access more · 2019-08-29 · there are various beauty secrets that you should know and consider,...

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AKINTOLA

WILLIAMSaccess morefunds for your passionIntroducing The Creative Sector Loan.

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A L I F E O F S E R V I C E

CELEBRATING A

CENTENARIAN @ 100! AKINTOLA

WILLIAMS AKINTOLA

WILLIAMS @ 100!CELEBRATING A

CENTENARIAN

THISDAY STYLEFASHION DIRECTOR/EXECUTIVE EDITOR

RUTH OSIME

EDITOR PRINT OLUFUNKE BABS-KUFEJI

EDITOR DIGITAL KONYE NWABOGOR

STYLE CORRESPONDENT MOJISOLA ALLEN

STYLE CORRESPONDENT SAFINA MOHAMMED

SENIOR ART DESIGNER MATHIAS ARCHIBONG

CONTRIBUTORSRUKY SALAKO

JULIET ALUAYODEJI ROTINWA

PHOTOGRAPHERTY BELLO

DIRECTOR, PRINT PRODUCTION. CHUKS ONWUDINJO

08111847085

08111847086

08111847087

08116759745

07054965500

08077092196

Society

When you are over 50, it’s very rare to meet someone literally twice your age. When l met the world renowned Chartered Accountant, Akintola

Williams, the first African to set up a Chartered Accountancy firm, l was awestruck because right before me was a living legend! His eyes were very sharp and you could not help but wonder if those probing eyes could literally read your thoughts. For someone his age, Akintola’s voice was very strong and commanding. You could tell this was a principled man who took great pride in his integrity and building the

legacy that will far outlive him. What was most fascinating about this meeting was his inquisitive mind and the fact that his thinking faculty

was still very intact even at 100 years old! The only thing that showed his age was his fragility but even with the physical appearance, there was an

inner strength that could be felt rather than seen. I looked forward to learning more about this elder statesman and could not wait to let my journalist juices flow as l knew

it was going to be a riveting interview and it was. So as not to exhaust him, l chose to ask his son Seni all the questions running through my mind and he graciously answered our questions on his father’s behalf while the subject himself watched us. His face was expressionless throughout the interview but it was clear had something been said that he did not agree with, he will not have hesitated to voice his thoughts. In today’s Nigeria where the average life span has fallen to slightly over 50, Akintola Williams truly is a blessed and very accomplished man! It is by no means a small feat to live to 100 years old! I can only imagine his train of thoughts on a daily basis now that he is on the other side of 100! It was truly an honour to showcase him and his life’s journeys to date. We look forward to doing more people in Akintola’s age bracket who have contributed immensely to the growth of Nigeria as a nation and indeed the African continent.

FASHION DIRECTOR/EXECUTIVE EDITOR

CONTENTFashion

JAMESON BLACK BARREL PG 4-5

TPS LUXURY @5PG 6-7

LIVING A PHENOMENAL, HEALTHY, HAPPY LIFEPG 8

MAKE A FASHION STATEMENT WITH EVERY OUTFITPG 10-11

CAPSULESCOLOURS OF LIFEPG 17

BUILDING A CAPSULE WADROBEPG 18-19

TRADE YOUR SHORTS FOR

SKORTSPG 20-21

BEST SUNSCREEN FOR DRY

SKINPG 22

Chief Akintola Williams is not just a just man of years, he is a man of many firsts. He is the first African to qualify as a Chartered Accountant. Popularly referred to as the father of Accounting, Williams’s dedication and his commitment to work and development is outstanding and still used as a benchmark till date. To say that Pa Akintola has left giant footprints in the sands of time would be an understatement. KONYE CHELSEA NWABOGOR reports

Jameson Black Barrel is here! The new super premium whiskey from Jameson made its debut through activities and launch events that took place over a series of days, where key influencers and customers of the brand were able to taste and experience the Jameson Black Barrel. The events kicked off with Hats & Tatts party hosted by Alani at a transformed parking lot. Alternative soul artist, Brymo, captivated guests with his unique performance much to the delight of the guests. The DJ booth was a well-lit black barrel and the focal point for guests. The brazen sounds of the violin over the DJ’s set made for an incredible sonic experience. The bars served up a variety of cocktails, the Jameson Black Barrel signature serve Black Tonic & Orange, the classic Whiskey Sour, and all-time favourite Old Fashioned. The party would not have been complete without on-site tattoos from international artist, Elie Akkary. He was the highlight of the evening with many guests opting to be permanently inked.

