Friday the 12th of July, 2024 would for long be remembered in the Annals of the Board, Management and Staff of Midoil Refining and Petrochemicals Company Limited.
It was a day Family, Friends, Well Wishers and the Host Communities of Midoil Refinery gathered at the Project Site in Shekungba to commemorate the much expected Turning of the Sod.
Board, Management, Staff and Invited Guests including prominent Members and Traditional Rulers of the Host Communities kept right to time for the Event to kick off as specified.
The day began with a commune with God as the Programme Activities were committed to prayers under the guide of the Anglican Bishop of Lagos, Rt Revd Ifedola Senasu Okupezi who sought God’s presence for the Refinery Project.
He asked for divine blessings for the Project and its activities therein and particularly committed Midoil Refinery into God’s hands. He also asked God to touch the hearts of Members of the Host Communities to provide a Conducive Environment for the Refinery to thrive and be a blessing to the Communities.
The Man of God commended the Executive Chairman of the Company, Elizabeth Omolara Akintonde for her steadfastness in the pursuit of her dream Project and prayed for her continuous success. In his words “she is a Woman who cares for her Family and others, including mine. We are grateful to God for your life and your achievements. May you continue to blossom and prosper in your Businesses and all that you lay your hands upon,” he prayed.
The highly revered Anglican Priest also commended and prayed for Midoil Director, Amina Abdullahi for her commitment to the Project and Chairman of the Company asking God to “continue to protect you and bless you with good health.”
The journey that culminated in the Turning of the Sod at the Site of the Refinery was bedeviled with series of challenges especially regarding the massive Land on which the Refinery and its Subsidiaries are to be sited. It was not an easy battle securing a 365 Hectares of Land in the Host Communities all in Ikosi/Ejinrin Local Council Development Area of Lagos State.
Chairman of Midoil Refining and Petrochemicals Company Limited, Akintonde, had from the beginning believed that the Project would come to fruition and gave it her all. “I trudged on even when many, including Family Members, were not convinced about the reality of the Project. They labelled it a White Elephant Project that may not see the light of the day,” she declared.
“I ran to God in prayers and remained resolute that He would hearken to my cry. At a point, I didn’t even know what prayer point to make but I was just asking God for intervention,” Akintonde added.
No wonder she took time to appreciate God and everyone present at the Ceremony for their great support in the course of the journey becoming a reality. Of particular mention were the well respected Retired Justice S.O Hunponu-Wusu, her In-Law who she praised to high heavens for being there, Amina Abdullahi, a Director of Midoil for her love and commitment to the Project from the time she came on board, Retired Deputy Inspector of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, the Lagos State Government, her Children and Son-In-Law, Oviavo, as well as the Traditional Rulers and Members of the Host Communities.
The Turning of the Sod which was the high point of the day was soon to follow as Retired Justice Hunponu-Wusu, Amina Abdullahi, Babatunde Kokumo and the Chairman, all led in prayer by Rt Revd Ifedola Okupevi, took turn to perform the Ceremony.
Also around to add colour to the Event were Midoil Founding Member, Thomas Nwakalo-Imu, Kunle Sonariwo, Venerable Siji Kolawole, Ambassador Oloko and his wife, Baale Sekungba, Solomon Omotayo, Ayodele Odediran, Oviavo Hunponu-Wusu and Wife, Mojisola, who is the first daughter of Midoil Executive Chairman amongst other Dignitaries.
Attention soon shifted to the popular Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Ikeja for an elaborate Reception being the second leg of the Sod Turning, also coinciding with the 74th Birthday Anniversary of Midoil Chairman, Akintonde.
The Occasion which attracted same quality attendance as witnessed at the Turning of the Sod earlier in the day, was dominated by Thanksgiving and Praises to God for the achievements, honour and good health bestowed on the energetic and amiable Celebrant.
The Thanksgiving Service kicked off with series of Prayers, Hymns and relevant Bible Passages in appreciation of God’s benevolence and the impactful life so far led by the Midoil Chairman.
The Birthday Ceremony also offered an opportunity for various Groups and Individuals to extol the Virtues of the Celebrant in their outpouring of Goodwill Messages.
She was described by many present and her family as God’s gift to Humanity.
First on the Roll Call was her Daughter, Mojisola Hunponu-Wusu who praised the resilience and never say die attitude of her Mother. She revealed how on a number of occasions she had prevailed on Midoil Director, Abdullahi to beg her mother to slow down, only to discover that both are neck-deep in the Project.
She eventually gave up the pressure and pledged her full support for a Project she confessed she initially did not believe in.
Other Speakers also took turn to eulogise the Midoil Chairman, fondly called the Amazon by Admirers.
A major highlight of the Birthday Ceremony was the Presentation of Certificates of Appreciation to Individuals who have contributed in no small measures to the realisation of the Midoil dream.
The Recipients include Amina Abdullahi, Babatunde Kokumo, Oluwole Harris-Isa and Larry Ogochukwu Egwuenu.
In her closing Remarks and show of appreciation, Midoil Executive Chairman, Akintonde thanked everyone present at the two in one Event “I really appreciate the fact that you are here on my Birthday, the day Midoil decided to do the Turning of the Sod at the Project Site of the Refinery. We thought it was impossible, but we are able to do it on my Birthday. Thank you for coming and God bless you.”
“Last year December, the Army drove all of us away from the Land I had bought since 2014. You won’t believe the things I sold. I sold all my Shares just to keep the dream alive and then the Army came and said everybody out. But God turned everything around for our good and the Army gave us back what belong to us”
It would be recalled that Midoil received its Land Allocation Letter on the 24th of April, 2014 and the Approved Licence to establish (LTE) by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) now known as Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
