeria!

Also, persons who claimed to have visited his business frontlines in Lagos returned with fantabulous descriptions. They said Olorogun owned about one half of Lagos City. This was the position until one adventurer who wanted to establish the truth beyond all reasonable doubts visited to see things for himself. The fellow could only communicate in the Urhobo language and upon enquiries about the ownership of the many beautiful landmarks in Lagos including the expansive Ibafon Jetty Yard in Apapa, he was told Mi o gbo. Disappointed, he returned to break the sad news that contrary to the widely held belief at home that Eko belonged to Ibru, a far wealthier man called Mi o gbo owned the place.

Poets, minstrels and musicians offered generous renditions to underscore the economic profundity of the Olorogun. One said God created Ibru on the eve of the Sabbath and kept him in the ship of life with enough provisions for a lifetime for an entire race. As it were, God had planned to create more people the following day to join Ibru in the ship before the commencement of the great voyage to earth. At dawn however, God realized it was a Sabbath, His work free day and not willing to delay the voyage for another full day, He let go the ship and that was how it became the big fortune of Michael Ibru to arrive earth on December 25, 1930 through Chief Peter Epete Ibru and Madam Omotogor Ibru with provisions made for a whole race.

Meanwhile, these wild stories festered because the folks back home just did not know how to situate the profundity of Olorogun in all ramifications within realistic descriptions. It thus helped to let the imagination grow fertile and wild to invent imageries that gave idea of him in the context of what we understood. Any concept or physical achievement that tasked realism was ascribed to him because after God, it was he alone that could perform wonders. Another poet said he built a house that stood on one ‘leg.’ He was referring to the angular base of the Ibru family house in Agbarha-Otor built in 1970.

The Olorogun could almost always meet his purpose. He built an air strip in Agbarha-Otor and as far back as 1972 when aviation and associated concepts were not part of everyday discussions in much of Urhobo land and elsewhere, Olorogun was coming to and going from Agbarha-Otor in a private jet the same way we rode bicycles to and from Ughelli, the then divisional headquarters of Eastern Urhobo, to participate in match past to mark special days.

In 1972 when his father died, the community had more than a burial ceremony. They had a festival actually for a whole month. While it lasted, it was as simple as waking up in the morning and going to the ceremony grounds to be fed for the whole day. At a time when the rental business was still a very distant concept even nationwide, items including the chairs and canopies were specially created with the Ibru fish insignia on them for the ceremony. Long after the burial and up till about 1980 when I left secondary school, the event sustained discussions in the locality.

On one occasion, the coming of Olorogun to Agbarha-Otor was not too smooth. On sighting the approaching jet, the community rose in frenzy. Spontaneously, everybody drifted in the direction of the airstrip to perhaps witness how and where the iron bird would perch. There was no form of control on ground. The surging crowd overran the tarmac and runway, and our Olorogun could not touch down.

Fortunately and unfortunately, it is not going to be so the next time he will be coming home. His body that will be coming to Agbarha-Otor must touchdown anyhow for a befitting burial by the entire Urhobo nation, to say the least. He has just finished his race and everybody agrees he ran a good race. Nothing more is required on his part. The living shall do well to commend him in most glorious circumstances on the appointed day for his final flight to a location much better than earth. Adieu Olorogun!

The Vanguard. Festus Ahon.

