Antonio Oladeinde Fernandez

Chief Antonio Oladeinde Fernandez was born on August 12th, 1929 in Lagos, Nigeria into the Fernandez family that originated from Cuba and the first European migrant to Lagos. He was a bureaucrat, business magnate and diplomat.

Antonio Oladeinde Fernandez Age

Antonio Oladeinde Fernandez would have been 94 years old, if he were alive today. May his soul rest in peace.

Antonio Oladeinde Fernandez Early Life

Although his parents, Mr. Canut Akinwale Fernandez and Mrs. Julia Fernandez were of sufficient means by the standards of those days, Deinde was determined early in life to grow beyond the shadows of his parents.

Deinde’s formal education began at the Holy Cross School, Lagos. Thereafter, he attended CMS Grammar School and St. Gregory’s College, both in Lagos. He, later, proceeded to the United Kingdom and at a tender age in 1954. He was employed as a document officer with the United Nations (UN) in New York. He was at the Brooklyn College and St. John’s University before rounding it up at the Columbia University Graduate School of Business, where he graduated in 1972. He also qualified as a stock-broker in England.

Antonio Oladeinde Fernandez Career

Fernandez became a millionaire at the age of 35, almost 54 years ago. Indeed, way back in the 1960s, he was mentioned in the Time Magazine as one of the wealthiest blacks in America. With six state-of-the-art private jets, a yacht and a private Island of a home in New York among many homes around the world, it is no exaggeration to describe Fernandez, as perhaps one of the wealthiest Nigerians. And he has always been proud of the fact that the seed of his enormous wealth was actually planted here at home in 1956 when he used to purchase Columbite Ore and Gelena Lead Ore from the then Prince Oyewunmi Ajagungbade, the present Soun of Ogbomoso.

In 1982, Chief Oladeinde served as advisor to the Angolan Government on Economic matter. He held this position for two years until his appointment as Deputy Permanent Representative of Mozambique to the United Nations in 1984. He was the Chief Executive Officer of an oil company called Petro Inett which obtained a 50% share with South African-based Energy Africa Limited in a deal with the state oil company for exploration rights in a 4,700 km square area of Angola’s coast in 1996. In 1992, he was appointed as Special Adviser to the President of Mozambique on International Economic Matters, a position he held for three years.

Fernandez was lionised by different countries, particularly for his ability to make friends out of enemies and turn poverty to wealth. He was honoured in different countries including Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Togo, Gabon and Morocco.

Antonio Oladeinde Fernandez Personal Life

Until 1989, Chief Fernandez was married to Barbara .J. Fernandez. He was also formerly married to Aduke Fernandez, whom he divorced in July 2003 following a £ 300m divorce suit in Scotland filled on July 1st, 2003 by her counsel. The court was asked by Aduke through her counsel, Charles Macnair QC, to compel Chief Fernandez to pay her a lump sum of £ 5m and an allowance of £75,000 monthly for 3 years but the case was dismissed by the court. 

In 2010, Fernandez put up one of his properties in New Rochelle for sale for $12 million. He died on the September 1st, 2015 in Belgium in the presence of his wife, Halima Maude Fernandez. He was survived by 9 children, several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Antonio Oladeinde Fernandez Awards

He was honoured with the title of the Apesin Ola of the Egba clan of Yorubaland.

Antonio Oladeinde Fernandez Net Worth

His net worth is not available.

Antonio Oladeinde Fernandez on Social Media