The Billionaire with a Heart of Gold: Julius Rone Reaches Out to the Less Privileged in Abuja, Delta
As the universe celebrated the last St. Valentine’s Day with loved ones, exchanging gifts and all, one of Nigeria’s youngest billionaires, Julius Rone, chose to celebrate the day differently. Instead of bearing expensive gifts for his privileged kith and kin and associates, Julius reached out to the despaired and downtrodden in Delta State and Abuja with lifechanging gifts. As would later be revealed, it was not the first time he was celebrating Valentine’s Day with those without loved ones. Even when he was unavailable in previous Valentine’s celebrations, he reached out to foundations that cater to widows under his ‘widow’s mite’ program simply to make them happy.
Likewise, for the past few years, instead of throwing heart-thumping parties on his birthdays, he spends his day with the less privileged and kids in orphanages in and around Abuja where he has an eye-watering home. Sources close to him say since he made good, noiseless but far-reaching philanthropy has been his watchword; his philanthropy is innate, a voluntary act which cannot be manufactured.
He provides a wide range of social welfare programs with the intent to be the voice of those who desperately need help. He nurtures a robust interest in the humane and chooses only to see the sunny spokes behind the darkest pall. For as long as memory permits, he paints picturesque scenes in lives severely marred by squalor and seeks to mend small damaged lives here and there which was what he did on Valentine’s Day. Of course, he has so much to thank God for. From a humble parentage, Rone has worked his way, with guts and grace, through the wilderness of life to become one of Nigeria’s leading businessmen.
He is the CEO of UTM Group, with subsidiaries like UTM Dredging Limited, a provider of logistic support in engineering, construction, equipment rental, leasing, procurement, supply and general labour service to the oil industry; and marine services company, UTM Offshore, among others.