Olakunle Churchill

Olakunle Oladunni Churchill, is a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist.^[1][2][3] He is the founder of Churchill Group and Churchill Foundation.^[4][5][6]

Olakunle Churchill
Born	Olakunle Oladunni Churchill Ondo State, Nigeria
Occupations	Businessman computer engineer philanthropist
Spouses	Tonto Dikeh ​ ​ (m. 2015; div. 2017)​ Rosaline Meurer ​ ​ (m. 2019)​
Children	2

Early life and education

Churchill was born and raised in Ondo State. He started his education at Canon Adeyemi Nursery and Primary School, Ondo State, before moving to Apata Memorial High School, Isolo for his junior secondary education. He then went to Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Abeokuta for his senior secondary education.^[7][8]

Career

While growing up, Churchill had the option of enrolling into Nigerian Defence Academy to become a military officer, but changed his mind to study information technology and became a computer engineer.^[7][8]

Churchill Group

In 2005, Churchill started his career in Ghana at 23 years with real estate business and ICT company, founding the Big Churchill. In 2010, the Churchill Group succeeded his former company, launching in agriculture, mining, engineering and entertainment. Later in his career, he started Churchill Foundation as a charity organization with funding generated from 10 percent of all his company revenues.^[7][8][9]

Philanthropy

Churchill Foundation has donated to orphanages, the poor and given scholarships to students in Nigeria.^[10][11][12] In 2017, the foundation provided funds and relief materials to the victims of Kada river massacre in Kagoro, Kaduna State.^[13] A film, Kada River was produced by the foundation and based on the true life story of the massacre.^[14] The film premiered in September 2017 at the Nollywood Travel Film Festival in Toronto, Canada.^[15][16] The foundation donated an ambulance, 1,000 fire extinguishers and 1,000 fire blankets to the Nigeria Federal Fire Service.^[17] The foundation gave three plots of land in Abuja, Nigeria to the three finalists from the Big Brother Naija Season 2.^[18] In March 2019, the foundation started "Say No To Poverty" project in Ondo State, to empower over 1000 youths from each 36 states of Nigeria.^[19]

Awards and recognition

In 2015, Churchill received a Nigeria Goodwill Ambassador Award.^[20] In 2016, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree in communication sociale from ISCG University, Cotonou.^[21][22] He appeared on the cover for the 11th edition of La Mode Magazine success builder issue and received a recognition award from the same magazine at the Green October Event 2016 in recognition of "his significant humanitarian contribution to humanity".^[23][24][25] In 2017, he received a chieftaincy title from the Kagoro community,^[26][27] and from the council of chiefs of Kamara community, Liberia.^[28][29] He received the African Youth and Governance Champion Award for his "immense contributions to entrepreneurship, agriculture and ICT" and a Humanitarian Award at the AfroGlobal Television Excellence Awards.^[30][31] He received the Special Recognition Award at the 2017 City People Movie Awards and Man of the Year at the 2017 Scream Awards.^[32][33] In 2018, he received a chieftaincy title as Ezinwa Chukwu Mere Eze by Nike Community, Enugu East, Enugu State.^[34][35] In 2019, he appeared on the cover for the 12th edition of Attention Magazine impact impression.^[36]

Marriage to Tonto Dikeh

Churchill and Tonto Dikeh met in 2014 at Escape Nightclub in Lagos during the birthday party of Churchill's brother.^[37] Dikeh became pregnant six months after they started dating and they married on 29 August 2015 at her hometown Rumukani, Rumukwuta, Rivers State.^[38][39] In 2016, they had a son together and divorced the following year in July 2017.^[40][41]

Personal life

Churchill was raised by his grandmother in Ondo State.^[7] He is the adopted son of former Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo.^[42][43][44]

