Businessman Adejare Adegbenro, the grandson of late Pa Alfred Rewane, is a man that would be sent to Mars and still treat it as a stepping stone to Saturn – the quality of constant invention and self-improvement that has earned him worldwide acclaim and prosperity.
Funnily enough, the story of his life is not as smooth as a bowling ball gliding on a varnished lane. It is the story of a young man who flailed and floundered against the maelstrom and headwind of a tempestuous home-grown economy but whose resilience and steadfastness kept on the straight and narrow path to fame and fortune.
Adegbenro affects neither conceit nor a latent inclination to exploit his roots – he comes from a lineage of two prominent political traditions; his father is Chief Niyi Adegbenro and he is the grandson of late Pa Alfred Rilwane the hero-politician whose blood nurtured the oaks of freedom in contemporary Nigeria’s shadowy history.
It would be recalled that Pa Alfred Rewane, a strident voice in the fight against military rule and prominent chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) was assassinated in his Lagos home in 1995 by assassins suspected to be goons of the military government. Adejare’s patriarchal grandfather was the late former Premier of Western Region, Alhaji Dauda Adegbenro, who also played a very prominent role in the evolution of post-independence Nigeria.
But rather than sit on the soft cushion of his roots or attempt riding to eminence on the wings of his forbears’ achievements, Adegbenro chooses to chart his own path to glory and historical acclaim.
To this end, he engages in daring and very ambitious pursuits in business. He started out working for John Holt and from there he moved over to Motorfone, and thereafter started his own company, ‘First Planet’ which engages in large scale telecoms transactions. Subsequently, Adegbenro established another company called Balmoral International Ltd with expansive stakes in international trade and with greater focus on importation of goods for trade.
Call him one of those rare individuals who strive to always take a high road and position themselves for success regardless of the obstacles before them, and you won’t be wide of the mark. Dejare has, in the process, done well for himself through his entrepreneurial initiatives and excellence, which have significantly impacted the socio-economic stability of Nigeria.
Stylish and suave, Adegbenro is 50 today. He might be young but has packed so many achievements into his youthful life that would take many a generation to achieve. And he has grown too. There would be immeasurable adoration to God who has brought him thus far and has helped him glide through life without breaking a limb.
Today, he would also be reaching out to the deprived and downtrodden in the society as has become an annual ritual in the last few years.
For him, now, a birthday is a quiet day, a day to reflect and retrospect on the year that was and what is ahead to strive for; a sort of personal ‘New Year’ where resolutions and promises can be made to the self and for the betterment of humanity.Of course, he has so much to thank God for.
Happily married to a beautiful woman, Jumoke and blessed with wonderful children.
