Follow Us on Google
By Funsho Arogundade
In the wee hours of Friday September 26, three different brand new luxury cars were driven into the Ibadan mansion of the new Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty Oba Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja for his coronation ceremony. But of these three expensive whips, one stood out: a glittering white 2025 Rolls Royce Phantom. The high-end luxury auto —Rolls Royce’s most expensive and most exclusive model— was a gift from the quintessential billionaire and Agbaoye of Ibadanland, Chief Orikolade Karim, which set a tone of unparalleled celebration on that day.
As Agbaoye —the highest honorary traditional title in Ibadanland reserved for influential and respected figures, particularly successful business people— Karim has not been found wanting in contributing heavily to the development of the ancient city. But he has raised the bar of possibility with a truly shocking but grand gesture of a N900 million Rolls Royce to the much-loved Oba Ladoja.
According to a family source, Karim’s extraordinary generosity is part of his appreciation and continued support for the vision of the new Olubadan. It also underscores the energy tycoon’s profound respect and close relationship with the monarch —often described as that of a devoted son to a father.
The businessman is not your typical billionaire who craves the spotlight. Unlike many ultra-rich individuals who live for the cameras, Karim is the exact opposite. Like a quiet giant, he lets his successes speak through his businesses —with solid interests in the energy, engineering, financial services and construction sectors.
With hard work and dedication, Karim, the founder of Shoreline Energy International, has become one of the continent’s most influential business moguls and philanthropists. Beyond his formidable business acumen, stupendously wealthy and Polo-loving Karim is celebrated as a notable philanthropist, consistently contributing to the welfare and prestige of his community and its leaders. This latest act showcases his consistent pattern of high-profile philanthropy and further solidifies his reputation as a key figure in Nigerian society.
