By Funsho Arogundade
Nigerian billionaires are predictable —they like to stick together. Each year they attend a standard set of parties, festivals, and conferences. And despite their scarcity, these billionaires are surprisingly easy to find. In December, they rotate the fun as they mingle, wheel and deal at their various annual lavish parties especially in Lagos. One of such December parties was thrown by energy magnate, Jubril Adewale Tinubu. Coincidentally, this year’s party was the 30th Anniversary of Oando Plc —a small oil trading business nurtured into a multi-billion dollar energy behemoth by the gentleman billionaire.
Held inside the Ballroom of Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos on Thursday December 19, Oando’s end-of-the-year soiree themed ‘Symphony of Success’ was a celebration of three decades of innovation, resilience, and commitment to excellence in the oil and gas sector. It was a memorable evening, highlighting the company’s journey in the energy industry. Through a captivating blend of art, dance, and music, Oando showcased its humble beginnings, challenges, and remarkable successes. Tinubu —who left the bar profession to go hustle in a garage and later at oil rigs— toiled and toiled to build the brand into a solid quoted company.
Inside the ballroom for Tinubu’s soiree were a memorable mix of economic, political and, even, entertainment power with three of global musical icons like Wizkid, Burna Boy and Davido adding more star power and excitement to the celebration. The decision to feature Nigeria’s Afrobeats ‘Big Three’ reflects Oando’s ambition to close the year on a high note. It was an unforgettable night of elegance, excellence, and celebration. The energy, networking, and celebration of culture were inspiring. To make the fabulous evening truly epic, there were also other great performances from top-tier artistes such as Asa, Lagbaja, and Tuface.