By Ayodele Quadri, Lagos Times Correspondent
YENAGOA, NIGERIA — Former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan has revealed her role in mentoring the Group President of Azikel Group, Dr. Azibapu Eruani, stating that she guided him from a “small boy” into one of Nigeria’s prominent business figures.
Speaking during an inspection tour of the Azikel Refinery facilities at Obunagha community in Yenagoa LGA, Bayelsa State, Patience Jonathan recounted how she deliberately mentored Eruani—who previously served as a medical adviser and Health Commissioner in Bayelsa State under the Goodluck Jonathan administration—by introducing him to business moguls, including Aliko Dangote and Aminu Dantata.
Key Operational Highlights
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Mentorship & Social Network: The former First Lady stated that despite Eruani being the youngest in their social circle, she pushed him to rub shoulders with top industrialists and adopt their business mindset.
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Reversal of Expectations on Refinery Licensing: She revealed that during the presidency of her husband, Goodluck Jonathan, Eruani was not granted a refinery license. However, under the subsequent Buhari administration, he eventually secured approvals for three refineries.
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State & Regional Commendations: The inspection tour brought together key Niger Delta leaders, including Bayelsa State Deputy Governor Dr. Peter Akpe (representing Governor Douye Diri) and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Managing Director Chief Samuel Ogbuku, who lauded the progress of the multi-billion naira modular hydro-skimming refinery.
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Milestone Progress: The delegation inspected the newly delivered Crude Distillation Unit (CDU)—a critical component required to bring the 25,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) refinery project closer to operational readiness.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ AZIKEL REFINERY INSPECTION & MENTORSHIP MATRIX │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ • Speaker : Dame Patience Jonathan (Former First Lady) │
│ • Subject : Dr. Azibapu Eruani (Group President, Azikel) │
│ • Facility Inspected : Azikel Refinery (Obunagha, Bayelsa State) │
│ │
│ • Mentorship Detail : Introduced Eruani to Aliko Dangote & Dantata, │
│ pushing him to build big industrial ambitions │
│ │
│ • Project Scope : 25,000 bpd Hydro-Skimming Modular Refinery │
│ • Crucial Milestone : Arrival & Setup of Crude Distillation Unit (CDU)│
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘“I Made Sure He Followed the Dangotes”
“He’s a boy that I brought up. We are always together… Although he’s the little one among us when we are friends — Dangote, Seyi, Dantata, Eruani — among us, he’s the smallest. But I made sure he followed the Dangotes, he followed Dantata. Because I’m a woman in their midst, I made sure I told this small boy, ‘Go and follow them, and stop the grammar.’” — Dame Patience Jonathan, Former First Lady of Nigeria
“During the Buhari administration, he and others came to me and told me they were going to apply for a refinery. I told him, ‘Eruani, your brother, the President, did not give you a refinery. Is it the APC government that will give you one?’ I prayed it would happen. But later, they came back and told me they had been given three refineries.” — Dame Patience Jonathan
