OGBENI OJA, CHIEF BAYO KUKU DIES AT 84, HIS LIFE AND TIMES + UNFULFILED DREAMS

The Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland, Chief Adebayo Kuku is reported dead today. For sometime now the  businessman had been out of circulation due to continued ill health. His last social outing would be when his son Abiodun Kuku married Funke Fowler few years back. The titan was once the Vice Chairman of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited and the President of Nigerian Stock Exchange. The highly revered boardroom guru will be buried in Ijebu Ode his homestead at 11 am tomorrow.

Chief (Dr.) Bayo Kuku was born September 14 1930 in Ijebu-Ode Ogun State. He attended University College, London (1959-62); and University of California (1962-63). He started his career as a State Counsel at the Federal Ministry of Justice (1963-64) and rose to become the Executive Vice-Chairman of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (1964-81) and Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (1981-83).

He has also served as member, Federal Board of Tax Appeal Commission (1967-73); Chairman and Acting Pro-Chancellor, University of Ife Governing Council (1978-79) Founding member, Board of Directors FBN (Merchant Bankers) Limited; Member, International Bar Association (IBA); and in several committees. Chief Kuku has headed the Board of Directors of various companies and he was the President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (1987-91).

He was married to Chief (Mrs) Abiodun Kuku, and their union is blessed with children- Femi, Lape, Titi and Abiodun. Femi is married to Bolaji, the daughter of the late MKO Abiola and Alhaja Simbiat Abiola. Lape is the widow of Dr. Adedapo Adebayo, the son of General Adeyinka Adebayo, who died in January 2010. Titi is the wife of Bimbo Ogunbanjo, the lawyer son of Chief Chris Ogunbanjo, the eminent lawyer and billionaire philanthropist. Abiodun, the famous Lagos Big Boy, who is fondly called Abi is married to Funke Fowler, the first daughter of Tunde Fowler, the IRS boss.

One of his unfulfilled dreams was to see his son Abiodun Kuku reunite with his estranged wife, Funke Fowler, he was one of the prime mediators in the couple's disagreement which didn't yield any positive result.