References

1. Nwafor, Polycarp (2 July 2020). "ONDO ELECTIONS: I'm not interested in politics – Olakunle Churchill". Vanguard Newspaper. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
2. "How Marriage 'Ghost' Continues to Hunt Olakunle Churchill". This Day Newspaper. 8 March 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
3. Akintola, Lukmon (6 January 2018). "The New Faces Of Wealth (1)". The Independent Newspaper. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
4. Okanlawon, Taiwo (28 July 2020). "Southern Kaduna: Olakunle Churchill to visit Displaced persons again". P.M. News. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
5. Ige, Tofarati (16 February 2020). "Why I support entertainers – Olakunle Churchill". The Punch Newspaper. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
6. "Big Church foundation unveils Ali Nuhu, three falcons as social change ambassadors". Vanguard Newspaper. 23 August 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
7. Kumolu, Charles; Onuoha, Chris (9 August 2017). "This is my true story — Churchill Oladuni". Vanguard Newspaper. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
8. Nnah, Mary (24 January 2020). "Churchill Olakunle: Our Focus is to Entice Nigerians with e-Agriculture". This Day Newspaper. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
9. Bashir, Liman (17 August 2018). "Big Church unveils Ali Nuhu as ambassador". Daily Trust Newspaper. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
10. "Tonto Dikeh's Husband "Olakunle Churchill" Visits His Maternal Home For Charity Projects (Photos)". Naijaloaded. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
11. Onuoha, Chris (28 February 2017). "Big Church Foundation flags off empowerment programme in Ondo". Vanguard Newspaper. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
12. Amodeni, Adunni. "Tonto Dikeh's husband visited the orphanage (photos)". Legit.ng. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
13. "Digging into Olakunle Churchill's heart of gold". New Telegraph. 23 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
14. "Big Church Foundation unveils Kada River". The Nation Newspaper. 7 May 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
15. "Alter Ego, Kada River… Movies to be screened at Nollywood Travel Film Festival". TheCable Lifestyle. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
16. Husseini, Shaibu (16 September 2017). "A huge world premiere for Toka Mcbaror's 'Kada River' in Toronto". The Guardian Newspaper. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
17. "[PHOTOS] Celebrities in firefighter gear as Churchill donates ambulance, equipment to Fire Service". The Punch Newspaper. 26 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
18. Augoye, Jayne (3 March 2020). "BBNaija: Olakunle Churchill gives TBoss, Bisola, Efe plot of land each". Premium Times. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
19. Bolatito, Adebola (23 March 2019). "Olakunle Churchill And His Hunger Project". The Independent Newspaper. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
20. Bodunrin, Sola. "Tonto Dikeh's Husband Bags International Award". Legit.ng. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
21. "Tonto Dikeh's Husband, Olakunle Churchill honoured with Doctorate degree". P.M. News. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
22. "Actress' husband bags honorary degree from ISCG University". Pulse NG. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
23. "Olakunle Churchill covers La Mode Magazine's 11th Edition". GhanaWeb. 5 September 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
24. "Dr. Olakunle Churchill Covers La Mode Magazine's Success Builder Issue". BellaNaija. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
25. "All the Photos from LaMode Magazine's "Green October" Event with Chika Ike, Belinda Effah, Emmanuel Ikubese, Tomi Odunsi & More". BellaNaija. 12 October 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
26. "Royal cabinet set to honor Churchill with chieftaincy title". Daily Times Newspaper. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
27. Okogba, Emmanuel (28 April 2017). "Kagoro community, Kaduna fetes Big Church Foundation". Vanguard Newspaper. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
28. "OLAKUNLE CHURCHILL SPREADS COAST". This Day Newspaper. 19 August 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
29. Moroti, Olatujoye (7 August 2017). "Olakunle Churchill Speaks At Liberia Peace Festival". Osun Defender. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
30. "African youth honours Churchill". Daily Trust Newspaper. 14 August 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
31. Abraham, Anthony Ada (4 November 2017). . Leadership Newspaper. Archived from the original on 4 November 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
32. Daniji, Emmanuel (18 October 2017). "FULL LIST OF WINNERS AT THE 2017 CITY PEOPLE MOVIE AWARDS". City People Entertainment Awards. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
33. "Olakunle Churchill Bags Man of the Year Award". The Herald Newspaper. 22 December 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
34. Ojo, Temitope (19 April 2018). "Actress, Tonto Dikeh's ex-husband, Churchill Oladunni gets conferred with chieftaincy title". Vanguard Allure Magazine. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
35. Okonofua, Odion (18 April 2018). "Tonto Dikeh Actress' ex-husband, Churchill Oladunni conferred with chieftaincy title". Punch NG. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
36. Onuoha, Chris (30 March 2019). "Churchill, Ebele Iyiegbu, Dangote, Elumelu others grace latest edition of 'Attention Magazine'". Vanguard Newspaper. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
37. "6 men can't hold Tonto down when on drugs, estrange husband opens up". P.M. News. 19 March 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
38. "I Am Done With Tonto Dikeh- Estranged Husband". P.M. News. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
39. Njoku, Benjamin; Agbana, Rotimi; ABEREOJE, Tolulope (4 May 2019). "CRASHED MARRIAGE: Tonto Dikeh's unending marital war". Vanguard Newspaper. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
40. Augoye, Jayne (27 June 2017). "It's over! Tonto Dikeh's family returns bride price to estranged husband". Premium Times. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
41. Augoye, Jayne (16 February 2020). "Churchill sues Tonto Dikeh, demands N500 million". Premium Times. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
42. Sotubo, Monjola (21 August 2015). "The real truth about Tonto Dikeh's 'husband'". Pulse NG. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
43. "Ex-lovebirds, Olakunle Churchill, Tonto Dikeh's beef gets messier". The Sun Newspaper. 22 February 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
44. "My marriage to Churchill, Obasanjo's nephew a sham – Tonto Dikeh". Vanguard Newspaper. 24 February 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2020.