Olanrewaju Shittu, chairman of Lanre Shittu Group is dead.
He was aged 65.
His family announced the death in a statement on Monday.
“With deep sense of shock but gratitude to Almighty Allah for a life well spent, we announce the death of an industrious son, husband, father, grandfather, brother & friend, Alhaji Abdul-Razaq Olarenwaju Shittu. Aged 65,” the statement said.
Born on January 8, 1958, the auto magnate was popular as the founder of Lanre Shittu Motors among other businesses.
“Until his death on Sunday night, he was the Chairman of Lanre Shittu Motors, one of Nigeria’s leading automobile dealers.
“The number one dealer for Mack Trucks in Africa and the sole franchisee for Mack in Nigeria. The only dealer for Sany Heavy Duty Equipment and Yutong Buses in Nigeria and also an accredited dealer of KIA, NISSAN, Jinbei Buses, to name a few,” the statement continued.
Mr Shittu will be buried on Tuesday at the Vaults & Gardens Cemetery in Ikoyi, Lagos.
An eighth days Fidau (prayer) will be on Tuesday, March at a yet-announced venue.
“He is survived by an aged mother, wives, children, grandchildren, in-laws and friends.
“May his sweet and gentle soul rest in peace and may God give his family strength to bear the irreparable loss,” the statement concluded.
Bon the January 8, 1958 into the illustrious family of the Late Alhaji K.A. Shittu and Alhaja Mojisola Shittu of lkorodu, Lagos State, he held a superlative 65th birthday in January 2023.
Alhaji Lanre Shittu was the first born of his mother and the fourth born of his late father in a large family.
The young Lanre Shittu had his education both in Lagos and Ogun States and got his professional certification in South Africa in auto mobile marketing and workshop administration.
He indeed chose the path of business and started at a very young age with his late Dad and unfulfilled left to start his own business which initially entailed travelling abroad to buy ltalian shoes and gold jewelry for sale in Nigeria.
Yet unsatisfied, Lanre left this line for poultry business and subsequently moved again to auto transportation which later birthed the auto mobile business for which he is renowned today.
It is worth mentioning that the auto business rose like the sphinx out of the ashes of the failed transportation business.
Lanre Shittu started his full scale auto mobile business in the year 1981, precisely on March 31st