Chief Kenny Martins is an accomplished politician and a businessman who runs a chain of companies. He is well known as a politician who has been actively involved in the politics of Nigeria. He has been involved in the formation of many political parties.
The big news is that Chief Kenny Martins was honoured last week in Lagos by City People Magazine. He born in Lagos on 15th January 1956 to the family of the late Pastor and Mrs. J.O. Martins. He had his secondary school education at the famous Comprehensive High school, Aiyetoro in Ogun State.
After his Secondary School, he proceeded to the United States of America for further studies. On his return to Nigeria, he joined his father’s Printing Press in Mushin Lagos as the Manager. Later he was posted to the Premier High School Yaba, also owned by his father, to work as the school Administrator. The school is now known as Jibowu High School, Yaba.
After the long tutelage in the family business, Chief Kenny Martins established his own chain of businesses including Motor Vehicles distributorship, Refined Petroleum Products Shipping and Marketing. His company Paflok Marine Services Limited used three vessels to carry refined products for NNPC from the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries to Lagos and other destinations around the world in the early 1990s.
During the transition program of the Gen. Sani Abacha administration, Chief Kenny Martins along with others established one of the recognised five political parties by the name of National Centre Party of Nigeria (NCPN) of which he was elected as the National Secretary.
Also, during the transition programme of Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, Chief Kenny Martins and other Nigerians established another Political Party by the name, National Democratic Party (NDP) of which he was elected as the National Publicity Secretary.
As a result of his concern for the problem of security and Police reform in Nigeria, Chief Kenny Martins and others established the Police Equipment Foundation of which he was, appointed the National Coordinator. The Foundation raised billions of naira, both locally and internationally, for the equipping of the Police and other security organisations in the country.
The foundation purchased and donated over 1,000 units of operational vehicles to the police and other Security Agencies as well as purchased and donated 54 Housing units in Abuja to the Police. It also purchased and donated 1,500 body armours and ballistic helmets to the police, to mention but a few.
Chief Kenny Martins is a member of the Board of Directors of over 20 reputable companies and was until 2008, a member of the Board of NICON Plc.
He has received numerous awards from many organisations.
He is married to his childhood friend Mrs. Abimbola Martins. Their marriage is blessed with five children, men and women, who are all married. Chief Martins is also blessed with 10 grandchildren and still counting.
Chief Martins is a keen sportsman and a member of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club and Lagos Island club among other associations too numerous to mention.
During the 1993 Presidential Election, Chief Kenny Martins worked very closely with the late Chief MKO Abiola as one of his closest strategic advisers. He also played similar roles for His Excellency Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, late President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua and President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan during their Presidential campaigns.
In spite of his closeness to the successive Presidents of Nigeria, including the current incumbent, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari, he has concentrated only on his business and has not asked for any Ministerial or Board appointment. He regards his contributions in government as a Patriotic duty and not a means for self-aggrandisement.
How do you relax?
I use to play tennis though I don’t play much it like before, for me I do a lot of mission work both home and abroad, I love reading, I’m more relaxed when am reading, I’m always with 1 book.
