In a somber announcement that has deepened the grief rippling through Nigeria’s financial sector, United Capital Plc has publicly identified the six dedicated employees who lost their lives in the devastating fire at Afriland Towers on September 16, 2025. The blaze, which originated in the building’s basement inverter room, rapidly engulfed the six-storey commercial hub on Broad Street, Lagos Island, claiming a total of 10 lives and leaving an indelible scar on the city’s business community.
The victims, described by the company as “valued members of our team and cherished members of our United Capital family,” were integral to the firm’s operations on the third and fourth floors of the tower. Their passing has left an “immeasurable void,” according to a statement released by United Capital on September 18. The company, a leading pan-African financial services provider, has pledged to organize a memorial service to honor their legacies with “dignity and solemnity.”The identified staff members are:
- Jesutoni Shodipo (F),21
- Kehinde Adeoye (F), 36
- Ndidi Osaemedike-Okeke (F), 41
- Olumide Oyefodunrin (M), 27
- Opeyemi Oloyede (F), 28
- Rebecca Adenuga (F),28.
Among them, Jesutoni Shodipo, the youngest at just 21, represented the bright future of the organization, while Ndidi Osaemedike-Okeke, at 41, brought years of experience to her role. The group included five women and one man, underscoring the diverse talent pool that United Capital has tragically lost.
The fire not only struck United Capital but also claimed four lives from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), which occupied the sixth and seventh floors. FIRS identified their deceased colleagues as Mrs. Ekelikhostse George, Mr. David Sunday-Jatto, Mrs. Nkem Onyemelukwe, and Mr. Peter Ifaranmaye. Emergency responders from the Federal Fire Service and Lagos State Fire Service acted swiftly, but the inferno’s ferocity trapped several occupants, with harrowing videos circulating online showing desperate escapes from upper floors.
Prominent figures have joined in mourning the irreplaceable loss. Tony Elumelu, Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), cut short a U.S. trip to express his condolences, calling the past few days “tough” and extending sympathies to the families and the broader Lagos community. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s office described the incident as a “significant loss,” with property damage estimated in the millions of naira. President Bola Tinubu has urged heightened vigilance to avert future disasters, as investigations into the fire’s cause continue.
United Capital’s statement emphasized the firm’s commitment to supporting the bereaved families during this difficult time, while calling for collective reflection on workplace safety in high-rise commercial buildings. “Their contributions will forever be etched in our hearts,” the release concluded.
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