Goodie Ibru

Goodie Ibru also known as G.M Ibru (born on May 11, 1942 in Kano State, Nigeria; full name Goodie Minabo Ibru) is a native of Agbarha Otor, Ughelli North Local Government. He is a businessman who is regarded as one of the richest hotel owners in Nigeria. He currently occupies Chairman Position of Ikeja Hotel Plc (owners of Sheraton Lagos Hotel) The Tourist Company of Nigeria Plc (TCN) (owners of Federal Palace Hotel) and Capital Hotels Plc (owners of Abuja Sheraton Hotel).

Early life and education

Goodie was born of late Pa Peter Epete Ibru and Late Mama Janet Omotogor Ibru. He obtained his primary school leaving certificate from Yaba Methodist School. After that he went to Ibadan and enrolled in Ibadan Grammar School, Ibadan, Oyo State. He finished his secondary education in 1960 and went to the United Kingdom where he studied at Holborn College of Law, University of London and qualified in 1965 as a lawyer and was called to the Inner Temple of the English Bar in 1966. After his sojourn in the United Kingdom, he returned to Nigeria and enrolled as a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1968.

Career

In 1968 Goodie came back to Nigeria to start his law practice. He formed a partnership with his friend and colleague Olaogun Badru and they both formed the Ibru, Olaogun and Co. They later split and Goodie formed another partnership with Mr. E.A. Chukwura whom he engaged as managing partner in the newly formed G.M Ibru & Co. law firm. He obtained the franchise from starwood hotels and resorts to own a Sheraton Hotel in Lagos, Nigeria’s busiest commercial centre. The hotel was completed and launched in 1985.^[1]

He then went ahead through Ikeja Hotel Plc in 1992 to acquire the Tourist Company of Nigeria Plc (TCN) owners of Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. In 2009 he invited Sun International, a South African Hotel Brand which bought shares in TCN and undertook the refurbishment of the right wing of the hotel.^[2]

Subsequently, his Ikeja Hotel plc. purchased majority shares in Capital Hotel plc. and became the chairman and owner of Abuja Sheraton hotel. He became president of the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 1997 and held the position till 2000. In 1999 he was appointed the chairman presidential subcommittee on private investment in Tourism Industry up until 2007 and participated as Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for the preparation of code of Ethics for Tourism in Nigeria.

Awards and Certifications

He was honoured with officer of the order of the Niger (OON) title in 2003 by the civilian administration of Olusegun Obasanjo. He has also been conferred with the following awards • National Productivity Order of Merit Award (NPOM) 2000 • Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) Merit Award (2003) • The Nigerian Tourism Achiever (2003) He is also Honorary Consul of Lithuania to Nigeria an international engagement he was bestowed with since 2001^[3] and he became Executive President of African Business Round Table, West Africa Chapter since 2014 till date, and he became the Chairman, NEPAD Business Group, Nigeria since 2004 and currently holds that position. He is also the president of Nigeria Ehiopia Business Association, president of Nigeria Russia Business Council, and acted as Africa’s representative at the UN world Tourism Organization’s World Committee on the International Code of Ethics for Tourism. In 2012, he replaced Mr. Ben Osuno as chairman board of directors of Niger Delta Exploration and Production Plc.^[4]

References

1. Olatunde, Oluloye. "ED, Hotels & Hospitality". SURU GROUPS. Retrieved 2014-11-15.
2. "The Tourist Company of Nigeria PLC (TCN)". BROADSTREETLAGOS.COM. Retrieved 2014-11-15.
3. "NIGERIA – GOODIE MINABORAE IBRU". HONORARY CONSULS OF LITHUANIA. Retrieved 2014-11-15.
4. "NDEP announces Mr. Goodie Ibru (OON) as New Chairman of NDEP Plc.". DELTA EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION PLC. Retrieved 2014-11-15.