When billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, announced that he would be quitting the oil and gas sector by selling of his shares in Forte Oil in June 2019, many business analysts saw this as a wrong move.
Reason: they could not fathom why he should quit the business that made him a household name and a business phenomenal in Africa’s business sector.
But those who know the brainy business mogul very well did not doubt his ability, shrewdness and brilliance.
This group of people maintained that he still had the magic with which he turned around the moribund African Petroleum, AP, which he rechristened Forte Oil.
Besides, they insisted that Otedola must have thought it out.
As predicted, Otedola, who is blessed with proven magic wand, successfully re-jigged the company from its former declining state to a flourishing one that became a brand to beat in the sector.
Indeed, barely a year after he diversified into the power business, he has proved his critics wrong.
Evidence that he still possesses the Midas Touch, and that his muse has not left him, his N64.3bn investment in the energy sector, Geregu Power Plant, is already giving his rival a sleepless night is that the company is not only yielding good investment it has changed the energy sector for good.
As a son of a former Lagos State governor, the late Sir Michael Otedola, providence has been magnanimous enough to him.
So, many would argue that his paths were already laced with roses because of his background.
But what many do not know is that he himself had sowed with sweats. In other words, the foundation of his business empire was laid with sweat, determination and hard work.
Of course, you cannot rule out the divine grace in his life.
Many years after he floated his business, he resolved to pursue his dream on a global stage.
Though it looked an impossible task, he was determined to pursue his ambition of ruling the world with unwavering doggedness.
Today, the company is not only recognised around the world, but the Lagos State- born has been listed as one of the richest on the continent of Africa.