Two weeks before the launch, key influencers were gifted customized black barrels similar to the barrels Jameson whiskey is aged in, along with a case of the product and encouraged to share the Jameson spirit with others. Jameson Brand Ambassador Alani Adenle (@alanigram) led this #BlackLikeNoOther influencer campaign, personally delivering gifts and highlighting each influencer’s unique talent.

JAMESON BLACK BARREL

ODUNSI, D’BANJ & AJEBUTTER

COPPER GER BUCKLEY TIMINI EGBUSON, EKU EDEWOR & IFEANYI NWUNE ALANI ADENLE ONYI IBEKEH & DENOLA GREY

BY F U N K E B A B S - K U F E J I

TPS Luxury, a brand and brainchild of Debo Odutola, that prides itself as the connoisseur of elegance of handmade handbags and footwear with an ethnic touch recently celebrated its fifth anniversary with the unveiling of their new Ireti Kingebe bag. The event, which held at the Pearl Garden Restaurant in Victoria Island, was well attended by existing and old clients of the luxury brand. They were treated to a fun evening of food, music, entertainment and dance. Those who attended had the chance to shop firsthand the new and old collection of the brand at unbelievably discounted prices. On-air personality and actress, Omotunde Adebowale AKA LOLO, anchored the event and nothing was left unturned to ensure everyone had a great time as they shopped and networked in a relaxing atmosphere.

TPS LUXURY @ 5

DEBO ODUTOLA MODUPE BABALOLA

DAMILOLA TIMSONLANRE OMOTUNDE ADEBOWALE LADUN SIJUWADE & FUNMI AJILA-LADIPO FATIMA ALLI & MAIMUNA SHONIBAREMARIA PENAWOU

IRETI KINGIBEANNABELLE ADEYEMI-JOHNSON & TOBERU

BY F U N K E B A B S - K U F E J I

ADUKE SHITTA-BEY

BRYMO

BOJ

EKU EDEWORSTEPHEN TAYO

LYNXX

LANRE MASHA TEMITAYO ILESANMI

BAINGOR JOINER

FUNBI & NKEM JUMA

YAGAZIE EMEZI

DELE MOMODU

EDWIN BROWN

RUFAI LADIPO

SEYI OWOADE NENE LANVAL LABISI SIJUWADE

Who doesn’t want to look beautiful and confident every time they step out of the house? There are various beauty secrets that you should know and consider, as they will help

bring out the best in you. Remember however, that true beauty emanates from the inside and you should therefore cultivate your inner beauty as much as your physical

appearance. Below are some secrets that will help you look stunning always:

FORWARDface PUTTING

YOUR BEST

A BALANCED DIET Your diet plays a major role in determining how you look. You should look into your diet carefully and incorporate foods that are rich in antioxidants such as berries, beans, fish and tomatoes. Other foods that will help enhance your skin’s vitality include veggies, yogurt and fruits. A proper diet will boost your health and make your skin glow.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN Your skin plays a major role when it comes to your overall appearance. Wearing the latest fashion trends without taking care of your skin is pointless. There are various beauty products available in the market to deal with acne, wrinkles and dry skin among other issues. Using the right products will go a long way in enhancing your overall beauty.

CONSIDER MICRODERMABRASION

Your skin needs to be repaired and rejuvenated in order to look young and beautiful. This can be done through microdermabrasion, a procedure that exfoliates your facial skin using crystals. It also helps strengthen cell activity while invigorating the skin. This procedure is considered safe compared to other beauty procedures such as laser peels and chemical peels. The treatment will help deal with blackheads, wrinkles, sun damage, whiteheads and apparent age spots among others.

USE SUNSCREEN ALWAYSPutting on sunscreen is a great way to slow down aging and prevent skin damage. It doesn’t matter whether it is a sunny or cloudy day, always wear sunscreen!

DEAL WITH EXCESS BODY FATS Accumulated body fats will affect

your beauty one way or the other. If you are a woman, chances are cellulite is probably making your head spin. There are various non-surgical cellulite removal methods to consider including Laser Lipo Infra-Light and vibrostation Power Plates among others.

USE THE RIGHT BEAUTY TOOLS When applying your makeup, always make sure that you are using the right tools. Invest in a set of good, robust brushes that will last you a long time. It is as important as having the right makeup.

ALWAYS MOISTURIZE YOUR SKIN It doesn’t matter whether you have oily, dry or normal skin, moisturizing is a must. Pick the right moisturizer depending on your skin type and make it a part of your beauty routine.

IS IT WORTH IT?The couple sat before me, baby

in tow, both looking splendid in their own individual way but something was evidently missing.

