Today is Anuli’s 16th Birthday. My Princess Halona has reached a beautiful milestone, and I couldn’t be more proud to be her Dad.
She is a kindhearted, generous spirit who loves food, travel, swimming, and live music. A girl after my own heart in every sense.
I prayed for years that God would one day bless me with a daughter, and from the moment He granted me that wish, I have cherished every single moment spent with you. As I have always told you, and more importantly, been intentional about showing you, love is a verb. It is demonstrated unequivocally through actions. That truth has forged our relationship and made sacred the time we spend together in our Dad-and-daughter rituals.
I am deeply grateful to you for saving my life: not once, but twice. During my first heart attack, it was your prophetic prayer that I listened to every night before going into surgery. And when the second and last one came, it was you, and you alone, who were my first responder — calm, composed, and doing exactly what needed to be done to keep me alive. Not surprised you want to go into healthcare.
Even now, you are a big part of why I have chosen to be healthy and fit. You also actively guard the fridge and ensure I stay on a diet. I want to be around to walk you down the aisle, spoil your children, and generally be an embarrassment at family gatherings for decades to come.
Even this morning you made me proud by asking if we can go to the job interview after school so you can update them that you are now legal to work. You aren’t just an A student, but you also want to make your own money which I love about you - you got that hustle in you.
May God grant you abundant grace, divine protection, radiant health, and wisdom beyond your years.
Happy Sweet Sixteen, my love. 🎂
Love from Mum, Ikenna, Beluchi and Dad (aka your #1 fan)
#WarriorPrincess
#onlydaughter
#myangel
@happy_anuli@xc_kowalski_cx@0b_lu0
Stefan “Beluchi” Chukuma is 21 today.
And somehow, the light that followed you as a child hasn’t dimmed. It has only grown stronger.
From the very beginning, there was always something different about you. I felt it the moment you arrived, like the world had gained something special, and I had been entrusted with it.
I still remember those early days, your “fan clubs” stretching from Johannesburg to Dallas. People didn’t just notice you, they were drawn to you. That hasn’t changed. You carry a presence, a quiet magnetism that cannot be taught. My boy has always shined, effortlessly.
I used to walk into your games proudly saying, “I’m Beluchi’s Dad.” Not just out of pride, but because being associated with you felt like an advantage. These days, it’s even simpler, I’m with him.
At 21, you are stepping into your own story now. And what I admire most is not just your gifts, it is your heart. Your kindness. Your restraint. Your quiet confidence. Your strength, even in pain. The world may not always understand you quickly, but in time, it will feel your impact.
There is a depth to you that reveals itself slowly, and when it does, it leaves a mark.
If I have ever fallen short, if my words ever missed the mark, forgive me. I am still learning, still growing, still trying to be the father you deserve.
But one thing has never been in doubt, I love you. Deeply. Completely. Always.
I pray that God orders your steps, protects your path, and brings every purpose within you to life. May your light never dim, and may your spirit always remain true to who you are.
Happy 21st birthday, “Gucci Beluchi.”
Happy birthday, “Beluchi the Great.”
Happy birthday, my son.
Domokumo lives on in you
Love Dad, Mum, Ikenna and Halona.
@xc_kowalski_cx@happy_anuli
Dear Ikenna,
Twenty-six years ago today, you made me a father — and not a single day has passed that I haven’t been grateful for it. You came into this world at 10:36 a.m. on April 3rd, 2000, all 8 pounds and 7 ounces of you, and from the moment I held you and kissed that tiny forehead, my life had a new and beautiful purpose. Watching you grow from that precious baby boy into the man you are today, our gentle giant, independent and thriving in New York City, right where it all began, fills your mother and me with more pride than words can hold.
You are our Opara, our firstborn, and you will always hold a place in our hearts that belongs to no one else. I want you to know we are extremely proud of you. Happy 26th birthday, son. May God continue to guide your steps, enlarge your territory, and bless everything your hands touch.
We love you, more than you’ll ever fully know.
Dad (and Mom)
@xc_kowalski_cx@christof.ic@beluchi005@happy_anuli
P.S.
