Oladipo Jadesimi (1945 – )

Chief Oladipo “Ladi” Jadesimi is a prominent Nigerian oil businessman and the founder of the Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base (LADOL), where he currently serves as the executive chairman. His journey to becoming a key figure in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector is marked by a strong educational foundation and diverse professional experiences.

Born in Nigeria in 1945, Oladipo Jadesimi completed his secondary education at the prestigious King’s College, Lagos. He then pursued higher education in the United Kingdom, graduating from Oxford University in 1966 with M.A. and L.L.B. degrees in Jurisprudence. Following his studies, he embarked on a career in accountancy, working as a chartered accountant with Coopers and Lybrand in London. His expertise in the field earned him a Fellowship of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (F.C.A.).

Jadesimi’s career moved beyond traditional accountancy. He became a founding partner in Arthur Andersen Nigeria, where he continues to contribute as an Independent Financial Consultant. He also became a major investor in the Niger Delta Oil Company. His influence in the oil industry grew significantly, leading to his appointment as a director of Niger Delta Exploration and Production PLC in 2010.  He became the Chairman of the Board on June 21, 2016. Furthermore, he served as a non-executive director of First City Monument Bank from 1983 until 2011.

The Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base (LADOL) is the cornerstone of his business interests.  This privately owned, multi-billion naira state-of-the-art logistics and engineering facility is located on an island on the coast of Lagos Lagoon. Jadesimi’s vision for LADOL was to maximize the local benefit of Nigeria’s offshore oil and gas industry, creating an industrial hub for the sector. Under his leadership, LADOL has been instrumental in attracting several leading major oil companies and oil servicing companies to Nigeria.

In his personal life, Chief Jadesimi is married to Alero Okotie-Eboh, a former broadcaster and the daughter of Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh. They have a daughter, Amy Jadesimi, who has followed in her father’s entrepreneurial footsteps and serves as the Chief Executive Officer of LADOL, taking a leading role in the family’s flagship business. Amy, an Oxford-trained medical doctor, also worked at Goldman Sachs before joining LADOL in 2004 and becoming its managing director in 2009.

Oladipo Jadesimi also has another daughter, Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath, from a relationship he had with English socialite Suzanna McQuiston while working as an accountant in London in the 1980s. Emma, also known as Viscountess Emma Weymouth, is a socialite and fashion model based in the United Kingdom. She married Ceawlin Thynn, Viscount Weymouth, in 2013.

Despite his significant wealth and influence, Chief Jadesimi is known for his preference for a quiet lifestyle, often maintaining a relatively low profile among Nigeria’s elite. His business endeavors have focused on fostering local content and development within Nigeria’s burgeoning oil and gas sector.