The electrical sparks that flow between couples in love was gone and there was a coldness that had seeped into the marriage which was building a wall of ice where the warmth of fire had previously existed. Gone were the stolen glances, the warm blushes, the fleeting but constant touches and the footsies under the table. The courtesies that a dotting husband outlays to a loving wife was replaced by a commanding tone of one determined to subdue another.

The visit was initially set out to celebrate the birth of a first child but soon turned into a counseling session and each one poured out the pain of a marriage gone wrong. As they outlined each perceived hurt, disappointment, failed promises, dashed expectations, fear for self and hopelessness for tomorrow, I was caught in how similar the root causes of many troubled marriages are. The man constantly seeks to be respected and honored while the woman wants to be loved and adored.

The Everlasting Creator when instituting marriage did so intentionally for our good. He had already created the spirit as male and female equal in his sight and then following the creation of the physical man instituted marriage by creating the physical woman with uniquely different attributes who would in conjunction with man carry out the work of expanding His Kingdom on earth. In that union and all others thereafter, marriages thrive and blossom, surviving ups and downs when the husband earns respect and honor from his wife and this is only achieved when he loves and adores her unconditionally. Where these do not exist the marriage crumbles and dies.

May all our marriages be healed today.

TIMES…Watcher

TONYE COLEOF

For your comments, contributions, connect with me here: @TonyeCole1 on Twitter.

BY KONYE CHELSEA NWABOGOR

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S T Y L E & D E S I G N S T Y L E & D E S I G NTHISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 8879 Sunday, August 25, 2019

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No 8879 Sunday, August 25, 2019

Red is the coolest colour for 2019

RED2019

is the cooles t colour for

Scarlet, maroon, crimson; ask any fashion lover and they’ll tell you that this year, they’ve been seeing red. Not just splashes of colour here and there – this is about all-over, entirely matching, pattern-free, head-to-toe red. From runways to the streets, this hue is spreading like wildfire. But, like any bold trend, creating the right look takes some knowledge and practice. So, before you go haphazardly throwing on every piece of ruby, crimson, and candy apple red clothing that you own,read this.

Perhaps the most versatile way to color block your red, a suit is both work wear-appropriate and casually cool enough for evenings and weekends when paired with white sneakers.

Midi dresses really aren’t going

anywhere, so invest in a fashion forward one in the

colour red. The contrast of prim and edgy makes

for the perfect clash.

Want to try your hand

at the trend but not one for dressing

up? No problem —

just paint your street wear red.

The best thing about a bold colour like red is that it can turn any garment into a statement piece. As such, the hue is perfect for tops and can make simple styles stand out, and unique designs really shine.

Go for interesting textures like lace and velvet. Extra points for wearing it with red accessories

Although it may be a bold look, going red all over is completely on-trend and

incredibly stylish. So, if there was ever a time to

rock a pair of red pants with a red blazer, red top,

and red shoes, it is now.Pic- toke makinwa

By KONyE CHELSEA NWABOGOR

CHIOMA IKOKWU

OG OKONKWO

ALERO

STELLA UZO

ST jIMMy CHO

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

TOKE MAKINWA

RITA DOMINIC

MARCHESA NOTTE

ROLAND MOURET

RACHEL ZOE

SAINT LAURENT

GIvENCHy

NEXT LEVELlook TAKING YOUR

TO THE

There’s no great secret to achieving a distinctive personal style. The key is to build a wardrobe full of clothes, which compliment you and wear them

without allowing them ‘wear you’.Avoid flights of fashion fancy, stick with flattering colours and shapes, and don’t be afraid to wear

the things that suit you – and most importantly, you like – time and again.

BY KONYE CHELSEA NWABOGOR

Pick A ColourIt may sound obvious,

but the essence of good personal style

is to wear shades that compliment your complexion.

Once you’ve found the colour that works best on you, adopt it into your wardrobe whenever you can – without overdoing it,

of course.

GABRIEL AKINOSHO MOSES EBITE

EFE TOMMYDAVIDSON FRERE NICO

IGEE OKAFOR

Find Your Style CornerstoneWhether it’s a blazer that fits you perfectly, a pair of sneakers which you can’t bear to be apart from, or a pair of jeans that make your legs look good, find your favourite item and work it into your outfit as regularly as you can. A signature item is the cornerstone of a signature style.

Get To Grips With Your BodyCertain garments suit certain body shapes. If you have heavy calves, you should opt for a pleated trousers with a sharp taper. Broad shoulders? Go for a deconstructed jacket with a nip at the waist. Short and thick? Opt for a jacket

that fits closely, with a hem, which skims your hip.

Tall and lean? Choose a blazer that covers your behind and nips

at the waist. The sooner you learn the type of clothing that suits your frame, the

fewer style faux pas you will

make.

