By Segun Oderinde
Whether you are a fan or fiend, peer or protégé, you cannot deny Chief Remi Makanjuola, chairman of Caverton Group, his place in the list of Nigeria’s wealthiest businessmen; it is firmly assured by his earthly endeavours.
What has now been divinely added and assured is his entry into the league of septuagenarians. The patently self-effacing businessman will clock 70 in a few days and there is so much joy in and around his home and workplace. Though not one to throw gaudy parties, Chief Makanjuola is being prevailed upon to shed his conservative toga for once, and let his hairs down as he used to in his younger days and celebrate without inhibitions.
The emissaries are hard at work. And feelers reaching us indicate that he is softening his hitherto hard stance. Of course, he won’t turn 70 twice, reason his associates and relatives, members of staff and kids are conjuring different ingenious ideas to celebrate a man that is perpetually at peace with himself and humanity.
Charming and charismatic, Chief Makanjuola has so much to be thankful for; a good health, a great family cum successful kids (one of who is Niyi, the brain behind Visionscape company in charge of cleaning Lagos) and thriving enterprises including Caverton Helicopters, established in September 2002 as a charter, shuttle and maintenance company.
Caverton was initially set up to bridge the gap in the onshore helicopter service sector; it has made strides into the offshore support (oil and gas) industry by providing logistics support to the major players. Caverton Helicopter operates out of a 10,000 square meter flight facility at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos. The company also owns and operates out of several purpose-built facilities in Victoria Island (The Ozumba Heliport), Port Harcourt (NAF Base), Warri and Cameroon.
On the other hand, the Caverton Group, set up to render logistics and environment support services to the Nigerian Oil and Gas producers, and support energy operations along the West African shelf, has positioned itself as one of the leading indigenous oilfield services companies in Nigeria.
Following the passage of the Nigerian government’s ‘Local Content Policy,’ which is aimed at substantially increasing indigenous participation in the local and gas industry, the company is now very well positioned to leverage the opportunities this represents.
Thus, if it would take a river of choice cognacs, champagnes and ciders to show his appreciation for an enviable existence as his, money would never be the problem.
He crossed that Rubicon decades ago. Educated at the Universities of Leicester for his undergraduate degree, and Manchester, for his master’s, Chief Makanjuola started as a banker before coming into real wealth as a businessman.
