That Bolaji Adewumi is a highly brilliant finance operative is no longer in doubt, with what he has done with the iconic Abbey Mortgage Bank Plc
Ever since he joined a group of young next-generation business leaders, including the superbly strategic Nonso Okpala, to take over the then-ailing Abbey, the historic mortgage Institution has been infused with an aggressive oxygen of life
Vaunted as the most valuable Mortgage Stock on the NGx, with all performance indices pointing North, Bolaji and his team, especially my aburo Dipo, are creating mortgage banking history at the place, and it’s no wonder that they rolled out the drums last night at the Harbour Point to sing and dance
Bolaji is a young but very visionary banking executive. A man trained in the best of military training after going through stiff military training at the Nigerian Military School in Zaria, he now deploys the military precision, strategic intent and never-say-die spirit into building one of the most brilliant banking careers in recent times
A strategic thinker and a powerful engager, Bolaji says to me, Edgar, we are at the cusp of making a very strategic announcement
I know what the announcement is, but won’t say as he keeps saying – Edgar, don’t say it yet, I will tell you when to say it
It is therefore under those circumstances that last night’s end-of-year party was held
Someone had forgotten to invite me, and when the call came late, I screamed at Bolaji
I had just left his office the previous day after facilitating a meeting with him for the master builder, Dr Adetoro, whose Cruxstone is redefining hospitality in Nigeria, and Bolaji did not mention any party or any dress code
So in punishment to them, I walked into their incredibly gorgeous party in slippers, a t-shirt and my N200k Lowe pants
My people, I have gone to corporate parties in my life, but this one was something else
Let me even try to describe what my eyes saw
First, unlike most parties of that calibre, gaining entry was extremely smooth
Ohhh, Mr Edgar, we are expecting you after checking my name on the system.
They gave me a yellow tag and pretended not to be amused by my dressing, which was way out of the prescribed dress code
As I entered, I found myself on the set of Eddie Murphy’s Coming to America
Yes ooo if you have watched that iconic movie. The wedding scene, where Elephants and all that roamed a very resplendent jungle-like patio, is what that place looked like
It looked exquisite and African. Not the African of thatched mud huts, but the serene glamour of a South African retreat, without the exotic animals that roam around such destinations
I felt I was in Zamusa and was actually looking for Mophasa in The Lion King
Yes, the designer did a powerful job with that
Then the staff all just killed it. Come and see the different Nigerian attires, rich in their display, valuable in their presentation, and not looking cheap and tacky
Everybody looked like they were attending Odogwu’s wedding or were part of Flavours Ada Ada’s musical video
Bolaji was in all black three-quartered shokoto pants with his beautiful wife, Toyin, who looked like a governor’s first lady in her exquisite ensemble
I saw many great guys, including Sam Chidoka, a brilliant Investment Banker who was now a Bishop – Bishop Kwa
He sat with my brother, Zuby Emordi, who was dressed as if he were about to take the Holy Sacrament after the event.
I greeted the Chairman of VFD Group, Olatunde Busari SAN, who is a partners with my brother Seyi Akinwunmi, and then my brother Lami Adekola walked in looking like Prophet Jehosaphat in a gleaming black sequined ensemble which screamed class
The Abbey girls also came out strong, with Koko, their ebullient Head of Corporate Communications, emerging like a lovely Efik princess, complete with the staff of office.
Then Ore was also a Bini Princess and looked very smashing
Toyin was in a class of her own as she stood out on what looked like an Aso Oke designed outfit.
She looked so graceful that the MC could not stop but shout-who designed that for you from the stage
My favourite of the day was my brother, Dipo. Dipo is the Executive Director at Abbey, and he came like a Kabiyesi, complete with his Olori and an umbrella-carrying boy in tow
Their green Agbada ensemble stood them out with its beautiful adornments, adding to a very regal appearance
It is no wonder that he was a powerful contender for best dressed, a competition that was ongoing as I took my leave.
The party was sumptuous, the food was biting and flowed ceaselessly. The drinks were on a constant conveyor belt, you didn’t have to struggle for anything, and the music was not deafening, as people could actually hear themselves talk, which is usually a no-no for parties of that type
I give the party planner a five-star rating for this event. I disagreed with the choice of the MC, who appeared overwhelmed and only had spikes of good performance instead of a stringent flow of rib-cracking moments
That aside, I can categorically tell you that last night’s Soiree was the best that I have attended in a while, and I have attended many
This was a compelling way to kick-start the end-of-year party season, and this has really upped the ante
But Bolaji release this news, keeping this secret is giving me a headache oo
Kai
Duke of Shomolu
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