President of One Love Foundation, and Democracy Observer-General, Chief Patrick Eholor (Ultimate Equals), today, described the late billionaire businessman, Captain Hosa Wells Okunbo, as a good man who lived a fulfilled life.
While reacting to the death of Captain Hosa, Eholor said the deceased was also devoted to his roots.
Eholor remarked that Hosa Wells Okunbo would be greatly missed by his community, local government area, state, and the nation in general, lamenting that all Benin people have lost a great son.
About Captain Hosa Wells Okunbo (Career, Biography, Early Life)
Captain (Dr.) Idahosa Wells Okunbo (JP) was born January, 1958 in Benin City, Oredo local government area of Edo State, Nigeria to the family of a clergy, Rev. Robert Amos Okunbo. Popularly known as Hosa Okunba, he became a pilot at 21 and at 30, had logged in 7,500 hours of flying time as a commercial jet plane pilot. Many years later, he ventured into agriculture where his company, Well Farm Limited, has invested millions of dollars in green house farming and agro-allied business in Edo State.
Idahosa Wells Okunbo Early Life
Okunbo attended basic school at Government Primary in Benin City, Edo State. In 1971, he enrolled at the Federal Government College, Warri, Delta State where he earned his Senior School Certificate. He became a commercial pilot at 21 after graduating from Nigerian Civil Aviation Training Centre, Zaria, Kaduna State. In 1983, he obtained an Airline Transport Pilot License from the ACME School of Aeronautics in Fort Worth Texas, USA.
Idahosa Wells Okunbo Career
As a commercial pilot, Wells Okunbo worked for Intercontinental Airlines and Okada Airlines. He was made a captain in 1983 while 25, and retired five years later. Known as Captain Hosa, he registered his first company Hoslyn Ventures Nigeria Ltd in 1986 and moved into business in 1988. Hoslyn Ventures Nigeria Ltd represented Akzo Nobel Catalyst and was responsible for the successful supply of refineries catalyst that were used for FCCU in major refineries in Nigeria for more than two decades. His company also represented several other equipment for the refinery plants. The company participated in the procurement of major engineering components for the Warri Refinery Turn Around Maintenance between 1990 and 1994.
Through his company Hoslyn Technologies Nigeria Ltd, one of the first indigenous companies to carry out Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPCI) contracts in Nigeria and was able to complete and commissioned the early production facility for Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) at Ajaoki in Edo State in 2001. In the past decade, his company, OMS Tankers Ltd, has supported in raising the level of oil production in Nigeria and its sustenance by providing dedicated and efficient security solutions for offshore production assets of the major international oil companies operating in the country. He is also the chairman, CMES OMS venture, a service provider in the oil and gas industry.
Okunbo financed the movie Black November through Wells Entertainment limited in 2012.
In March 2016, Okunbo unveiled a $750 Million farm in Ovia North East, Edo State, to provide 25,000 direct and 60,000 indirect jobs. As a philanthropist, he has contributed to youth empowerment in his home State, Edo State and beyond.
The business tycoon also founded Ocean Marine Security Limited, an offshore asset-protection company, rendering service to major oil companies in Nigeria, including NNPC.
He is a major shareholder in Westminster Security Solutions Nigeria Ltd, a Westminster Group PLC UK franchise.
He also owned Wells Group of Companies – Wells Dredging Ltd, Wells Property Development Company, ltd and Wells Entertainments ltd.
His name is associated with Ocean Marine Solutions Tankers Limited, which is believed to own Nigeria’s first marine Tankers; Hoslyn Habitat Limited design, construction and landscaping company; Gyro Air Limited, operators of charter flight operations.
He was known to be the director of the below companies:
Secure Anchorage Area Limited (SAA), Joined Marine Environment Guard Limited (JMEG), Digisteel Integrated Services Limited and Phil Nugent Nigeria Limited, Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Limited (IEDM), which is a core investor in Ibadan and Yola Electricity Distribution Companies.
Okunbo is a member of the Board of Directors of NatCom Development and Investment Ltd., which is the holding company of Nigerian telecommunications giant NTEL.
Idahosa Wells Okunbo Personal Life
Okunbo is married and blessed with children. He lives in Benin City.
Idahosa Wells Okunbo Awards
In 2012, The America Congress honoured Captain Hosa with The African Titan Award for being a voice of the Niger Delta People through his movie ‘Black November’.
The University of Benin also honoured him with a Doctorate degree in November 2012, in recognition of his community service and achievement as an outstanding entrepreneur.
In March 2016, Okunbo was granted the “Worthy Ambassador of Unity Award” as an old student of Federal Government College, Warri, Delta State
On October 2nd, 2014, the traditional ruler of the Edo people in Edo State, Oba Erediauwa, honored him with the Traditional Beads for being a worthy son of the his hometown
Captain Hosa Wells Okunbo’s shocking death on 7th of August 2021 has placed the entire people of Edo state in mourning mood, as he was a good man who has positively changed the lives of many
He died at 63.
