As a young man, he paid his dues.
Even before travelling to the United States (U.S.) at 18 to further his education, he already showed his business acumen by running his father’s oil firm, Iluobe Oil.
The task was herculean but as a young man determined to make it in life and send a message that hardwork pays, he trudged ahead with just one mission in his mind: success.
Eventually, he got a degree from an American university and since then, he has not looked back.
Today, in jewelry and oil business, Christopher Airemiokhai Iluobe (Chris Aire) is a household name worldwide.
Talk of ethics, integrity and hardwork and the name, Chris Aire, is not far away.
He also projects Nigeria’s image outside the shores of the country.
Therefore, it is understandable if such a colossus is livid, given a recent report bordering on his integrity and ability to deliver on business contracts.
Based in Beverly Hill, California where he has an expansive boutique, when the MD/EIC of FREEDOM ONLINE (www.freedomonline.com.ng), Gabriel Akinadewo, met him, he could hardly hide his disgust at the length some people will go to in an attempt to destroy his good name.
He believes his experience, exposure and international credibility must, in some manner, threaten those determined to impugn his integrity.
Aire has just a message for his traducers: Stop the bullying now.
Highly respected Nigerian businessman, iconic American designer, Chris Aire (Christopher Airemiokhai Iluobe), otherwise known as The Ice Man or The King of Bling, is the consummate master craftsman of the finest jewelry and timepieces.
His dazzling and magnificent creations are worn by legendary movie stars, professional athletes, and famous musicians the world over.
His life story spells achievement against the odds, succeeding through grit and determination, allied with his innate flair and sensibility for his chosen medium, to become one of the world’s most accomplished jewelers.
It is also one of responsibility and accountability in a profession perceived as lacking these qualities. Chris Aire uses only the finest precious gemstones and metals from sources verified as fair and safe working sites, many in his native Nigeria, as well as others on the African continent.
Success, however, is often accompanied by the carrion crew of critical voices, jealous of the accolades and trappings of achievement, who are determined to find ways to undermine the accomplishments of a lifetime through rumour, innuendo and, sadly, utter falsehoods.
Recent reports in Nigeria concerning Aire’s involvement in the business of crude oil lifting are a perfect example of such malicious gossip, speculating on how this part of his business empire secured the contracts, while ignoring Chris’ family background in the oil industry and the fact each of these contracts were fully executed. It is hardly surprising Chris is disgusted at the length such people will go to in an attempt to destroy his good name. He feels there is enough good in the world to go around and one person’s success doesn’t have to mean another’s failure.
Having spent years building his good name, Chris can only conclude that his experience, exposure, and international credibility must, in some manner, threaten those persons determined to impugn his stellar reputation. Chris loves his native country and continent and feels honoured to be embraced by governments interested in growth and development, particularly any government committed to leaving a lasting legacy of positive change and empowerment for the youth and honest citizens of the African continent. Could it be that, by trying to taint his good name, those negative gossip mongers are engaging in an attempt to prevent any future collaboration by Aire for reasons based in spite rather than truth?
Aire has no interest in any political appointments, nor any underlying agenda other than love for his country and a great desire to do whatever he can to promote a more diversified economy which provides opportunity for all hard-working honest residents.
A lot of genuine people in Nigeria are interested in the growth and development of the country and its citizens. However, there are a select few who will do anything to prevent such progress. We all know that words can be lethal when used recklessly and have the power to corrode the public respect of another.
Journalists have immense power with the media to mold or damage the public persona of anyone. It is extremely important that this power is used conscientiously. The publication of rumour, lies, innuendo or articles presented as fact without first sourcing, back-checking and verifying the content thereof, is the dark side of the information highway and such irresponsible behaviour is anathema to the core principles of responsible journalism.
It is, in fact, a perfect example of bullying – an epidemic of which has been unleashed by the advent of new technologies which favour rumour and gossip over balanced, objective reportage.
Chris believes we must all stand up and say NO MORE! Enough is enough!
What would motivate a journalist to damage the good reputation of a fellow Nigerian by deliberately writing a story that is not rooted in fact or reality? Isn’t a journalist supposed to report the facts, or is he/she free to fictionalize a story for his own malicious intentions?
Outrageous lies and mean-spirited accusations, aimed at selling newspapers, have been hung on Aire ever since his legitimate business concerns were granted crude oil lifting contracts by the then government of Nigeria, a process over which he had no control. The mere fact that a former minister attended an event on behalf of Nigeria featuring Chris’ jewelry then gave rise to unwarranted claims of some kind of “sweetheart deal”, with further allegations Aire had no background in the oil business, no corporate business addresses in Nigeria and that the crude oil lifting contracts were never fulfilled.
