By Eric Elezuo

Like a bolt out of the blues, the news of the resignation of the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Adesola Adeduntan, hit the media space on Saturday, April 20, 2024.

The shocking announcement took the financial world by storm, and creatwd diverse questions in the mouth of observers and stakeholders, especially as the Veterinary Medicine graduate-turned-financial guru still has about months before the expiration of his three terms tenure. He was due to retire in December 2024.

“I have however decided to proceed on retirement with effect from 20 April 2024 to pursue other interests,” he said in his resignation letter that has become a topical issue.

But of more importance is that Sola, as he is fondly called, who took over from Bisi Onasanya in January 2016, has held sway as FirstBank’s top shot for eight years and four months, and has verifiable achievements to show for his years of stewardship, which has catapulted him to stardom today.

For a start, only a few persons would believe that the indefatigable financial expert, Adesola Kazeem Adeduntan is just 54 years old. He will be 55 on May 7, 2024. This is as a result of the achievements that have trailed his young life. Adeduntan has bagged an international award as Distinguished Alumnus of the Year by his Alma mater, Cranfield School of Management, United Kingdom. And this was at the time FirstBank was named biggest mover of 2019 according to KPMG Report. It is not incorrect to say that Adeduntan’s tenure at FirstBank was dedicated to creative achievement.

As the first quarter of 2020 was winding down, he was a guest lecturer at the Edinburgh School of Business where he spoke authoritatively on financial institutions’ role as drivers of financial inclusion.

On September 11, 2020, Adeduntan, added additional feather to his cap when he was bestowed with the Forbes Best of Africa award by Forbes Africa in conjunction with Foreign Investment Network (FIN) for his contributions to the financial services sector in the country and the African continent. He wasn’t a stranger to awards.

An all rounder, he practically conquered every endeavour he found himself in, leading the FirstBank group to a height only imaginable as the bank recently marks 130 years of uninterrupted banking. It would not be forgotten in a hurry that a media intelligence report presented by P+ Measurement Services, placed Adeduntan atop the list of most prominent and reputable Nigerian banking CEOs in Q2 2020.

THE MAN, ADESOLA ADEDUNTAN

Born Adesola Kazeem Adeduntan on May 7, 1969, in Ibadan, Oyo State, the banker started his early education at Ibadan Municipal Government Primary School (IMG), Adeoyo between 1975 and 1981, for his primary education before proceeding to Urban Day Grammar School, Old Ife Road, Ibadan, where he had his secondary schooling. His excellent to duties created a space for him to become the Deputy Senior Prefect in his final year in 1986.

In the same year, he was admitted to the University of Ibadan in to study Veterinary Medicine, and qualified in 1992 as a Veterinary Surgeon, a profession he hardly practiced before switching over to financial management.

Consequently, in 1994 he joined Afribank (Nig) Plc., and was posted to the Ibadan Main Branch as a graduate trainee. He spent 18 months there learning the ropes, and working in various areas of banking operations including cash management, clearing, credit risk management, and foreign operations.

Between September 1995 and May 2002, Adeduntan worked with Arthur Andersen Nigeria, rising to become manager in the firm’s financial services industry business, leveraging on the 18 months mentorship he received at Afribank. In this role, he led and managed the statutory audit of a number of leading Nigerian banks.

In August 2000, he served as an instructor at the Andersen World-Wide Induction training for new hires in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. He also served as the lead instructor for the Local Office Basic Accounting Training and Induction course in 1999. It was while he was with Arthur Andersen that qualified as a chartered accountant in 2000.

With more feathers to his cap, Adeduntan moved to the financial services industry in KPMG as a senior manager in June 2002, and served diligently till October 2004 when he bowed out. At KPMG, he co-pioneered the firms’ financial risk management advisory services. He was also a KPMG-accredited Trainer and facilitated several internal training programmes.

When he left KPMG in 2004 to study, he pursued a Master’s degree in Business Administration at the Cranfield School of Management, where he was a British Chevening Scholar. He graduated in September 2005.

