By Perekeme Odon
The rich man is a fool who dies without arranging his affairs to assure that his wealth does well during his lifetime and after his passing. The wealthier you become, the more you are giving to others. It's a rewarding way to live.
We have heard it said before that nothing could keep a good man down. Certainly, nothing can keep God's man down, for the good man knows no limitation of good and no hindrance in his expression of God’s works to others. What is there in the nature of genuine goodness that is irrepressible, unsinkable, and indomitable?
The difference between a rich man and a wealthy man is like the tiny line that separates love and hate. A lot of people don’t realize that being wealthy and rich are similar in relation to humans. Closing on both shows that wealth is not only the accumulation of assets but valuable possession and abundant supply.
A rich man thinks he is smart, but he is a parasite with no intention to create wealth and lacks the ability to help others. His main interest is the possession of money by skimming the system others have created.
This Benin-born Nigerian who journeyed from entrepreneur to becoming a quintessence philanthropist per excellence, shrewd investor, trained commercial pilot, and obviously one of Nigeria’s quiet and self-effacing billionaires was recognised at the 2020 World Day Against Human Trafficking by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) as its anti-human trafficking hero.
The webinar event with the theme ‘Break The Chain’ saw him as an outstanding personality who has contributed to the fight against human trafficking in Edo state; furthermore wants the fight sustained and strategies used by relevant agencies reviewed and updated to meet up with global technological advancement.
According to the NAPTIP, “This man availed himself of the opportunity in marking his 60th birthday on the 16th of February 2018 to organise a public lecture on ‘Youth migration, consequences and current realities’
He is a household name and an acknowledged benefactor to numerous people as a prominent entrepreneur who is renowned for his philanthropic works like Warren Buffet, Bill & Melinda Gates, Gordon, and Betty Moore, Mo Ibrahim of Sudan, Jeff and Mackenzie Bezos and Michael Bloomberg in Edo states who have found him as God’s help by putting smiles on their faces through arts, academics and profitable empowerment with no media hypes or reportage. The axiom: charity begins at home is depicted by his respect for cultural values.
He has distinguished himself with his uncommon display of love compared to many wealthy Nigerians who prefer to live in their comfort zones and not give back to society especially to stem human trafficking, which is a threat to human dignity.
He was born in Benin City, Edo State on January 7, 1958, into a privileged family of a reverend clergyman, teacher, and community leader.
Prior to his retirement at the age of 30 as a pilot in 1988; like the proverbial palm tree planted by the riverside, he weathered the Nigerian business storm to conquer challenges in all scopes of air, sea, and land where he served favourably as board chairman and director on innumerable establishments, traversing several business sectors like the agro-allied, telecommunication, power, real estate, petroleum, and banking industries.
In 2012, the American Congress recognized him as Africa Titan for his contributions to Niger Delta in arts and culture with the premiere of the Hollywood movie ‘Black November’ directed by Jetta Amata that he independently bankrolled to raise a voice for the Niger Delta dilemma his Wells Entertainments Ltd.
The man, whose laudable contributions to peace, progress, and visible development of the economy of Edo state cannot be denied, believes the future of Nigeria is in agriculture sold his private jet to invest in a farming project. In March 2016, he established and unveiled a $750 million; 9,000-hectare (27,000-acre) farm intended to create 85,000 jobs in Edo State, youth empowerment, and foreign export.
In 2018, the highly technological advancement project produced its first indigenous fruit of the farm with an estimated tomatoes production of 4, 300 tones per year, and projected revenue of $6 million per year in 2018.
On December 15, 2018, history was made as he officially inaugurated the surreally exquisitely furnished five-star luxury hospitality hotel, majestically situated in the plush of the highbrow Asokoro District of Abuja to combat unemployment and provide an opportunity for fun-seekers, local and international guests that desire outstanding hotel service. He admitted his dream was to replicate such projects across cities of the world so that Nigeria could have a hospitality brand to compete with the likes of Transcorp Hilton and other global brands.
Entrepreneurs apply the same rigour and disciplines from the world of commerce to the charitable sector, which suggests there is in fact a science to giving at this level that can be replicated and learned from.
Philanthropy is a broad conceptual term that is fuzzy around the edges and sounds rather grand. But, this man has helped redefine what it means to champion a cause one personally cares about to encapsulate how philanthropy is practised today and reclaim the word for a modern world.
Charitable foundations created by this wealthy man often provide the financial muscle to empower great social and environmental causes. The exploitation of the poor may bring riches, but giving value brings happiness and fulfilment of true wealth. By giving more value than he receives, success has become a measure of the part of his life.
According to him, one doesn’t have to be wealthy to be a philanthropist to help create a better world and make a difference. A lot can be learned from this practised entrepreneur and philanthropic man against some democratized super-rich individuals who might be hard to reach and do little or nothing before the cameras. The power of entrepreneurial philanthropy lies in empowering others to help them and seize opportunities for betterment advancement.
When a society is filled with wealthy people, there is a narrow gap between the have and have not, but when it is filled with rich people, the rich will get richer in the name of inflation that eventually leads to a breakdown of society. If the philanthropic potential of the population in Nigeria is to be realized, government, charities, and businesses need to understand giving as a life-long journey, rather than as a series of unrelated acts.
This man is not like the rich man who makes himself rich and others poor, but a wealthy good man and employer of labour who creates riches and income for others in abundance as his philanthropy speaks loud and volumes and has become a reference point in admonition and encouragement.
His spontaneous benevolent act was witnessed recently as he awarded a scholarship to Master Moses Oseghale, a student of Auchi Polytechnic who designed an aircraft to study aeronautical engineering abroad; and also transformed the life of a woman, an itinerant service supplier N3m to purchase a truck to enhance her business. This happened when she came to supply drinks bought from her and her hired supply trucks broke down. On the instant, he once again displayed his benevolence by giving money to buy her own truck to further enhance her business. This is true wealth in humanity.
There are different perceptions of philanthropy associated with the super-wealthy, but this prominent son of the Benin Kingdom whose love and trust have inspired generously and encompassed the broad concept gestures of benevolence to the lives of students, youths, dressmakers, bakers, tailors, shoemakers, market women, most prominently Artiste of all Arts, filmmakers, musicians, cultural groups, fine Artist, etc, and as many that have come his way thus encouraged young people to draw inspiration from his story and dare things beyond them.
His motivated pervasive influence within the field of philanthropy stems more than anything from his giveaways to charity is often revealed in his personal experiences and personal values to people.
It is a fact that just recently, he joined exclusive benevolent sons and daughters of Edo State to bequeath generously to the Edo state COVID-19 relief campaign fund.
He is a native speaker of the Edo language and a fluent speaker of English. He believes the purpose of our lives is to be happy and stands for the humanitarian concept that stated life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.
On October 2, 2014, the Bini traditional ruler of Edo state, the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N'Oba N'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa gifted Captain Hosa with the ‘Traditional Beads’. The bead is given to sons and daughters of Benin who have distinguished themselves and have been a source of pride.
Captain Dr, Hosa Wells Okunbo is a man with infrequent courage who has made us reflect our belief that by being generous, leaders can substantially improve society, their businesses, and themselves with increasingly effective giving.
He is a happy father of 11 children and the husband of Nosa. He is my benefactor and Chairman, Board of Directors, Wells Entertainment Ltd.
