Adekunle Ojora, Otunba of Lagos, Lisa of Ife, dies at 93

Adekunle Ojora, the Otunba of Lagos, Lisa of Ife, has died at the age of 93.

The Ojora family announced the passing of Adekunle Ojora in a statement on Wednesday, saying he died early in the morning in “full submission to the will of Almighty Allah (SWT)”.

“With total submission to the will of Almighty Allah (SWT), the Ojora family of Lagos hereby announces the passing of our beloved patriarch, Otunba Adekunle Ojora, the Otunba of Lagos and Lisa of Ife, who returned to his creator early this morning,” the statement reads.

Ojora, who was also the Olori Omo Oba of Lagos, will be buried in Lagos in accordance with Islamic rites, the family said, while calling on members of the public to pray for the repose of his soul.

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In a statement signed by his daughter, Toyin Ojora-Saraki — wife of former Senate President Bukola Sarakbdi — the family described him as a dignified patriarch who lived a fulfilled life.

“We say Alhamdulilahi for a life well lived, and we comply with Allah’s words: ‘Surely, to Allah we belong, and to Him we will all return’ (Q2:156),” the statement read.

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Born in 1932, Ojora began his professional career as a journalist with the BBC in the early 1950s, according to The Advance of African Capital. He later joined the United Africa Company (UAC) in 1962, where he rose to become an executive.

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In 1971, he was appointed chairman of AGIP Nigeria Limited, a position he held until the company’s acquisition by Unipetrol in 2002. During the 1970s, he also invested in several foreign firms operating in Nigeria, playing a notable role in the growth of private enterprise in the country.

Ojora is survived by his wife, Erelu Ojolape Ojora, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The family urged the public to join them in prayers, asking Allah to grant him mercy, reprieve in the grave and a place in Aljannah Firdaus.

Faith Omoboye is a foreign affairs correspondent with background in History and International relations. Her work focuses on African politics, diplomacy, and global governance.

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