By Tolani Oguntayo
He is regarded as one of Nigeria’s wealthiest pastors. Yet, there are congregants of his House on the Rock Church that the founder, Pastor Paul Adefarasin loves. One of them is the very private young millionaire, Valentine Ugbeide. His name does not ring a bell in social circles but he has sprawling, eye-popping mansions in and around Lagos. He is as powerful and prosperous as they come and respected for his deep pocket and la vida loca lifestyle.
One of the richest, yet, very quiet men around, he lives the good life that oil and gas money offers him and never compromises his comfort and pleasures. With dark-skinned looks that good money and good living have helped to further burnish, you may call him an Adonis or a dandy for his good dress sense and expensive taste in designer apparels.
Were he an actor, Val would have given Idris Elba a run for his height and smouldering good looks.
Ladies love him while men adore him and fancy his acquaintanceship. He is now regarded as the current champion among the island happening crowd.
A great family man! Happily married to a beautiful woman, Linda Ugbeide. Yes, some women are like sapphire, they glow as the brilliant blue gem thus colouring the world with their craft. Some are sassy as teens and cute as amber studs. Some are like coral clasps-pretty yet disposable. Amidst the glitter, Linda, to Val is an emerald cut. Val was made for Linda. To her, it probably feels like she had him ordered and delivered to her, to be worshipped and revered. The dark-hued dude treasures her like a priceless heirloom – this explains his predilection to flaunt her like a sapphire-studded wristwatch or buttonhole bouquet to the world.
Interestingly, however, Val lives big and has a mouth-watering fleet that includes a Rolls Royce among other high-end cars. When popular American pastor, author and filmmaker, Bishop T.D Jakes visited Pastor Adefarasin in 2018, Val made available the Rolls Royce to chauffeur the visitor around. He does so at the request of the pastor whenever the church was playing host to a high profile guest.
A devout Christian, he rarely misses church and sees Adefarasin as his father in the Lord. His contributions to the church’s purse is reportedly very huge which is why the gangling and good-looking pastor ranks him high on the list of preferred adherents.
Val is the Chief Executive Officer of Gremore, a leading indigenous provider of offshore engineering, procurement, fabrication, installation associated with offshore field development and maintenance, the company has offices in Port Harcourt and Lagos and prides itself as in offering professional services which include shallow water conventional pipe-lay, brownfield maintenance/hook-Up, fabrication of offshore infrastructure and deepwater/surf services. Gremoore provides excellent offshore EPCI services to the energy sector.