- Joins OYO House Of Reps Race In ISEYIN
- What He Told City People Magazine
Popular Lagos nite club owner, Sina Peller who is the Chairman of Aquilla Group has gone into politics fully. And this is authoritative. Not only is he in politics, he plans to run for a House of Reps seat. He has officially declared his intention of contesting in the 2019 general election under the flagship of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
He disclosed that after deep reflection and extensive consultations he has come out formally to declare his intention to represent the Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Kajola, Iwajowa Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives come 2019.
“After a deep thought, reflection and extensive consultations with my people, I have decided to formally declare my intention to represent the Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Kajola, Iwajowa federal constituency at the house of representatives in 2019.
I appreciate the advise and concern from well-wishers and mentors who are worried that going into politics will be detrimental to my business interests which I have worked so hard to build over the last two decades but I think the time for social media and arm chair politics is over. We need to take our destiny into our own hands for the sake of Nigeria, for the sake of our children, and the less privileged in our society.
My focus in politics will be to ensure that institutions work and people can benefit from government services irrespective of class or social status.
I want to help create policies that will help diversify our economy with a renewed focus on tourism, manufacturing and youth empowerment.
I encourage all young people to follow my cue and take an active role in partisan politics. This is our time. The time is now.”
Recall that Shina Peller in times past has actively been involved in grassroots development rural capacity development, humanitarian services, and philanthropy especially in his constituency. For those who don’t know him that well lets reveal who this dashing big boy is. He is the owner of Quilox Niteclub in Lagos. He is a clean, suave, well dressed business man who oozes good taste and class. His over 5 year old club too reflects this. From the outside of his Victoria Island Club to the inside all you see reeks of class and elegance, so the two brands complement each other.
Many don’t know that this pencil-slim light-skinned handsome dude is also very brilliant. He knows a bit about so many things. He runs a big business empire. He owns a record label called Aquila Records. He is also into Oil & Gas.
Recently, City People spoke to with this son of late Prof. Peller, who in his lifetime was a Magician and a big entertainer. He confirmed that he is running for public office. He is running for Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Kajola, Iwajowa Federal Constituency at the House of Reps in Oyo State. Below are excerpts of the interview he granted City People months back.
How did you come up with the idea of Quilox?
Quilox is purposely built for the high end customers, people that actually have a desired value for Luxury Lifestyle & Class.
Where did the inspiration come from?
I was part of another club. Few years back, I started the nightclub business as a partnership business with a club called GROTTO that was when GROTTO was relaunched as Deluxe but within a couple of years the partnership got dissolved and at that time I wanted to do something bigger. So, I changed the strategy. I thought what is what doing is what doing well. So I goggled the 10 best night clubs in the world and I decided to visit all these clubs. And by the time I came back my perception about night clubs had already changed. Looking at Nigeria as a country that has good economic strength, being one of the fastest growing economics of the world and of course Lagos State being the commercial capital of the country with over 15 million people I noticed that there was no ultra place set up for the high end customers, I just felt like there was a chance, a vacuum, like a space in the industry and I decided to take the risk.
How many years is Quilox now?
Its over 5 years now.
How have you found the challenge of running Quilox?
It has not been easy because what Quilox actually offers is an experience. And when you sell experience to people, it means you have to keep innovating, you have to come up with new ideas. To maintain the standards of a club like Quilox is not cheap at all. Quilox doesn’t come cheap. Its not been easy.
And what is the success secrets?
Constantly going back to the drawing board from time to time and making sure we bring in new experience in other to make sure we service our customer.
What has kept you going?
Team work. Setting up a company means you have to deal with a group of people and if you have the right team, and the vision, your team will be behind actualising your dream about your club, about your idea. So for Quilox I have the vision. I have the idea but it is not something I can do by myself. So, I always give credit to my team.
Over the last 5 years, you have hosted a lot of big names in your club. How did you pull this off.
There are too many of them. Quilox brings a Luxury Lifestyle brand is home to a lot of celebrities. There is some thing that is significant about celebrities that is Luxury, Class and Style, which is what Quilox is all about. This has made Quilox to be home to a lot of celebrities.
