Boss Of The Week
Oyindamola Lami Adeyemi: The Formidable Woman with a Penchant For Success
By Michael Effiong and Eric Elezuo
When the French call someone formidable, they mean tremendous, terrific, awesome and capable. These are words that came to mind when you meet Oyindamola Lami Adeyemi, the Group Managing Director of Still Earth Holdings.
Just a few days after the world celebrated the International Women’s Day and Mothers’ Day, Oyinda, one of the few women who has dared to thread where even some men dread, is a year older – and it is worth celebrating.
She deserves all the encomiums because she is a business amazon who works hard, very hard. Indeed, those who work with her marvel at her strength of character, her stamina and amazing spirit, which they believe comes from her faith in the Almighty.
We gathered that she has reached these great heights due to her penchant for personal and professional excellence. Her uncompromising management style, never taking no for an answer and settling for nothing but the very best has led to the steady growth of her enterprise.
In her lifestyle and the structure of her business, you see fierce competitiveness, strong work ethic and there is no doubt that she is a leader that her staff and team members trust and respect.
She is unashamed of her convictions and faith, and lives a life that consistently reflects her values, day in and day out. She is very respectful, fair but firm and never cuts corners in order to make profit. She does business with an ethical mindset, and this has stood her out from the Pack.
A reserved technocrat blessed with both beauty and brains, Adeyemi was born and raised in Gombe State, North Eastern Nigeria to a Yoruba father from Ondo State and Hausa/Fulani Mother.
Her multilingual and multi-ethnic upbringing have made her a bridge builder which enables her to feel free at home, not only in the Northern or South Western parts, but every part of the country.
Fluent in both Hausa and Yoruba languages, Ms. Adeyemi has built a solid reputation as one of the few entrepreneurs without an ethnic bias, which makes her such a distinctive and appealing business leader. And of course, an epitome of togetherness. It is a unifier like her that Nigeria needs at this time that tribalism and ethnicity has taken over every national conversation.
Though classy and fashionable, she is not the kind of executive you meet at every occasion. She is the cerebral type who prefers negotiating complex deals and explaining the intricate genius of construction to spending time at social events.
The media-shy Ms. Adeyemi, who guards her privacy jealously, has with a combination of tenacity, integrity and ability overcome fierce opposition in entrepreneurship and carved a niche for herself as major player in the fields of construction, real estate and financial services. In fact, since she broke the proverbial glass ceiling, there has been no stopping this Woman of Steel.
Her trajectory is indeed worthy of emulation. It is a testament to her determination and vision.
Over a decade ago, she founded Still Earth Limited which has metamorphosed into Still Earth Holdings, which she presently oversees as the Group Managing Director, with a vision to deliver maximum performance in line with international best practices.
As the years have rolled by, Adeyemi has proved her mettle, developing desired concepts and delivering mega projects across Nigeria.
Highly educated and equipped for whatever tasks ahead, Adeyemi earned her B.Sc. Degree in Political Science from the University of Abuja, and an M.Sc. Degree in Political Economy and Development from the same University. She is also an alumnus of the prestigious Harvard Business School, Massachusetts, Boston, having attended the Owner/President Management Program.
From the earliest days when she desperately sought startup capital to set up her business, even asking from an unknown person at Julius Berger, who turned her down, Adeyemi has come of age.
She said this of her dexterity in one of the few interviews she granted; “I have a determined attitude to life. I am very detailed and I never take anything for granted.”
This ‘determined attitude to life’ shot her up to the highest echelon of human development within a very short time, prompting so many influential personalities she worked with in the early days to assume that she was only a daughter of the owner of her company.
She continued: “But the perception is becoming better these days. All I need to get them to key into the reality of my life is to spend 30 minutes with them. Anyone I engage for 30 minutes leaves with the impression that I know what I am doing.”
It is worthy of note that Adeyemi did not just become the Group Managing Director of Still Earth, she went through the ropes, gathering veritable and verifiable experiences as she climbed the corporate ladder.
