The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in South Africa, Hon. Oluwatoyin Oyekanmi, has met Sir Gabriel Igbinedion, to seek his philanthropic support for Nigerian women and children in South Africa.
Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion is a prominent Nigerian businessman, philanthropist, and the founder of Igbinedion University, a private university in Nigeria. He is known for his contributions to education, business, and philanthropy in Nigeria. As a traditional aristocrat from Okada town in Edo State, he holds the chieftaincy title of the Esama of the Benin Kingdom.
Recently, at a private luncheon hosted by Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, the Chairman of the APC South Africa called for support to provide aid and protection for Nigerian women and children who are currently residing in South Africa. This request aims to provide assistance to the vulnerable members of the Nigerian community in South Africa.
Also present at the event were Chief Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion, who served as the governor of Edo State in Nigeria from 1999 to 2007, and His Excellency Ambassador Andrew N. Idi, Consul General of Nigeria to South Africa. Ambassador Idi has served in various capacities in Nigerian Missions around the world, including Seoul, South Korea; Pretoria, South Africa; and Accra, Ghana. He has also represented Nigeria in other important multilateral fora such as the United Nations Preparatory Session on the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The business empire of the Esama of Benin includes an international property portfolio, a private TV and radio station called Independent Radio (92.3 FM) and Television, a private bank, oil refinery, diamond, gold, and marble mines across Africa, a private university (Igbinedion University, the first private university in Nigeria, located at Okada town), and a large number of hotels. He previously owned the now-defunct private airline, Okada Air, which had over 40 aircraft (planes and helicopters). He has built numerous churches, including a grand Catholic Cathedral, and has set up and owns a number of private hospitals across Nigeria.