None of these allegations carry any truth. Appearances can be deceptive and are not even a distant cousin to fact without verification. Innuendo is merely an exercise in underhanded, baseless sensationalism by those who regard truth as an inconvenience rather than the foundation upon which all responsible journalism should be constructed.
Anyone who knows Aire knows that he grew up in the oil business and ran his father’s oil company, Iluobe Oil, before travelling to the United States to further his education. The so-called lavish party the gossip purveyors alluded to was an event held for the benefit of Nigeria, in response to a request by the government to assist in bringing attention to the abundance of solid minerals in the Nigeria, part of an effort to diversify the country’s economy from one solely based on oil and gas.
This event, held in the United States (U.S.) on April 10, 2010, was funded by Aire’s jewelry company, with additional support from four major Nigerian banks, who wanted to identify with the country and support this great economic initiative.
The event was a great success, generating extensive coverage by both domestic and international media outlets.
Such an occasion hardly qualifies as a secret party, as was alluded to by an online newspaper.
Certainly the attention garnered by the event benefitted Aire’s reputation as a jeweler of note – a legitimate business goal.
There was nothing secret about such a well-publicised event.
Aire is a businessman, pure and simple.
He wants his jewelry business to be successful, and the same holds true for all his other ventures, such as the oil lifting contracts, which were all satisfied in a transparent and lawful manner.
The outrageous story that the truth was otherwise was initially printed in 2011.
Chris and his companies tried to pursue legal action against those in question, but they inexplicably went out of business. The original players then resurfaced as a new online
newspaper and repeated the same lies they printed four years ago for their own ends, no doubt. Perhaps it is their idea of how to promote business.
Those who know Aire know him to be a man of great integrity, and one who is proud to identify with his land of birth and represent Nigeria as a positive example of the country’s many self-made entrepreneurs.
As a young man of 18, eager to explore the world, Chris left Nigeria – much to his father’s chagrin – in search of opportunity, leaving behind the family oil business,
but equipped with the knowledge of business gained in running that enterprise – one of the first independent oil marketers in Nigeria – for his father.
A young black man searching for opportunity in the U.S. back then was not an easy row to hoe.
Chris worked menial jobs in fast food restaurants, flipping hamburgers at night while pursuing his education during the day.
He finally graduated with a degree in acting and directing, but still, something was missing.
He searched relentlessly for his niche, eventually accepting a job as an apprentice to a jeweler. He had found his calling. Working with the allure and beauty of gemstones, Chris soon found he was inspired to envision and experiment with unique and sophisticated designs. This new-found passion led to enrollment at the prestigious Gemological Institute of America, where he completed a diamond-grading diploma.
It had been 13 years since Chris left his home in Nigeria in search of an inchoate dream. After completing his six-year apprenticeship, in 1996 and armed with only $5,000 in seed money, coupled with his dream of, and passion for,
the creation of unique jewelry, he set course for the stars by looking to promote his pieces of our earthbound celebrities and stars!
Hard work, long hours and ceaseless dedication to his dream brought success, as in numerous CNN, BLOOMBERG and FORBES interviews Chris has given.
Google “Chris Aire” and you are instantaneously immersed into his world peopled by the rich and famous!
However, success was not enough.
Growing older and more reflective, Chris rethought his goals and priorities. With most of the raw materials he used originating in Africa, Chris became convinced he could use his business acumen to give something back to his homeland, not only by promoting Nigeria’s little-known wealth of raw
materials, but also by proudly proclaiming the great potential of his native country.
In 2009, the Nigerian government sought a strong representative presence on the country’s behalf at the South Africa/Nigeria bilateral trade commission.
They approached Chris to carry out this task, identifying him as one who owned successful Nigerian companies blessed with impressive international recognition. Without hesitation, and at his own expense, Chris travelled from the U.S. to
Abuja, there putting on a world-class exhibition of precious stones encased in spectacular watches and other exquisite pieces of jewelry to the pride of the government and the
entire nation.
Today, Chris is acknowledged by his contemporaries in the international jewelry business as a man of ethics and integrity who delivers on his promises without fail. His
business reputation walks hand-in-hand with his heart and goodwill, which promotes positive branding of Nigeria mineral assets and helps attract investment in Nigeria’s
future, as well as that of the African continent as a whole.
Aire is not a man content to rest of his laurels and continues to share his wealth of experience and business acumen through numerous philanthropic ventures in both Nigeria and elsewhere.
Success should be lauded, not denigrated.
So, Chris’ message to his critics is simple – STOP THE BULLYING and start living up to your ethical responsibilities as journalists and, “together, we can move towards our mutually-shared dream of a Nigerian nation fully seized by its potential and determined to show the world what she is capable of accomplishing when we all pull together towards a better future”.