Born by the late Chief Epete Ibru of Agbarha-Otor, a missionary worker and late Chief Mrs Omotogor Ibru, a trader of the Osadjere family of Ovwor-Olomu, Olorogun Michael Christopher Onajirhevbe Ibru began life at a very tender age after finishing from the famous Igbobi college in 1951 being the first child of the family. Olorogun Michael Ibru Driven by the passion to make his family prominent, the late Olorogun Michael Christopher Onajirhevbe Ibru took all his siblings, Felix (late), Alex (late), Goodie, Grace and Bernard (late) along in his business after ensuring that they were all well educated. Olorogun Michael Christopher Onajirhevbe Ibru who picked up job with the United African Company, UAC in Lagos as a Manager training, ventured into his private business few years later. He founded a company, Laibru, in partnership with his boss in the office, an expatriate, Jimmy Large and by 1956 he founded the famous Ibru Organization. As Chairman of the Ibru organization, one of the largest conglomerates in Nigeria and the West Africa sub region, Olorogun Michael Christopher Onajirhevbe Ibru was a major stakeholder and influential figure or factor in the Nigerian economy in the 60s, 70s, 80s and the early 90s. After engaging in general trading with some success, in 1957, Michael Ibru discovered that the frozen fish market was a fertile market with the potential to deliver returns above the market rate. However, it was a tough market to penetrate, at the time, many expatriate firms and Nigerian traders were not interested in the market. But he felt he could put extra effort communicating with general traders, who played key roles in the eventual acceptability of the product. To trade in seafood, he established an importing company. He also rented and built cold storage facilities across the country. By the mid 1960s trading fish had become the traditional money maker for the Ibru organization. Though he had other profitable interests in other areas such as transportation and construction, fish trading helped him secure financing and other forms of capital to engage in large scale trading. He established a partnership with a Taiwanese company, Osadjere Fishing Company, which provided Trawlers and other accessories for trading. By the end of the 1960s he branched out fully into other areas of the economy. Like a lot of his contemporaries, he established a transportation company, called Rutam. He also invested in palm oil production. Over the years, the Ibru Organization expanded into other areas such as Tourism, Timber and Poultry. He was known as an entrepreneurial figure who created one of the largest modern Nigerian owned groups with other figures who were his contemporaries. Because of his love for education and his people, Olorogun Michael Christopher Onajirhevbe Ibru founded the Ibru College, Agbarha-otor in 1969, which has today produced many graduates in all fields of human endeavour. Few years ago, he also established the Michael and Cecilia Ibru University in Agbarha-Otor. He also built a private airstrip in Agbarha-Otor in the early 80s, Skol brewery in Agbarha-Otor and Pepsi cola which created employment for so many Nigerians in the 70s. Olorogun Michael Christopher Onajirhevbe Ibru had five wives and 17 children including Olorogun Oskar Ibru, who heads Ibafon Ports and Vice Chairman of the Ibru organization, Peter Ibru, Emma Ibru and Oboden Ibru, who was a key player in the defunct Oceanic bank International PLC. The late Olorogun Michael Christopher Onajirhevbe Ibru also tried his hands in politics in 1983. He was a gubernatorial candidate in the defunct Bendel State but lost to Gen Samuel Ogbemudia rtd. He was also a member of the Liberal Convention and the New Movement, which metamorphosed to become National Republican Convention, NRC during the two political party system under then Military President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. He made his marks in almost all aspects of life hence many people described him as man with many parts who made wave in the world as there is hardly any country in the world where the late Olorogun Michael Christopher Onajirhevbe Ibru does not have his presence.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/09/man-olorogun-michael-christopher-onajirhevbe-ibru/

This Day Newspaper. Chiemelie Ezeobi in Lagos and Sylvester Idowu in Warri


The patriarch of the Ibru dynasty, Olorogun Michael Ibru, on Tuesday finally succumbed to the cold hands of death after years of battle with an undisclosed ailment.

The first child of a missionary who also worked at the Igbobi Orthopaedic Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, Chief Peter Epete Ibru and his wife, Janet Omotogor.
The deceased, who celebrated his 85th birthday in January, attended Igbobi College, obtaining his secondary school certificate in 1951.

The consummate businessman, frontline politician and entrepreneur died barely two months after his brother, Senator Felix Ovuodoroye Ibru, passed on and was buried in their hometown, Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
Indigenes of Agbarha–Otor mourned him yesterday, eulogising him as a kind-hearted man who touched many lives.

His children described him as a pillar of strength, a visionary guiding hand, character moulder and patriot without equal.

Born in December 25, 1930, the deceased was one of the most successful businessmen in Africa. As co-founder of the Michael and Cecilia Ibru University based at Agbarha-Otor, he was highly respected both at home and abroad.

At Agbarha-Otor village and Ughelli metropolis, scores of sympathisers thronged the home of the Ibrus even as some of them were also at Oviri-Olomu his mother’s home state.
The family’s bosom friend, Chief Edwin Clark, could not be reached for comments on the demise of the late icon as he was said to be holding an urgent meeting in Abuja.

