Business
FirstBank’s Ibukun Awosika Becomes President of IWEC Foundation’s Board of Directors
The International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge Foundation (IWEC) has announced the appointment of Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika as the new President of their Board of Directors. FirstBank is Nigeria’s Premier and Leading financial services provider.
Mrs. Awosika was elected to replace Miguel Valls, former President of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce and president of the IWEC Foundation, who passed away last month. “The Foundation is very excited to announce the appointment of our new president,” stated Ruth A. Davis, IWEC Chairwoman and distinguished former U.S. Ambassador. “Ibukun Awosika has been a solid, steady presence at IWEC since its inception, and she is also a past IWEC awardee. Ibukun has not missed one IWEC Conference since 2008 and has lent her voice and experience not only to our conferences, but to our meetings after joining our Board in 2017. We are delighted that our Board of Directors voted on her appointment, and we’ll introduce her as our president at our upcoming 12th Annual IWEC Foundation Conference in New Delhi, on November 10th.”
The Foundation’s 2019 Conference will focus on “Connecting Women Businesses Globally: Leading the Way to Innovation and Integration”. The event would be hosted locally by the FICCI Ladies Organization (FLO) of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), which represents over 5000 women entrepreneurs and professionals across India. This year, IWEC welcomes 39 awardees from 18 countries, with a combined revenue of over US$5.7 billion among all awardees to date.
IWEC Foundation Vice Chair, Carmen Castillo, CEO of SDI International, adds: “Ibukun has demonstrated a significant commitment to IWEC over the years. Her breadth of knowledge extends from being an entrepreneur running SOKOA Chair Centre Limited, to overseeing the board of directors for the renowned First Bank of Nigeria Limited. We are looking forward to her wise counsel and to continuously drive IWEC globally as a source of support, connection and impact for women business owners all over the world.”
Ibukun Awosika heads Nigeria’s premier bank, and she is also the founder and CEO of the Chair Centre Group, an association of large companies in the manufacturing, retail, and financial security services. Mrs. Awosika further holds seats in the corporate boards of Cadbury Nigeria, Digital Jewel Limited and the Convention on Business Integrity, and she is a former chair of several other enterprise boards.
Ibukun is a graduate of Chemistry from University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Nigeria, an alumna of the Chief Executive Program of Lagos Business School, the Global Executive MBA of IESE Business School, Wharton’s Global CEO Program, and the IESE and China European International Business School (CEIBS). Ibukun is a multiple award-winning entrepreneur and the first Nigerian recipient of the prestigious International Women Entrepreneurial Challenge (IWEC) Award as a nominee of the US Department of State in 2008. Ibukun is also a best-selling author and motivational speaker.
Ibukun was just honoured last month with the International Friendship Award presented at the IESE Business School by the Queen of Spain.
About the IWEC Foundation
IWEC is a New York-based international economic empowerment organization exclusively for women business owners, formed in 2007 with the assistance of the U.S. Department of State. In addition to the State Department, its founders include the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce (MCC), FICCI/FLO Chamber in New Delhi. IWEC’s mission is to develop a global business network for successful women entrepreneurs, helping them gain and expand access to international markets by presenting a platform to exchange knowledge, experience and connections, and to promote dialogue among women entrepreneurs and business leaders throughout the world.
The Ogun State Government, under the able leadership of His Excellency, Prince (Dr) Dapo Abiodun MFR, CON, has issued the Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) for Treasure Park and Gardens Phase 2 (City of David) and Treasure Park and Gardens phase 3 (Capetown Estate), to the foremost real estate developer in Nigeria, Adron Homes.
The gesture, according to a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman, Maureen Echefu, and made available to Pointblank.ng, is to showcase Ogun State’s commitment to fostering a conducive environment for real estate development.
The milestone, the statement further revealed, reflects the state government’s unwavering dedication to partnering with credible organizations that are driving development and growth in the real estate sector. By issuing the C of O to Adron Homes, the Ogun State Government has not only demonstrated its efficiency in processing land documentation, but has also emphasized its trust in reputable developers who prioritize excellence and compliance in their operations.
This recent issuance of the C of O by the Ogun State Government marks the second time the state has demonstrated its strong belief in the power of Public-Private Partnerships to drive development. During the tenure of the previous administration, the past governor, His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, similarly issued Certificates of Occupancy for Treasure Park and Gardens Phase 1 (Genesis Estate), and Treasure Park and Gardens (Glasshouse Estate). This continued collaboration shows a consistent commitment to fostering a thriving real estate sector, creating jobs, and delivering quality housing solutions for the people of Ogun State.