Adeyemi kick-started her professional career as a Banker when she joined First City Monument Bank Plc, Abeokuta branch as Banking Operations Officer. Her functions included undertaking general banking operation activities as assigned by the Head of the Head of Operations including cash management.
She left to join defunct Equatorial Trust Bank Limited as the Relationship Manager, Public Sector Group. There, she was saddled with the responsibility of managing all public sector group account and relationships in the bank’s portfolio. Her competence elevated her to the rank of Head, Public Sector Group, (Ogun Region) of the bank, with added responsibilities of coordinating and managing all Public Sector Group activities in the region.
Having garnered loads of experience on the field, she then established Still Earth Limited in Ikoyi, and has remained its Group Managing Director till date, expanding the conglomerate with core principles hinged on service delivery, client satisfaction and staff motivation. She has over the years led in driving direction and leadership in project and construction management and general contracting for the multi-billion naira company.
Her journey to the top has been far from easy. According to her, it was more of perspiration and perseverance “I have years of experience that spans the Banking Sector, Retail Marketing, Public Sector, Oil & Gas and Construction. My story is one of grit, resilience and persistence, which over the years has built a solid foundation to pursue excellence end-to-end and achieve higher goals.”
But how has she been able to navigate the muddy waters of business in Nigeria and has come out clean and unscathed, a reference can quickly be made to a response she gave many years ago during an interview with The Nation newspaper thus: “Our success is hinged on our passion to achieve our company’s goals and objectives. It boils down to our team and the corporate values and culture we uphold at Still Earth. We have in place a Board of Directors comprising veterans who are passionate about Still Earth. They always bring their experience and expertise to bear.
From the outset, Still Earth has had to leap over impossibly high hurdles to reach goals that had boggled the minds of contemporaries and competitors, all thanks to the able and charismatic leadership, coupled with her characteristic style of being decisive, bold and imaginative.
With an undeniably unmatchable can-do spirit, Adeyemi, who believes that the infrastructural deficit in Nigeria needs urgent attention and with a track record as a woman of steel, has proven that chal indigenous companies can achieve amazing results, and she doesn’t compromise good management and leadership.
“Our management is peopled by technocrats whose professionalism can compete with global standard. I have been lucky with having the right people all the way. Our clients have also been a part of our huge success.”
Adeyemi has marshaled her team and workforce well by activating and directing the positive energy of her people to achieve excellent results.
She has continually invested in qualified talents and thus lead a workforce of trained individuals towards becoming a major player in line with the company’s ambitious aspirations.
According to the company “Our objective is to work together as a team to achieve success on every project for our clients, through the professionalism, diligence and hard work that we profess and promote”
Not done with just making a mark in the construction industry, like a typical knowledgeable serial entrepreneur, she has formed other companies and invested in other sectors. One of those new adventures is in the finance sector with the establishment of Still Earth Capital Finance.
That is the reason Adeyemi’s Still Earth pride’s itself as having the ability to deliver projects on budget, on time and with the best quality too!
Still Earth wears the garb of a premier general contractor and is highly regarded as one of the leading engineering & construction companies in Nigeria. The songs of satisfied customers across the country and beyond have remained the testimony behind the greatness Adeyemi and her Still Earth Group team enjoy.
The company assiduously works on major projects, and has successfully completed several in the bargain, both as direct contractors and sub-contractors. With diversified, yet distinguished construction capabilities in the Nigerian market, Still Earth has successfully completed several prestigious projects and continue to participate in large scale projects both independently or in joint venture with international companies
Some of its reputable clients include Julius Berger Nigeria, Dangote Refinery, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd, Oyo State Government, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Lagos State Government, Ekiti State Government, Akwa Ibom State Government, Delta State Government, Federal Ministry of Transport, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited, many High Networth Individuals amongst others. Certainly, these first-rate organisations cannot be wrong!
The company’s aim is to develop the country’s infrastructural base by responsibly executing every project it is entrusted with, while creating real benefit for communities it serves by adopting principled and uncompromising approach to its professional and value standards. And of course, it takes Corporate Social Responsibility seriously.
