Captain Hosa Okunbo Dies In London

Business magnate, Captain Idahosa Wells Okunbo, has died of pancreatic cancer in London.

 

The Edo-born business magnate died Sunday morning aged 63.

 

Okunbo was diagnosed with cancer last September.

 

The late businessman, politician and philanthropist was chairman of Ocean Marine Solutions Limited (OMSL).

 

Born on January 7, 1958 in Benin City, into the family of Reverend Robert Amos Okunbo, a clergyman and teacher, Captain Okunbo attended the Federal Government College, Warri.

 

He became a commercial pilot at 21 after graduating from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Training Centre, Zaria, Kaduna State.

 

He later attended ACME School of Aeronautics, Fort Worth Texas, United States, where he obtained an Airline Transport Pilot Licence.

 

He was a flight captain with Intercontinental Airlines and also worked at Okada Airlines.

 

He retired from piloting at 30 to venture into business.

 

The late Okunbo founded and chaired many companies, including CMES-OMS Petroleum Development Company (CPDC), which, in September 2019, signed $875.75m alternative financing deal for the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) operated OML 65; The Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments; Wells San-Carlos Agro Farms Limited, which unveiled a $750 million, 9,000-hectare farm in Edo in 2016, and Ocean Marine Security Limited, an offshore asset-protection company.