In a somber memorial service held in Lagos, prominent business leaders and stakeholders in the financial sector, including renowned banker Tony Elumelu, paid tribute to the victims of the tragic fire at Afriland Towers. The fire, which occurred on September 16, 2025, at the building on Broad Street, claimed the lives of ten people, including six staff members of United Capital Plc and four officials of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
The memorial service, which brought together regulators, industry leaders, and members of the wider business community, was organized by United Capital Group to honor the lives of their six deceased colleagues. The victims were identified as Jesutoni Shodipo, Kehinde Adeoye, Ndidi Osaemedike-Okeke, Olumide Oyefodunrin, Opeyemi Oloyede, and Rebecca Adenuga.
Tony Elumelu, the Chairman of Heirs Holdings, the parent company of Afriland Properties Plc which owns the building, spoke with visible emotion as he extended his deep condolences to the families of the victims. He described the incident as a devastating loss and a stark reminder of the value of human life. Elumelu had reportedly cut short a trip to the United Nations General Assembly in New York to return to Lagos in a show of respect.
The fire, believed to have started in the building’s basement, highlights the persistent concerns over building safety and fire preparedness in Lagos. Investigations into the incident are ongoing, with preliminary findings suggesting that the primary cause of death was smoke inhalation.
The service, which was also streamed live for well-wishers outside the country, featured tributes from family members, friends, and colleagues. It concluded with a message of hope and consolation, as the United Capital Group and other stakeholders vowed to support the bereaved families and ensure that such a tragedy does not happen again.