Is attendance Strictly By Membership?
The club is opened to the general public, to the class of people that have desire for lifestyle luxury and class. We do offer membership. We have 3 classes of membership which varies from Gold to Platinum and Diamond membership.
Sina Peller is known to be a man of Style and Class. How did you cultivate this?
It is actually my way of life. Quilox is my brand and I need to live up to that brand. But it is actually my way of life.
I just like to be comfortable, I like to look good. I like class and style. Since I was young, I was brought up like that. My mum, one day, joked with me and my friend, she said when I was young I hardly even wear one cloth twice. Its something that I believe is part of me.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself? Where were you born? Where did you grow up?
I was born in Lagos into the family of Professor Moshood Abiola Peller and Lady Peller. I had my primary school in Lagos. I did my secondary school in Ibadan at Command Secondary School. I am a Moslem. I am a father. I am a husband and a hardworking person.
Is Quilox the only business you do?
No. I do other businesses. Quilox is not the youngest business of the group. Acquila Records is the youngest of the group. I have other businesses I have been doing beyond Quilox. We trade in the Oil & Gas industry. I am the Chairman of the Aquila Group which consists of Aquila Oil & Gas, Aquila Building and Projects, Aquila Global Resources Ltd. (a company that deals in dredging), and Aquila Records, I actually set it up in other to give opportunities to young talented Nigerians to actualise their dreams. And I have a few artistes signed on the label. Even my younger brother is signed on the label. I signed him purposely because he has got passion for music.
Its a business I decided to set up in other to give an opportunity to the young talented Africans so that they can be able to develop their talents and actually make their dreams come true.
How did you find yourself in hospitality business?
Over the years, I developed a passion for luxury lifestyle and entertainment which created a seed in me. I strongly believed it was a field I could be successful in and so I did my research and consulted with international specialists in the entertainment and nightlife industry. Don’t forget the fact that clubbing is not the only thing I do. I am into Oil & Gas, Building and Construction to mention a few. For Quilox, it was a dream project that I conceived out of an obvious need for a place with style, luxury and class for high end customers who value and desire such a social setting for relaxing and networking. So before I started it, I went to different countries of the world having a look at world class Clubs of the world which have a standard.
Your father was a known magician with a record, any future plans of going into his profession?
Every child of my Dad knows how to do magic. So, I have only decided not to take magic as a profession. I can say what I have done in the night club industry in Nigeria is magic. I can say I am doing some kind of magic in the entertainment industry. Magic is an art of entertainment and the two are directly linked.
Can you perform magic?
Yes and very well. Like I said, every child of my Dad knows how to do magic. We used to assist him on stage when he was on tour during our holidays. At present, I have a brother that does magic as a profession. His name is Zee and I am sure in a short while he would be able to replicate Daddy’s greatness in magic.
What memories do you have of your late father?
While growing up, I learnt from my late father that I should be God fearing, hard working and take life simple. I miss my Dad almost every day because he was my closest friend. Although there are some bad times that we had some issues.
Would you please describe who Shina Peller is?
(Smile). A God fearing and self motivated entrepreneur.
What does your wife do?
She is a Chartered Accountant.
What was growing up like?
Sweet memories and one good family. A strong bond between all my siblings and this we still maintain till date.
Which schools did you attend?
I attended Command Secondary School, Ibadan, in the 80s and I studied chemical engineering at Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomosho. I also have my MBA. I went into business quite early in life and that is because growing up, I wanted to be an entrepreneur.
How did you get the name Olowo-idan?
Olowo-idan means magic hand. I can say I got that from my dad being a magician and may be as a compliment to success.
What is Style to you?
Comfortability and Simplicity. I have certain foreign designers I am crazy about especially with shirts. I wear the big names but that does not mean I don’t patronise Nigerian designers. They handle most of my traditional wear.
For story submissions and inquiries, please email us at citypeopleonline96@gmail.com