Don’t Pay Too Much Attention To TrendTrends from the runway generally do take a while to filter into the mainstream. The best thing to do? Avoid paying them too much heed. Just because the designers are telling you that florals are big this season doesn’t mean that they’ll make you look good. If you are going to embrace a trend, absorb it into your wardrobe in a small way. A floral tie with your trusted navy blazer for instance.

Accessorize SparinglyIn menswear, less is invariably more. A simple outfit complimented by a couple of strong, high quality accessories, which you use regularly, will work wonders. A perfect pair of sunglasses, a simple leather briefcase or a pair of bold socks in contrast to a more muted outfit will add a depth that demonstrates imagination and your appreciation of subtle statements.

Remember That Classics

Are Classic For A Reason

White sneakers, slim jeans, well-cut

white shirts – certain garments stand

the test of time for the simple reason

that they suit pretty much everyone and will always

look good. Stands to reason then that you should invest

your money in key classics, which

suit your shape, and build your

wardrobe around those. A foundation

of classic items complimented by

more experimental pieces built over the seasons will,

invariably make a strong wardrobe.

C O V E R C O V E R

10 11

THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 8879 Sunday, August 25, 2019


AKINTOLA

WILLIAMSIN HIS OWN WORDS

We had masters in the favourite subjects which eventually was necessary for my profession –

Accountancy, namely mathematics, Mr. Adelaja use to take us in the mathematical subjects namely Algebra, geometry and arithmetic. In a way because we had masters who were good in those subjects. It helped in my decision to

go into accountancy

As you know, to train a chartered accountant, you have to serve what is called

articleship or apprenticeship and you couldn’t do that here, you had to go abroad

In the five years Rotimi and I spent in school, we were deciding who would come first this week and who would come first next week

I never envisaged the Nigerian Stock Exchange would be where its is today,

but I knew it would not fail

This 100 years, I want to see what it is like

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AKINTOLA

C O V E R

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 8879 Sunday, August 25, 2019C O V E R

40s-60sSENI AND DIANE’S WEDDING DAY, WITH WIFE, MABEL EFUNTILOYE WILLIAMS AND DAUGHTER, TOKUNBO WILLIAMS

Profiles of a Life of ServiceAKINTOLA WILLIAMS

20s-40s

WEDDING DAY WITH HIS WIFE, MABEL EFUNTILOYE WILLIAMS

C O V E R

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THISDAY Style Vol. 22, No. 8879 Sunday, August 25, 2019C O V E R

80s-date

...WITH HIS LATE DAUGHTER IN-LAW, DIANE, WIFE OF HIS SON, SENI

WITH HIS TWO GRANDSONS, REMI AND NIYI AND HIS SON, SENI

...WITH BODE EMMANUEL AND LATE CHARLES SANKEY

PIC

BY

REM

I W

ILLI

AM

S

60s-80sC O V E R C O V E R

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OLOYE J.A. OBAFEMI OLOPADE, OFR

To God be the glory, great things He has done to see you still active on your 100th year on this earth. The first and only member and founding of this great club to have clocked the age of 100 years. We all join you and your family in rejoicing.

CHIEF CHRIS OGUNBANJO, CON, OFR

I wish you God’s blessing on the occasion of your 100th birthday.

AGE: 96 AGE: 93

CHIEF OLU AKINKUGBE, CFR, CON OTUNBA ADEKUNLE

OJORA, CON, OFRCongratulations to you sir on the auspicious occasion of your 100th birthday. This is a unique experience not just for you but for all your friends and family who have looked forward to this day. You have arrived as a prize of perpetual excellence and durable integrity which would make any nation proud.

It is our prayer that the good Lord who has sustained you without blemish will perfect his grace to the end.

With best wishes and prosperous contented life with God’s blessing.

AGE: 91 AGE: 87

MR. OLUFEMI OKUNNU, SAN, CON

CHIEF EMEKA ANYAOKU, CFR, CON, GCVO, TC


Heartiest of congratulations to Elder Akintola Williams on this historic landmark of 100th birthday. I pray that God continue to bless you with good health

AGE: 86 AGE: 86

CHIEF PHILIP ASIODU, CFR, CON

PROF. THEOPHILUS OGUNBIYI

AGE: 85AGE: 84

CHIEF ERNEST SHONEKAN, GCFR, CBE

CHIEF OLUSEGUN OSUNKEYE, CON, OFR


Hearty congratulations to our beloved Pa Akintola Williams, CFR, CBE at 100.

