Oskar Ibru

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Oskar Eyovbirere Ibru (11 August 1958 – 24 September 2025) was a Nigerian billionaire businessman, shipping magnate and investor. He was Chairman and CEO of the Ibru Organization.[1][2][3]

Early life and education

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Oskar Ibru was born on 11 August 1958,[4][5] the eldest son of Michael Ibru, founder of the Ibru Organization.[6][7] He attended Corona School, Yaba and St Andrew's Prep for his primary education, Igbobi College for his secondary studies, then later Millfield before proceeding to Skidmore College for his first degree and Atlanta University graduate school of business for his master's degree.[8][9]

Career

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Ibru returned to the country in 1983 and joined The Guardian as a management trainee and then Emsee Shipping Lines Limited in the position of research and development manager. He rose to the position of General manager and became managing director of the company in 1992.[8] He headed most of the subsidiary companies under the Ibru Organization where he participated in the decision-making process in areas such as shipping, fisheries, oil & gas, port operations and real estate.[10] He was president of the governing council of the Nigerian chamber of shipping from 2006 to 2010, where he pushed for greater indigenous involvement in ports and shipping.[1][11]

Oskar Ibru was the Chairman of the Dream Child foundation, an NGO which aims to use the culture of music to empower and support the African child in partnership with the World Bank and KPMG.[12][13][14] In 2023, the HoodTalk music festival held by the foundation in Ghana was endorsed by president Nana Akufo-Addo after Ibru met with the president at Jubilee House, Accra[15][16] In May 2025, the Dream Child executives led by Ibru presented a citation to president John Mahama at a private ceremony for his recognition and support of the foundation[17][18] Ibru was renowned for his patronage of the arts, cultural initiatives and philanthropic endeavors, particularly in the education and healthcare sectors.[19]

Ibru was a key figure in Nigeria's business landscape and played a vital role in sustaining the family conglomerate founded by his father. He was the most notable heir of the Ibru dynasty and custodian of the Ibru family legacy.[20]

Personal life and death

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Oskar Ibru was married to Chief Wanda Ibru, curator of the Ijebu national museum and owner of the pathways botanical gardens.[21][22] They had three children: Makashe Ibru-Awogboro, Chris Ebruba Ibru and Nenesi Ibru-Okeke.[23][24]

He was the first African Commodore of the Apapa Boat Club, and was the 2006 Maritime Personality of the year.[25] Olorogun Oskar Ibru was the Ochuko R'Ovie of Agbara-Otor, the Odomese of Olomu and the Otunba Boyejo of Ijebu Kingdom.[26][27] In 2016, Channel 4 described him as a billionaire akin to Aristotle Onassis in terms of wealth and charisma.[28] He was conferred an honorary Doctorate Degree by Igbinedion University in 2017.[29]

Olorogun Oskar Ibru was a member of Lagos Polo Club, Metropolitan Club, Ikoyi Club, Lagos Motor Boat Club and Apapa Club[30]

Ibru died after a brief illness on 24 September 2025, at the age of 67.[31][32]

References

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  1. ^ a b Lagos billionaire Olorogun Oskar Ibru back to party life sunnewsonline.com
  2. ^ "Oscar Ibru, AMAA Founder, Air Peace Boss, others for Africa Travel 100 Global Personalities Award". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 13 July 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  3. ^ Salami, Adeyinka (25 September 2025). "Oborevwori Mourns as Shipping Magnate, Oscar Ibru, Dies at 67". THISDAYLIVE. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  4. ^ OTUNBA BOYEJO
  5. ^ "Oskar Ibru". FA Global. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  6. ^ "OSKAR IBRU @60: His plans for the next phase of his life - Vanguard News". Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  7. ^ When Olorogun Oskar Ibru shut down Morocco’s social scene sunnewsonline.co
  8. ^ a b "Oskar Ibru: The Urbane Businessman Turns 57". This Day. Retrieved 30 November 2023 – via PressReader.
  9. ^ "IBRU. Olorogun Oskar Christopher James". Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation. 28 February 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  10. ^ "Oskar Ibru – THISDAY Style".
  11. ^ "10 businesses the late businessman Oskar Ibru owned". Daily News on African Billionaires and UHNWIs. 26 September 2025. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  12. ^ "DreamChild Foundation to construct 5 paediatric clinics - Graphic Online". Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  13. ^ "Home - Dream! Child Foundation".
  14. ^ "Oskar Ibru Visits Akufo-Addo". DailyGuide Network. 19 July 2023.
  15. ^ "Akufo-Addo briefed on upcoming HoodTalk Music Festival - MyJoyOnline". Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  16. ^ "Akufo-Addo, Otumfuo Endorse HoodTalk Festival". DailyGuide Network. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  17. ^ "DreamChild Honours President Mahama". DailyGuide Network. 9 May 2025. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  18. ^ hoodtalkmusicfestival_ars3gq (9 May 2025). "DreamChild Honours President Mahama - Hoodtalk Music Festival". Retrieved 30 September 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ EDOZIEN, FRANKIE (25 September 2025). "Olorogun Oskar Ibru, billionaire Nigerian industrialist dies at 67". New York Amsterdam News. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  20. ^ AriseNews (24 September 2025). "Billionaire Businessman Olorogun Oscar Ibru Dies At 67". Arise News. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  21. ^ "Runsewe Commends Ijebu National Museum, Presents Plaque to Curator, Wanda Ibru - THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com.
  22. ^ "Africa: Pathways Botanical Gardens open in Delta State, Nigeria". ATQ News. 25 March 2020.
  23. ^ "A Parisian affair". New York Amsterdam News. 23 August 2012.
  24. ^ "Nenesi-Ibru-Okeke-and-Makashe-Ibru-Awogboro – THISDAY Style".
  25. ^ "Oskar Ibru Joins The Diamond Club - THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com.
  26. ^ "'I will retire to my country home in three years' – OSKAR IBRU". 3 January 2016.
  27. ^ "PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  28. ^ Channel 4 News (8 January 2016). Nigeria: the “repats” who’ve returned. Retrieved 29 September 2025 – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  29. ^ "Akeredolu, Oskar Ibru, others bag Igbinedion University's honorary doctorate degrees". The Guardian Nigeria News. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  30. ^ "OTUNBA BOYEJO – Otunba Awujale Council". Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  31. ^ "Billionaire Businessman Olorogun Oscar Ibru Dies At 67". Arise News. 24 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  32. ^ "Oskar Ibru dies at 67". Vanguard. 24 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
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