If virtue is the fount of honour, then Ninuola Folorunsho Coker’s ways certainly redefine the bounds of honour. He remains enigmatic no matter how often you see him. Neither words nor symphonies, nor a thousand epigrams will do in describing Cokers ’s joy as he clocks 50 today. Turning 50 has its attractions, though as one approaches the golden age, the perks of youth take a gradual bow and life unfolds more meaningfully. That is why the hardworking man, Folorunsho Coker who turns 50 today, July 27th, intends to observe this crucial turn in his life with gratitude for a good life.
As he clocked 50, quite a number of his friends, family members and political associates were disappointed as he maintains his resolve to shun all lavish celebration and mark the birthday in a low-key. Folly has scorned any celebration that would be infused with lyrical tribute in his honour, stressing he would rather appreciate more modest means of appreciating his attainment.
Folly is strong enough to keep the lid on his desires, to keep distractions at bay and to become a whole man in himself. Put differently, he is polished and well-rounded and could do the extraordinary, which makes him worthy of his position in government
Interestingly, every generation parades its bracket of pea-shooters desperate enough to shoot at Gibraltar. Often times they fail, not because they lack the guts to do so but because their contexts of forces oftentimes serve as mere battle aids. Folly is remarkably different. Unlike his peers, he has got guts and gusto, careful and calculative and he slings no random pea shots at Gibraltar. He shoots with surgical precision. He is a rebel to traditions and conventions; a revolutionary at one with the demands of the social realities of the order he wishes to affect.
Coker has been a popular figure, a socialite, for a long time in Nigeria. He was the special adviser to the immediate past Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola.
Coker is a household name in the social and government circle in Lagos state. His father and Lagos High Chief, Folarin Coker a.k.a Baba Eto of Lagos; is an honorary personality and a famous socialite himself.
Education:
Folly Coker was born on 27th July 1965 in Ikoyi, Lagos. He attended Corona School Ikoyi and St Gregory’s College Obalende for Primary and Secondary education respectively.
In 1982, he went to study for A’ levels at St Bees School in Cumbria, England and graduated from Manchester University with a BA Hons in Combined Studies, Economics and Geography.
Later, he completed his post-graduate degree from the University of Westminster, Diplomatic Academy in Diplomacy, International Trade and finance.
Career:
Mr. Coker was a self-employed and self-made man and was in a commodity trading until 1999, when he was invited by former Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu to work as his personal assistant. After working as the governor’s assistant for a few years, in 2003, he was asked to serve as the deputy chief of staff to Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
After a year of working as the deputy Chief of Staff, he was handed over additional responsibility to run a number plate production agency. He continued to work at Lagos State Number Plate Production Agency for 10 long years and when he finally made a move, he was working as the managing Director. In June 2014, he began working as the special adviser to former Governor Raji Babatunde Fashola on the Central Business District of Lagos.
Personal Life:
Folly Coker is married to Aisha Rimi, who is a partner in Rimi Partners, an Abuja based law firm, specializing in corporate legal services, business advisory services and government relations.