AGE: 83 AGE: 79

‘TABLE ONE’TRIBUTES FROM

Born in 1919, Akintola Williams attended Olowogbowo Methodist Primary School, Lagos then CMD Grammer School also in Lagos. He went on to Yaba Higher College obtaining a Diploma in Commerce. In 1944, he travelled to England and studied Banking and Finance. He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce. He continued his studies and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1949.

After returning to Nigeria in 1950, he worked with the Inland Revenue until 1952 when he founded Akintola Williams & Co in Lagos making it the first Chartered Accountancy firm in Africa. The first partner was Charles Sankey followed by Njoh Litumbe. The firm opened branches in Port Harcourt and Enugu. In 1964, a branch was opened in the Cameroons, followed by others in Côte d’Ivoire and Swaziland with affiliates in Ghana, Egypt and Kenya. By 1992, the firm had 19 partners and 535 staff. Between 1999 and 2004, Akintola Williams & Co. merged with two other Accounting firms to create Akintola Williams Deloitte (now known as Deloitte & Touché), the largest professional services firm in Nigeria with a staff strength of over 600. Williams was also a board member and major shareholder in a number of other companies. He retired in 1983. NWilliams played a leading role in establishing the Association of Accountants In 1960 and was its first President. He was also a founding member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and it’s first president. He was involved in establishing the Nigerian Stock Exchange as well. Williams has held too many public sector positions to mention. In 1982, he was honored by the Nigerian Government with the OFR. Following his retirement in 1983, BWilliams established a music and concert hall for the Music Society of Nigeria (MUSON). In 1997, he was appointed Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for his services to the Accountancy profession and for promotion of arts, culture and music. The Akintola Williams Arboretum in Lagos is named in his honour. In 2011, the Nigerian British Association presented him with an award for his contribution to democracy and development in Africa. Akintola Williams has been referred to as reliable and a man of integrity. Stable, a loyal friend, a man of dignity, humble. A seasoned professional, a perfect gentleman with impeccable pedigree. A distinguished Nigerian with a good name. A nation builder, a role model and a rare gem. And best of all, a living legend! It truly is an honour to celebrate this centenarian. Living to see 100 years is by no means common in today’s times. His son, Seni was gracious enough to grant STYLE an interview on his father’s behalf giving us a peek into his journey in life till date. FUNKE BABS-KUFEJI reports...

Can you give us a brief history of the Akintola family?Papa’s mother was part of the returnee Brazilian slave

group. She was called Mama Tokunbo. Her family name is Fernandez and that’s how papa became first cousins with Chief Deinde Fernandez. They settled in Lagos Island. His father died very early. I never met him. He died in his early 40s.

How many kids did your grandmother have for his father?

She had three. Papa Akintola, Kehinde and Soji. Both are late. Soji was Nigeria’s ambassador to other countries and Kehinde was a church minister. Papa and Chief Rotimi Williams are half-brothers; they share the same father, but different mothers.

Through the Brazilian family relationships, Pa Emanuel, father of Bode Emanuel asked Papa to help bring Bode through the profession, which was Bode’s preference.

And it was through that, working for Papa’s firm, that Papa and Bode became very close, and remained extremely close since. Many people often call Bode my senior brother, of which I’m perfectly happy; he and I are also close. He is also part of the Brazilian slave community of Lagos Island.

Does that community still exist?It exists. It very much exists. There are the Cardosos,

the Da Rochas, Da Costas, and many others. If you go to Ikoyi cemetery, you will see the graves of many of these families arranged together. There was a cemetery at Campos Square on Lagos island and that cemetery was relocated and because many Brazilians lived on Lagos Island, they were buried there. During relocation there was the chance to arrange the graves and that is why the Brazilians were laid to rest at one section of Ikoyi Cemetry, near the Radio Nigeria end, you find them all neatly arranged. They didn’t die at the same time, but all the Brazilians were kept together.

Are there any special things that you do now that reminds you of your ancestry in Lagos?

A lot. We are very strong followers of the Careta which is what is revived by the state government as the Lagos carnival. We also have traditional hailing back to Brazilian origins.

When does that occur?Traditionally, at Easter time. The Careta groups form a

procession from Lagos Island through Victoria Island and the newer areas of Lagos and they end with a colourful show at the Tafawa Balewa Square. It’s being going on

for over hundred years, same age as Papa incidentally. We eat a particular kind of food at Easter time. It’s

called Frejon. It’s made from beans, coconut juice, lemon, ginger and cloves. It’s very popular with the Brazilian group. It’s always served with a fish sauce. Anyone that knows Brazilians know that during Easter they exchange this. One of the senior ladies in the family generally cooks and distributes to all families and friends to share in our tradition.