My son’s male dowry fees have been updated for inflation. Good men are rarer than diamonds these days, and we have one (with another being forged through the Chukuma fire). Anyone serious, please come prepared. We cannot just give away our Opara like that, o! Mba.
This is my first post of 2026. My year is off to a roaring start, hope yours is too.
When risks are properly structured and trust is built, capital follows.
I recently spoke with @businessdayng about why I see my work not as sitting between capital and creativity, but at the intersection of capital and culture. From structuring the Lekki toll road financing during the 2008 crisis, to faith‑based film, to ReBAND and the Road to FESTAC ’77, the lesson is consistent. When you respect risk, build trust, and treat creativity as an asset class, you stop funding one‑off projects and start building ecosystems.
We covered:
- Why culture, not just creativity, gives ideas durability and scale
- How disciplined risk allocation unlocks capital, even in tough markets
- The economics behind projects like God Calling and the Road to FESTAC ’77
- Why Nigeria’s creative industries need structured, institutional‑grade capital
Grateful to @businessdayng and @kennethathekame for the thoughtful conversation.
Read the full interview here:
When risks are properly structured and trust is built, capital follows – Chukuma
https://lnkd.in/g67fz-fS
@cbaac77@aishaak49
#CapitalAndCulture #CreativeEconomy #AfricaInvestment #StructuredFinance #FESTAC77 FESTAC50 RoadToFESTAC ReBAND AfricaToTheWorld
If you haven’t gone to see @goldliliesproductions Osamede by @lilybells2011 then you are missing out. I was privileged to see it in an intimate setting and was glued to the screen from the first scene. It was a phenomenal piece of cinema for any filmmaker let alone a first time film maker. Well done to Lilian who is also an investment banker who identifies as a creative. She is a published author, theatrical producer and now film producer. Brains and beauty she has in abundance but it’s her internal light that makes the work she does so impactful to the consumers of her art. Well done to her and the entire team for bringing Benin to life in such splendor. Thanks to international distribution the world will have a chance to watch this film too across various cities. Go see it asap…
This is Lagos!
The city that raised me.
Las gidi. Èkó ò ní bàjẹ́!
We taking back the pen and lens by force to tell our stories.
ReBAND: Reclaim, Restory, Reunite Black, African Nations & Diaspora
#blackshinesbrightest
@rebandhq@official_ikechukwu@osaretin@bolivarbarlagos
@osaretin and I are hard at work…
Conference time at the Africa Prosperity Summit 2025. Kudos to Kola Aina and the entire Ventures Platform team. I’m loving every minute here.
I loved the layout of the room. The sessions are engaging, the energy is infectious, and it’s a joy to be surrounded by the right people building the future.
I persevered and MOWAA didn’t disappoint. It fed my soul.
MOWAA, the Museum of West African Art, is simply breathtaking. Every corner tells a story of resilience and pride. I came all the way from Dallas, my first visit home in six years, and somehow everything feels aligned. I’m deeply grateful I got to see it, though sad that many couldn’t because of the protests.
Knowing the visionary behind this masterpiece made it even more emotional. He and the team gave everything to make this happen for Benin, for Edo, for Nigeria, for Africa, and for those of us in the diaspora who’ve been told we can’t build or manage greatness. We came, we saw, we conquered, but I wish more people could have experienced it.
I’m an optimist and a realist. Nigeria is a great country. Its future shines bright because of its young people, their grit, their drive, their indomitable spirit. The road may be rough (as some found out during this sage), but we always find a way through.
#NaijaNorDeyCarryLast isn’t just a slogan. It’s who we are. We keep shining until our light drowns out the darkness.
#MOWAA #MuseumOfWestAfricanArt #Nigeria #Africa #AfricanArt #CulturalHeritage #NaijaNorDeyCarryLast #WeMove #ArtMeetsHistory #MadeInNigeria #WestAfricanArt #Resilience #AfricanRenaissance #FromDallasToBenin #UnstoppableSpirit #LightOverDarkness
Culture Factor Africa made history! We did it, though it was a team effort. Special recognition to Michael, Amarachi and Chidinma in particular.
Our first global conference on African soil which held in Lagos and was a resounding success.
