Friends, family bid Molade Okoya-Thomas farewell

With the passing on earlier this year of the Asoju Oba of Lagos, Bobasuwa of Remo Land, Odofin of Ife, Asalu Oba Oke-Ona Egba, Commandeur de la Legion d’Honneur de France, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, one of the most influential and renowned business tycoons of our time, Nigeria truly lost a phenomenal businessman and socialite. The 79 year old left behind, legacies that would inspire future generations. The burial ceremony which lasted a week had top politicians, business moguls, socialites, all jostling to pay their last respects in a carnival-like burial.

A candle light procession by Lagos State University students and staff

Before his death, Molade Okoya-Thomas was a former Chancellor of the Lagos State University. To show that he was an invaluable asset to them, a valedictory session was held for him on Monday, March 2nd. The candlelight procession which started around 2:30pm from the student’s arcade, terminated at the school’s main auditorium.

The two pronged service of song

Two service of songs were held for the multiple chieftaincy title holder. One by the Lagos State Lawn Tennis club, where he was a member, which took place on Tuesday, March 3rd at the grounds of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan and the other, by Pastor Ituah Ighodalo led Trinity House, Zion centre, Victoria Island which held on Wednesday, March 4. The All Progressives Congress (APC), vice presidential candidate, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, was conspicuously present at the church’s service of songs

The Lagos State government was not left out

Being a bonafide son of the soil, the Lagos State Government felt it expedient to honour him with a night of tributes later in the evening of Tuesday, March 3rd, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

At the wake

Without mincing words, Molade Okoya-Thomas was very dynamic and humane. This would be the reason why friends, family members, children and business associates all gathered on Thursday March 5, at the Landmark events centre, Victoria Island to pay their last respects to a game changer. In attendance were governors, minis­ters, business moguls and politicians.

His final resting place

The remains of the late business mogul was interred on March 6th at the Vaults and Gardens after a funeral service at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos Island. Earlier in the day, his body laid in state both at the Lagos Lawn Tennis club and at his residence.

King Sunny Ade brings down the roof at Okoya-Thomas’ reception

Juju maestro, King Sunny Ade was on hand to serenade guests as he churned out melodious tunes, one after the other. The ambience of the reception was that of light banter­ing. As with most Yoruba parties, one prominent feature was the headgear adorned by the women present. They all looked elegant.

Deji Okoya-Thomas re­counts father’s wish

One of the sons of the late business mogul spoke about how his father would want, even in death, for his pas­sion for table tennis, a sport he pro­moted for 46 years, to continue long after he his gone. To this end, the fam­ily decided that the onus to continue with the promotion of the sport, fall on him – Deji.

Rasaq and Sade Okoya; friends even in death

Throughout the week-long burial, Chief Rasaq Okoya and his lovely wife, Sade were ever-present apart from the reception which they missed. It was obvious that Chief Rasaq was very close to the deceased and did all he could to make sure the burial ar­rangements was successful.

Roll-call of guests

The deceased’s wife, Lady Olive Okoya-Thomas, Folorunsho Alakija, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Gov. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), Akinwunmi Am­bode, T.Y Danjuma and wife, Daisy, Gen. Mobolaji Johnson, Florence Ita-Giwa, Ernest Shonekan, Opral Ben­son etc.

Until his death

Okoya-Thomas was chairman of many organizations, including CICA (Nigeria) Ltd., Transcap Nigeria Ltd., Oktom INVESTMENT Ltd., Itochu Ni­geria Ltd., Chiyoda Nigeria Ltd. and Anchoria INVESTMENT & Securities Ltd. He also served as Director of NFI Insurance Company Plc and Gateway Bank Plc. He was the first local staff of CFAO, a company he served for 52 years. He has also contributed im­mensely to the development of Lagos State by serving in numerous commit­tees, including being a member, Lagos City Council, member Lagos State De­velopment and Property Corporation, Chairman Board of Trustees, Glover Memorial Hall and Tom Jones Hall. He was a recipient of the Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur, the highest national honour given by the French to a for­eigner.The remains of the late business mogul was interred on March 6th at the Vaults and Gardens after a funeral service at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos Island. Earlier in the day, his body laid in state both at the Lagos Lawn Tennis club and at his residence.

King Sunny Ade brings down the roof at Okoya-

Friends, family bid

Molade Okoya-Thomas farewell

Thomas’ reception

Juju maestro, King Sunny Ade was on hand to serenade guests as he churned out melodious tunes, one after the other. The ambience of the reception was that of light bantering. As with most Yoruba parties, one prominent feature was the headgear adorned by the women present. They all looked elegant.