Now that Papa is a hundred years old, is he still very alert?

Papa is very alert. His hearing isn’t as good as it was before but his eyesight is sharp. If you write anything in front of him, he can read perfectly. He doesn’t always need to wear glasses. He finds it easier to read handwriting than typed texts.

For instance, when Grandpa asked why Niyi (grandson) has a beard. I said to Remi (his other grandson) “Write a note by hand to Grandpa letting him know it is because his boss at work has a beard as well”. My father always had this rule about not hiring people with beards because he believed they look like criminals.

What are the particular things he likes to do now?He still enjoys music, limited socialising, good food and

drink and most especially his family and friends.

Asides from traditions, what’s is a day in Papa’s life like now?

He doesn’t eat any cooked food for breakfast. He eats four to five different kinds of fruits. That’s pawpaw,

pineapple, orange, apples and pears. He goes through that every single day. Then he will have a very small lunch at 3 o’clock. He’d have dinner in the evening where he eats a stronger meal; he eats very well, more than I do. At the restaurant the other day, he ate five courses.

Who takes most care of him now? Does he live alone, have a nurse or steward?

Yes. His house helpers have been with the family for 30 years. The youngest has also been looking after him since 2003, 17 years now. My sister also lives in the house with him

What time does he go to bed?He goes to bed around 10 or 11pm. He wakes up

roughly about 12pm.

What does he do to while away time?He sits and reads newspapers, books, stories; people

send him stories. He doesn’t write much anymore, but he certainly writes if he’s asked to. He writes letters. He prefers to write letters by hand. He bathes himself, does a lot of things himself. He has lost muscle tone, which is common with older people. That’s the only mobility problem he has. Apart from that, Papa is fine. He’s had two surgeries in his life: he had the first when he was 93, which is typically a very high-risk situation.

After his first surgery, it was crazy. The doctors couldn’t believe it. He came out of the surgery, they put him in intensive care, and he was there for 40 minutes. Then they took him to the recovery room, and there he spent about two hours, before taking him back to his bedroom. It was extraordinary for a 93-year-old to go through that. Two days after the surgery, he’s standing and smiling, the hospital couldn’t believe it.

He probably doesn’t have many friends his age bracket left. So who does he visit?

People come to visit him, and to be frank, it is a whole mixture of people. Bode Emanuel is frequently here. Former partners of Akintola Williams & Co have been very good with their time. The other people that come to see him are friends from MUSON and many other organizations he either created or was closely associated with. MUSON sometimes comes with its choir and they spend time with him, and during Christmas they make sure he has one or two concerts here.

So, he loves music obviously?He loves music.

Papa is very alert. His hearing isn’t as good as it was before but his eyesight is sharp. If you write anything in front of him, he can read perfectly. He doesn’t always need to wear glasses. He finds it easier to read handwriting than

typed texts.

...IN HIS SON’S WORDSC O V E R C O V E R

18 19



What kind of music does he like listening to?Highlife, classical and opera; those are the three

kinds of music he likes. But he’s stopped playing it now. The gadgets have become too complicated. They don’t make CDs anymore, and he just hasn’t kept up with technology. It moved very quickly for his generation, and for him he was born in 1919 when even the telephone was rare. Technology has changed the way we communicate, and it has changed a lot since 1919. He has an email address; he used to use his email until last year. His secretary still uses the email for people that want to communicate with him, but he doesn’t need a full-time secretary anymore, so most people have resorted to getting in touch with me or my sister or our children and we pass the messages across to him.

Does he still travel?No. He has made it clear he does not want to travel

again.

A flight would be too strenuous for him?I don’t believe a flight would be too strenuous for him,

but he has no interest in seeing anywhere else. Even when we were there for the surgery, we were only in London for 30 minutes. And that was to pick out some glasses. The surgery was done in a rural part of the UK so we could avoid many visitors and also be near the airport to arrive and leave easily.

When you sit down with him nowadays, does he regale in the Lagos of old? What kind of conversations do you have?

We communicate about the future, my children, and what’s going on generally in Nigeria. He’s interested in what’s going on in Nigeria but he is unhappy the direction has been sliding in for the past 20+ years.

What are his views about the state of things in Nigeria?

He is saddened by the state of things in Nigeria at the moment. He’s very worried for it because he came into this part of West Africa before Nigeria existed. He’s seen the formation of Nigeria, the rearrangement of the geography of Nigeria and balances business with that. Some of his partners were born in the eastern part of Nigeria that eventually became Cameroon. His partner in Cameroon who is still alive, is actually a lead in the resistance group challenging the French-facing government of Cameroon.

And his partner is how old?He’s 92.