Grateful to Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (represented by Mr. Maren Damina Makut), and Ms. Sanna Selin, Finland’s Ambassador to Nigeria (represented by Mr. Bankole Oloruntoba).
Special thanks to Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, ably represented by Teju Abisoye, whose delivery was filled with the Minister’s trademark poise and grace. Her kind words calling me a “brother and friend” truly touched me. Teju was supported by the ever-gracious Nwando Okonkwo Ajene.
Appreciation to Aisha Adamu Augie of CBAAC, and to my stellar panel: Ekeinde Ohiwerei (NLNG), Oswald Osaretin Guobadia (DigitA), Pai Gamde FCIPM (Coronation Group), and Kofi A. (Food Concepts PLC). You all made the conversations come alive.
Huge thanks to Egbert Schram, Dr. Okechukwu Okere, and the entire Culture Factor Africa team. You brought this vision to life.
Our theme, “Culture and Technology: Blueprints for Future-Ready Organizations”, resonated deeply as 200 participants from 20+ countries explored how culture fuels performance, innovation, and growth. We closed with a lively Lagosian Owambe that perfectly captured the spirit of joy and connection.
The AfCFTA’s $3.4 trillion opportunity is real. President Tinubu’s vision for a trillion-dollar Nigerian economy is within reach. The bridge to both is CULTURE and that’s what we do at The Culture Factor Africa, an organisation I’m proud to Chair.
When culture is understood, respected, and intentionally led, it powers growth, not just in people and organizations, but in GDP itself.
Thank you to everyone who joined us, on site, online, and in spirit.
#TheCultureFactor #CultureFactorAfrica #OrganisationalCulture #Leadership #Transformation #CultureAndTech #Lagos2025 #BusinessEvent #ConferenceNigeria #CorporateCulture #lagosowambe
Nothing beats Lagos, the City of Excellence
Thursday at Art X Lagos was the culmination of a 6-year dream—a true collision of creativity, class, and flawless execution. When something is built with love and soul, it comes alive; this exhibition was a jaw-dropping showcase of Africa’s finest art, laid out so beautifully it stops you in your tracks at every installation.
Congrats to @tokinipeterside and your stellar team. I know it takes a village to pull off such a monumental event. You made a bold choice early on: following your passion with abandon, risking it all despite naysayers and pressure. Your resilience and quiet determination carved out a place in the creative world, and year after year you keep raising the bar. The Japanese would be proud of your kaizen spirit—always finding ways to do better. Thank you for that decision.
As a fellow creative, my soul was fed here. I can’t wait to return for more sights and sounds—I simply can’t get enough.
@artxlagos@tokinipeterside@dudunpeterside@atedopeterside@artxofficial@osaretin@aishaak49
Happy 60th birthday, Ike!
It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly three decades since we first met in 1996. Back then, you were already instrumental in opening doors and helping me land the interview at Goldman Sachs that started my investment banking career. We worked together seamlessly in those early days—which set the tone for a partnership that flourished at Salomon Smith Barney, Citi, and especially at Afrinvest, where we built something genuinely meaningful together.
Our friendship grew right alongside our careers. You stood beside me not only in the boardroom but also at my wedding in Belize in 2001, where you weren’t just a guest but an essential groomsman—proof that you’ve always gone above and beyond for friends and family. Our families became close, turning colleagues into kin.
I’m especially grateful for your support on my book with Oswald, ‘In Pursuit – Journeys in African Entrepreneurship’. Your encouragement and thoughtful review truly lifted our spirits. Coming from someone whose writing I deeply admire, your feedback meant more than you know as it reminded us that the stories we set out to tell were worth sharing.
Now, seeing you smash those 60 push-ups in your latest birthday video was a true highlight! At this rate, you might need to start practicing for 61 next year, because I’ll be counting—and cheering you on. Just remember, if we keep going, we may have to organize a push-up contest at your 70th!
Wishing you continued good health, laughter, and the joy of thriving in all you do. Here’s to many more celebrated years, Ike—friend, brother, and forever groomsman!
From Elisa, Ikenna, Beluchi, Halona and Chukuka Chukuma
@ike_chioke
#ikechiokeat60
P/S
We’re are there with you in spirit as we watch each post around the birthday celebrations
