Friends And Associates Mourn As Laolu Martins, Co-founder Of Bukka Hut Dies
Laolu Martins, the co-founder of Bukka Hut, a chain of restaurants that serves local dishes, has died on Tuesday, September 27. His death was confirmed in a statement published on the company’s social media page which was signed by Rasheed Jaiyeola, his friend and co-founder of the company.
Martin, who had over 21 years of experience in investment banking, corporate banking, stockbroking, asset management, and pension fund management, attended the University of Lagos from 1995 to 1998, where he studied business administration.
After graduating, he began his professional career at PricewaterhouseCoopers in 1999. He spent five years in the company before resigning to join the Investment Banking & Trust Company Plc, now Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc. There he served in the Financial Control and Trade Finance/Foreign Operations units of the Bank before being seconded to Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Ltd, where at various times, he was Financial Controller, Head Asset Management and later Head Stockbroking.
In 2005, he resigned to pick up the role of the head of investments at Shell Nig. CPFA Ltd, the Fund Manager of the Shell Companies in Nigeria Pensions Scheme.
Three years later, he left to join the Nigeria International Security Limited, NISL, an independent financial services firm specialising in investments within the Nigerian space.
In 2011, he founded the restaurant, Bukka Hut with Jaiyeola, his friend and colleague at Stanbic. In June 2022, they opened their 15th outlet.
Information surrounding the death of Martin remains sketchy. While there are reports he committed suicide after battling depression, other reports indicate that he died after a terrible slip. The family statement announcing his death provided no information about how he died.
“We hereby solicit the support and understanding of everyone as the family grieves the loss of our beloved Laolu in our privacy.
“Our kind request is that you support the family – wife, children, aged mother and father and his siblings with your prayers at this difficult time.
“Further announcements will be made by the family.”
