Kola Karim is a man who needs no introduction, having paid his dues in the oil and gas industry. The quiet and unassuming Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Shoreline Energy International is not someone who loves to blow his own trumpet. Yet, such is the huge impact he has made that there is an endless queue of genuine praise singers ready to laud his efforts.
The Lagos Times gathered that plans are being set in motion to throw the mother of all birthday bashes for Kola as he joins the league of 50 year olds. Kola, whose company recently struck a $300 million megadeal with oil giant Shell, was originally planning to mark his birthday in a quiet way as usual but was in the end prevailed on by his friends to make it a grand spectacle as befits someone of his status.
The Lagos Times learnt that Choice destinations in London and US are reportedly already being scouted with a view to picking the most befitting spots to serenade the billionaire businessman as he turns a year older. The rumoured three-way birthday soiree will commence in Nigeria with all the invited guests being airlifted to Europe and then America to continue the merriment.
Kola’s accomplishments are as numerous as they are astonishing given his humility and reluctance to flaunt his status in public. He is the chairman of Costain West Africa and Nigerian Ropes Plc. This is besides being on the board of directors of at least seven other companies including Ecobank Nigeria, Schlumberger Nigeria, African Eagles Limited, Grange Education Nigeria and Trans Amadi Facilities Limited.
In the midst of all these positions and accolades, Kola continues to fly under the radar as he has always done. The husband of pretty Funke Karim is more interested in the legacy he will bequeath to the community and the world at large. Hence he is focused on freeing promising youths from their cages of penury and giving them entrepreneurial wings to fly.