Does he still communicate with him?That’s an interesting question. Yes, they still

communicate. His partner was here last year and as usual, stayed in this house with Papa. There is a strong bond between Papa and his senior partners who built the firm up; Chief Charles Sankey (late), Chief Arthur Mbanefo, Chief Ike Nwokolo to name just a few. They have a very strong bond between them. There’s a picture of Bode Emanuel, Papa and Chief Sankey together in Portugal. This picture is called the Three Musketeers.

Your mom died how long ago?Ten years ago.

And has there being a drastic difference after her departure?

No, he has had good support from my late wife, myself, his grand children, my sister, and all the good family members around him, as well as his friends. They surrounded him with care, and I think that’s what people really need. I think that’s what saved him within the first six months and that’s what has kept him till now.

Sometimes when he’s alone, do you think he might be bored?

No.

How do you know that?

He says it when he’s lonely. He is one of the few people that says “I am on my lonesome”. I’ve never heard him say lonely; he always says lonesome.

Does he still talk about your mom?Yes. Only in the context that there’s no power. He’d say,

“If your mother was alive, there’d be power,” because she was an activist and always harassing the power company and they were terrified of her and made sure there was usually power or water. He attributes all of the comfort he’s had in his life to her. She believed that everyone should have power, water and education. Mama championed all of that.

What does he feel about the pulse of the nation today? Does he talk about where he sees Nigeria in the next couple of years?

No, but he’s gravely worried about the future of Nigeria, and mainly due to the breakdown of personal integrity and trust. I got a recent update on the definition of trust, which is more in a modern context, it goes like this “Trust is the expectation that the other party will do the right thing and act with integrity.” In a few words, this sums up who my father and mother are.

What’s Papa’s definition of trust?How he behaves, is his definition of trust. “I will do the

right thing, you do not need to ask me to do the right thing, and what is expected of me, at the time that it is expected of me”.

Apart from losing Mama, has there been other painful memories he’s had in his lifetime?

Yes. The loss of his younger brothers. His other younger brothers Kehinde and Soji. He’s outlived all of them, but he was very close to them. He was lately most upset at the death of my wife who he had a special and private relationship with.

So, he literally doesn’t know any other human being that’s his age right now?

There were two gentlemen who close in age to Papa and schoolmates of his. Unfortunately, both are late. One is Engineer Victor Haffner and, the other is the father of Atedo Peterside, they went to secondary school together.

Does Papa still communicate by phone?No.

How does he communicate?Either through me, my sister or anyone visiting him. He

decides the right person to deal with in any matter, he’s very accurate and resolves anything he wants done.

So how did he feel about his birthday?Well, we had a party that evening of his birthday. The

prior week, my sister had arranged that he took it very lightly, so that he was strong enough for the party. We had support from a lot of generous family and friends of Papa; the Williams family, the Moore family, the Cokers, Bode Emmanuel, Delotte and others -they did a monumental job in bringing the caliber of guests to the party and also making sure the party happened in a dignified way.

How did he feel? Was he excited?He was very excited. And I know, from an occasion at

the Metropolitan Club. It was a Tuesday and we were sitting together, and he said to me, “Seni come closer. This 100th Birthday, I want to make it.” And I said, “Why do you want to make it?” And he said, “Because I don’t want any of these other people (table one) to beat me to it.”

The other people being, Chief Anyaoku, Chief Ogunbanjo, Chief Olopade and others. He wanted to establish a gap between him and them, so that other members of the club would have a tough time beating him. It was a bit of a cheeky rivalry there. Also, once during breakfast, Papa dragged me closer and said,

“This 100 year, I think I want to see what it’s like.” These are things Papa told us that gave us hope and inspiration, that he would actually make it to 100. He wants to see what life’s like on the other side of 100.

There are very few Nigerians that age.No, I think there are quite a number of Nigerians his

age and older, you just don’t know them. However, somebody said to me that he’s the first Nigerian professional - and a successful professional - to have made it to 100, untarnished. Another heartbreaking thing for Papa was when my wife died. Diane was his friend. They really liked each other.

How many grandchildren does he have?He has two grandchildren Remi and Adeniyi. Remi is

married to Roya and Adeniyi is married to Busola. Mama and Papa were really close to their grandchildren. Both grandchildren are expecting children. My two sons, Papa and I went out to lunch together and he said that he wants to see these two give birth.

