Ibukunoluwa Abiodun Awosika, popularly known as ‘Ibukun Awosika’ born Bilkisu Abiodun Motunrayo Omobolanle Adekola on December 24, 1962, is a prominent Nigerian entrepreneur, inspirational speaker, and accomplished writer.
Notably, she holds the distinction of being the inaugural female Chairperson of First Bank of Nigeria.
Additionally, in September 2022, she was selected to serve as a member of the esteemed Binance Global Advisory Board.
| Born |
Bilkisu Abiodun Motunrayo Omobolanle Adekola
December 24, 1962 Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
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|---|---|
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Other names | Blessing Ibukun Awosika |
| Alma mater |
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| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1989–present |
| Employer | First Bank of Nigeria |
| Organization | SOKOA Chair Centre Limited |
| Television | Business – His Way |
| Board member of | Women in Management, Business and Public Service, Binance Global Advisory Board |
| Website | ibukunawosika |
Early Life and Education
Ibukun was born as the third child among seven siblings in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State. She attended St. Paul’s African Church Primary School in Lagos and Methodist Girls’ High School in Yaba for her primary and secondary education, respectively.
Ibukun later pursued a BSc in Chemistry at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), despite her initial interest in Architecture.
She also took elective courses in Accounting during her studies. Following her undergraduate degree, she obtained postgraduate and MBA certificates from the Lagos Business School and IESE Business School – University of Navarra after completing various business programs.
Career
During her mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kano State, Ibukun Awosika worked as an audit trainee at Akintola Williams & Co., which later became Deloitte.
However, after completing her service, she returned home and joined Alibert Nigeria Ltd., a furniture company, as a showroom manager.
In her pursuit of independence, she founded a furniture manufacturing company called Quebees Limited in 1989.
Over time, it transformed into The Chair Centre Limited and later merged with SOKOA S.A and Guaranty Trust Bank in 2004, becoming SOKOA Chair Centre Limited.
Ibukun Awosika is a fellow of the African Leadership Initiative and Aspen Global Leadership Network.
She is also a member of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and serves on the board of the Nigerian Sovereign Wealth Fund.
Additionally, she was the former Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Women in Management, Business, and Public Service.
In 2011, she co-founded the Afterschool Graduate Development Centre, which aims to address the high unemployment rate in Nigeria.
On September 7, 2015, Ibukun made history by becoming the first woman to be appointed Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria, following the resignation of Prince Ajibola Afonja.
Related
She is also a member of IESE’s International Advisory Board (IAB) and serves on the boards of Digital Jewel Limited and Cadbury Nig Plc.
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 alongside Temi Otedola produced by Kunle Afolayan.
Books
- The “Girl” Entrepreneurs
- Business His Way
- The ‘Girl’ Entrepreneurs: Our Stories So Far Kindle Edition
Awards and recognition
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This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (March 2016)
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| 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
Net Worth
Ibukun Awosika net worth, In year 2022, Forbes Africa listed out that her total net worth is around $18 million to $25 million, since then no specific amount of her net worth has been disclose to the public.
References
- 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.
- “Binance announces Global Advisory Board”. Punch Newspapers. September 22, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
- “Ibukun Awosika appointed to Binance global advisory board”. TheCable. September 22, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
- Ajagu, Ausbeth (2005). The Entrepreneur. Betcy Media. ISBN 978-978-067-168-6.
- 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.
- “Ibukun Awosika –Entrepreneur Par Excellence”. FinIntell. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
- “I live on the plane – Ibukun Awosika”. The Punch Newspaper. March 13, 2016. Retrieved September 11, 2016.
- “”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.
- “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.
- “I live on the plane – Ibukun Awosika”. Punch. March 13, 2016.
- ^ Jump up to:a b 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.
- ^ Jump up to:a b Sotubo, Jola (September 10, 2015). “Ibukun Awosika: 3 reasons why her appointment as First Bank Chair is epic”. Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
- “» Ibukun Awosika”. test.firstbanknigeria.com. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- Olapoju, Kolapo (September 7, 2015). “Ibukun Awosika becomes the first female chairman of First Bank”. YNaija. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
- Members of IESE’s International Advisory Board, iese.edu
- ^ “I live on the plane – Ibukun Awosika”. Punch Newspapers. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
- Okafor, Lovelyn (September 9, 2015). “Ibukun Awosika- The New Face of First Bank of Nigeria Holdings (FBNH)”. Konnect Africa. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
- ^ Jump up to:a b c “Amazon.com : ibukun awosika”. www.amazon.com. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
