It was loud in Lagos on Saturday, 7th of August when Ex-Ogun Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and his wife, Yeye Olufunke Daniel hosted a superlative wedding for their daughter, Kehinde. It was an event that attracted the creme de la creme of society. The bride Kehinde is married into the Williams family. Her husband is Lagos big boy, Debola Williams who is the son of Mr and Mrs Williams, a popular and wealthy family from Ijebu Ode. City People Society Editor, TAYO OYEDIJI brings you gist from the 3-in-1 event.
MEET THE DANIEL AND THE WILLIAMS- THE COUPLE’S PARENTS
It was indeed a day of joy for the Daniels and Willams families. The bride’s parents, Otunba Gbenga and Yeye Olufunke Daniel and the groom’s parent, Mr and Mrs Williams were honoured with a large presence of the crowd as their children were joined in holy matrimony.
BALMORAL CONVENTION CENTRE HOSTED THE EVENT
One of the leading event centres in Lagos, Balmoral Convention Centre was where the event took place. All of the 3 event centres inside the Federal Palace Hotel was filled to the brim.
VP OSINBAJO HONOURED OTUNBA GBENGA DANIEL
The Presidency threw its weight behind Otunba Gbenga Daniel. VP Yemi Osinbajo was at the church service. He was also at the wedding to represent President Muhammadu Buhari. He was decked in a white Outfit with his signature Blackcap.
ITS Was 3 IN 1 EVENT
The wedding was a 3-in-1 event and all the 3 events were attended by many dignitaries. There was a short church service followed by an engagement. Guests moved to the bigger hall where up to 3000 guests were entertained in a classy reception. Latter Rain Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare presided over the service.
OVER 8 GOVERNORS WERE PRESENT
What do you expect from an event like this? Of course, it was an ex-governors party, no wonder, many of his political friends who are governors honoured him. Present were Lagos Gov. Babajide Sanwoolu, Ex Gov. Of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transport, Ondo Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, Ekiti Gov, Kayode Fayemi, Jigawa Governor, Mohammadu Abubarka, Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Atiku, Former Katsina Governor, Ibrahim Shema, Ex-Gov Peter Obi,.Ogun Governor, Dapo Abiodun and many others.
FORMER PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND WIFE, PATIENCE SPOTTED
It was with a loud ovation when the former president of Nigeria, H.E Dr Ebele Goodluck Jonathan and wife, Patience Jonathan made their way into the hall. They were highly celebrated and he was also on hand exchanging pleasantries with people.
OVER 3000 GUESTS WORE THE ASO EBI
Almost all the guests were decked in the Aso Ebi picked for the party. There are 4 aso ebis picked for the party. It was supplied by the bride’s mother, Yeye Olufunke Daniel and it looked beautiful on all the women.
EGBE BOBAKEYE SHONE LIKE STARS
Call it one of the most popular Age-grade groups in Ijebuland and you won’t be wrong. Call it one of the most visible of all the age-grade groups and you will be right. They were all at the wedding to honour one of their own, Otunba Gbenga Daniel. They were seen in the Tan colour Aso Ebi matched with a Gold damask cap. They shone like stars because they were everywhere.
Egbe Bobakeye (Okunrin) Akile Ijebu is an age-grade group that has been transformed into a formidable institution that is well run by its members like a social club with its own Constitution, Aims and Objective and Structure. Let’s quickly tell you more about Egbe Bobakeye Akile Ijebu (Okunrin). It is one of the over 20 age groups that exist in Ijebuland called Regberegbes. It is a traditional Ijebu age-grade group of male children born between 1st January 1956 to 31st December 1958.
IT WAS A PAPARAZZI WEDDING
Currently rocking the social media till now was the wedding of Lagos big boy, Adebola Williams and his wife Kehinde Daniels. The duo who made their love affair public has welcomed massive congratulatory messages from different quarters with their colourful wedding. While the couple were both excited that they got married, many showbiz personalities honoured them by shutting down the venue.
The wedding was a combination of society and Showbiz which was very classy owing to the personality of the couple’s parents especially the bride’s family as ex-Gov Gbenga Daniel is known to always throw classy parties. Let us quickly remind you that a few months back, when his son got married, he practically shut down Island with arrays of dignitaries who attended. His 60th birthday party is still also among the parties that shook Abeokuta in Ogun State to its roots.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE GROOM AND BRIDE
This wedding was not an exception as the Daniels are the families receiving the groom. Let’s take you into the world of Debola Williams and Kenny. Lagos experienced a mammoth crowd of important personalities like governors, celebrity women, senators, captains of industry and many others.
The latest couple of the day was Adebola and Kenny and they were the cynosure of all eyes. Debola and Kenny have been together for over 6 years before tying the knot. The 34-year-old groom, Adebola Williams is a Media Entrepreneur, Journalist, Political Activist and Motivational Speaker. He is the Group CEO of Red. He co-founded and runs Red Africa, Africa’s largest portfolio of youth media brands which include Red Media Africa, Statecraft Inc, The Future Awards Africa and YNaija.com. His career in media and television began at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) with advocacy for youth and eventually good governance. Described as “the man with the golden touch” by Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, he was profiled by Forbes as the man who helped elect a trifecta of presidents in Africa.
Born to a wealthy family, he started working as an assistant with a counsellor and a psychologist as a freelancer without any relevant qualification by which time he had chalked up 3 years of worthy experience with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).”
He co-founded EnoughisEnough (EiE), a Nigerian civic participation platform and a voice for young people in politics. He resigned as the board chairman to steer the rebranding of the current Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, optimising media engagement to change longstanding perceptions and sway the elections. A consequent success in Ghana helped the opposition candidate win the presidency on his third attempt and Williams currently consults in other regions in the continent.
His 2017 cross-continental speaking tour included several conferences at ivy league schools Harvard, Columbia, and Oxford. He gave a speech at the 2017 Obama summit in Chicago.
His work in corporate marketing and communication in different sectors from oil and gas to banking, technology to fast-moving consumer goods has earned him and Red Media Africa several awards on the continent from SABRE, Lapriga, Marketing Edge, Young Cannes and the C4F Marketing awards in Davos. He writes a monthly column on brands and communication in The Guardian (Nigeria). Williams took part in initialling a massive collaboration art piece Remember To Rise. Kenny is the daughter of Ex-Governor Gbenga Daniel and his wife, Funke’s Daniel. She is the only daughter amongst 5 siblings. She attended Christ the Cornerstone International School, Ikeja then also attended Atlantic hall for a year, She graduated from the University of Tottenham and has concluded her ACCA.
-TAYO OYEDIJI