Armed with yet another great feather, Adeduntan moved to Citibank Nigeria Limited in 2005 where he became the Senior Vice-President (General Manager) and Chief Financial Officer. He was saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the bank’s financial and product control functions, quality assurance and operational risk management. He was on hand to assist the bank in its recapitalisation during the banking consolidation era.

In October 2007, he called it quits with Citibank, and a month later, pitched tent with the Africa Finance Corporation, as the pioneer Chief Financial Officer and Business Manager.

His achievement at the AFC includes leading the team that secured an A3/P2 investment grade international credit rating from Moody’s Investors Service in March 2014. This made the Africa Finance Corporation the second highest-rated lending financial institution in Africa.

In July 2014, he was appointed an Executive Director/Group Chief Financial Officer of FirstBank, where he was responsible for the bank’s financial control, internal control and enhancement, business performance management, treasury and procurement functions.

On Monday January 4, 2016, Adeduntan succeeded Bisi Onasanya, and assumed duty as Managing Director of FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, and its commercial banking subsidiaries including FBN UK, FBN Ghana, FBN DRC, FBN Guinea, FBN Gambia, FBN Mortgages, FBN Senegal, FBN Sierra Leone and First Pension Custodian Limited.

He coordinated his functions so professionally that on December 7, 2016, he was awarded the 2016 Banker of The Year award by the Leadership Newspaper “For refusing to ‘go with the flow’ even when the temptation was high and the reward substantial, and for reminding his colleagues that banking is nothing without integrity”.

A man of many beneficial and influential parts, Adeduntan has hitherto sat on the board of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, and as a non-executive director on the boards of the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS), Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), FBN Bank U.K. Ltd., Universal Payments Plc, and FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.

In his eight years stewardship at the helm of affairs at FirstBank, Adeduntan has turned the tables and rewrote banking narratives, delving into all aspects of human endeavour to see to the development of SMEs, youth entrepreneuship among many others.

His speech at the kick off of FirstBank’s celebration of 125 years of unbroken business operations, has remained evergreen, and stood the test of time as the prototype to FirstBank’s success recipe.

Adeduntan hinted as follows: “From that very modest beginning in 1894, First Bank has traversed an incredible journey of delivering impeccable financial services to its customers and supporting the building of the modern-day Nigeria and indeed, West Africa, including our early pivotal role as the monetary and fiscal policy regulator for the entire West African region,” he said.

“As a long-standing institution, which even predates Nigeria as a unified entity, FirstBank is entrenched in the nation’s development; woven into the very fabric of society, with our involvement in every stage of national growth and development.

“At the amalgamation, independence and through the seasons ever after, we have been here marching hand-in-hand with you and our dear nation. We have enabled financial, technological, industrial and societal advancements, achieving very many firsts over time.”

Overall, Adeduntan has seen to the sponsorship of prolific enterprises to guide the youths on the right path. These include the African Fashion Week which took place at the Oriental Hotel and Youth Empowerment Seminar at the Harbour Point Event Centre. These shows among a whole lot of others in his eight years of prolific endeavors, have a lot of testimonials following.

Adesola is married to Mrs. Adenike Adeduntan and together they have three wonderful children.

Sir, we wish you a prolific retirement from FirstBank, and a more glorious openings for more of your intelligence and expertise to be tapped.

By Eric Elezuo

Accolades from personalities across the nation, including from President Bola Tinubu, continued to surge towards the President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, as he hit another glorious age, celebrating 67 in grand style.

Tinubu, who was one of the early on the sustaining richest man in Africa, referenced the many industrial feats of the business colossus, describing him as one of Africa’s business lodestars.

The billionaire businessman has consistently proved that his entrepreneurial skills are not just geared towards uplifting him as a person, but to creating an enabling environment for the Nigeria youth and child to grow and develop in an environment he can proudly co-own. His vision, no doubt, is practically for the greater good of the world in general, and Nigeria in particular.