Still Earth aims to be a market leader, preferred general construction contractor that is globally recognized. Its focus is to achieve consistency and proficiency in the delivery of outstanding service, while adding value for clients through professionalism, pro-activity, creativity, transparency, timeliness and qualitative performance.
The company’s future challenge in the dynamic market is to take full advantage of its competitiveness and available opportunities. From this perspective, Still Earth has been restructured to become recognized with high competence in the market.
There is no doubt that Still Earth is driven by ingenuity and innovation; it has a human face because the Group Managing Director draws her deep understanding from both human and business dynamics to run an efficient organization. She always ensures to make it about the client and her company and nothing more.
Little wonder the company’s core mission is “To add exceptional, lasting value through our technical expertise, corporate culture and corporate social responsibility to our staff, clients, country and humanity”.
Adeyemi’s personality is not just all business and boardroom, she is also serious about political affairs though not an active participant, and that was why she studied Political Science for her first degree.
“I have always been interested in Nigerian politics, that is why my first degree was in Political Science,” she said.
It is this nationalistic passion that led her to set up The Green Renaissance, a Leadership Advancement Initiative saddled with the responsibility of championing institutional independence and competence in Nigeria.
As a result of her sterling achievements, she has received numerous recognitions and honour such as the African Leader of Integrity Merit Award – Excellence in Corporate Governance and Service Delivery from Accra, Ghana.
As she marks her birthday today, here is wishing Oyindamola Lami Adeyemi many more years of business accomplishments.
By Eric Elezuo
It was a gathering of distinguished egg heads, prolific intellectuals and ardent academics at the Adeline Hall of the Lead City University, Ibadan, when notable and celebrated Chairman of Council and Pro-Chancellor of the Institution, Professor Jide Owoeye, marked his entry into the septugenarian circle.
The event, a multiple-in-1 classic, featured tribute session, a panel session, books presentation and reading as a well as a defined colloquium. Among topnotch individuals that graced the event were delectable heads of higher institutions of learning including the Vice Chancellor, Edo State University, Uzairue, Sheldrake O. Akindele; the Vice Chancellor, Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Oyedunni S. Arulogun; Vice Chancellor of Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ibrahim Gbajabiamila, and the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Muyiwa Popoola, who were members of the panel session that discussed critical mechanisms that enhance and safeguard the future of education in the country.
The panelists leveraged on the theme, Nigeria Higher Education and Private Sector Involvement: Navigating the Path, Confronting the Challenges, Exploring Opportunities for the Future. The lead discussant was the Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Katherine, Gombe State, Umaru Pate.
Speaker after speaker, the academic giants celebrated the unequaled legacies of Prof Owoeye’s 70 years of impressive existence, especially his scholarly contributions to the standardization of not only learning, but also academic environment in Nigeria with the establishment of Lead City University in 2005.
The ceremony was punctuated with various genres of entertainment including cultural dances, touch of saxophone, talking drum display, drama presentation by students of the institution, and a host of others.
Among the books presented at the ceremony were Asia in World Politics and Knowledge in the Emerging Global Order.
The highpoint of the gathering was the cutting of the birthday cake with various presentations of full size portraits and other gifts items from colleagues, students and staff.
Othe dignitaries who graced the occasion were Chairman, Ovation Media Group, Chief Dele Momodu, General Secretary, Pan African Writers Association (PAWA), Wale Okediran, Oyo State Commissioner of Lagos among others.
Speaking on his achievements, a long time friend from the University of Ife days, Chief Momodu, noted that Prof Owoeye has always been a man of letters, who has carved a niche for himself, adding that Nigeria and Africa are proud of him.
Distinguished in every ramifications, and an authority in International politics and relations, with bias to Asia, Owoeye has transverse all areas and degrees of the academic environment, terminating at the professorial level, and capping it all with the establishment of topnotch private university as the icing on the cake of his academic pursuit and inclination. He boasts of bachelor’s, masters and doctorate degrees in different fields of international studies.
