Bode Akindele
Bode Akindele | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2 June 1933 Ibadan, Nigeria |
| Died | 29 June 2020 (aged 87) Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, industrialist |
| Known for | Founder and chairman of Modandola Group; proprietor of Fairgate Group |
Chief Bode Akindele (2 June 1933 – 29 June 2020) was a prominent Nigerian entrepreneur and industrial leader. He established and led the Modandola Group, a diversified conglomerate engaged in sectors such as maritime, manufacturing, real estate, finance, and flour milling, with its headquarters located in the United Kingdom.
Early life and education
Born in Ibadan, Nigeria, Akindele was the son of Pa Joshua Laniyan Akindele, who served as Chief Tax Clerk for the Western Region. His mother, Rabiatu Adedigba, was a notable trader and distinguished as the first woman from Ibadan to complete the pilgrimage to Mecca.
His academic journey included attendance at Olubi Memorial School in Ibadan followed by Lisabi Grammar School in Abeokuta, where he obtained his Higher School Certificate. Although he initially planned to study law abroad in the UK, he shifted focus to business ventures, utilizing his educational funds to purchase a sewing machine which he then sold for profit.
In 1952, Akindele commenced his career as secretary to an assistant district officer before joining the United Africa Company (UAC), where he rose to become Assistant to the Expatriate Manager. Subsequently, he transitioned to work with the Western Nigerian Union of Importers and Exporters.
Business career
Akindele was proprietor of Fairgate Group, an influential international real estate and property enterprise. At age 20, he incorporated his first company that specialized in sourcing and distributing goods worldwide, including pharmaceuticals from Lagos. He acquired land in Agege, Lagos State, where he constructed a substantial warehouse for cocoa storage and grading. Progressing into the shipping industry, he arranged vessel charters in London and utilized banking relationships with the National Bank of Nigeria’s London branch to support financing needs.
In 1993, he undertook a significant acquisition of a Swedish match manufacturing firm which he subsequently closed down; this move enabled him to command over one-third of the global match market share. As chairman of the Modandola Group of Companies—one of Nigeria’s largest indigenous conglomerates—he oversaw operations spanning manufacturing, real estate, maritime activities, and agriculture. The Fairgate Group maintains its headquarters on London’s Bond Street and owns numerous UK properties leased to prominent retailers including Asda, Walmart, and Sainsbury's.
Death
Chief Bode Akindele passed away on 29 June 2020 at his home in Apapa, Lagos, at the age of 87.