Years active from 1983 till date | Occupation Business Magnate | |
Full Name Idahosa Wells Okunbo Born 7 January 1958 (age 59) ( 1958-01-07 ) Benin, Edo State, Nigeria | ||
Idahosa (Hosa) Wells Okunbo (born 7 January 1958) is a Nigerian business magnate, investor, philanthropist and trained commercial pilot. He serves as either chairman or director on numerous boards of companies in Nigeria, spanning multiple business sectors like agro-allied sector, petroleum industry, telecommunications, power, real estate and banking industry.
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Background and education
Hosa Okunbo is a native of Edo State in the southern part of Nigeria. He was born in Benin to the family of Reverend Robert Amos Okunbo, a clergyman, teacher and community leader. Hosa Okunbo had his primary education at Government Primary in Benin, old Bendel State, now Edo State. He proceeded to Federal Government College, Warri, in 1971, where he sat for West African Senior School Certificate Examination.. He followed up his desire to become a pilot when he went on to study at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Training Centre, Zaria, Kaduna State, after which he became a professional commercial pilot at the age of 21. He also attended ACME School of Aeronautics, Fort Worth Texas in 1983, where he obtained Airline Transport Pilot License.
Career
Upon graduation, he became a professional commercial pilot. He was made a captain in 1983 at the age of 25. He was a flight captain with the Intercontinental Airlines for about two years. In 1985, he went on to join the services of Okada Airlines, where he stayed for three years. In 1988, he retired at the age of 30, having logged over 7,000 hours in flying time. He ventured into private business afterward. He established Hoslyn Ventures Nigeria Limited, a company that was into procurement in Nigerian petroleum sector. Hoslyn Ventures was an indigenous oilfield service company that was responsible for the Early Production Facility (EPF) project at NNPC/NPDC, between 1998 and 2001. He is founder and chairman of the following companies in Nigeria:
He is either a director or member of Board of numerous companies, including:
Honours and recognition
Okunbo was awarded “Africa Titans Award in 2012, by the Congress of the United States in collaboration with African Society Summit, in recognition of “strides on behalf of Africa in the international arena.” According to the letter announcing the award, Okunbo had been one of those “who seek to project a new and hopeful light on Africa. Members of Congress in conjunction with the African Diplomatic, and the US business community, want to show their support for addressing challenges and taking advantage of the diverse opportunities that exist throughout Africa.” In November 2012, the University of Benin conferred Okunbo with honorary Doctor of Science degree. Hosa Okunbo bagged “Worthy Ambassador of Unity Award” as an old student of Federal Government College, Warri in March 2016. On Thursday, October 2, 2014, the traditional ruler of the Benin Kingdom, Benin, Edo State, Oba of Benin, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Erediauwa, adorned Okunbo "with the 'Traditional Beads' for being a worthy son of the ancient Kingdom." "
Language
Okunbo is a native speaker of Edo Language. He is fluent speaker of English.
Personal life
Okunbor is married with kids