12/01/2019
VANITIES OF LIFE (CHIEF DEINDE ANTONIO FERNANDEZ. Aged. 79. (R.I.P)
He was born in Isale Eko, Lagos Island,into the Fernandez family that originated from Brazil and the first European migrant to Lagos. His mother was from Olumegbon family, also of Lagos Island. He attended Holy Cross primary school near Lagos City hall, C.M.S. Grammar school and St. Gregory college, Obalende, Lagos Island. Like most brilliant omo Eko of his generation, he traveled to the USA, for further studies. B.Sc.Columbia Univ. M.Sc. (Bus.Admin) New York State Univ. '72. With the help of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, he became the first black member of the New York City Cocoa Board.This signalled the beginning of an accomplished business career. The omo Eko Billionaire owns the world's biggest diamond and gold mines in Zaire, Central Africa and Turkey. He had been in diplomatic service since 1996. In 1982, he served as advisor to the Angolan Government on Economic matter. He held this position for two years until his appointment as Deputy Permanent Representative of Mozambique to the United Nations in 1984. He also represented Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Angola & other countries at various times. He was acclaimed to be one of the richest Africans in recent history. He ran an oil company called Petro Inett which obtained a 50% share with South African-based Energy Africa Limited in a deal with the state oil company for exploration rights in a 4,700 km2 area of Angola's coast in 1996. In 1992, he was appointed as Special Adviser to the President of Mozambique on International Economic Matters, a position he held for three years. He was formerly married to Aduke Fernandez, whom he divorced in July 2003 following a Ā£300m divorce suit in Scotland filled on July 1, 2003 by her counsel. Lord Brodie presided over the case. He was asked to pay her a lump sum of Ā£5m and an allowance of Ā£75,000 monthly for 3 years. She died in 2013.
He married Halima in 2003.