For Owoeye, reaching the peak of his profession was when he became a professor of International Relations at OAU in the year 2000.
Born on March 1, 1956, Prof. Jide Owoeye is a teacher, and a very proud one at that, who would not miss any opportunity to introduce learning and exchange of knowledge. That practically explains why his 70th birthday celebration was tailored towards a colloquium and book presentation status.
Owoeye began his schooling at the OLMC Demonstration School, Ibadan, where he spent the period between 1962 and 1967 acquiring elementary or foundational knowledge of education.
Afterwards in 1968, he attended Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo, for his school certificate, and left in 1972 before attending Government College Ibadan, for his Higher School Certificate, from 1973 to 1974.
He was admitted into the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, for his first degree.
On graduation, he was employed as Insurance Officer at Akin George & Company, Lagos, as he decided to try his hands in circular career. His stint at the firm lasted between 1979 and 1980.
Thereafter, he made a daring turn into the word of teaching, becoming Lecturer II at the Department of Government, OSCAS, Ile-Ife, from 1980 to 1982. He briefly worked as Administrative Officer at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, afterwards in 1983 before landing the position of Senior Lecturer at the Department of International Relations, Obafemi Awolowo University.
Then, there was no turning back from the academic world. He was made a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Lagos, from 1992 to 1993, and then, Associate Lecturer, Foreign Policy Academy, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Centre for Asian Studies.
In a 2019 interview he granted The Punch, Owoeye noted as follows as to what propelled his desire to establish his own university: “I have been in the university system for almost 37 years and 24 of those years were spent in the public university system. I was a professor at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, and I noticed then that if one has passion for education, one should have seen some of the lapses (in the system), and some of those lapses one discovered can only be corrected if one is the head of the institution. I believe if you aspire to have a better university system, it is either you head the institution or you look for avenues to help create one where you can impact upon. That was what brought about the passion to work towards establishing a private university where the quest for excellence can actually be attained.”
Owoeye’s rich trajectory in the world of education is common knowledge, leading to his hold several high-profile positions in Obafemi Awolowo University.
Owoeye is married to his lovely wife, Emuleomo, whom he wedded in 1982, and they are blessed with three children; a son and two daughters.
Meanwhile, a special birthday soiree has been scheduled for March 1, his day of turning 70 proper, at Adeline Hall of the university. It promises to be the mother of all celebrations.
Having spent a lot of energy paying attention to education, Owoeye would love to be remembered as somebody who contributed to quality education (at the tertiary and non-tertiary levels) in this country.
Happy 70th birthday sir!
Photos: Tunde Bolarinwa
Schooled in varioius areas of human endeavour and administration, Mr Kojo Bonsu is an asset, not only to the Republic of Ghana, but the world in general. He has by every standard paid his dues to the development of his country, serving as the current Ambassador to the Peoples Republic of China, and having served in many other diverse areas including sports administration and entrepreneurship.
Presently, the face of the Republic in China has taken it upon himself to recreate the investment platform of Ghana in China, mandating the media to begin as a matter of urgency, to make Ghana the subject of focus in their reporting.
In other words, the Ambassador has appealed to the Chinese media to use their medium to promote Ghana. A call that resonate the general mantra of the government of President John Dramani Mahama
According to Bonsu, Ghana boasts of several business opportunities, therefore if the Chinese media take keen interest in Ghanaian issues, it would help attract investors from China to Ghana.
He insisted that the door of the Ghana Embassy in China is wide open to Chinese journalists, especially those who want to positively project Ghana.
Bonsu made the remarks while hosting a press soiree in Beijing, on behalf of the Ghana Embassy, which was graced by a number of prominent media institutions in China.
The programme was mainly used to promote Ghana’s upcoming 69th independence anniversary celebrations and also highlight investent opportunities in the country.
Kojo Bonsu, who is a former Kumasi Mayor, said Ghana is the safest, friendly and best country for any investor to do business, urging Chinese businessmen to heed his advice.
