By Obinna Uballa
Nigeria’s corporate and social circles have been thrown into mourning with the announcement of the death of billionaire businessman, Olorogun Oscar Eyovbirere Ibru, Chairman of the Ibru Organisation. He was 67.
The family confirmed in a brief statement on Wednesday that he passed away after a short illness, though details were not disclosed. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days.
Oscar Ibru was the eldest son of the late Olorogun Michael Ibru, the patriarch who founded the Ibru Organisation, one of Nigeria’s most enduring business empires with interests in shipping, oil and gas, fishing, real estate, aviation and commerce. Since the passing of his father in 2016, Oscar had been the most visible custodian of the family’s legacy, steering its extensive investments while nurturing new ventures.
Born on 11 August 1958, Ibru attended Igbobi College, Lagos, before proceeding to Skidmore College in New York for his undergraduate studies. He later obtained a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Atlanta University.
Returning to Nigeria in 1983, he cut his professional teeth as a management trainee at The Guardian newspaper before moving into the family’s shipping interests. He quickly rose through the ranks at Emsee Shipping Lines Limited, becoming its Managing Director in 1992.
Over the years, he headed or influenced decision-making across most of the companies within the Ibru Organisation, guiding investments in maritime services, port operations, oil and gas, and real estate. He also chaired the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, where he played a prominent role in shaping maritime policy, and was honoured as Maritime Personality of the Year in 2006.
Beyond business, Ibru was deeply involved in philanthropy and culture. He established the Dream Child Foundation, an NGO that used music as a platform to empower and support African children, working in partnership with the World Bank and KPMG. He also supported educational and cultural institutions, earning recognition from Igbinedion University, which conferred on him an honorary doctorate in 2017.
A passionate yachtsman, he became the first African Commodore of the Apapa Boat Club. He also held the traditional title of Otunba Boyejo of Ijebu Kingdom, reflecting his deep ties to Nigerian cultural heritage.
Oscar Ibru was married to Chief Wanda Ibru, curator of the Ijebu National Museum and founder of the Pathways Botanical Gardens. Together, they raised three children: Makashe Ibru-Awogboro, Chris Ibru, and Nenesi Ibru-Okeke.
Regarded as a visionary businessman and one of the most prominent heirs of Nigeria’s storied Ibru dynasty, Oscar’s passing marks the end of an era for a family whose name has been synonymous with enterprise, philanthropy and influence for more than half a century.
