Nigerian billionaire businessman and Chairman of First HoldCo Plc, Femi Otedola, has revealed that he shared a bunk bed with Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, throughout their boarding faculty years practically 5 a long time ago.
Otedola made the disclosure in a submit on his official X account on Monday, October 19, 2026, whereas recounting his longstanding friendship with Hamzat, who’s looking for to grow to be Lagos State governor in 2027.
The billionaire described Hamzat as a person of integrity, noting that their relationship dates again 49 years to their time collectively in boarding faculty.
His remarks adopted a personal dinner he hosted at his residence in honour of the deputy governor, which was attended by outstanding Nigerian businessmen, together with Aliko Dangote and Abdul Samad Rabiu.
The gathering introduced collectively a few of Nigeria’s wealthiest people as Hamzat pursues his ambition to succeed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Femi Otedola’s reflection
Otedola mirrored on his friendship with Hamzat, describing the deputy governor as a person whose character he had noticed over a number of a long time.
- “Yesterday, I hosted dinner in honour of @DrObafemiHamzat, the incoming Governor of Lagos State. A man of the highest integrity, with whom I shared a bunk bed at boarding school 49 years ago.”
- “My experience of his character over the years has been defined by his honesty, sincerity, fairness and strong moral principles.”
- Before changing into deputy governor, Hamzat served as Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology and later as Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure.
- On October 1, 2026, Nairametrics reported that luxury real estate developer 7-Fifteen Capital hosted Hamzat at a personal dinner in Ikoyi attended by roughly 150 enterprise executives, founders and buyers. The occasion centered on his imaginative and prescient for Lagos, funding alternatives and infrastructure growth.
(*49*)
Otedola additional praised Hamzat’s private qualities, attributing their longstanding relationship to the deputy governor’s character.
(*49*)
The billionaire’s description of Hamzat because the incoming governor additionally indicators his public assist for the deputy governor’s political ambition forward of the 2027 Lagos State governorship election.
However, Otedola didn’t disclose the identify of the boarding faculty they attended or present additional particulars about their experiences as schoolmates.
What it’s best to know
Hamzat has served as Lagos State Deputy Governor since May 29, 2019, beneath Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, whose second time period is anticipated to finish in 2027.
He emerged because the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in May 2026 and is looking for to succeed Sanwo-Olu within the forthcoming election.
(*49*)
In September 2026, Otedola additionally hosted a personal dinner with President Bola Tinubu in Paris, the place he praised the administration’s financial reforms and their influence on funding confidence, according to an earlier Nairametrics report.