“The Chinese media institutions should henceforth partner with the Ghana Embassy in promoting trade and investment opportunities in both of our sister countries for growth.
According to him, Ghana is a democratic nation, which has conducive atmosphere for businesses to flourish, stressing his desire to work and improve Ghana-China relations.
“Ghana is committed to strengthening ties with China. My country is a stable democracy, has business-friendly environment and rich cultural heritage,” Kojo Bonsu stated.
A native of Offinso, a town in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, Michael Kojo (Mensa) Bonsu, thoroughbred professional, both in politics and administration, was born to a respected Offinso Queen Mother and a military officer, among eight other siblings.
He had his Ordinary Level education at the Tamale Secondary School, between 1974 and 1979, where he developed the knack, desire and dream of becoming a football administrator.
Thereafter, he was admitted into the Drayton School in London, but could not immediately assume studies because of the several businesses he was handling at the time. However, between 1985 and 1990, when Bonsu joined giant sports kit manufacturers, Adidas, he enrolled into their football Business Unit at Herzogenaurach, Germany, and in the process obtained a Diploma in Sports Business and Marketing. Presently, he holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations.
After completing his training in sports Business and marketing, Bonsu worked with Adidas and became their first representative in West Africa and served as an Assistant Marketing Officer. He rose to become the kit maker’s manager in Ghana and the whole of West Africa. Within which period he brokered deals between the company and the Ghana football Association specifically the Ghana football national team.
Bonsu’s dexterity in all the things he has laid his hands, including the oil sector, on earned him a citation of honour in 2015 by Managing Director of GOIL, Mr Patrick A.K. Akorli as follows; “You were the key advocate on the board when the monumental decision to rebrand GOIL was taken – the results of which have seen GOIL being propelled to the number one position (retail) among oil marketing companies in Ghana”.
He served as the Managing Director of GOIL from July 2011 to February 2012.
In addition to his legacy of achievements, Bonsu is a director of Tamale-based club Real Tamale United. He was also an executive member of Asante Kotoko.
In 2003, he launched a bid to be the Ghana Football Association’s President. He went against former president of the GFA Kwesi Nyantakyi, politician and executive member of Accra Hearts of Oak, Vincent Odotei Sowah, a former FA vice-chairman, Joseph Ade Coker and former executive council chairman, Y.A Ibrahim. He subsequently lost to Kwesi Nyantakyi in the elections in December 2005.
An ardent supporter of Asante Kotoko and Premier side Tottenham Hotspur, in 2001, he founded and published Agoo Magazine, an African lifestyle magazine.
In January 2010, Bonsu was appointed board chairman of the National Sports Authority then a council under the Ministry of Youth and Sports. He is known and respected for spearheading the re-branding of the sports council until it subsequently became a sports authority.
In 2013, President Mahama nominated him for the position of Metropolitan Chief Executive for the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly. He resigned in July 2016, following an issue with the Kumasi Traditional Council.
Among many other landmarks, Bonsu would be remembered building the first ever recreational facility, the Kumasi Rattray Park, and organizing the second largest event as part of the celebration of Ghana at 50, dubbed “Ghana As One Gala Night” at Ghana’s Black Star Square with International artists including The Whispers, Shalamar, Pat Thomas, AB Cresntil, Gyedu Blay Amboley, Paapa Yankson and Ola Williams.
It is also on record that in 2014, he secured a loan facility from the Deutsche Bank UAE through parliamentary approval to build the largest modern market in West Africa, the Kejetia Market, called the “Kejetia Dubai,” completed in 2017. He also built the Asawase market, Tafo market, and Atonsu-Agogo market. He renovated the Kumasi Prempeh Assembly Hall. Bonsu’s strides speak volumes.
Bonsu tried his hands at the presidency of Ghana in 2024, but could not win the ticket of his party as Mahama was the preferred choice.
Bonsu continues to exhibit great strides as a distinguished administrator, businessman and political juggernaut.
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