The Chairman of Adron Homes and Properties, Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, expressed his gratitude to the Ogun State Government for its prompt issuance of the C of O. He commended the leadership of Governor Dapo Abiodun for maintaining a business-friendly environment that enables real estate developers to contribute meaningfully to the state’s housing development agenda.
“We are deeply honored by this gesture, as it further validates our commitment to building world-class estates that provide comfort, security, and long-term value for our clients. Treasure Park and Gardens Phase 2 (City of David), and Treasure Park and Gardens phase 3 (Capetown Estate) in Shimawa are demonstrations of our vision of making luxury affordable, with state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities that cater to the modern homeowner. This partnership with the Ogun State Government strengthens our resolutuons to expand access to quality housing for all Nigerians,” the Chairman said.
The Treasure Park and Gardens Estates, situated in the serene locale of Shimawa, Ogun State, offers residents a harmonious blend of tranquility and accessibility. With meticulously planned layouts, paved roads, modern drainage systems, recreational spaces, and lots more, these estates set a benchmark for sustainable living. The issuance of the C of O now provides an added layer of assurance to current and prospective investors, reaffirming Adron Homes’ reputation as a trusted leader in real estate development.
The issuance of the C of O marks a significant chapter in the Treasure Park and Gardens Estates’ journey, and reinforces the Ogun State Government’s commitment to driving development, investment, and prosperity in the real estate sector.
For more information about Adron Homes, and the Treasure Park and Gardens Estates, visit www.adronhomesproperties.com
It was a moment of joy and excitement in Lagos on Thursday as the second prize-presentation event in Glo ‘Festival of Joy’ promo took place at Gloworld, Adeola Odeku Street, with a civil engineering contractor, Ayobami Adejumobi, going home with a brand new Toyota Prado.
The key to the jeep was presented to 42-year-old Adejumobi, who was accompanied by friends and relatives and the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat.
Speaking at the event, Osun State-born Adejumobi thanked Globacom immensely for the prize. He said, “I still can’t believe it. A call came from Globacom and the news was too good to believe. I doubted it. Could it be fraudsters? However, I remembered the promo and how I joined when it was launched, and I immediately proceeded to the Gloworld on Adeola Odeku where the Glo officials were expecting me. I thank Glo for this prize. I will use the jeep personally; it will enhance my status and help me to get more jobs as a civil engineering contractor”.
Other winners at the event also commended Globacom for providing a platform for many Nigerians to win prizes. Bukola Olatunji, from Ijebu-Ode who won a Keke Napep said, ”I have always been a faithful participant in various Glo promos and have never lost hope that I would one day become a winner”. She promised to continue participating in all of Globacom’s promotions in future.
A generator winner, 33-year-old Ayodeji Olukunmi, also said “it’s indeed a joyful period, winning a brand new generator means a lot to me, God bless Globacom”, while Daniel Eleh from Benue State, who won a sewing machine, said, “I was shocked and surprised when I got the call. Glo has always been good to Nigerians.”
The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, who was the special guest of honour commended Globacom for such thoughtful reward schemes. “The good thing is that this is happening at a difficult time in the country. We must thank Glo for this and just pray that next year, it will be bigger. We would love the Chairman, (Dr Mike Adenuga), to make it twice this size next year. May God continue to bless the company,” he said.
Globacom’s Divisional Head, West, Lawrence Odediran, who also spoke at the event stated that new and existing subscribers can participate in the Festival of Joy promo by dialing *611# to opt into the promo and to keep recharging (voice and data) during the promo period, in order to be eligible to win the prizes on offer. He explained that new subscribers can participate immediately by purchasing a new SIM, registering it and dialing *611#.
Dignitaries at the event include Deputy Majority Leader, Lagos House of Assembly, Honourable Adedamola Richard; Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Biodun Ogunleye a representative of the Nigeria Communications Commission, Mrs Ijeoma Bassey; Iyaloja of Sura Market, Alhaja Raliat Adebayo, and nollywood trio of Uche Jombo, Adeolu Saga and Broda Shaggi.
As part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to France, the Chairman of UBA Group, in the presence of President Tinubu and the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, signed a landmark business cooperation agreement with the French Finance Minister, Antoine Armand. The agreement is a significant indication of support by the French Government for the development of UBA’s full banking operations in France.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Tony Elumelu, the Chairman of UBA Group commented: ”This partnership reinforces our commitment to seamless international banking services for our customers, not just across the 11 Francophone African countries we serve, but Africa as a whole; and French and European customers transacting with Africa. Expanding into France is a natural progression, with Paris serving as our European Union hub, as we continue to bring Africa and the world together, through innovative financial solutions. Paris will join London, New York and Dubai, as a critical component of our unique global network.”
United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group wide and serving over 45 million customers globally. Operating in twenty African countries and the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting edge technology.
