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By Funsho Arogundade
Agile, extraordinary, highly prolific, and soon-to-be-90, Sir Kessington Adebukunola Adebutu is an insignia of authority, class and superlative philanthropy. If you describe the billionaire lotto magnate as a compelling study in grace, it will only be stating the obvious. For the founder and Chairman of gaming behemoth, Premier Lotto, his inspiring journey would make a solid content for any creative biographer. Certainly, he has had so many serio-comic events —born with a proverbial lucky star as his paths in life, since childhood, have been laced with more roses than thorns— that could make the yet-to-be-documented memoirs a compelling read.
Adebutu cherishes celebrating with achievers in life, and he himself is celebrated for his great feats in life. Therefore, as the billionaire is set to turn 90 on Friday October 24, not a few are looking forward to seeing him organise a birthday shindig that will be the talk of the town for a long time. Indeed, the birthday celebration has become a major discussion among the elite in the country.
To the businessman and philanthropist, age is nothing but a number. However, hitting 90 is not an age that anyone attains in a hurry. For the business magnate fondly called ‘Baba Ijebu’, he counts himself among the privileged and favoured individuals created by Almighty God and thus it is imperative he throw lavish thanksgiving fetes.
Spotlight gathered that the Oodole Yorubaland and his 12 successful children have concluded plans to host a twin-extravaganza in his hometown, Iperu and later shut down Eko Hotels & Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos on Friday October 24, the day he’ll join the privileged nonagenarian club.
Blessed with grace and fortune, Adebutu, aside from his gaming business, also juggles other profitable investments in construction, oil & gas, real estate and hospitality. But his smartest investment is in banking through Wema Bank Plc, where he has since emerged as its majority shareholder. Adebutu holds a 28.26 percent stake (about 6.06 billion shares) —as of last month, it was valued at N132.65 billion— through his investment firm, Neemtree Limited.
Adebutu’s larger than life image is always in the public view, and he has been honoured on a good number of occasions. Over the years, his history with philanthropy bubbles back into the public imagination as he uses every opportunity that comes his way to affect the lives of everyone he meets, especially during his birthdays and auspicious occasions. And his upcoming 90th birthday won’t be a difference.
