by Esther Adeniyion August 10, 2016May 25, 2018Leave a Comment on Celebrating Ibukun Awosika
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From the heart of the ancient city of Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria, she grew up through the busy life of the Ibadan City. A business magnate, an author and a motivational speaker. She is one of the leading women in Nigeria business-wise.
Today we celebrate a gem, a woman who has defied all odds to become who she is today and in fact, respected among men. More often than not, some positions and class are seen as only for men. However, the current trend of gender equality has paved way for few people, one of which she is.
Born Bilikisu Abiodun Omobolanle, Ibukun Awosika on December 24, 1962.
She attended Methodist Girls’ High School and the University of Ife, Osun State Nigeria, where she studied Chemistry. She holds postgraduate and MBA Certificates from the Lagos Business School and IESE Business School.
She worked as an audit trainee during her one-year National Youth Service Corps. In her pursuance for independence, Ibukun established a furniture manufacturing company in 1989 known as Quebees Limited and SOKOA Chair Centre upon a venture meager with SOKOA S.A and Guaranty Trust Bank in 2004.
Ibukun is member of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, member of the board of Nigerian Sovereign Wealth Fund, fellow of the African Leadership Initiative and Aspen Global Leadership Network and Board of Trustees of Women in Management, Business and Public Service.
As a passion driven person and her love for the Nigerian Youth, Ibukun co-founded the Afterschool Graduate Development Centre to tackle unemployment rate in Nigeria.
During her interview with Punch Newspapers earlier in the year, she had this to say;
“Seeing my drive as a young entrepreneur, my father used to say , ‘I have given birth to this one’, and if anything happened , he was always present to assist me even if it means selling his house to pay up any debts I may have incurred along the way. He never discouraged me.”
As an advice to business owners, she said; “You must understand that you are not indispensable to your business because you are not God. You are not the most important person in your business, the guys who work for you are just as important as well. You must learn to respect them and the value they bring into your business. You can’t pay them peanuts and pay yourself all the money.”
Ibukun Awosika; wife and mother of three, who has indeed built a legacy in her business, is currently the Chairman of First Bank Nigeria Plc. Having bagged different awards both locally and internationally, she is the first Nigerian recipient of the International Women Entrepreneurial Challenge Award as a nominee of the United States Department of State.
ibukunawosika.orgRelated : Top women quotes to inspire you
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