Hearty cheers to Demola Somorin @ 80

Reverend Demola Somorin recently celebrated his 80th birthday with pomp and pageantry. Family members and friends poured encomiums on the distinguished clergyman and octogenarian.

He was born on July 8, 1942 into the family of the late Chief Adolphus Olayinka Somorin (the Odofin of Iperu) and Mrs. Victoria Olarenwaju Somorin of Lagos State. He had his primary education at St. Peter’s School, Faji, Ajele and completed in December 1955. He attended Hussey College, Warri from 1956 to 1960 and Mayflower College, Ikenne, Ogun State in 1960, where he completed his secondary education with distinction.

He worked at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Lagos from 1961 to 1963. While he was working at the Ministry of Justice, he studied for the examinations of the Association of International Accountants and passed the Intermediate Examinations before proceedings to United Kingdom (UK) for further studies in July 1963.

In 1964, he passed the final examinations of the Association of International Accountants and was about to return to Nigeria when he had the inspiration to enlist for the Association of Certified Accountants to begin a professional career in Accountancy.

He started his professional career in U.K with Maurice Sherman & Co. London Firm of Chartered Accountants in United Kingdom between 1964 and 1965. He later joined the Croydon firm of Chartered Accountants – Lord Foster & Co. and worked with them till August 1969.

Somorin attended sandwich courses at Oxford University for the examinations of the Association of Certified Accountants. He qualified Chartered and Certified Accountant in June 1969, and was one of the oldest members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

In September 1969, he joined the U.K headquarters of the International firm of Peat Marwick & Co. (now KPMG) where he worked until July 1970, when he was transferred to the Nigerian office in Lagos.

He served in several committees of the institute. He was the Chairman of ICAN, Lagos District for many years. He worked with the firm till June 1974. In July 1974, he joined a British Company- Holman Brothers Limited at Burma Road. In the company, he served as the first Nigerian to occupy the post of Company Secretary/ Chief Accountant, a position he retained until September 1976, when he went into full time practice as a Chartered Accountant.

In 1979, he joined the International firm of DFK International, a professional association of accounting firms ranked as the 15th largest group of Independent Accountants in the world. He has attended several partners meetings of the DFK group in Canada, Israel, and Nice (South of France). Having gained a lot of professional and commercial experiences, locally and internationally, he set up a first-class firm of Chartered Accountants in 1976, which specialises in Audit and Investigation, Taxation, Systems Review and Management Consultancy together with his International Associates.

Somorin was appointed as a Director of Premier paints in 1995 and he is the Chairman of Lloyds Property And Investment Co. Ltd. (owners of Damilola Plaza in FESTAC Town). . In August 1984, he was appointed as a member of the Plateau State Judicial Commission of Enquiry into major Contract Awards between 1979 to 1983 (under Justice Dan Azinge).

He was selected in October 1988 by the Presidency, as a member of the Technical Committee on privatization and commercialisation (TCPC) sub-committee on non-Water Assets of the River Basin Development Authorities.

In April 1989, he was selected by the Presidency as the financial Adviser to the National Provident fund for the partial CommercialiSation of the fund.

The Presidency assigned him as the chairman of the sub-committee on the Disposal of non-Water Assets of River Basin Development Authorities in June 1989-1991.

He was appointed by the Federal Ministry of Finance as a member of the Lagos VAT tribunal in June 2000. Somorin is a member of Ikoyi Club, Island Club, and Apapa Club. He enjoys playing squash at Ikoyi Club as well as swimming. He was the first Nigerian treasurer of Ikoyi Club in 1982.

He is the Shepherd of Celestial Church of Christ FESTAC Cathedral; and has been the Shepherd-in- Charge of the Church since 1978. He became involved with Celestial Church in 1953. He is married and blessed with many children and grandchildren.

Somorin has served the Celestial Church of Christ in several capacities and was the Treasurer for the Imeko Cathedral Building Committee for several years. He is a devout and God-fearing Christian.

Somorin served two terms as the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and also the Chairman for over seven years of the Amuwo Odofin Chapter until November 2019.

He was also the Chairman of the Fellowship of Christian Ministers (FESTAC Town auxiliary) for several years. He was appointed as the Director of Premier Paints in 1995 and also the Chairman of Lloyds Property Investment Co. Limited.
He was appointed by the Presidency as the Financial Adviser to the National Provident Fund for the Partial Commercialisation of the Fund in April 1989. He is married and blessed with many children and grandchildren.