Lagos Stops to Celebrate Maritime Icon Otunba Sola Adewumi at 60

Today, Lagos seemed to exhale in joy and all eyes were on one man whose story sails far beyond Nigeria’s shores: Otunba Sola Adewumi. Abundant Life Gospel Church, hosted the first part of his birthday celebration.

Click to view the gallery: GALLERY

He arrived tall, dignified, regal in flowing agbada and traditional beads. At his side stood his wife, Chief (Deaconess) Oluwakemi “Bimbo” Adewumi, elegance personified, their children sparkling in black-and-silver lace (females), while the men wore white agbadas. When the couple led the congregation in worship (they all wore blue), it was no longer a church service, it was a moment of unfiltered devotion.

Then came the image no one will forget: Mrs. Adewumi, overwhelmed, lying prostrate before the altar, tears of gratitude falling quietly.

The church was a gallery of influence; captains of industry, political powerhouses, and royal figures. Oba Abdulmumin Adebayo Orisagbemi of Ekiti spoke from the heart: “He is a very nice man, a philanthropist,” he said, remembering how Adewumi had built his palace office.

But behind the spectacle lies the steel. Born in Ikere-Ekiti in 1965 to devout parents, Adewumi’s path wound through mission schools, Aquinas College, and the University of Lagos, where he earned his accounting degree. Banking was his first harbour, but the maritime world became his ocean; birthing companies like Equatorial Energy, JS Shipping & Trading, and Globestar Engineering & Construction.

For decades, he’s fought for Nigeria’s shipping industry, championing local ship financing and maritime training. As president of the Nigeria Shipowners Association since 2023, and now Worldwide President of the Aquinas College Akure Old Students Association, his accolades : from the National Merit Award for Maritime Development to the ACAOSA Lifetime Achievement Award are proof of a legacy in motion.

And he’s not done. With plans for scholarships, rural healthcare, and world-class maritime training centres, Adewumi’s vision is set firmly on the horizon.

As the last hymn faded and the church doors opened to the golden Lagos sun, it was clear: this wasn’t a man marking the end of a chapter. At 60, Otunba Sola Adewumi is only gathering speed.