BOLA SHAGAYA FINDS A NEW LOVE

Prominent business magnate and celebrity lady, Hajia Bola Muinat Shagaya has found a new love. It is politics and she is determined to make a success out of her new venture, the same way she has succeeded in business. Considering the fact that her life has been characterised by lofty accomplishment, her new involvement in politics carries much significance for Shagaya. This, she expressly displayed during President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to Kwara State. Shagaya was the chief hostess of the event and she read the welcome address during the ceremony. Already, there are whispers that she is being considered for a ministerial post in the coming months. But sources close to her insist that she is not too keen on becoming a minister.

Bola Shagaya’s life itself is a milestone, in the sense that at the age of 55, she has achieved so much by dint of hard-work, dedication, determination and a belief in herself. She is arguably, one of the most formidable businesswomen in Nigeria. Her tentacle spreads across oil and gas, photography, banking and real estate.

Born into the prominent Salman’s family of Ilorin, Kwara State, Shagaya attended Queens’ School, Ilorin and Ahmadu Bello University, from where she bagged a degree in Economics. Later, she bagged a second degree in Economics and Accountancy from Armstrong College, California. Consumed by a quest to enhance her knowledge of Management Technology, Shagaya also attended Harvard Business School, United States. She has participated in many local and international seminars and workshop 

Before she ventured into the business world in 1983, Shagaya had worked at the Audit Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria. She started by importing and distributing photographic materials such as roll papers, films and chemicals and operated under the trading name, Bolmus International Nigeria Limited. Shagaya introduced the Konica brand into the Nigeria market and other countries in West Africa.

A leading importer of base oil into the country, Shagaya is the Managing Director of Practoil Nigeria Limited. This is set up to meet the needs of some of the local lubricant blending plants in the country. Presently, Practoil has structured a lubricating plant in Lagos, which is expected to produce multi-grade oils and lubricants. Shagaya, who is one of the directors in Unity Bank, also looms large within the real estate sector.