Captain Idahosa “Hosa” Wells Okunbo 7 January 1958 and Passed on 8 August 2021.
By Adeniyi Ifetayo
Captain Idahosa Okunbo was a Nigerian business magnate, investor, philanthropist, and trained commercial pilot.
He served as chairman and director on numerous company boards in Nigeria, spanning multiple business sectors such as the agro-allied, petroleum, telecommunications, power, real estate, and banking industries.
*Recognitions*
On Saturday, 21 September 2019, in Geneva, Switzerland, Captain Hosa was bestowed with the Global Peace Award from the chairman of the Order of Lafayette Awards, “in recognition of his efforts in global peace and business innovations.”
In March 2017, Captain Hosa received the Businessman of the Year award at the ‘2016 Vanguard Personality of Year Awards’.
Captain Hosa received the Africa Titans Award in 2012, from the Congress of the United States in collaboration with the African Society Summit, in recognition of “strides on behalf of Africa in the international arena.”
In November 2012, the University of Benin conferred Captain Hosa with an honorary Doctor of Science degree.
Captain Hosa was granted the “Worthy Ambassador of Unity Award” as an old student of Federal Government College, Warri in March 2016.
On 2 October 2014, the traditional ruler of the Edo people in Edo State, Oba Erediauwa, gifted Captain Hosa “with the ‘Traditional Beads’ for being a worthy son of the ancient Kingdom.
*Early Life*
Captain Hosa Okunbo was a native of Edo State in the southern part of Nigeria.
He was born in Benin City to the family of Reverend Robert Amos Okunbo, a clergyman, teacher, and community leader. Captain Hosa Okunbo had his primary education at Government Primary school in Benin City, old Bendel State, now Edo State.
He proceeded to Federal Government College, Warri, in 1971, where he sat for West African Senior School Certificate Examination.
Captain Hosa Okunbo was a native speaker of the Edo language, and a fluent speaker of English.
Captain Hosa Okunbo pursued a desire to become a pilot by studying at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Training Centre, Zaria, Kaduna State, and became a professional commercial pilot at the age of 21.
He also attended ACME School of Aeronautics in Fort Worth, Texas in 1983, where he obtained an Airline Transport Pilot License.
_Tribute is courtesy Chief Dr. Patrick Osagie Eholor otherwise known as Ultimate Equal President One Love Foundation, Nigeria Democracy Political Observer General.
