Boss Of The Week
Atilade Olufemi Oshoniyi: Wholesome Philanthropist, Administrator Par Excellence
By Eric Elezuo
Action, they say, speaks louder than voice. In the same vein, good products require no distinct marketing or advertisement before they are cleared off the shelves by customers that have an eye for quality – Anifade Olufemi Oshoniyi is one product whose quality is beyond compare. He is a distinguished professional, who has carried out one function after another with the zeal, focus and commitment of a Trojan horse, delivering accountability, wholesomeness, posterity and gains. The likes of Oshoniyi, without mincing words, are in very scarce supply.
A gentleman to the core, Oshoniyi was born in Ibadan in 1967 to the family of Arc Edward Aderemi Oshoniyi, who distinguished himself as the Chairman, Presidential Committee on Barrack Rehabilitation, Federal Ministry of Works. The same made education a referential hallmark for all his children.
With academic excellence at the back of his mind, and the desire to sustain an unwritten family legacy of educational integrity, Oshoniyi set out to grab the golden fleece, beginning at the CAC Primary School, Ede, where he excelled and obtained his First School Leaving Certificate.
Basking in the euphoria of his first conquest, he enrolled into Timi Agbale Secondary School before crossing over to Federal Government College, Odogbolu, Ogun State, and then to the CMS Grammar School, Bariga, Lagos, where he obtained a High School Diploma.
His exploits gained him admission into the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, in the then Gongola State, now Adamawa State, where he studied Civil Engineering and obtained a National Diploma, and won various awards in-between including the Rector’s Prize for the overall best performance in School of Engineering and Alhaji Isa Hamman Yaro’s Prize for the best student in Civil Engineering (1986).
Oshoniyi’s academic sojourn took him to the prestigious Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, where he upgraded his ND to Bachelor of Science B.Sc in Civil Engineering in 1990 winning the Profen Consultative Prize for Best Performance. He later proceeded to the one and only University of Lagos, Akoka, for an MBA in Business Management an graduated in 1995.
Striving further for the greenest of pastures, Oshoniyi departed the shores if Nigeria for the United States of America, and acquired an MSM in Project Management from the Colorado Technical University in 2010, in addition to a Doctor of Management and Leadership DM honours obtained from the University of Phoenix, Arizona in 2014. While at it, he won the Professional Certificate of award in Business Management from Colorado Technical University in November 2009. He also claimed Professional Certificate of award in Change Management from Colorado Technical University in August 2009 as well as Professional Certificate of award in Project Management in March 2010.
It is worthy of note that he is a distinguished alumnus of all the institutions he passed through, and is contributing immensely to the growth of the alumni.
An exceptional administrator of proven integrity, Oshoniyi describes himself as follows:
“I am an exceptionally solution oriented Engineering professional with deep expertise spanning multiple private and government facets. I have a demonstrated accomplishments in high level project management, business management and people interactive management.
“I am a strategic thinker with strong academic excellence, financial acumen and ability to communicate effectively with technology, executive, and business audiences.”
These are no mean qualities, and resides with only the best. Oshoniyi is one of the few best, and is equipped to run any organization from the highest of positions. His backlog of achievements, which are derived from his ability to put core corporate and individual skills to work, are innumerable.
It is on record that he is not only endowed in business management and development, he is a guru in Real Estate and Investment portfolio building. And not forgetting that his expertise in Civil engineering and Construction, Project management and planning, Strong Negotiation & Deal closing skills, timely execution to completion within budget, has stood him out among the lot.
Is it in Strategy Development and Implementation or excellence in communication and presentation skills, Oshoniyi has it all, and has remained a force to reckon with.
Highly pragmatic, he is down to earth and boasts of strong interpersonal and analytical skills, which have steered his credibility in managing men and materials. This is coupled with the ease with which he maneuvers the computer and all software related packages including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint), Microsoft Project, Data analysis, and Nvivo Qualitative Research Tool.
Oshoniyi has not remained on the periphery of professionalism; he is deeply involved in the socio-economic growth of his fatherland, Nigeria. He has therefore, devoted his time to the writing and publication of documents cutting across the construction industry, organizational growth, and Nigerian economy in major national newspapers between 2008 and 2017. His writeups have been proven to defy time and setting.
