Boss Of The Week
Oke Afolabi: Highly Successful Digital Entrepreneur with Touch of Class
By Eric Elezuo
Among Nigerians of substance, intelligence, incredible acumen and unequalled patriotism is the Chief Executive Officer, Global InfoSwift Consulting Limited (GICL), a Lagos based IT company that provide solutions and services to Nigerian financial institutions, Mr. Oke Kehinde Afolabi. He is not just the CEO, but a co-founder of the firm.
A distinguished egghead, Afolabi sits atop diverse business concerns ranging from logistics to hospitality as well as tech and showbiz. It is not by accident that he is a guru in each one of them, dishing out one form of innovation after another to the admiration of clients, partners, consumers, those who look up to him for mentorship, banks as well governments including Nigeria. As far as he is concerned, impossibility does not exist in any book. He is a typical Nigerian stock.
He says: “Impossible is nothing. The attitude of Nigeria is of a go better country. The attitude of, why not have this, and why not have the tallest, boldest, loudest?” Little wonder the heights both him and GICL have reached in a short space of time. It is worthy of note that the firm is also a promoter of Omni channel Solution with its Cr2 partners which provides digital banking platforms for Nigerian Banks; a move that has revolutionalised the banking industry.
Infoswift HQ
An Associate member of the Business Continuity Institute UK, Afolabi, with his ambitious achievements, has proved to be a results-producing Marketing Professional. He has showcased these feats with a proven record of accomplishment in planning and leading comprehensive marketing strategies in support of business goals and objectives.
He has not failed to provide strategic direction, articulates corporate vision, mission and strategy as well as values that define the culture of the team in his capacity as the number citizen of GICL.
Even with all his impacts and contributions, his humble mien has always come to fore and see him ascribe honours not to himself but to the ever improving system that granted him opportunity to attain the heights. He sees the youths and the upcoming generation as the real face of change wit streams of ideas for a more regenerated society.
“Everything is changing and the newer generation are coming up with these great ideas, so banks need to evolve too.
“It’s been nice that I can make an impact. I hope that I can leave something that can be taken forward even if I’m not here.”
He is bent on never following where the path may lead but follow where there is no path with the intent of leaving a trail, according to Martin Luther King.
Afolabi’s in-depth knowledge of the technological terrain launch him into an affair with CR2, a world-leading vendor within the Digital Banking Platform market, with a market leadership position in Africa. The partnership has helped to propel Nigerian banks into the innovative world of digitalisation as the platform provides banks with Digital, Self-Service and Payments solutions to grow their business, optimise their customer service cost and deliver an enhanced customer experience.
With headquarters in Ireland, Cr2 enables over 100 banks in 60 countries seamlessly connect and engage with their customers on the most critical banking channels today. It takes a man of vision to discover high profile firms and innovations. Afolabi is that man!
Standard lodo
Afolabi has succeeded, with the assistance of CR2, to enhance the impact and effectiveness of action through a combined and more efficient use of resources, as well as promote innovation. This has in no small measure enabled the parties to jointly deliver projects, with special reference one of the biggest banks in Africa, Access Bank Plc.
Part of Afolabi’s success story is dated back to May 2013, when the Irish Government (Enterprise Ireland) sought his assistance to facilitate a financial service seminar to inspire business men in Ireland to see investment opportunities in Nigeria. Of course he delivered to the brim. His exceptional facilitation style was attested to when the government led several business men to Nigeria on a major trade mission to the country in conjunction with the Central Bank of Nigeria. It would not out of place to describe the gentleman as a go-getter.
Afolabi is talented, results-oriented and has demonstrated success-driving growth in targeted markets/sectors through implementation of key projects. His solid leadership skills are unmatched; with proven ability to build and guide top-performing marketing teams.
Energetic, alert and vibrant, he is adept at communicating with management, vendors, and internal departments to coordinate overall marketing efforts. Not just that, he is also tenacious in building new businesses, securing customer loyalty, and forging strong ties with external business partners. A proverbial workaholic.
Presently, Afolabi’s acumen in digitalisation of banks is helping the Central Bank of Nigeria to audit some of the commercial Banks in compliance to the ISO standard he initiated.
It is not a co-incidence that Global InfoSwift (GIS) has established herself as a driving force behind the successes achieved by most Banks in the area of their compliance with the CBN IT Standard requirements and other Technology related solutions and services.
