Nigerian Entrepreneurs

Full Name: Molade Alexandria Okoya-Thomas (MFR)
Date of Birth: June 8, 1935.
Died: 2 January 2015 (aged 79)
Place of Birth: Lagos, Nigeria.
Nationality: Nigerian
Occupation: Entrepreneur and Businessman.
Marrital Status: Married.
Alma mater: Balham & Tooting College of Commerce London, Columbia University, New York City.
Residence: Lagos, Nigeria
Language: Yoruba and English


Molade Alexandria Okoya-Thomas MFR was born in Lagos on June 8, 1935 to Late Hussam Okoya-Thomas (the first Baba Adinni of Furabay Mosque, Olowogbowo, Lagos and the first local staff of CFAO, who served the company for 52 years) and Late Alhaja Suwebat Okoya-Thomas (n�e Gbajabiamila, Otun Iya Adinni of Idita Mosque.

Molade Okoya-Thomas had his elementary education at princess school, Lagos, between 1942 and 1946. He subsequently proceeded to Baptist Academy for his high school education and left Baptist Academic in 1956 as the best graduating student, hence earning the honor of his name been listed on the school’s DUX BOARD (Honors Board).

Immediately after his education at Baptist Academy, he studied accountancy at Balham and Tooting College of Commerce between 1956 and 1959 and a further training in Accountancyat Columbia University, New York in 1981. He returned to Nigeria the very year he completed his studies at Balham and Tooting College of Commerce 1959 and was instantly employed as an accountant by CFAO.

He was appointed Director, Transcap Nigeria Limited; Director, Niger Motors Industries Limited; Chairman, Studio Press Nigeria Limited and as been the Chairman of CFAO Nigeria Limited since 1987.

He currently serves as Chairman of many organizations including CICA (Nigeria) Ltd., Transcap Nigeria Ltd., Oktom Investment Ltd., Itochu Nigeria Ltd., Chiyoda Nigeria Ltd. and Anchoria Investment & Securities Ltd. He also serves as Director of NFI Insurance Company Plc and Gateway Bank Plc.

He has been recognized as the Asoju Oba of Lagos, Babasuwa of Ijebu-Remo, Odofin of Ife. He is currently the Chancellor of Lagos State University.
He has also contributed to the development of Lagos state by serving in numerous committees including; member, Lagos City Council between 1971 and1975, member Lagos State Development and Property Corporation, Chairman Board of Trustees Glover Memorial Hall and Tom Jones Hall.

He is a recipient of the Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur, the highest national honour given by the French to a foreigner.
Molade Okoya-Thomas was an active sportsman in his youth, he was a Joint All Nigeria Record Holder of 4 X 220 yards relay race while at Baptist Academy Lagos. He has been the sole sponsor of the annual Asoju Oba Table Tennis Championships for over four decades setting a record as the only Nigerian to have single-handedly and consistently sponsored a competition spanning over four decades.

As a philanthropist he has similarly served as Vice-Chairman, Lagos State Sports Council, President Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Chairman 3rd All-Africa Games Appeal Fund Committee, Chairman National Appeal Fund for Sports Development and Chairman Sports Trust Fund. Molade Alexandria Okoya-Thomas built and donated a Modern Sports Hall for students and staff of the Lagos State University (LASU) in 2009.

He was also a prominent member of the fund raising committee for the construction of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.