For so many blessed reasons and very many more, Dangote was recently named, and for the second consecutive year, the Africa’s foremost entrepreneur and humanist, and was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

The billionaire industrialist was accorded special recognition by the Organised Private Sector (OPS) employers in the country under the aegis of Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA). That was just a tip of the iceberg in consideration to the avalanche of efforts he has put into business, and the lives touched so far.

Born in Kano in 1957, Dangote proudly shuttles between three wonderful tags as the richest man in Nigeria; the richest man in Africa and the richest Black man in the world. He has paid his dues, and mankind is the better for it.

Releasing impacts, Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF), the private charitable foundation of Alhaji Aliko Dangote. Incorporated in 1994, as Dangote Foundation, is saddled with the mission to enhance opportunities for social change through strategic investments that improve health and wellbeing, promote quality education, and broaden economic empowerment opportunities. 20 years later, the Foundation has become the largest private Foundation in sub-Saharan Africa, with the largest endowment by a single African donor.

The primary focus of ADF is child nutrition, with wraparound interventions centered on health, education and empowerment, and disaster relief. The Foundation also supports stand-alone projects with the potential for significant social impact.

The Foundation works with state and national governments and many highly reputable international and domestic charities, non-governmental organizations and international agencies to advance its humanitarian agenda.

In one of its biggest collaboration to date, Aliko Dangote Foundation started working in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and key northern State Governments in Nigeria from 2013 to eradicate polio and strengthen routine immunization in Nigeria.

Worthy of praise is the fact that nearly a decade, the Foundation has spent over N7 Billion in the course of feeding, clothing and the general welfare of the Internally Displaced Persons in the Northeast.

To make his host communities feel at ease, and the impact of his presence, Dangote has embarked on an initiative to provide further support to improving educational systems in Ibeju-Lekki and Epe locality. The educational support initiative is a tripartite programme consisting of scholarship, capacity building for teachers and school infrastructure projects.

In addition, Scholarships have been awarded to 52 secondary school students whilst some financial support was provided to their parents and/or guardians. Tertiary students will be included in the next batch of the scheme.

Furthermore, about 100 teachers, principals and school administrators were trained in teaching techniques for the 21st century. After which they were monitored in class on how they were using the skills acquired.

There is hardly any sector that has not felt the milk of human kindness running through Aliko Dangote; the military, media, politicians, governments across boards and more.

Dangote is surely an asset to this world!

As at today, there is no space for slowing down for Dangote as he continues to trudge on, creating firsts after first for himself and for humanity.

He is blessed with three wonderful daughters, who have followed the rewarding footprints of entrepreneurship.

Congratulates the African giant, and may you enjoy many more laurels as your footprints remain indelible in the sands of time, and continue to dominate the pages of history books.

By Eric Elezuo

The city of Benin, the capital of Edo State, was on a stand still on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, when a prolific son of the land, celebrated a landmark 80 years.

With notable personalities from across the length and breadth of the country present, the city assumed the enviable status of cynasure of all eyes, feeding all and sundry with the best of organisation, standard and cultural display.

The event kickstarted at St Paul’s Catholic Church, along the Airport Road, in the heart of Benin City, where the who’s who in politics and otherwise gathered to thank God for 80 years of life well lived.

Making a most glorious entry, the celebrant, who could not hide his joy by the way he beamed smiling greetings at the guests, and dressed in a flowing white attire, complemented with exquisite royal beads of diverse colours, also received warm greetings before settling down majestically in the front row of the church amid a melodic play of solemn hymn.

In his brief sermon, the Archbishop of the Abuja Catholic Archdiocese, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, who presided over the thanksgiving service, and was assisted by other bishops, hailed the resilience of the celebrant and how his knowledge and experience has benefitted the country during his hay days.

While also delivering a message, titled ‘What a Life’, the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan, Felix Job, acknowledged that High Chief Ikimi has been up and doing.

