Abuja stood still on Saturday, April 12, as business mogul and nightlife king, Obi Cubana, marked his golden jubilee in an epic celebration tagged ‘50 for 50’, a grand event that redefined luxury, class, and connection.
Held at the iconic Transcorp Centre inside the prestigious Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, the star-studded affair drew over 2,000 distinguished guests from across Nigeria and beyond. The Federal Capital Territory experienced a rare air traffic surge, with a fleet of private jets landing ahead of the big day, perhaps its busiest in recent times.
Before the main event, the celebration began in the early hours of the day at Obi Cubana’s palatial Abuja mansion. Friends, family, associates and well-wishers joined the billionaire and his wife for a countdown that climaxed with cheers and birthday wishes at exactly midnight.
The official party was a spectacle of elegance and power, headlined by highlife maestro Flavour who set the tone for the night with a moving performance, including a stirring rendition of his 2021 hit ‘Egedege’ a tribute to Obi Cubana’s cultural roots and larger-than-life persona. The celebrant, fondly called “Okpataozueora,” danced his way to the stage to thunderous applause, flanked by friends in what became one of the night’s most memorable highlights.
The guest list was a show of influence and diversity. From Nollywood icons like Kanayo O Kanayo, Charles Okocha, Zubby Michael, Jerry Amilo, Deyemi Okanlawon, Iyabo Ojo, Uzor Arukwe among others to music stars like Adekunle Gold, Iyanya, and Kizz Daniel who got the crowd singing along to his smash hit ‘Twe Twe’.
Business tycoons including Allen Onyema, Emoney, Seyi Vodi, Man Like Chico, Charles of Play, Chima Anyaso, Zenco, Jowizaza, others lit up the room, while political bigwigs like Peter Obi, Chris Ngige, Enyinnaya Abaribe and Dino Melaye made their presence felt. Spiritual leaders Pastor Jerry Eze, pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo and royal dignitary HRH Oba Elegushi also graced the occasion.
Hosting duties were handled with flair by an ensemble of comedy royalty, AY, Funnybone, Okey Bakassi, keeping the energy vibrant all night.
Over 100 vendors were engaged to bring the extravagant affair to life, from décor to cuisine and stage design. And just when the audience thought they’d seen it all, a Nigerian jeweler unveiled a jaw-dropping, one-of-a-kind green custom diamond Rolex with a Nigerian Coat of Arms dial crafted with materials handpicked from Omar, as a gift to the celebrant.
Obi Cubana and his wife accepted the wristwatch on stage during a special presentation.
The surprises kept rolling. In another unforgettable gesture, 50 lucky guests discovered brand-new Samsung phones hidden under their seats, in line with the ‘50 for 50’ theme. And as if that wasn’t enough, Obi Cubana was gifted a plot of land, with the ownership documents presented right at the party.
To avoid naira mutilation charges, hard currencies, pounds and dollars became the rain of the night, generously sprayed on the celebrant by well-wishers in a shower of celebration.
The party roared on until 4:30 a.m. Sunday, with Obi Cubana signing out in style, leaving behind a legacy night that would be talked about for years to come. The ‘50 for 50’ wasn’t just a birthday bash, it was a coronation of influence, opulence, and gratitude.
Obi Cubana didn’t just turn 50. He owned it.