Following are some of the other organizations where Afolabi and GICL’s expertise are harnessed for more effective digitalisation; Zenith Bank (Integrated Management System ISO 27001, ISO 22301, ISO 20000),
Airtel Group (Business Continuity/IT Disaster recovery), MTN Nigeria (Backup and Recovery solutions),
Wema Bank (ISO 27001 & Cobit Framework), MTN Ghana (Backup and recovery solution), Special Court of Sierra Leone (backup and recovery solutions), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (Symantec antivirus/backup and recovery sols), Federal Ministry of Education. (Cisco solution), Heritage Bank (ISO 27001 and PCIDSS), Skye Bank (ISO 27001, ISO 22301 and ISO 20000), Guaranty Trust Bank (ISO 27001, 22301 and ISO 20000) and Central Bank of Nigeria
Prior to becoming the CEO of the firm, Afolabi was the Executive Director of the company, where he performed excellently, and was deemed suitable to replace Solomon Edun.
A statement issued by Global Infoswift exposed the capabilities of Afolabi and brought them to the fore. The exposition couldn’t be better put by a group that knows him better as they stated that he is “highly experienced, result driven and well–regarded business leader with an extraordinary passion for excellence.”
Among many of his efforts at Global Infoswift, Afolabi is saddled with the responsibility of creating anabling environment for the smooth running of the company with all sales and business development functions, including new product rollouts, key account management, customer relationship development, contract negotiations, and order fulfillment.
Without mincing, the reputable entrepreneur has functioned as the chief visionary and inspiration officer for the organization, providing strategic direction, articulating the corporate vision, mission and strategy as well as values that define the culture of the organization.
In the past, he has spearheaded major strategies and technical shifts across the company’s portfolio of products and services. Over the years, he has participated and successfully led several huge projects to fruition, like the implementation of ISO project for the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dangote Group and other commercial banks.
Afolabi is also a well sought after speaker and provides mentorship and inspiration, start-up seed funding, and entrepreneurial development.
He is happily married, and blessed with children.
The Wikipedia captured her trajectory as follows:
In October 2009, she was elected Ghana’s representative to the executive board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
Ahead of the 2012 general elections, Jane Opoku Agyemang moderated the debate with Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.
On 26 October 2018, she became Chancellor of the Women’s University in Africa located in Zimbabwe.
She has served on many local and international boards and committees such as the Centre for Democratic Governance, (CDD-Ghana), the editorial board of the Harriet Tubman Series on the African Diaspora (Africa World Press Inc. USA), the Africa Initiative in Canada, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons as an Eminent Citizen.
Opoku-Agyemang is an author. Her focus areas includes Literature with a focus on Women from Ghana, Oral literature in Ghana and Africa, Communication Skills and Issues in the African Diaspora. As an academic she has written and published in scholarly journals and presented articles at various conferences including at the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City and at the Inaugural Lecture to the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences.
In 2015, as Education Minister, she published and launched a five volumes collection of published folktales titled ‘Who told the most incredible story?”’
A key focus area during her tenure was empowering girls and advocating for gender equity in education. Her leadership drove the implementation of policies that tackled gender disparities, promoted higher female enrolment and retention rates, and empowered girls through education. Her initiatives played a pivotal role in creating more inclusive opportunities for young women across Ghana.
Additionally, she led the conversion of 10 polytechnics across the regions into technical universities, a bold initiative that elevated the status of these institutions, broadening their academic scope and enhancing vocational education. This reform was instrumental in aligning Ghana’s educational framework with global trends, equipping students with practical skills for a competitive job market.
During her tenure, Opoku-Agyemang initiated the construction of 124 Community Day Senior High Schools, known as “E-Blocks,” to improve access to secondary education in underserved areas. By the end of her term, 50 schools were completed and operational, providing modern facilities such as science laboratories, libraries, and ICT centres. This initiative significantly expanded educational opportunities, particularly in rural and peri-urban communities, and underscored her commitment to addressing disparities in access to quality education.
Opoku-Agyemang oversaw the completion of key infrastructure at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho, including the School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, a hostel block, and staff accommodation at its Sokode campus. The university was inaugurated by President John Dramani Mahama in November 2015, underscoring the government’s commitment to expanding access to quality higher education and supporting the training of health professionals to address national healthcare needs.
She also played a critical role in establishing the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) in the Eastern Region. She facilitated the passage of the enabling Bill in Parliament and secured funding for the university. In December 2016, President John Mahama officially cut the sod for the construction of the UESD’s Somanya campus.