Who are the members of Table 1?Chief Femi Okunnu who is in his 80s. Chief Onabade

who is 93. Chief Anyaoku, one of the youngest, who is 82. Chief Osunkeye who is definitely the youngest, he is in his late 70s. Professor Odeniyi who is in his 80s. Chief Shonekan, who is in his 80s. Chief Odebanjo, who is closest to Papa, is 96, I believe. His ultimate aim was to make it to 100 and to make it very difficult for any of them to beat him. (laughter)

It seems Papa had a penchant for suits more than traditional?

Yes, that was related to professional practice. Wearing traditional attire for the position of a UK trained accountant, doesn’t convey the aura of discipline, position and professionalism. He never wears native.

Why?He doesn’t like it. It is too cumbersome. When you

go to Abuja and see everybody dressing in a particular way, to him, it feels like they’re not serious. He sees business attire as a suit and tie, and that reflects the way business is conducted globally. It also eliminates tribe and how much money you’ve got; it brings everyone to a common level. Even the Chinese wear suits when it comes to business though they have their traditional attire for non-business situations.

“This 100 year, I think I want to see what it’s like.” These are

things Papa told us that gave us hope and inspiration, that he would actually make it to 100.

He wants to see what life’s like on the other side of 100.

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Nimah Ali

What is it about the wellness (and specifically spa) industry that initially drew you in? Have you always been passionate about health and wellness?

I believe taking care of our health and wellness is paramount for lifetime longevity. Failure to look after both of the above will result in undesirable issues in the future. That said, I have always being interested in keeping healthy, being fit and well. This interest peaked around 2010 and that’s when I decide to take it more seriously. Then I discovered the true art of Hammam (bath) during one of my travels. It was at a one-stop beauty spa salon dedicated to women only. This was my first inspiration for the spa business and eventual move into the industry. My interest was driven by the realization that there weren’t many female-only spas around Abuja.

While interacting and engaging with many women (especially Muslim women who wear the hijab), I realised that the one big challenge that we all struggle with is the conventional unisex hair salon where men are also customers or stylists. For an even larger group of women, the thought of using unisex spas was unfathomable because they just would not feel at ease. Therefore, it was paramount to create a safe sanctuary for women to enjoy, relax and let their hair down.

The beauty and wellness industry is an extremely saturated one. What’s the game plan for Le Hamman?

Firstly, the beauty industry is an ever-evolving one, so there are always parts of the industry that can be carved out as a niche until others catch up. That said, there are a couple of things I have lined up to do different and I will share with you two.

These are customer service and quality service. If you notice both have got the word service in them and is similar because Le Hammam is a model that is heavily based on service provision and a failure to recognize the importance of service is a good plan and recipe for failure.

Tell us about your signature treatments and why ladies reading this should try them out?

We offer classic treatments that are exclusive to us. Our Queen Sheeba hammam treatment has all shades of royalty attached to it. There are also a wide variety of facial treatments and massages that would ensure you get a taste of the real Le Hammam experience.

The craze to become light skinned has eaten deep

into Nigerian women. What are your views on skin bleaching?

It’s an interesting trend that has taken over our society. Some do it so well while others don’t actually get it right. Skin bleaching is a personal choice and I respect the choices made by those who want to lighten their skin.

Can you let us in on your favorite beauty tips, tricks and secrets?

There are no secrets in this day and age. For me, I’d say my essentials are to keep the skin fresh, breathing and clean. I have also learnt to eat right, rest as at when due, be content with my look with or without makeup and finally find my inner peace so it radiates outward.

What’s your wellness philosophy?For me it’s all about simplicity. These are; eat well,

rest, laugh a lot and stay positive

What’s the one must-have beauty treatment you’d recommend to a first timer at Le Hammam?

I honestly can’t pick just one. You simply have to try our Classic hammam, one of our signature facials and a good relaxation massage.

Where do you see Le Hammam in a few years? In the short-term, I see Le Hammam breaking

new grounds in the provision of services we offer by providing up to date technology to aid our procedures and processes. I hope we grow in strength, become a household name in the industry, open up branches across the country, and expand outside the shores of Nigeria.

If you could give one tip to any young female entrepreneur about becoming successful, what would it be?

Whoa! That should be asked to Dangote or Otedola or other big time business persons. However, there are a few key factors that should be in place such as: planning, research, flexibility, staying up-to-date on your chosen business sector amongst others.

At a time when wellness and beauty centres seem to be popping up almost daily, NimahAli’s approach to beauty and relaxation might not seem that ground-breaking, let alone revolutionary. But at a second glance, you then realise that her “gender focused” one-stop beauty and wellness business has filled a big, gaping hole in the industry. In this interview she speaks on why she chose to run a women only spa and wellness centre and the must-have beauty services offered at Le Hammam.

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access more · 2019-08-29 · there are various beauty secrets that you should know and consider,...

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