Oshoniyi’s road to professionalism kicked off in November, 1991 when he joined AIM Consultant Nigeria Limited as a trainee engineer. Among his many exploits there was participating as material scheduling officer and quality control with the consultancy team to construct the National Mosque Abuja and ECOWAS Secretariat Abuja among other multi-million dollar projects before he left in July 1993. He has not looked back ever since.
In 1992, he founded and incorporated his own firm, Sparta Contractors Nigeria limited as the first private company and developed a comprehensive business plan for 3 years after incorporation prior to commencement of business practice in the year 1995. He is the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer of the thriving firm.
Under his watch, the company has engaged and executed numerous projects, which included Housing projects, Canal constructions, Road constructions and Drainage projects for private clients, Lagos State Government, Osun State Government and the Federal Government of Nigeria.
In 2006, and with the aim of creating multiple streams of income, promote capacity building and provide employment to meet the challenges in the housing industries, he proactively founded Edward Property Konsult to engage in real estate investing, construction services and other professional services.
The company has executed some vital projects including Construction of 24m wide trapezoidal canal at Gbagada, Lagos State Housing scheme comprising 3bedrooms and 2bedrooms units in excess of 24 units for Lagos State Development and Property Corporation and Edward Property private Multi-family development of 40 units (numbers of 3 Bedrooms apartments) in Lekki- Epe road, Lagos State Nigeria.
Again, in 2010, he co-founded Saxona Systems Nigeria Limited, Lagos, to capitalize on industry changes to maximize revenue stream of income by engaging in earth moving equipment and dredgers supplies and maintenance, construction services and real estate investments. All firms are functioning optimally, maximaxing profits and churning out professionals on a regular basis.
Within his short spell of professionalism, Oshoniyi has not reneged in giving back to the society in his own little way. In the first place, he has established a Lifetime Endowment Award known as Dr. Atilade Olufemi Oshoniyi cash and Book prize for the best graduating Civil Engineering student in Structural and Highway designs at Department of Civil Engineering, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State.
He also runs a Lifetime sponsorship of one person chosen from the Muslim community in Ikosi-Isheri LGA, Lagos to Holy Pilgrimage since 2014, and also oversees the building project of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Royal Assembly, Magodo GRA. Ikeja, Lagos as the Chairman, Building Committee.
A philanthropist of great repute, who has been credited with putting smiles of whomever he comes across, Oshoniyi is a proud Rotarian of Paul Harris class.
His zeal to serve humanity in various capacities bestowed upon him membership of numerous groups and associations including:
Member of the National Technical Transport Committee for Review of National Transport Commission Bill set up by the Senate Committee on NTC, NASS. (2017)
Presented a Paper / Lecture at the Covenant University Nigeria to the final year students of Civil engineering titled “The Role of Civil Engineers in the 21st Century” in the year 2016.
Member of the Osun State Urban Renewal Committee under the Governorship of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. (2012-2013)
Pioneer and Chairman of waste management private consortium companies “High Street Managers” in partnership contract of Private Public Partnership Program with Lagos State Government (2004-2016)
The distinguished gentleman is not new to awards as his work speaks for themselves. Some of his awards include:
2017 Leadership Excellence Award for the outstanding honorable efforts toward global peace by the United Global Leadership Council, United States of America.
Winner of 2017 Community Service Award by the Magodo Resident association- Valley View Community.
Award of Year 2017 Distinguished Leadership Award by Rotary Club of Mushin Golden, District 9110 Nigeria.
Award of Year 2016 Award winner of Engineering excellence and Support to NSE by the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Lagos Branch. Award tiled “Release of Eagles 2016 by Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State.
2015 Merit Award by Nigerian Union of Local Government Employee Ikosi-Isheri LCDA Branch, Lagos.
Award Winner Industry Leader: Osun State Most Distinguished Businessman of 2013 by Osun State Update Media
Recognition Awards by F’s Club of Nigeria (2006).
Certificate of Contribution by the Community Development Association, Lafiaji North. Lagos State (2004).
Award of Excellency by the Association of Computer / Electrical Students, Lagos State University, Epe-Campus, Lagos State (2002).
A lover of research, traveling, meeting people and playing indoor sports, as well as an ardent giver, Oshoniyi is married to his beautiful law inclined heartthrob, Aderonke, and both are blessed with three sons; Atilade, Oluwanifemi and Oluwajomiloju.
We salute your courage, zeal and commitment to giving the nation, Nigeria a pride of place, sir and making the world a better place for all and sundry. You are our Boss of the Week…congratulations!
