Personality in Focus
49th Birthday: Aare Adetona, Wife Bag Otun, Yeye Otun Asiwaju Onigbagbo Honours
As part of activities to celebrate his 49th birthday on April 2, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Adron Homes and Properties, Aare Adetola Emmanuel-king and his wife, Yeye Aderonke Emmanuel King have been inducted and decorated as the Otun Asiwaju Onigbagbo and Yeye Otun Asiwaju Onigbagbo of Remo Land.
The Asiwaju Onigbagbo honour refers a leader of all believers (Christians) in Remo Land. It’s a title given by CAN as a religious body. The conferment of the Otun Asiwaju on Aare Adetona indicates his assisting capacity to the Asiwaju Onigbagbo, who is the Senator Gbenga Daniel, a former governor of Ogun State.
The event took place at the Communion Faith Assembly, Garden of Faith, Kemta House Estate, Idi-Aba Abeokuta, Ogun state.
The couple were ordained by top Ogun State clergymen and members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ogun State Chapter under the leadership of Bishop (Dr) Tunde Akin-Akinsanya. Other members of his team were Rev Dr O Oyeniyi chairman CCN, Most Rev Dr Peter Odetoyinbo Chairman CSN, Rev Dr S.O Babayomi Chairman ECWA/TEKAN, Pastor J K Onakoya (JP) Chairman CPFN/PFN and Rev Leke Sopein Chairman OAIC who also held a special service to celebrate his birthday.
It is worthy of note that Aare Adetola during his National Youth Service year in Bayelsa State, was an active member of the Christian youth corps members in Bayelsa State during his National Youth Service year, where he held the position of State Coordinator for Nigeria Christian Corpers’ Fellowship (NCCF) Bayelsa State from 2000-2001. He also served as the President of the Youth Fellowship of Living Faith Church (Winners’ Chapel) Sagamu from 2002-2004 and became the prayer squad coordinator for the Living Faith church from 2005-2007. Aare Adetola has been ordained as Deacon of the Living Faith Church (Winners’ Chapel) Sango Otta, a position he has held since 2008. This was part of the reason that led to his induction as the Otun Asiwaju Onigbagbo of Remo Land as the deputy to his excellency Former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Engr. Gbenga Daniel who is the Asiwaju Onigbagbo of Remo Land.
During the induction, the officiating Bishop and the CAN Ogun state Chairman Bishop Dr Tunde Akin-Akinsanya also implored Aare Adetola and his wife Yeye Aderonke to continue to support the propagation of the gospel and also dedicate their wealth to giving immensely to the church and CAN projects in Ogun State. He also harped on the need to become worthy ambassadors for Christ as the position he holds is of great value to the Christian faith and it also plays a pivotal role in the development of Christianity within Remo and beyond the shores of Ogun State.
Aare Adetola who thanked the Christian body for finding him worthy of such a highly coveted title disclosed that he is more than happy that the induction is coming on his birthday and it’s an indication of a new beginning in his life. He also disclosed that; all he has acquired to date was as a result of the favour of God on his life and he will never derail from projecting his good works in his life and he will forever be a good ambassador of the CAN and the body of Christ at large. “I am excited and happy for this induction; it’s coming on my birthday day and it makes it more significant. I and my wife are both grateful to the CAN Ogun State chapter for this and also to our friends and associates who came to honour us. I and my household will keep investing in the work of God and we will never derail from it. This will mark the beginning of the growth of Christianity in Remo land as I will play my part accordingly and pray to God to help me fulfil all my heart desires.”
Yeye Aderonke Emmanuelking who gave her life to Jesus Christ in October 1995, joined the Eagle’s Trainers Church aka Heritage Assembly where she diligently served in the service of God within the ushering department of the church until 1998/1999 before her academic pursuit. She later joined the Redeemed Christian Church of God as a young lady and a student at the Lagos State University where she subsequently became a member of the Living Faith Church upon her marriage to Aare Adetola Emmanuelking in April 2007. Since her marriage, she has strongly enshrined the Christian faith in her home and nurtured many young persons to spiritual growth in the Christian faith. In her remarks; she disclosed her readiness to be a pillar of support in ensuring the husband focuses more on the works of God and also promised to always motivate him by ensuring he devotes his time and resources to the works of Christ. ‘As a pillar of support, I will always be by his side and also motivate him to contribute his quota to the development of God’s work.” She concluded.
Aare Adetola also disclosed that at a later date, he would be hosting his friends and family to an elaborate thanksgiving Soiree and that the induction was just an avenue to enable him to take the oath of office, blessings and other paraphernalia.
“The induction was just to receive the blessings and also do the normal rites. I will be hosting my friends at a Thanksgiving party soon. The mood of the country is not good for a massive Soiree so when things pick up in the country, I will send invitations around for a mega Thanksgiving party. I want to thank CAN for finding me worthy of this honour. I want to thank the Executive Governor of Ogun State; Prince Dapo Abiodun for his support, also the Asiwaju Onigbagbo of Remo Land; Former Governor of Ogun State Senator Gbenga Daniel and The Asiwaju Onigbagbo of Ogun State; Former President Olusegun Obasanjo for their commitment to God work. May Almighty God continue to strengthen.”
Writers across Nigeria, under the auspices of the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW), have united in commemorating the 94th posthumous birthday of one of Africa’s greatest literary icons, Prof. Chinua Achebe. Achebe, renowned globally for his groundbreaking novel *Things Fall Apart*, remains an enduring symbol of literary excellence and cultural preservation.
