Candido Da Rocha (1860 – 1959)
Candido Da Rocha was the son of Joao Esan Da Rocha— a returnee slave from Brazil. He was born in 1860 in Brazil.
At age 25, Candido filed from the control of his father’s estates after his death on December 31, 1891. He expanded his father’s business after assuming control of it into a huge empire, according to reports.
Candido ventured into the water business, serving the whole of Lagos in the 20s. The colonial administrators were said to be paying Da Rocha for the supply of water to Lagos state and that his house had the first borehole and also the first water fountain.
Candido made loads of fortune from the water business. However, his first ‘real’ breakthrough came in 1894 when a British gold prospector sold him gold bars for the sum of £6,000. Not having money, he approached First Bank, then the Bank of West Africa for loan which he got to purchase the gold bars.
Candido was said to be so rich that he sent his dirty clothing to Britain for laundry.
