Boss Of The Week
Nireti Adebayo: Entrepreneur Par Excellence
By Eric Elezuo
Diligence, determination, courage, commitment among many others are just words. But they are words which have been enlivened and weaponised in the life of a first class entrepreneur, skillful administrator and cherished family woman, Mrs. Nireti Adebayo.
Here is a woman, who consciously set out to make a great difference in the world of entrepreneurship, and with great enthusiasms to create a enduring legacy for generations now and yet unborn. In fact, Nireti, as she is fondly called is a typical example of the saying ‘what a man can do, a woman can do better’. This is exemplified in her courageous strides in the field of enterprise, breaking boundaries and creating new frontiers. One can confidently say, she threads on grounds where even the best of men fears to thread. She is an amazon of a woman.
Like a few others in her category, who crave, dream and work towards success and achievement, ‘Nireti is thoroughly bred in every ramification, and with an excellent educational background that prepared to the greater height she has reached and continue to pursue. She has an M.Sc. degree in Administration (Strategic HR major) from the prestigious Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, USA, in addition to a Higher Diploma in Accountancy.
That is not all! She is a two-time proud alumnus of the Lagos Business School, with an AMP 19 (Advance Management Program), which she got in 2007, and the CEP Stream 22 (Chief Executive Program), which she got in 2013. In addition, Nireti attended the IESE Business School, Barcelona where she earned a Diploma in Management. She is practically loaded, and has not been afraid to showcased the stuff she is made of in every field of endeavour; social, economic or otherwise.
‘Nireti Adebayo’s giant strides in the enterprise culminated in her establishing Whyte Cleon Limited, a human resource outsourcing and consulting solutions firm with a highly endorsed reputation across various industries in Nigeria. She oversees the thriving affairs of the establishment as the Founding Chief Executive Officer. Her diligent expertise led to the establishment of Whyte Cleon operations in Ghana, and with expert knowledge under her leadership, unique business sense and ethics, the team has grown into a formidable one serving various sectors.
Whyte Cleon Limited was incorporated in 2010 and commenced full operations immediately with strategic focus is to provide practical and specific solutions to help clients bridge the gap between Strategy Development, Talent Acquisition, Strategy Execution and Organizational Performance. The company has steadily grown into one of the preferred HR Outsourcing solutions providers in Nigeria.
Within the period of their existence, and under the superlative leadership of Nireti, the company has placed over 15,000 employees in organization spread across the nation and with an international office in Nairobi, Kenya.
It would be quite an understatement to say Whyte Cleon is thriving because presently, the company has been propelled into becoming a leading HR organization of highly engaged employees with a resolve to consistently deliver quality service and exceed client expectations. This is not just a wish, but tangible reality as clientele that cuts across every strata of the society testifies to the soft touch of Mrs Adebayo and her team.
With over 22 years cognate experience spanning several corporate organizations in different capacities, ‘Nireti can without mincing words said to be a result oriented, passionate HR professional. She has been able to impart exceptional problem solving, motivational, human developmental, leadership and management skills to her clients and assisted them over the years to formulate, develop and effectively implement their HR strategies.
She said of the company: “At Whyte Cleon Limited, we not only believe in people, we also bridge the gap between organizational needs and the availability of right talents to meet these needs.
“Critical success factors for organizations to attain profitability and growth requires the inclusion of all stakeholders in the crafting and implementation of corporate strategies at all levels. It is with this knowledge that we offer specific services to support organizations in executing their strategies as it relates to the following offerings Outsourcing, Recruitment & Selection, Learning & Development, HR Administration, Payroll & Verification.
“We believe emphasis on technical competence must be matched and balanced with managerial competence to ensure stakeholder confidence, customer satisfaction, productivity, profitability and stability. The best structures without the right people are like a beautiful edifice without a well-structured foundation.
“Creating a sustainable organization with the right attitude and skill sets supported by a great structure, corporate strategy, processes and innovative technology must be hinged on full engagement of employees to achieve greater success. Organizations who recognize and make their people Believe what they do Matter and that they can make a Difference build more sustainable organizational cultures.
“The 11 Year study by John Kotter & James Heskett (Harvard Business School) shows that the revenue growth of organizations with positive culture is 682% while those of organizations with weak cultures amounts to 166% growth rate. Organizations must Engage, Enable and Energize their employees to retain their best talents, recognize and reward good performance.”
Participating in the Stanford Graduate School of Business Seed Transformation Program, Nireti developed an ever-growing transformational mindset, which she has injected into the Ghana branch of Whyte Cleon Ltd.
