Before his demise, the late father of business mogul and philanthropist Dumu Lulu- Briggs, Chief Olu Benson Lulu-Briggs, the founder of Moni Pulo Petroleum Development Limited, according to Forbes 2012 magazine Africa’s 40 rich list, was the 31st richest man in Africa.
According to the magazine, the Lulu-Briggs family’s net worth was estimated around $500 million in 2012. This made them one of the most wealthy and well known in Rivers state and Niger Delta region in general.
Many think, Dumo, the son of the late oil magnet was born with silver spoon in his mouth.
While speaking at a recent thanksgiving service held in honour of Rear Admiral Pakiribo Anabraba at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Salvation Arena Mega Parish in Port Harcourt, Dumo Lulu-Briggs astounded the congregation with his rag-to-riches story.
He told the gathering how he was born into abject poverty, contrary to what most people think that he grew up rich right from childhood.
He narrated how his parents were too poor and couldn’t afford to buy food, which made him to move from house-to-house to feed as a growing up child.
His words, “I attended Township School, Moscow road, Port Harcourt. Everyday I trek to school. My father had just a bicycle with which he will ride to Industry road. He was a staff of Nigerian Ports Authority at the time. My parents were separated. At sometime, they felt that Township school was too far from my home. So, they moved me to go and spend sometime with my mother who was living at Aggrey road. But if my father’s case was bad, my mother’s case was worst.
“While staying with my mother, after school, she will put a large basin filled with bottles of water on my head to hawk around.
“My father was a truck pusher in Port Harcourt; agricultural labourer in Bida, Niger state. He joined the police as a recruit. He didn’t have the courage that Admiral had, so, he didn’t spend more than five months in the police force when he ran away. If you look through police official records today, you will see AWOL( Absence without leave) against my father’s name. He ran away and joined the Nigerian Ports Authority as a clerk. He didn’t have more than four years of formal education but he was a gifted and talented man. He was very brilliant and saw himself through correspondence axis and rose to become a manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority before he retired.
“When I was growing up, I had more food to eat in the home of my neighbours than I had to eat in my home.
” That was a time when every parent was a parent to a child in the neighbourhood. I was sociable and knew when it would be lunch and dinner time at the homes of our neighbours. When it is that time, I will go and say I came to see my friend and as his mother will put food on the table for him to eat, she will also give me small portion from it to eat. By the time I got home, I am filled.
” There is nobody whose story cannot be different. I, the son of the former truck pusher have stood before Rivers people to ask to be their governor. If that can be my story, that can your story”.
Dumo Lulu-Briggs serves as the chairman of Platform Petroleum Limited, DBL Marine Limited, Bluewaves Marine and Construction Compay Limited and other prominent entities in the oil, gas and marine sectors.