In a statement issued by Wole Adedoyin, the President of SYNW emphasized Achebe’s unmatched contributions to African literature and his role as a beacon of inspiration for writers across generations. Adedoyin highlighted the Society’s unwavering commitment to honoring Achebe’s legacy through creative and impactful initiatives.
One of the key tributes mentioned is the *Chinua Achebe Annual Literary Festival and Memorial Lecture*, initiated by the Anambra Chapter Coordinator of SYNW, Izunna Okafor. Now in its 9th edition, the festival has become a significant platform for celebrating Achebe’s works and discussing his influence on modern African literature.
Cynthia Maduekwe, the President of the Nigeria Society of Campus Writers, also spearheaded the *Writers Tour*, another initiative aimed at engaging young writers with Achebe’s literary philosophy. This tour exposes aspiring authors to Achebe’s timeless themes of cultural identity, colonialism, and societal transformation, ensuring his legacy continues to inspire future generations.
The Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) reaffirmed its dedication to Achebe’s memory through these longstanding programs. Writers across the country were encouraged to reflect on Achebe’s life and works, sharing tributes and essays on social media platforms to further propagate his vision of storytelling.
Adedoyin lauded the efforts of writers like Okafor and Maduekwe, whose initiatives keep Achebe’s legacy alive.
He also urged literary organizations and institutions to continue collaborating to sustain Achebe’s impact on African literature and culture.
“Prof. Achebe’s work transcends literature. He gave Africans a voice on the global stage, presenting our stories with authenticity and pride. Celebrating his 94th posthumous birthday is a reminder of the power of storytelling in shaping society,” Adedoyin stated.
The SYNW also used the opportunity to announce plans for a series of upcoming events dedicated to Achebe in the coming year, including essay competitions, poetry readings, and book discussions. These programs aim to further Achebe’s vision of nurturing literary talent and promoting African narratives.
As the literary community celebrates Achebe’s life and achievements, his timeless words resonate: “Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.”
Achebe’s legacy continues to inspire writers to tell their own stories, preserving the richness of African culture for generations to come.
The Society of Young Nigerian Writers concluded by inviting literary enthusiasts to join in celebrating Achebe’s enduring impact, emphasizing that his legacy is a shared treasure for all who value the power of words.
Personality in Focus
UBA Appoints Henrietta Ugboh Independent Non-Executive Director As Owanari Duke Retires from Group Board
Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has announced the appointment of Henrietta Ugboh as an Independent Non-Executive Director.
The appointment has been approved by the relevant regulatory bodies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria.
UBA’s Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, CFR commenting on the appointment, said, “Henrietta Ugboh brings a track record of professional success, integrity and leadership, which will further strengthen the UBA Group Board, underlining once again the Group’s commitment to robust corporate governance.”
Ugboh holds a degree in Economics and Statistics from the University of Benin, an MBA from ESUT Business School, and is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School’s Executive Management Program. She has over 30 years experience in banking with Citibank and is an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and a Fellow of the Institute of Credit Administration (FICA).
Elumelu added that with her considerable experience and expertise, which includes commercial banking, credit, and risk management, the UBA Board is delighted to welcome Mrs Ugboh to the Group Board, “We look forward to her invaluable contribution to the Group, as we continue to execute our unique growth strategy across Africa and globally.”
The Board also announced the retirement of Mrs. Owanari Duke, an Independent Non-Executive Director, who joined the UBA Group Board in October 2012.
During her tenure, Mrs. Duke provided distinguished leadership, serving on Committees of the Bank including the Board Governance Committee, Board Audit, Governance, Nomination & Remuneration Committee, Board Credit Committee, Finance & General Purpose Committee and Statutory Audit Committee.
On behalf of the board, Mr. Elumelu expressed UBA’s deep appreciation to Mrs. Duke for her dedication and significant contributions to the Group, wishing her the best in her future endeavour.
United Bank for Africa Plc is a leading Pan-African financial institution, offering banking services to more than forty-five million customers, across 1,000 business offices and customer touch points in 20 African countries. With presence in New York, London, Paris and Dubai, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail, commercial and corporate banking, innovative cross-border payments and remittances, trade finance and related banking services.
Personality in Focus
Tinubu Hails FirstBank’s Immediately Past CEO, Adeduntan on Exceptional Service
By Eric Elezuo
Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, has congratulated the immediate past Chief Executive Officer of the FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan as the bank holds a splendid Sendforth party on his behalf for a meritorious service.
The president’s congratulatory message is contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Information & Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.
The statement reads in full:
PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES DR ADEDUNTAN, AS FIRST BANK CELEBRATES EX-GROUP CEO
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu congratulates Dr Adesola Adeduntan, the retired Group Chief Executive Officer of First Bank Nigeria Limited, for his exceptional service at Nigeria’s oldest bank.
In celebration of Adeduntan’s remarkable tenure, the 130-year-old First Bank will host a special send-off ceremony this weekend, expressing gratitude for his contributions over the past nine years.
President Tinubu commends him for steering the bank through transformative growth, which includes expanding customer accounts from 10 million to over 42 million and elevating Profit Before Tax from N10 billion in 2015 to an impressive N300 billion in 2023.
These milestones, the President said, reflected Adeduntan’s visionary leadership and commitment to excellence.
The President expresses his appreciation for Adeduntan’s willingness to serve the nation in various pivotal roles, including his contributions to the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and other prominent institutions. His extensive expertise in the financial sector has significantly bolstered Nigeria’s economic landscape.
President Tinubu also lauds the bank’s solid internal management ethos, which is responsible for the seamless transition from Adeduntan to the current CEO, Olusegun Alebiosu.
President Tinubu wishes Dr Adeduntan continued success in all his future endeavours.