Vice presidential campaign
Opoku-Agyemang was selected as the presidential running mate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on 6 July 2020 for Ghana’s December 2020 General elections. She became the first female running mate of the two major political parties in Ghana. Her selection by the flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress was applauded by women groups and women activists as a positive sign to the Ghanaian political scene to promote gender balance and equality.
She appealed to Ghanaians to vote for change and promised to use her office as vice president to influence sustainable development and practical youth-centred policies. Her campaign message was devoid of attacks on opponents. Her intensive campaign in the coastal communities and her home region, the Central Region yielded results as the NDC won most of the constituencies they had lost in 2016. The NDC also won 9 out of the 16 regions in Ghana including the major battleground, Greater Accra.
The NDC National Executive Committee, on 7 March 2024, officially endorsed Opoku-Agyemang again as the running mate for the party’s flagbearer, ahead of the 2024 general elections.
Opoku-Agyemang became the vice president–elect after Mahama won the 2024 presidential election.
On 7 January 2025, Opoku-Agyemang was sworn in as the Vice President of Ghana, becoming the first female to hold the office. The ceremony took place at Independence Square in Accra, where she took the Oath of Allegiance and the Vice President’s Oath before Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo. Her appointment marked a significant moment in Ghana’s political history, as she became the first woman to assume the role of Vice President in the country’s history.
Opoku-Agyemang has been honoured with honorary degrees from the University of the West Indies and Winston-Salem University. She has also received an award for Global leadership from the University of South Florida in Tampa. She received the Officer of the Order of the Volta award for Academic Distinction in 2011 by President John Atta Mills and Ghana Women of Excellence Award in the Education category due her contribution to the development and promotion of quality education in Ghana. She was acknowledged for Outstanding Performance in Advancing International Education, School for International Training, Vermont, USA on two occasions.
In 2020, she was named among the 40 Most Inspirational Female Leaders in Ghana for serving as a role model for women in Ghana and in Africa. In January 2023, she was listed among the 100 most reputable Africans.
It is believed that her antecedents and wholesale performances in all the offices she had previously held, will come to bear as she studiously assists Mahama to reignite the 24hour economy he is known for.
By Eric Elezuo
The academic environment, or to be more specific, the ivory tower, thrives on quality, capacity, intelligence and ability to think out of the box. It is further complicated when to become a vice Chancellor, one has to be above board, be the ultimate cetris paribus and have the never-say-never attitude to get things done.
These are the qualities, and more that propelled 41-year-old Professor of International Law, at the University of Abuja, Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi, to the height of administration head of the institution as the Vice Chancellor.
Just into her fourth decade as a human being, Aisha has come of age, smashing the proverbial glass ceiling, and hitting stardom where it was least expected. She is the real slay queen, endowed with beauty, brains and absolute intelligence.
A profile of her personality published on the university site, noted that for her to assume the incumbency of the University administration, Aisha has arrived, seen and conquered, creating room of encouragement, inspiration and desire among the young ones, especially the female folks, who look up to her. She is an enigma.
The profile reads as follows:
Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi, a distinguished scholar and professor of International Law at the University of Abuja is from Katsina State, Nigeria. She began her educational journey at Sacred Heart School, Kaduna, where she obtained her First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) in 1993. She proceeded to Queens College, Yaba, Lagos, earning her West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in 1999, her LLB degree from the University of Reading, UK, the LLM from the London School of Economics, UK, BL from the Nigeria Law School, Abuja and Ph.D from the University of Abuja, Nigeria.
Maikudi’s academic excellence took her to the University of Reading, where she earned an LLB in 2004. She further specialised in Public International Law, obtaining an LLM from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2005. After completing her legal education at the Nigerian Law School (2006–2007). In 2007, Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi did her National Youth Service Corps at the Corporate Secretariat and Legal Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. She pursued and had a PhD in International Law from the University of Abuja in 2015.
She joined the University of Abuja as a Lecturer II on 4th September 2008, and rose through the ranks to become a professor in 2021.
Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi broke barriers as the first female and youngest Head of Department in 2013, the first female Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Law in 2018, and the pioneer Director of the University of Abuja International Centre in 2019. She also served as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), where she was instrumental in enhancing academic standards and promoting a culture of excellence at the University.
To date, she is the youngest Professor of the University of Abuja and indeed Nigeria, as well as the first female Professor of Law in the North West and the University of Abuja. She specializes in United Nations Law, backed by extensive research and numerous publications in academic journals and book chapters. Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi floated a Postgraduate course on United Nations Law and has supervised numerous undergraduate and postgraduate theses and dissertations, contributing to the growth of legal scholarship. She has also taught Company Law for over 12 years and is well versed in its mechanics.
Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi has represented her university and country at numerous national and international conferences, workshops, and training sessions across the UK, US, South Africa, Germany, Italy, China, Ghana, and Egypt. She has presented papers at many of these events, further solidifying her global reputation as an academic leader.
She is an active member of several professional organisations, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigerian Law Teachers Association (NLTA), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and Nigerian Society of International Law.
Aisha is married with children.
By Eric Elezuo
The constantly improved city of Osogbo was agog weekend when the Secretary to the Government of the Osun State, Igbalaye Teslim Adekunle, was installed as the Bobagunwa of Osogboland, replacing his late father, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Igbalaye, who was the pioneer Bobagunwa of Osogbo.
The installation of Teslim Adekunle mark the continuation of visionary leadership, a legacy built on profound patriotism and a relentless commitment to the progress of people of Osogbo in particular, and Osun State in general.
The occasion, a combination of pomp, grace, culture and class, drew together the who is who in Osun, West and national politics to the land that bustles with melodious springs.
This venue was the royal palace of Ataoja of Osogbo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji (Larooye II), who presided over the ceremony, and had the singular honour of conferring the prestigious feather on the new Bobagunwa.
As early as the first light of the d-day, guests from all corners and walks of life, some, who had arrived the day before, began trooping into the colorful premises of the palace with giant billboards showcasing the about to be installed Bobagunwa and the royal father.
From afar as well as near, dignitaries including traditional rulers, government officials, captains of industries, entertainment buffs, students organisations, community groups, youths and the general public, all converge to witness the glory of a man many believe is a force to reckon with, in both community relations and political administration.
Among notable names present were the Osun state Governor, Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke; the Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi; former governor of the state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinola; former Osun state Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori and her husband; Oba Abolarin Adedokun, Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewole Egbedun; Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Akinyode Abidemi Oyewusi; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Kazeem Akinleye, Senator representing Osun West Senatorial District, Sen. Lere Oyewunmi, Senator representing Osun Central, Sen. Olubiyi Fadeyi-Ajagunla, State PDP Chairman, Hon. Sunday Bisi, Former Chief of Air Marshal, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao; Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon, Mr. Oye Balogun the Secretary to the Kogi State Government, Dr. Folashade Arike Ayoade, the Timi of Ede Land, Oba Munirudeen Lawal, Hon. Adewale Morufu Adebayo, and a host of other eminent personalities.
Glad in prestigious all red traditional babariga attire, Igbalaye arrived the venue, in company of his wife, children and aides to a rousing welcome of acceptance. The team could not help but respond to the melodious sounds emanating the drums of the itinerant drummers, with corresponding dance steps.
It was not long before the Ataoja, in full view of the guests, including Governor Adeleke, performed the rites of installation, and pronounced Igbalaye, the new Bobagunwa of Osogboland to a loud applause that ricochetted across the length and breadth of Osogboland. He enjoined the new Bobagunwa to uphold tradition and its institutions, and never betray that trust of his people. He harped on the sanctity of the title, and advised the bearer to remain a beacon that he has always been.
In his response as the Bobagunwa, Teslim Adekunle, promised to extend the legacy of truthfulness, honesty, leadership and hard work as handed down by the previous Bobagunwa.
With happiness visibly showing on his face, the Bobagunwa conducted himself round the venue, exchanging pleasantries, in apparent performance of his first official duty as the stool occupier.
In his brief remarks, Governor Adeleke, known for his jovial disposition and dancing prowess, congratulated the new Bobagunwa, and task him to bring unity to not only Osogboland, but the entire Osun State and Nigeria at large. He also thanked the Ataoja for the honour his SSG, noting that the royal father has been a supporter of the administration towards delivering good governance.
The stage was practically set for music, dance and good food, and every attendee had his very full. King Sunny Ade was on hand to make that guest enjoined the best of dancing and music
According to tradition, the title of Bobagunwa is conferred upon deserving sons of the land, and carries immense prestige, aa well as comes with responsibilities.
It is those, like Teslim Adekunle, who have played a significant role in the growth and development of the city in the past, and are committed to the future development of the state in culture and tradition, infrastructure and general growth, are eligible for the honour.
Bobagunwa, a Yoruba language word, which means “to reign with the king” is a clear testament that Teslim Adekunle is qualified to be a confidant of the reigning king. And by implication, demands express commitment and dedication to the king of Osogbo, who is the Ataoja.
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