The celebration took a different turn right after the church Thanksgiving giving as all roads led to the reception venue, where a medley of performances and presentations we’re displayed.

Speaking as the chief host, Governor Obaseki congratulated the celebrant, expressing his heartfelt joy on behalf of the people and government of the state, and describing Ikimi’s efforts as an enduring legacy.

Among the classy dignitaries whose presence added distinguished colour to the occasion were Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, who practically played the part of the chief host; the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, and former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi; the Esama of Benin Kingdom; Chief Gabriel Igbinedion; and a former governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion.

THE MAN, HIGH CHIEF TOM IKIMI 

The man, who posterity will remember for his roles as the pioneer chairman of one Nigeria’s most popular party in the 3rd Republic, the National Republican Convention (NRC) as well as a former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi, was born on April, 10 1944, in Kumba-Southern, British Cameroons (modern-day Cameroon) to John Onile Ikimi and Victoria Isiemoa Ikimi, both from Igueben (Igueben Local Government Area- Edo State).

Tom Ikimi started his early education at St. Joseph’s College, Sasse-Buea, Southern Cameroons in 1957, and left in 1961. He was a pioneer student of the Midwestern Polytechnic, Auchi, Midwestern Nigeria, (now Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State) for his technical education from January 1966 to December 1967, and studied Building and Civil Engineering before obtaining Ordinary National Diploma. He was also a pioneer member of the Students Union, and a keen sportsman, who contributed to the establishment of the College Athletics Club.

After his stint at the Poly, he pursued after more of his professional education, and studied Architecture at the Ahmadu Bello University, Architectural School, Zaria from 1968 – 1973, and obtained the B. Arch (Hons) degree.

While in school, he participated in students unionism, and was a member of the student union and National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS). He is known for moving the motion in late 1970 at the NUNS convention in Zaria to readmit the Eastern Unions back into the NUNS at the end of the civil war.

Among his many pioneering endeavors, Ikimi was also a pioneer member of the National Youth Service Corps Programme serving in Ibadan, during the 1973-74 session.

He has also served in a good number of reputable organizations including as Architect in the firm of planning partnership later IBRU Vaughan Richards & Partners, Lagos from 1974-1977, and was made Associate partner in 1975.

He established his own firm, Tom Ikimi Design Company in May 1977 and executed a number of private and commercial projects within and outside Nigeria (1977 – 1993). He later won the international competition for the new OAU office and conference Centre project, Addis Ababa Ethiopia. He is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (FNIA) and has business interests in construction, trade and farming.

HIS MANY PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS 

Member Constituent Assembly – 1988/89, Member Chapter 2 Committee “Fundamental Objectives and Directives Principles of State Policy”. National Chairman- National Republican Convention Party — 1990–1992.

He was the Special Adviser To the Head Of State, Commander-In-Chief, General Sani Abacha in February, 1994 where he prepared the memo for the establishment of the highly successful Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF)

He was appointed Foreign Affairs Minister March 1995

Ikimi led Nigeria’s delegation to the Review/Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in New York City, delivering the national position address on April 18, 1995. [citation needed]

Additionally, Ikimi headed the delegation to the Ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Bandung, Indonesia, from April 25 to 27, 1995.

Ikimi represented the Head of State, Commander-in-Chief, at the 40th Anniversary Meeting of the Movement of Non-Aligned countries in Bandung, Indonesia, on April 28, 1995.

Furthermore, Ikimi led the delegation to the Ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement in Cartagena, Colombia, from May 18 to 20, 1998, delivering Nigeria’s statement on May 19, 1998.

Taking charge of the delegation, Ikimi oversaw Nigeria’s participation in the Special UN Security Council Session for Foreign Ministers in New York City, delivering the country’s statement on September 26, 1995.

Ikimi led the delegation to the 50th Commemorative Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) from September to December 1995, delivering Nigeria’s statement to the Assembly on October 3, 1995.

