Molade Alexandria Okoya-Thomas--died early this morning

Molade Alexandria Okoya-Thomas FCNA, MFR, OFR, KSS (8 June 1935 - 2 February 2015) was born in Lagos. He obtained his formal education at Princess School Lagos, Baptist Academy Lagos, Balham & Tooting College of Commerce London and Columbia University New York. He has been recognised as the Asoju Oba of Lagos, Babasuwa of Ijebu-Remo, Odofin of Ife. He is currently the Chancellor of Lagos State Universityand chairman of CFAO Nigeria Limited.

Early life and education[edit]

Molade Alexandria Okoya-Thomas MFR was born in Lagos on 8 June 1935 to Late Hussam Okoya-Thomas (the first Baba Adinni of Furabay Mosque, Olowogbowo, Lagos and the first local staff of CFAO, who served the company for 52 years) and Late Alhaja Suwebat Okoya-Thomas (née Gbajabiamila, Otun Iya Adinni of Idita Mosque).

Molade Okoya-Thomas had his elementary education at princess school, Lagos, between 1942 and 1946. He subsequently proceeded to Baptist Academy for his high school education and left Baptist Academic in 1956 as the best graduating student, hence earning the honour of his name been listed on the school's DUX BOARD (Honors Board).

Immediately after his education at Baptist Academy, he studied accountancy at Balham and Tooting College of Commerce between 1956 and 1959 and a further training in Accountancy at Columbia University, New York, U. S. A. in 1981. He returned to Nigeria the very year he completed his studies at Balham and Tooting College of Commerce 1959 and was instantly employed as an accountant by CFAO. This was the beginning of a meritorious service to CFAO.

Career

Molade Okoya-Thomas studied at Princess School, Lagos, 1946; Balham and Tooting College of Commerce, London, 1956–1959; Columbia University, New York, US, 1981. He was appointed Director, Transcap Nigeria Limited; Director, Niger Motors Industries Limited; Chairman, Studio Press Nigeria Limited and as been the Chairman of CFAO Nigeria Limited^[14] since 1987.^[15]

He currently serves as Chairman of many organisations including CICA (Nigeria) Ltd., Transcap Nigeria Ltd., Oktom Investment Ltd., Itochu Nigeria Ltd., Chiyoda Nigeria Ltd. and Anchoria Investment & Securities Ltd. He also serves as Director of NFI Insurance Company Plc and GatewayBank Plc.^[16]

He has also contributed to the development of Lagos state by serving in numerous committees including; member, Lagos City Council between 1971–1975, member Lagos State Development and Property Corporation, Chairman Board of Trustees Glover Memorial Hall and Tom Jones Hall.^[17]

He is a recipient of the Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur, the highest national honour given by the French to a foreigner.

Sports and Philanthropy

Molade Okoya-Thomas was an active sportsman in his youth, he was a Joint All Nigeria Record Holder of 4 X 220 yards relay race while at Baptist Academy Lagos. He has been the sole sponsor of the annual Asoju Oba Table Tennis Championships for over four decades setting a record as the only Nigerian to have single-handedly and consistently sponsored a competition spanning over four decades.

As a philanthropist he has similarly served as vice-chairman, Lagos State Sports Council, President Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Chairman 3rd All-Africa Games Appeal Fund Committee, Chairman National Appeal Fund for Sports Development and chairman Sports Trust Fund. Molade Alexandria Okoya-Thomas built and donated a Modern Sports Hall for students and staff of the Lagos State University (LASU) in 2009.

He was also a prominent member of the fund raising committee for the construction of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere.The Commissioner for Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development, Prince Ademola Adeniji-Adele announced the state governments decision to celebrate Molade Alexandria Okoya-Thomas at the age of 75, taking into consideration his numerous contributions, with the naming of the Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium on 8 June 2010 and a State Dinner at the City Hall Lagos Island on the same day.

Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas is Dead

Lagos businessman, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, is dead. Aged 79, he held the traditional titles of the Asoju Oba of Lagos, Babasuwa of Ijebu-Remo and Odofin of Ife, was until his death the Chancellor of the Lagos State University and Chairman of CFAO Nigeria Limited.
 
He was a sports enthusiasts and sponsor of the popular annual Asoju Oba Table Tennis Championship.
Okoya-Thomas was born in Lagos on June 8, 1935 to late Hussam Okoya-Thomas (the first Baba Adinni of Furabay Mosque, Olowogbowo, Lagos and the first local staff of CFAO, who served the company for 52 years) and late Alhaja Suwebat Okoya-Thomas (née Gbajabiamila, Otun Iya Adinni of Idita Mosque).
He had his elementary education at Princess School, Lagos, between 1942 and 1946.
 
He subsequently proceeded to Baptist Academy for his high school education and left Baptist Academic in 1956 as the best graduating student.

5 Star*****Gunners/ Arsenal

Watch the Highlights

The win over Manchester City has certainly been Arsenals best team performance of the season. The team worked as a unit, conceded possession as part of an actual game plan but were clinical with their limited chances.The press as usual tried to paint the victory, giving reasons, excuses and some praising the team for the effort and the coaching staff for respecting their opponent with their tactics.

On this occasion, against Aston Villa it seams the team is really proving pundits wrong. It was certainly a better measure than the scoreline, which failed to reflect a Mesut Ozil strike wrongly ruled out for offside in the build-up and two more occasions when Arsenal were unlucky to hit the woodwork rather than add to their tally.
With Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil back in the mix, Arsenal's attack constantly stretched their back line.

All in all it was the type of performance Arsenal fans  wants to see at the Emirate against a lower opposition for. A proper old fashioned thrashing.
See the performance of the 5*****star Gunners. How the 5 star gunners destroyed the Villans

Players Ratings

Ospina – 7
He was solid today. He was rarely challenged but kept his concentration and his distribution was decent.

Bellerin – 8
A very good game by the young Spaniard. He was composed on the ball and was defensively solid. He took his goal very well as well with a cool side foot outside the box.

Mertesacker – 8
Composed performance by the captain. Never looked in trouble at all.

Koscielny – 7.5
Similar to Mertesacker but there were moments where he tried to dribble out of our own box when defending and was dispossessed by Villa.

Monreal – 8
Another quality performance by Nacho. He was defensively strong and added a lot to our offence with his overlap and passing.

Coquelin – 8
He was extremely solid in the middle. Won plenty of tackles and his passing was good enough to aid us on the counter attack.

Ramsey – 6
Lost the ball a lot for me, especially in the second half. He’s just come back from injury and is clearly lacking sharpness.

Walcott – 7
Although he scored a very nice goal, he didn’t get involved enough in the play for me. There were opportunities for him to really hurt Villa but he never made the right choice.

Cazorla – 8
His consistency since the beginning of December has been outstanding. He is just the perfect midfielder at the moment. He presses, he can turn extremely quickly, he can dribble, he can pass, he can score and so on.

Özil – 8.5 (MOTM)
He was brilliant today. His passing was superb and he hurt Villa constantly with his runs from the left. His assist for Giroud’s goal was class and he took his goal extremely well. It’s good to have him back.

Giroud – 7.5
Overall, it was a good striker performance. He scored early on (although he almost lost control of the ball) and he applied a lot of pressure to Villa’s back line. They tried to play a high line against him and failed.

Subs:
Rosicky – 7
He added a bit of zip and that allowed us to really hurt Villa. He turns so quickly which allows us to counter effectively.

Akpom – 6
Decent appearance for him. Won the penalty and did use his pace effectively on the counter. A lot of refinement needed but promising stuff.

Flamini – N/A
Came on late and didn’t really have enough to do for a rating.