Beyond her educational qualifications, she is a Fellow of the Association of Outsourcing Professionals of Nigeria, Member, Institute of Directors, Member, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management and Member, Society for Human Resource Management USA, IAOP – USA.
She was recently appointed to the board of AIFA Reading Society, and has been appointed to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Stanford Seed Network, a network of high potential businesses seeking to transform lives and bring prosperity to Africa. She’s also a Founding member of RTA (Angel Investors).
In addition, ‘Nireti is a two-time advisory board member for Standard Chartered Women In Tech – SC WITI – (a Standard Chartered Bank sponsored program at the Enterprise Development Center – Lagos Business School). She is also a facilitator at the Enterprise Development Center of the Lagos Business School – Expert in Residence program.
On the home front, ‘Nireti is also a superstar. She is married to her heartthrob, Niyi and both are blessed with beautiful children and a wonderful family.
NIRETI’S WHYTE CLEON
Whyte Cleon Limited is a leading Human Resource Outsourcing & Management Solutions provider in Nigeria. The company’s strong pedigree and unmatched ability to serve clients and prospects better than anyone else in the industry can be attributed to its culture of professionalism, expertise, integrity, excellence and dedication that has been studiously built over the years.
Whyte Cleon aims to provide practical and bespoke solutions to help clients bridge the gap between Strategy Development, Talent Acquisition, Strategy Execution, Organizational Performance and Human Capital Investment. They design systems that align within client’s needs and organizational vision while also monitoring progress towards their goals.
It is noteworthy that years of field experience, academic research and benefits of seeing what works best in clients individual communities nationwide have influenced the organisation’s creative services and recommendations. Whyte Cleaon advises, guides and supports clients to achieve and sustain workplace success.
On a good day, Whyte Cleon Limited, leveraging on the grace of teamwork, integrity, empathy, professionalism and respect for individuals, is poised to partner with any organization in aligning talent acquisition with business strategies in order to generate a greater competitive to the customer’s advantage. It further develops, among other things, specific employee outsourcing & recruitment solutions guaranteed to effect productivity, profitability and customer satisfaction which are valuable to every organization.
At Whyte Cleon, People matter, in addition to what is done and how it is done. In a nutshell, it is a team of professionals, and as a result, positive employee engagement, innovation and positive change management matter.
On Tuesday, May 25, 2021, Whyte Cleon Limited will be introduced in greater dimension in Ghana at the Marriot Hotel, Airport Square, Accra by 10am during a breakfast meeting.
From the stable of the firm’s profile, it is discovered as follows:
“We are pleased to introduce our organization Whyte Cleon Limited. We are a Human Resource Consulting & Outsourcing Management Solutions provider.
“We provide practical and tailor made Human Resource Management Solutions to enable our clients bridge the gap between Strategy Development and Execution Talent Acquisition, and Organizational Performance. We advise, guide, and support our cients to achieve and sustain workplace success.
“At Whyte Cleon we partner with client organizations to align human resource management with business strategies to generate competitive advantage. Our commitment to our clients, combined experience of our rich pool of dedicated and certified consultants coupled with our strategic partnerships enable us provide unrivaled value added services beyond the traditional realm of human resources management. We deploy Human Resource Management and Outsourcing solutions that enhance the ability of our clients to achieve a very high level of employee engagement and retention, which helps them drive organizational excellence, achieve customer satisfaction and nigh profitability. Our processes are reviewed and revised cn regular basis to meet our clients’ needs and enable them take advantage of market opportunities, easily overcome business challenges, and generate exceptional results.
“We strive daily to build an organization with great, innovative, happy and highly motivated people who not only with measurable results our clients but also positively impact on the culture of our client organizations deliver value added services We are professionals who truly believe that people matter. We believe what we do matter, how we do it matters and that we can individually and collectively make a difference. We believe in team work, integrity, professionalism, and respect for the individual. We believe in positive employee engagement, innovation, and positive change management.”
It is time to do business with Whyte Cleon as the likes of FirstBank and its subsidiaries, UAC, Visafone, Airtel, GNI, Alvac, Superflux, UPS, BRISCOE, DAEWO, NIBSS, Radisson Blu, PZ, Sterling Bank, Affordable Cars, CAP PLC, MDS, System Energy, Pearlwort, Grandoak, Enterprise Bank among others can’t be wrong.
A partnership with Mrs Adebayo and Whyte Cleon is a partnership that works.
Congratulations ma for your giant strides in fostering healthy relationship among people, and putting smiles on the faces of clients and the general public. You are our Boss of the week!
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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