Serving as the President of the United Nations Security Council in October 1995, Ikimi hosted Pope John Paul II at the UN 50th Anniversary celebration in the capacity as President of the Security Council.

Ikimi represented the Head of State, Commander-in-Chief, at the summit meeting of the Non-Aligned member countries of the United Nations Security Council in New York City on October 4, 1995.

Continuing leadership, Ikimi headed the delegation to the 51st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) from September to December 1996, delivering Nigeria’s statement on October 3, 1996.

Ikimi also represented the Head of State at the 11th Summit of the Non-Aligned countries in Cartagena, Colombia, from October 18 to 20, 1998, delivering Nigeria’s statement on October 18, 1998.

Additionally, Ikimi led the delegation to the 52nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) from September to December 1997, delivering Nigeria’s statement on September 23, 1997.

Led Nigeria’s delegation to the 52nd Session of the United Nations General assembly (UNGA) September – December 1997 and delivered Nigeria’s statement to the Assembly on 23 September 1997.

Chairman of ECOWAS council of ministers and ECOWAS committee of Nine on LiberiaC-9) from 26 July 1996.

Chairman ECOWAS Ministerial Committee of Five on Sierra Leone.

Led Nigeria’s delegation to and chaired the 4th meeting of the ECOWAS Ministerial Committee of four on Sierra Leone (C-4) in New York, 11 July 1997.

Led the delegation of the ECOWAS Ministerial Committee of Five (C-5) to New York and briefed both the Secretary-General and the Security Council under the Arria Formula, on the situation in Sierra Leone, 11 November 1997.

Led Nigeria’s delegation to and chaired the 8th meeting of the ECOWAS Ministerial Committee of Five on Sierra Leone (C-5) in New York, 5–6 February 1998.

Led Nigeria’s delegation to several ECOWAS ministerial meetings and Head of State summits around the sub-Region.

Led the ECOWAS ministerial committee of nine (C-9) to successfully resolve the Liberian crisis.

Supervised under the United Nations, the holding of the first postwar democratic election in Liberia in August 1997 and the establishment of a democratic government headed by Mr Charles G. Taylor.

The violent overthrow of the government of president Ahmad Tejan Kabbah on 25 May 1997 posed a threat not only to the peace and security of Sierra Leone but also the security and stability of the West African Sub-region. As chairman of the committee of four and five on Sierra Leone, he led negotiations and coordinated the delicate operations leading to the successful restoration of the government of President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah on 10 March 1998. He led the ECOWAS Team and was the first to enter Sierra Leone to assess the situation on the ground after the liberation of Freetown from the rebels by ECOMOG Forces 18–19 February 1998 to permit the return of president Ahmad Tejan Kabbah from exile in Conakry.

His tenure as Foreign Minister coincided with the period when the West African sub-region and indeed much of Africa was beset with conflicts, which including civil wars in Angola, Rwanda/Burundi, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo), the Sudan, Liberia, Somalia and Sierra Leone. The central organ of the OAU was established in Cairo in 1994 as a mechanism for resolving these conflicts. In his tenure, Nigeria retained her membership of the central organ in the three successive elections which were conducted annually. Aside from the several meetings of the OAU council of ministers, Ikimi represented Nigerian Head of State at the summit meeting of the Central Organ of the OAU Mechanism for the Prevention, Management and Resolution of Conflicts in Tunis, 20 April 1995. He also Led Nigeria’ delegation to the 31st OAU Assembly of Heads of State and Government at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – 26–28 June 1995, also in Cameroon, 9–10 July 1996 at the 32 OAU Assembly. Zimbabwe, 1–3 June 1997 and Burkina Faso, 8 June 1998.

Ikimi is happily is married, with three sons and a daughter, and a dutiful member of the Roman Catholic Christian denomination.

The erstwhile political leader has a profile larger than imagined, and is reputed to have served a definite purpose for Africa, Nigeria and humanity in general.

Additional Information from Wikipedia