MULTIPLE CELEBRATION FOR DAPO ABIODUN
Today would remain indelible in the minds of many of Nigeria’s wealthiest men, especially those in the 40 to 65 age bracket. It is the birthday of debonair Dapo Abiodun, managing director of Heyden Oil and Gas. Actually, Dapo was born May 29th, which falls on a Monday this year. So, today is the day he has set aside to celebrate his 57th birthday and to officially declare open his new venture, an exclusive lounge called 12 Temple. Located in a serene part of Ikoyi, 12 Temple, sources say, would operate a strict members- only door policy to allow an element of discretion and to avoid the raucousness associated with the jet- set and hip crowd. Primed to be a serious networking epicentre, 12 Temple is not for clients competing for the biggest drinks bill with the table next to them - like kids in a sandpit competing to build the biggest castle. It is going to be a regular pit stop for decision makers, private jet- flying businessmen and aristocrats wanting a whirligig of an evening in a cool, chic place. Trust Dapo, he has brought his cosmopolitan taste to bear on the new lounge. But there is more to be celebrated for Dapo who is eyeing the governorship seat of Ogun State in the next election beyond his birthday and opening of a new lounge. Business just got better as Heyden is among the consortium of indigenous oil companies that recently won the much- talked about Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, oil- for- product swaps. You would recall that the NNPC recently signed the $ 6 billion worth of deals to exchange more than 300,000 barrels per day ( bpd) of crude oil for imported gasoline and diesel. According to reports, for this year, the contract is given to an international oil trader/ refiner, who then partners an indigenous oil marketing company. And there were three more oil consortiums than last year, reflecting Nigeria’s increased reliance on the NNPC for fuel imports. The lucky companies are Trafigura, which is partnering A. A. Rano; Petrocam, partnering Ranoil and Falcon; Mocoh, partnering Heyden; Cepsa, partnering Oando; Sahara, partnering Societe Ivorienne de Raffinage, SIR; and Mercuria, partnering Matrix and Rahamaniya. Others are Socar, Litasco and Vitol, whose indigenous partners are Hyde, MRS and Varo respectively. It has long been established that Dapo knows how to throw a party; and those who were at his birthday soiree last year are still talking about it gleefully. Nothing ever runs out of supply; not even the extremely rare Armand de Brignac Brut Gold ‘ Dynastie’ collection of champagne favoured by his billionaire friends. Today promises to be grander.