Michael Ibru dies at 86
The Ibru dynasty has lost its patriarch and business mogul, Olorogun Michael Christopher Onajirhevbe Ibru.Michael, who was the Otota of Agbarha-Otor kingdom, died on Tuesday in the United States (US). He was 86 years old.
In a statement announcing his death, the family said that the businessman passed on peacefully at a medical facility in the US in the early hours of Tuesday 6th September 2016 after a protracted illness.
Michael’s death now lives Mr. Goodie Ibru and his two sisters as the only survivors of the famous Ibru family.
Other notable sons of the family, who have died are Pastor Bernard Ibru, the Publisher of The Guardian Newspapers, Mr. Alex Ibru, former governor of Delta State and Oorogun Felix Ibru, who was buried recently in Delta State.
Until his death, Michael was the Otota of Agbarha-Otor Kingdom and an Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR). He was also the Chairman, Michael and Cecilia Foundation (MCF).
He served as a member of the Business Advisory Council of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and as Council member of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Nigeria-United States Business Council.
Michael attended the famous Igbobi College, Lagos, between 1948 and 1951 where he excelled in his academics and in extra-curricular activities. Michael was appointed the senior prefect of the school, a position usually reserved for the best students with leadership traits.
After leaving Igbobi College, he secured a job in the United African Company (now UACN), as a manager-in training between 1951 and 1956. He resigned from the company and at the age of 24 and formed Laibru, in partnership with an expatriate, Jimmy Large.
In 1965, Michael founded the Osadjere Fishing Company in partnership with a Japanese Conglomerate.
In1974, Michael set up the Nigerian Hardwoods, a logging and sawmilling and wood processing company in Ubiaroku.
The Ibru Group later ventured into banking – the defunct Oceanic Bank Plc-managed by his wife, Cecilia Michael Ibru, aviation and tourism.