1. Pioneer of Nigeria’s Modern Lotto Industry (Baba Ijebu)
Kessington Adebutu is the founder and Chairman of Premier Lotto Limited (PLL), one of Nigeria’s largest and most recognizable gaming companies.
- Pioneer Status: He is credited with professionalizing and dominating the lotto and pool betting business in Nigeria, starting from humble beginnings in the 1960s with his Face-to-Face Million Dollar Pools Limited, which later evolved into Premier Lotto.
- The Nickname: He is universally known by the popular alias “Baba Ijebu,” which has become synonymous with his lotto business across Nigeria.
- Business Philosophy: His long-term success in a high-risk sector is often attributed to his strong reputation for honesty and promptly paying winners, even when it required getting bank overdrafts.
2. Extensive Philanthropy and Focus on Education & Health
Adebutu is a renowned philanthropist whose generosity is channeled through the Kessington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundation (KAAF). His charitable work is guided by the principle that “a healthy and educated soul can never be hungry.”
- Massive Donations: He is known for making large-scale, multi-billion-Naira donations to his home state of Ogun and other communities. For his 90th birthday, he announced a donation of ?1 billion each to multiple local government areas in Remoland.
- Educational Support: He has donated buildings, e-libraries, and state-of-the-art facilities to countless educational institutions across the country, including universities like Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) and the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
- Healthcare: His foundation has established medical laboratories and maternity centers to support the less privileged.
3. Traditional Titles and National Recognition
His immense contributions to his community and the nation have earned him numerous prestigious titles and honors:
- Odole Oodua: He holds the revered title of Odole Oodua of Yorubaland, conferred upon him by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. This is one of the highest traditional honors in the Yoruba hierarchy.
- National Honors: He is a recipient of two of Nigeria’s highest national honors: Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
- Other Titles: He also holds the titles of Babalaje of Lagos and Asoju Oba of Lagos, among others.
4. Diverse Business Empire
While Premier Lotto is his flagship venture, Adebutu is an astute investor with interests spanning several sectors:
- Construction: He is the Chairman of Arbico Plc, a building construction and engineering company listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, in which he holds a significant shareholding.
- Diversification: His business interests extend into agriculture, manufacturing, real estate, and estate management.
5. Family Legacy and Continuity
Adebutu has successfully integrated his family into his business operations to ensure continuity.
- Partnership Model: He raised his children to be partners, not staff, in his businesses, fostering commitment and allowing his empire to thrive even as he takes on less active roles.
- Successful Children: Many of his children are successful entrepreneurs and leaders in their own right, including Segun Adebutu, who is the Chairman and CEO of Petrolex Oil and Gas.
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