Sam Iwuajoku’s High-wire Connections
Sam Iwuajoku, Chairman / CEO, Quits Aviation Services Limited, has been known only with one thing all his life: business.
When he started out over 40 years ago as Managing Director, Steelman Nigeria Limited, he operated like a briefcase-carrying businessman, who never really operated from an office.
Then, it was the era of “Import Licence”, and he made so much money, which he put to good use.
In the early 1980s, his paths crossed that of Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, and they chummed up immediately. The friendship was further cemented when Iwuajoku, a Chemical Engineering graduate of the University of California, joined the league of sugar importers like the likes of Deji Adeleke, Alhaji Saro, Sheikh Mujaddadi and Dangote in the country.
It did not take long before they realized that they shared certain interests. In reminiscence, Dangote was said to have influenced him in a lot of ways so much so that he embraced the Islamic faith and officially adopted the name “Ismael”.
As proof of the strength of their friendship, these heavyweights in sugar importation pooled resources and established Liberty Merchant Bank in the early 1990s.
While Sam and others involved became directors, Dangote’s brother, Bello, who died with Ibrahim Abacha and 13 others in a presidential jet crash in Kano, was made the managing director.
Today, both Dangote and Iwuajoku, who are both in their 60s, are best of friends. When Halima, Dangote’s first daughter, got married to Sani Bello in Kano, a decade ago, he was by Dangote throughout the ceremony.
It was, therefore, not surprising when Dangote reciprocated the gesture in March this year in Lagos, when Sam Iwuajoku Jnr. walked his bride, Stephanie, down the aisle.
It was also gathered that he recently set up Legend Hotel, Lagos Airport, a curio collection of Hilton, in Lagos. The opening of the hotel attracted huge top personalities that included Aliko Dangote, Forte Oil Chairman, Femi Otedola, Oando Group Executive, Wale Tinubu among others.
The brainy businessman got married to Miss Bola Ogundele, a graduate of the Lagos State College of Science & Technology, Isolo (LACOSTECH) in the mid ‘80s.
However, the marriage, which produced two kids, later crashed due to irreconcilable differences.