By Eric Elezuo
…from all we now know of Mr. Anyaoku, it is obvious that he was destined to be a diplomat, because he had all the makings – intelligence, friendliness, the ability to get things without offending anybody – S.I. Metu
Among the world’s very and highly respected diplomats is Nigeria’s diploma extraordinaire, Chief Emeka Anyaoku. His larger than life figure is further buttressed as he slides two more years into the nonagerian cadre. The world raises a toast to an accomplished and dedicated international figure as he celebrates 92 years of continuous impact in world politics and humanitarian endeavours.
Chief Anyaoku, before, during and after his glorious days with the Commonwealth of Nations as its Executive Secretary, has remained in the forefront of policy makers, image changers and global builders, and he is a few of these calibre of men, who do not have any kind of scandal trailing them. He qualifies as an enigma, and served as the third Commonwealth Secretary-General.
With his signature red cap, a white collar-like attire round his neck, supporting every apparel he wears, Anyaoku is very visible in every gathering and occasion.
A multiple award and honours winner, including the prestigious GCON, GCVO, CFR, CON, Anyaoku was born Eleazar Chukwuemeka Anyaoku, of Igbo parents and heritage, Emmanuel and Cecilia Anyaoku, on January 18, 1933, in Obosi, in the present day Anambra State. He was educated at Merchants of Light School, Oba, and attended the University College of Ibadan, then a college of the University of London, from where he obtained an honours degree in Classics as a College Scholar. Aside from his international career, Anyaoku finds ample time to fulfill the duties of his office as Ichie Adazie of Obosi, traditional Ndichie chieftainship. He is the first of his mother’s children, and had five other siblings.
Wikipedia further captured his trajectory as follows:
After his secondary education, Anyaoku in 1952 proceeded to teach at Emmanuel College, Owerri in the then Eastern Region, he was there until mid-1954 lecturing in mathematics, Latin and English. He was reputedly an assiduous young teacher, meticulous in preparing his lesson notes. He gave back to his students the best of what he had learned at MOLS while injecting humor into his teachings.
One of his teachers at MOLS had kindled in him an interest in the Classics. His Latin teacher had inspired in him a love for the languages, laws and culture of the ancient Greeks and Romans, and the classical roots of the English language. Anyaoku then decided to go and study Classics at the new University College of Ibadan, the premier higher institution of its kind in the country, which had been instituted in 1948 as an overseas college of the University of London.
During the mid-1950s when Anyaoku was an undergraduate at the University College, Ibadan, the Nigerian nation was embroiled in debates, discussions and demonstrations on the political future of the country. There were controversies on when Nigeria should gain independence from Britain and with what political structure it should seek independence whether as a unitary or federal state. The city of Ibadan was one of the main epicenters of these debates. And the University College, which had brought together brilliant students, lecturers and politicians from diverse parts of the country, became a centre of what was then described as national radicalism.
Anyaoku was in the thick of this as a student union leader. He along with like-minds in the union leadership campaigned in favour of unitary state, against federalism. They sent petitions and delegations to the three foremost political leaders in the country then, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe in the Eastern region of the country, Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the Western, and Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello in the Northern region.
Anyaoku in 1959 obtained a London University Honours Degree in classics as a college scholar and joined the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC) in Lagos. The corporation sent him as an Executive Trainee to the CDC headquarters in London from where he went on a course at the Royal Institute for Public Administration in London. On 1 October 1960, Nigeria was granted independence by Britain. And Anyaoku was posted back to the CDC West Africa regional office in Lagos at the end of December 1960.
In 1977, the Commonwealth Heads of Government elected him as Deputy Secretary-General. In 1983, Nigeria’s civilian government appointed Anyaoku to become Nigeria’s Foreign Minister. After the overthrow of the government by the military later that year, he returned to his position as Deputy Secretary-General with the support of the new government in Nigeria and the endorsement of all Commonwealth governments.
At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting at Kuala Lumpur on 24 October 1989, Anyaoku was elected the third Commonwealth Secretary-General. He was re-elected at the 1993 CHOGM in Limassol for a second five-year term, beginning on 1 April 1995.
Chief Emeka Anyaoku has lived up to expectations, and merit the positive tags that trail him the world over.
We wish the seasoned diplomat a glorious 92nd birthday, and many more years to follow, looking magnificently young in health and wealth.
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.
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