In an emotional tribute that has touched the hearts of many, high-society matriarch and powerhouse businesswoman, Dr (Mrs) Aisha Sulaiman Achimugu, OFR, has paid a moving homage to her late husband, Engr. Sulaiman Akao Achimugu; an accomplished engineer, father, and mentor whose influence continues to resonate across Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and beyond; to mark what would have been his 70th birthday.
In a heartfelt remembrance that seamlessly blended profound personal loss with an enduring celebration of love, the glamorous entrepreneur reflected on their cherished life together while recommitting to preserving and expanding the formidable business legacy he left behind.
Dr Achimugu described her late husband, Engr. Sulaiman Akao Achimugu, as her best friend, pillar, protector, and greatest supporter. “You were the man who gave me wings to fly to the highest mountains, yet never stopped watching my back until your very last breath,” she wrote, crediting him with encouraging her dreams, broadening her vision, and instilling in her the confidence to pursue her highest ambitions.
She remembered him as a man of deep faith in Allah, uncompromising integrity, and professional discipline, whose impact extended far beyond his immediate family to shape the careers of numerous oil and gas professionals. Reflecting on his distinguished career and long association with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), she noted that Engr. Achimugu’s name remains synonymous with professionalism, technical capacity, and excellence.
According to Dr Achimugu, her husband consistently opened doors for capable men and women regardless of personal connections; driven not by expectations of reward, but by a selfless commitment to advancing the industry he dedicated his life to. She recalled his rare talent for recognising potential and mentoring deserving professionals both in Nigeria and across the globe.
She also reflected on the unique pain of losing him during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, despite the enduring grief, she expressed profound gratitude to Almighty Allah for his impactful life and the countless lives he touched. She added that his absence continues to be deeply felt not only by his family, but also by the people of Aloji town and the wider Igala Kingdom.
Speaking with immense pride about their sons—who now embody their father’s core values of discipline, responsibility, and faith; Dr Achimugu offered special praise to Mansur, whom she fondly called his father’s “mini-you” for his protective leadership within the home.
She also shared their daughter Aneesa Inikpi Achimugu’s quiet longing for simple, everyday moments with her late father, expressing deep gratitude to his brothers for stepping in with steady guidance and fatherly love.
Reaffirming her dedication to preserving Engr. Sulaiman Akao Achimugu’s memory, Dr Achimugu thanked her late husband for believing in her potential and shaping the woman she has become. She closed her poignant tribute with prayers for Almighty Allah to forgive his shortcomings, accept his good deeds, and grant him the highest rank in Al-Jannatul Firdaus, sealing her message with a promise of everlasting love.
