Boss Picks

Agonising Tales Out of Collapsed Lagos Building

Published

7 years ago

March 16, 2019

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

For the families numbering close to 20, who lost loved ones, most of whom were very young children, in the collapsed school building on 63 Massey Street, Ita Faaji, Lagos Island, Wednesday March 13, 2019 will forever remain a doomsday in their lives.
The time was 10 am, and school activities were already in top gear; no one envisaged the calamity that was lurking around the corner, and like a flash in the sky, it happened. The entire building came down in one massive heap. A moment is too long to describe the devastation that happened, taking with it the lives of 20 individuals, 12 of whom were reportedly children of highly insignificant ages. They were pupils of Ohen Nursery and Primary School, situated on the second and third floors of the three storey building that housed their school. A building that became a heap of rubble in a twinkle of an eye.

The building, described by residents and neighbours as “very old” and “marked for demolition since last year”, crashed after giving signs of fatigue.
As at Thursday, rescue operations practically came to an end, leaving two sets of parents and families – the ones mourning their dead with pains agony and loud wailings and the ones tending to their loved ones, praying fervently to God that miracle will give them total healing.

However, on whichever divide every family finds itself, the trauma of the twenty fours rescue operation period is an experience of a life time. As the victims are brought out one after another, shouts of triump are heard, and followed by agonising wailings if he was dead or muffled and laboured laughter if the body still have breath in it. The wait was killing.

At the end of the day, about 20 persons were confirmed dead and 41 others sustained various degrees of injury.

A tale of woe, agony and pains trailed the discovery of loss of a family member.

Roqib was the only son and youngest among the children of his parents. His other siblings were Samiat and Rodiyat. Roqib was only 18 months. He was in the crèche of the school. He was pulled out of the rubble in a very bad shape, and taken to Massey Hospital. He couldn’t make it. He died at the hospital to the uncontrollable agony of his mother. His other sisters were however lucky as they pulled through.

In the Gambari area of the Island, an additional tragedy took place as a young mother committed suicide by taking the popular insecticide, sniper. She reportedly lost children aged four and six years in the disaster. Neighbours said that she had both children through a caesarean operation. The trauma of the death was just too much for her to bear.

The search for three years old Korede Ayinde was probably the most emotional. A team of family members, well wishers and neighbours trooped to the site of the crash on hearing the news. When they did not witness his rescue from the rubble, the group matched to the Island General Hospital where the young lad could not be identified among the injured receiving treatment. There was only one more place to check – the mortuary, and that was where the lifeless body of the child was found. He was identified by his father. The wailings that followed was heart rending.

Mrs. Adedayo Adedoyin was a mother of four children Malik, Fawas, Taiwo and Kehinde, but today, she is only a mother one as three of her children perished in the collapsed building. Only Kehinde made it alive with a broken leg. Her siblings were not so lucky as they were already dead before rescuers retrieved them from the rubble.

A pathetic angle to her tale was that Malik clocked 10 years on the same day he met his tragic end.

In tears, Abdulfatah Ayoola, a father who lost his son, Fawad in the crashed building, told the story of how his son did an unusual thing, asking him to pray for him before going to school.

Another story is told of another man who lost all three of his children. The man was reportedly said to have threatened to take his own life. He was quoted as saying that his children had been home in the last one week as a result non-payment of school fees. He returned them to school on the ill-fated day, paid their fees, and they ended up perishing in the building collapse. The man was distraught.

In many homes, only cries, pains, agony and sighs filled the vacuums.

The Lagos State government has vowed to begin integrity test on all buildings in the area with a view of demolishing anyone that fails the test. It is not known how sincere and far this particular riot act can go. Building has long become an issue which government has so far found difficult to tackle.

Boss Picks

The Incredible World of Capt. Segun Sotomi @45

Published

2 days ago

December 6, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

If there is a limit to paying dues as regards affecting humanity, Captain Emmanuel Adesegun Sotomi, has done absolutely divine, excellently well and incredibly outstanding. And he is only 45 years. Yes, December 5, 2025 was his birthday.

A typical all-rounder, Sotomi is a blend of academic, field and the unthinkable. He is a generalissimo in every field he has found himself; enterprise, camaraderie, business of 9-5 or flying for commercial purposes or pleasure. Sotomi is the future.

A brief of his adapted career trend reveals that Sotomi has seen it all, achieved it all, and can be defined as human technology transfer in the way he has mentored a great number of youths and competitors and contemporaries alike.

Philanthropism; yes, a lot of folks, who know him are full of testimonies of his open handedness, his love to rescue the needy and lift the downtrodden are phenomenal. He is a lover of humanity, a true legend in discipline.

Soft spoken and well read, Sotomi is a dream of every growing youth, who planned to be thoroughly established before the golden age. He is a role model.

Below is a derived biodata of the fast rising pilot-cum-entrepreneur…

Captain Segun Sotomi is a skilled commercial pilot, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He attended the University of Lagos before going to top-tier aviation schools in South Africa, Canada, and the United States to obtain his pilot licenses. He is currently a captain with Gulf Helicopters Qatar, a subsidiary of Qatar Petroleum.

Capt. Sotomi is licensed to operate both airplanes and helicopters [Licenses include SACAA PL (Airplane); CPL / FAA ATPL (Helicopter)]. His previous work experience includes Nest Oil, where he flew offshore.

