Bonix, as everyone calls Bola Okolie is not only loved by almost all, she has been a toast of many who-is-who in Nigeria for more than 2 decades now. Parties, social and corporate functions have not remained the same ever since Bonix introduced her special business of serving drinks to guests. Doggedness, innovative ideas, and a very warm and pleasant personality have since seen this Kogi-state born lady struck gold in business. She ranks high today, on the list of successful African women. In the last 2 decades, Bonix had handled thousands of the biggest social functions, and remains till date, the first choice.
Pleasant and always full of life, Bola is married to Bernard Okolie; a former banker who later became the backbone of the Bonix business. They are parents to 4 wonderful sons and together they make a beautiful family adored by many. The Okolies are also big time investors in Agriculture. Benox Farms is their flagship in that sector and it has been running for more than a decade. Their latest product, Benox Garri is being launched into the market today.
Bonix Drinks is one of the biggest employer of labour in the Nigerian informal private sector, offering jobs to hundreds of young Nigerians. Despite the large number of staff, Bola remains the 'Chief Waiter' at Bonix Drinks. Her face is inseparable from the brand. Most of their clients even makes her physical presence at their events top priority. She is the life of the party!
People who are not conversant with social functions may not know how big the Bonix brand is. More often than not, Bonix Drinks is fully engaged throughout the seven days of the week, with clients to cater for in different states across Nigeria. These are events that sometimes have between 5000-1000 guests. Out of every 10 parties in Nigeria, Bonix will be the choice at 8. That's how strong the brand has become.
From being a coke seller with her mum (now late) back in the days at Tejuoso market in Lagos, thereafter to the OAU campus in Ife where she started off by herself, Mrs Okolie has become an accomplished woman, with enviable bags of achievements. She has attended a lot of international training, workshops and seminars. This is a key secret of her soar-away success in that line of business. It is noteworthy to mention here that she is a professionally trained-nurse, but she chose an entirely-different career path.
Bonix Drinks is widely respected as the leading brand that offers luxury, glamour and grandeur for high profile clientele, social and corporate events. It has been a pioneer of new innovations that now make the business enticing to many today; including mobile LED bars, special lounge setup, modern cooling chests, as well as trained waiters who serve even palm wine, tea and breakfast, cocktails and exotic drinks at parties.
Bola Okolie is tough! She is also a no-nonsense lady. This surely accounts for how she had been able to cope with all the 'madness' that comes with the business of getting people drunk at parties and the expected consequences.
However, her biggest asset is her benevolence and kindness. Bonix has touched a lot of lives. She has impacted positively on the lives of many, although she will never speak about it anywhere. She is a total philanthropist. Her kind heart is such a large one. Seeing people happy intoxicates her like tea. A secret is that nothing else satisfies her like tea.
Loved across borders, Bonix is the friend a lot of women want to have. The population of her admirers is massive too and she is nice to a fault. Even before the current global pandemic that has put social events on hold, Bola Okolie had already concluded not to have a big 50th birthday; such an unexpected decision from a lady considered to be the life of the party! But that is just a simple way to sum up her personality. Despite her big blessings, she has always chosen to be modest. She is not a gold/jewelry-freak, and neither is she given to flamboyant lifestyle.
Meanwhile, the 50th birthday of this rare woman will never go without notice. She is already being celebrated by well-wishers across the globe, on social media and other platforms. June 6, 2020 has been dedicated to a woman who means so much to many and prayers for a long, sweet, blessed life, as she steps into another chapter of life will be a perfect gift for her.
-Written by Tope Aileru, Senior Editor at Blue Synergy Media.