Laolu Martins, co-owner of Bukka Hut, a leading fast-food chain in Nigeria, has passed on, his family announced on Wednesday, September 28.
The bereaved family said in a statement that he died on Tuesday evening. The cause of death was not stated although reports allege Martins took his life. The statement said:
“We hereby solicit the support and understanding of everyone as the family grieves the loss of our beloved Laolu in our privacy.
“Our kind request is that you support the family – wife, children, aged mother and father and his siblings with your prayers at this difficult time. Further announcements will be made by the family,”
Martins, who began his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers in 1999, had over 21 years of experience in investment banking, corporate banking, stockbroking, asset management, and pension fund management.
He joined Investment Banking and Trust Company Plc, now Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, where he served in the financial control and trade finance/foreign operations units of the bank before being seconded to Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Ltd where at various times he was financial controller, head asset management and lastly head stockbroking.
He later resigned in 2005 to join Shell Nig. CPFA Ltd, the fund manager of the Shell Companies in Nigeria Pensions Scheme where he was head of investments up till 2008 when he resigned to join Nigeria International Security Limited, NISL, an independent financial services firm specialising in investments within the Nigerian space.