He is also the founder and CEO of Southern Shore Integrated Services LTD, an offshore aviation logistics support company, and has a passion for working with, and empowering youths.

Captain Sotomi has served in several management positions in his flying career, and also sits on the board of different top-tier companies.

He is an avid polo player, and is happily married with children.

Happy 45th birthday!

Boss Picks

Meet Muhammad Ashfaq Hussain, CEO at Profound Realtors

Published

2 days ago

December 6, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

It takes hard work to work harder. It takes achievement to attract more achievements. And so, at Profound Realtors, hard work and achievements have remained the other of the day, creating leverage for more affordable housings clients in and out of Dubai, and unleashing comfort and peace of mind never experienced anywhere else.

The success of Profound Realtors, the credit it has enjoyed across the world, and the goodies it still have in store for as many that are making up their minds to transact concluding businesses of homes and lands with the company, is attributed to a dedicated team of workers, led by the ever trustworthy Chief Executive Officer, Mohammed Ashfaq Hussain, a seasoned real estate personal with experience spanning years.

Mr Hussain is a handful when it comes to service delivery, customer satisfaction and accountability. His human face to every transaction has placed Profound on the great map of trust, honesty, affordability, reliability and comfort.

One just need to purchase from Profound to prove the grace of service delivery.

Ashfaq Hussain is further presented as a colossus in putting smiles on the faces of clients and every other person he comes in contact with in the entrepreneurial journey.

His biodata is presented as follows:

With over 20 years of experience in Dubai’s dynamic real estate market, Mr. Ashfaq Hussain is a seasoned professional who has witnessed the evolution of the industry from its early leasing days to the launch of freehold properties in 2004. Hailing from a humble background in Pakistan, Ashfaq moved to Dubai with a dream and a determination to succeed—and through hard work and unwavering dedication, he has turned that dream into reality.

Ashfaq’s expertise and passion for real estate have earned him a reputation as one of Dubai’s most trusted realtors. His exceptional track record includes brokering high-value transactions of villas and luxury mansions on the iconic Palm Jumeirah, catering to investors and celebrities from around the globe.

Currently, Ashfaq manages one of the largest celebrity property portfolios in Dubai, and his name is synonymous with excellence in the industry. He is well-regarded by leading developers such as Emaar, Nakheel, Damac, and Dubai Properties.

As the founder of Profound Realtors, Ashfaq now leads a team of experienced real estate professionals, providing top-notch services in luxury property sales, leasing, and investment consultancy. His deep knowledge of the market and dedication to client success continue to make him a respected figure in Dubai’s real estate landscape.

Profound is the name when it comes to affordable houses in Dubai.

Boss Picks

Ghana’s Inna Mariam Patty Called to the Bar of England & Wales with Distinction

Published

2 weeks ago

November 27, 2025

Eric

Distinguished Ghanaian entrepreneur and philanthropist, Inna Mariam Patty, was officially called to the Bar of England and Wales at Lincoln’s Inn on November 25, 2025, graduating with Distinction from the University of Law.

In an extraordinary show of support, guests travelled from Ghana, Dubai, Uganda, South Africa, the United States of America and across the United Kingdom to celebrate this landmark achievement at both the Call ceremony and the private dinner celebration held afterwards.

Among the high-profile attendees were Miss Patty’s parents, Ambassador Youssif Patty and Mrs. Jameelah Patty, and her siblings, as well as: H.E. Mrs. Zita Benson, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK, and Mr. Bobby Benson.

Others were Mr. Kwabena Osei-Danquah, Chief of Staff, Commonwealth Secretariat, London, Ms. Eileen Baguma, HR & Corporate Affairs Director, EACOP Uganda; Ms. Pihillipa Pepera, CEO of Pippas Health Centre, Accra; Mrs. Vangie Mari Patty, Regional Engineering Manager, Puma Energy; General Manager, EIB Network; and Founder & President, Women in Sustainability Africa.

The dignitaries joined family, friends, and colleagues who travelled internationally to honour Miss Patty’s distinguished academic achievement and her transition into the legal profession.

Speaking after the ceremony, Patty remarked: “This milestone is a continuation of my purpose—to use law as a tool for empowerment, justice, and social impact, especially for women and vulnerable communities.”

Patty is widely celebrated for her leadership as CEO of Exclusive Events Ghana Ltd and Chairwoman of the Miss Ghana Foundation, through which she has driven initiatives in education, healthcare, and community development. She also serves as a Board Member of FOCOS Orthopaedic Hospital.

Her exceptional career has earned her recognitions including:

Overall African Woman Achiever (CSR Consultant), African Women Awards 2023
Top 50 Young CEOs in Ghana (Avance Media, 2023)
International Arch of Europe Award (2017)

Patty’s call to the Bar marks a powerful blend of entrepreneurial excellence, philanthropy, and legal advocacy—positioning her as a rising legal voice and social impact leader for Ghana and beyond.

ABOUT INNA MARIAM PATTY

Inna Mariam Patty is a Ghanaian business executive, lawyer, and philanthropist. She is CEO of Exclusive Events Ghana Limited, Chairwoman of the Miss Ghana Foundation, and a Board Member of FOCOS Orthopaedic Hospital. Patty holds an MSc in Accounting and Finance from the London School of Economics, as well as a GDL and BPC with Distinction from the University of Law.