It was gathered that his wife, Cecilia, travelled to the United Kingdom where her husband might have given up the ghost.
The late business mogul pioneered 29 organisations, which culminated into the Ibru business conglomerate in Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world.

Some of the businesses under his supervision were the defunct Skol Larger Beer, Ibru Motors and Ibru Fisheries.
The President General of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Chief Joe Omene, yesterday described Michael as the greatest man in the entire Urhobo nation.

He said: “Michael Ibru is the foremost person that gave the Urhobo nation its identity both nationally and internationally. His presence is felt and noticed in every Urhobo kingdom you go to today making him Urhobo’s greatest man ever. The Urhobo nation would miss him dearly and the UPU would give him a befitting funeral.”

Although he is best known for his successes in business, the deceased had also tried his hands on politics, when in 1983, he was a gubernatorial candidate but lost to Brig-Gen Samuel Ogbemudia.
During his foray into politics, he was a member of the Liberal Convention and the New Movement, which metamorphosed into the National Republican Convention (NRC).

Michael had an interesting working life. After his secondary school, he joined the United African Company as a management trainee in 1952, dropping out of the company in 1956 to start a partnership with an expatriate, Jimmy Large. He called his company Laibru.

By 1957, Michael branched out to the lucrative but difficult fish business, which at the time was dominated by many expatriate firms. Although not many Nigerian traders were into the business, the young Michael ventured into it believing that it offered him better opportunities for higher returns on his investments.

According to Wikipedia, “He felt he could put extra effort communicating with general traders, who played key roles in products acceptance.

“To trade in seafood, he established an importing company, he also rented and built cold storage facilities across the country. By the mid-1960s trading in fish had become the traditional money maker for the Ibru Organisation.

“Though he had other profitable interests such as transportation and construction, fish trading helped him secure financing and other forms of capital to engage in large scale trading.

“He established a partnership with a Taiwanese company, Osadjere Fishing Company, which provided Trawlers and other accessories for trading. By the end of the 1960s he branched out fully into other areas of the economy.

“Like a lot of his contemporaries, he established a transportation company, called Rutam. He also invested in palm oil production. Over the years, the Ibru Organisation has expanded into other areas such as Tourism, Brewery, Timber and Poultry.”

Okowa, Ibori, others mourn

Tributes started pouring in yesterday as leading lights of Delta his home state mourned his demise.
The state Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, said he received with sadness and an immense feeling of great national loss, news of the death of Michael.

A statement in Asaba on Tuesday, by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu, said the governor expressed sadness over the news of the demise Michael whom he described as one of Nigeria’s foremost industrialists.

Okowa said Michael was an epitome of integrity in business who founded the famous Ibru Organization in 1956. “On behalf of my family, the government and people of Delta State, I extend my sincere condolences to the entire Ibru dynasty of Agbarha-Otor, the Urhobo nation and Nigerians on the passage of the beloved, urbane, cerebral and quintessential businessman and industrialist whose contributions to the growth of commerce and industry in Nigeria remains indelible,” he said.

Former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, in his tribute described the death of Michael as a great shook because he was one of the few that actually defined the veritable Nigerian entrepreneurial spirit. “Olorogun Michael Ibru was a trail-blazer, who streaked through Nigeria like a meteor, lighting up the way for others to follow,” he said in a statement by his media aide, Tony Eluemunor.

The Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Monday Igbuya, described Michael as a modest and strong businessman.

According to a statement in Lagos by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Henry Ebireri, Igbuya consoled the deceased’s family and friends, saying they should be glad because he had lived a worthy and fulfilled life.
“Olorogun Michael Ibru was a shrewd businessman with a good heart” he said.

The Guardian, 6th of September, 2016

Olorogun Michael Christopher Onajirhevbe Ibru, the patriarch of the Ibru family and Otota of Agbarha-Otor kingdom is dead.

A statement by the family says one of Nigeria’s foremost business mogul passed on peacefully at a medical facility in the United States in the early hours of Tuesday, September 6, 2016.

He was aged 86.