Respected Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, Olorogun Oscar Ibru, is dead. He was aged 67. The scion of the Ibru dynasty and the chairman of the Ibru Organisation died after a brief illness on Wednesday, September 24, 2025.
Born on August 11, 1958, Ibru was the eldest son of the late industrialist, Michael Ibru, and one of the leading figures in Nigeria’s corporate and philanthropic spheres.
Over the years, he played a pivotal role in expanding the reach of the Ibru Organisation across key sectors, including shipping, agriculture, aviation, oil and gas, and real estate.
A graduate of the London School of Economics, Ibru established himself as a prominent businessman, blending the legacy of the Ibru name with his corporate and social initiatives. He was also renowned for his patronage of the arts and philanthropy, particularly in the education and healthcare sectors.
Oscar Ibru is survived by his wife, children, and extended family. Reacting to the death, the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, expressed deep sorrow.
Oborevwori, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ekpen Ahon, in Asaba, commiserated with the Ibru family of Agbarha-Otor, the people of Delta State, and the Urhobo nation on the demise of the respected industrialist.
He said Olorogun Ibru, the scion of the Michael Ibru dynasty, lived a life of service, industry, and philanthropy, adding that his immense contributions to commerce, hospitality, and social development would remain indelible.
He recalled that Oscar Ibru, through the Ibru Organisation, helped to build strong economic institutions, provided employment opportunities for thousands, and supported community development across Delta State and Nigeria.
In his reaction, the Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu, wrote: “News has just reached me in the skies that one of Nigeria’s most recognizable businessmen, Olorungun Oscar Ibru, has passed on. He was an extremely friendly gentleman, and a socialite per excellence, who was loved so passionately by families and friends… He was the son of the business Titan, Olorogun Michael Ibru. Rest in peace, dear Brother.”
