Ibukun Awosika
Born
Bilkisu Abiodun Motunrayo Omobolanle Adekola

(1962-12-24) December 24, 1962
Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
Other namesBlessing Ibukun Awosika
Alma mater
Occupations
Years active1989–present
EmployerFirst Bank of Nigeria
OrganizationSOKOA Chair Centre Limited
TelevisionBusiness – His Way
Board member ofWomen in Management, Business and Public Service, Binance Global Advisory Board
Websiteibukunawosika.org

Ibukunoluwa Abiodun Awosika (born Bilkisu Abiodun Motunrayo Omobolanle Adekola on December 24, 1962) is a Nigerian business woman, motivational speaker, and an author. She is the first female Chairperson of First Bank of Nigeria.[1] She was appointed a member of Binance Global Advisory Board in September 2022.[2][3]

Early life and education

Born as the third child of seven children in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, Ibukun completed her primary and secondary school education at St. Paul's African Church Primary School, Lagos and Methodist Girls' High School, Yaba respectively before she proceeded to the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) where she graduated with a BSc in Chemistry although she had initially wanted to study Architecture and also ended up taking elective courses in Accounting.[4][5] She holds post graduate and MBA certificates upon the completion of several business programmes at the Lagos Business School and IESE Business School – University of Navarra.[6]

Career

While on her compulsory one-year National Youth Service Corps service (NYSC) in Kano State, Ibukun Awosika worked as an audit trainee at Akintola Williams & Co. which later became Deloitte, but returned home after the service and joined Alibert Nigeria Ltd., a furniture company, as showroom manager.[7][8] In her quest to be independent, she established a furniture manufacturing company called Quebees Limited[9] in 1989 before it evolved into The Chair Centre Limited and later SOKOA Chair Centre Limited following a venture merge with SOKOA S.A[10] and Guaranty Trust Bank in 2004.[11]

A fellow of the African Leadership Initiative and Aspen Global Leadership Network, Ibukun Awosika is a member of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, member of the board of Nigerian Sovereign Wealth Fund and former Chairperson, Board of Trustees of Women in Management, Business and Public Service.[12][13] In 2011, she co-founded the Afterschool Graduate Development Centre, a career centre established to checkmate the high rate of unemployment in Nigeria.[11]

On September 7, 2015, Ibukun became the first woman to be appointed Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria following the resignation of Prince Ajibola Afonja.[12][14]

Ibukun Awosika is member of IESE's International Advisory Board (IAB).[15] She also sits on the board of Digital Jewel Limited and Cadbury Nig Plc.[16]

Media personality

Television

In 2008, Ibukun Awosika was among five Nigerian entrepreneurs who appeared in the first African version of the Dragon's Den. She also hosts a T.V programme called Business His Way. She also starred in the 2020 Citation alongsideTemi Otedola produced by Kunle Afolayan.[17]

Books

  • The "Girl" Entrepreneurs[18]
  • Business His Way[19]
  • The 'Girl' Entrepreneurs: Our Stories So Far Kindle Edition[20]

Awards and recognition

Year Award ceremony Prize Result
2005 THISDAY Newspaper Annual Merit Award Entrepreneur of the Year Nominated
Success Digests Magazine's Annual Enterprise Award Female Entrepreneur of the Year Nominated
2006 Financial Standard and Pan-African Organisation for Women Recognition Best Female Entrepreneur of the Year Nominated
FATE Foundation Awards FATE Model Entrepreneur Award of the Year Won
2007 International Women Society Award Golden Heart Award Won
2008 International Women Entrepreneurial Challenge Award Won
2015 YNaija Person of the Year Nominated
2020 Africa Forbes Woman Awards 2020 Forbes Woman Africa Chairperson Award Won

Personal life

Ibukun Awosika is married to Abiodun Awosika with whom she has three children.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ogwu, Michael (September 11, 2015). "As Ibukun Awosika scores another first for women in Nigeria". Daily Trust Nigeria. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Binance announces Global Advisory Board". Punch Newspapers. September 22, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Ibukun Awosika appointed to Binance global advisory board". TheCable. September 22, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  4. ↑ Ajagu, Ausbeth (2005). The Entrepreneur. Betcy Media. ISBN 978-978-067-168-6.
  5. ↑ Woman.NG (April 5, 2015). ""Nobody Realized That We Were A Tiny, Little Dot" - Ibukun Awosika On How She Used The Little She Had To Build The Successful Business She Wanted". Woman.NG. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Ibukun Awosika –Entrepreneur Par Excellence". FinIntell. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  7. ↑ "I live on the plane – Ibukun Awosika". The Punch Newspaper. March 13, 2016. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
  8. ↑ ""Nobody Realized That We Were A Tiny, Little Dot" – Ibukun Awosika On How She Used The Little She Had To Build The Successful Business She Wanted". Woman.NG. April 5, 2015. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Ibukun Awosika Founder and CEO of The Chair Centre Group and the Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria and Imperial Gate School, Lekki". enterprise network. March 21, 2019.
  10. ↑ "I live on the plane – Ibukun Awosika". Punch. March 13, 2016.
  11. 1 2 Anugwara, Boldwin (July 4, 2013). "Ibukun Awosika: Imparting youths for employment". Newswatch Times. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  12. 1 2 Sotubo, Jola (September 10, 2015). "Ibukun Awosika: 3 reasons why her appointment as First Bank Chair is epic". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  13. ↑ "» Ibukun Awosika". test.firstbanknigeria.com. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  14. ↑ Olapoju, Kolapo (September 7, 2015). "Ibukun Awosika becomes the first female chairman of First Bank". YNaija. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  15. ↑ Members of IESE's International Advisory Board, iese.edu
  16. ↑ "I live on the plane – Ibukun Awosika". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  17. ↑ Okafor, Lovelyn (September 9, 2015). "Ibukun Awosika- The New Face of First Bank of Nigeria Holdings (FBNH)". Konnect Africa. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Amazon.com : ibukun awosika". www.amazon.com. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Amazon.com : ibukun awosika". www.amazon.com. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Amazon.com : ibukun awosika". www.amazon.com. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
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