They network at A-bar and party at 11.45 or Bacchus. They hang out at the Ikoyi Club 1938 or Polo Club and go boating from the Lagos Motorboat Club. They ride the waves of living in today’s Nigeria. Well educated, blue-blooded, they are the emerging face of a new nation that is gradually evolving. Some of them are known faces, majority of them are not. But they cut across all sectors of the Nigerian economy. They are in real estate, construction, oil and gas, communications, leisure and tourism, etc. They are active players in the nation’s stock market. Some were born with silver spoons or want their children to be. And many have built organisations from nothing. Today, irrespective of their backgrounds, they all party together. They are mostly in their late 30’s while only a fraction have just crossed into their 40s. What do they have in common? They are all Nigerians. They are the emerging business leaders. They have the Midas touch. They hate stereotypes. They dislike bureaucracies. They are adrenalin junks. And they are rich. They are men and women who, very soon, may eventually take over from the old. So step upstairs Mike Adenuga, step aside Aliko Dangote. The i-pod generation is here. Samuel Famakinwa presents 40 young achievers in today’s Nigeria.
Olufemi Adeagbo
Over the course of the past 12 years though, this man has had an almost exclusive focus on the telecommunications and associated technology industries, progressing through sales, management, consultancy and entrepreneurial roles. One of his most significant consultancy roles was advising on what was one of the largest integrated Core Network/Call Centre procurements deployment; topping ten million Pounds, and spanning Europe and the USA for the MBNA group, a leading global issuer of Visa and MasterCard credit cards. Olufemi Adeagbo, 37, has been actively involved with the evolution of the Nigerian telecoms industry, and has undertaken communications project advisory roles for organisations like Unipetrol (now Oando) Plc, Oceanic Bank International Plc, Vetiva Capital Management and The Nigerian Ports Authority. He has driven consultations between leading organisations like Lucent Technologies and the presidency, and has served as an adviser to the Chairman of the House Committee on Communications. Olufemi currently heads SaveMyContacts, an international provider of wireless back-up solutions for GSM users. The services provided by SaveMyContacts empowers users to back up, access and recover their phonebooks and text messages using any of syncML, SMS or on-line technologies; and without the need for a device or wires. The organisation is active in Nigeria, providing service to MTN and Vmobile subscribers; in the UK across all five major networks via The Links 310 retail outlets, and intends to open up it’s South African, Ghanaian and Spanish operations, during the last quarter of 2005, as it has successfully completed tests in these markets. An avid scrabble and chess player, Olufemi Adeagbo holds an LL.B degree from the University of London and also serves as a director of Comnavig Consultants, Neroli Limited and Aquila Capital.
Modupe Wigwe
Dupe is a human resource generalist with experience in HR strategy development, training & development, business strategy development, employee management, and change management. Wigwe presently heads the northern business office of one of Nigeria’s most profitable human resource consultancy agency, Vic Lawrence and Associates which clientele includes most multinationals in the country. She was at National Bank until recently, where her specific area of specialisation was culture, change management and human resource management. Prior to that, she was at NNB International Bank where her specific areas of achievement were change management, training & development, HR strategy formulation and human resource management. She has acquired training spanning a number of business management fields including HR strategy formulation, change management and the balanced score card implementation. She is a member of the Institute of Management and an Alumnus of the Lagos Business School.
Afolabi Imoukhuede
Afolabi is the managing consultant of MCS Consulting Limited; an international investment and strategic management consulting outfit. An Accountant by profession, he is an experienced human capital and business development consultant. He has worked on major World Bank projects; building capacity for Business Associations and Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs). He is currently the resident consultant in Nigeria for the Confederation of Danish Industries (DI) handling all executive and administrative matters as it relates to their World Bank/IFC partnership projects in the country.
As a seasoned human capital dynamics professional, Afolabi possesses relevant international and local experience in conceptualising, developing and implementing strategic training objectives. He is also well skilled in effective business development methodologies, creation of breakthrough marketing initiatives, project appraisals and reporting. Prior to establishing MCS Consulting, he opened up chains of International Trade and Networks for Global Ventures and Investment Limited. With KPMG LLP’s Assurance services in the United States, Afolabi maintained a client service professional position. He conducted the development and establishment of an Inventory Control Unit for a global food Importer. He has also worked on financial statements analysis engagements for several clients across the United States. He is an associated expert with the Africa Project Development Facility, an arm of the World Bank and a regular volunteer consultant with FATE Foundation.
Gerald Ilukwe
The 41 year old lanky information technology expert is currently the general manager of Microsoft Nigeria, the Nigerian subsidiary of US based computer software manufacturer, Microsoft. He established the Nigeria offices of Microsoft as pioneer country GM with responsibility extending across English speaking West Africa. As an IT professional, he has made significant contributions to the Nigerian and African Information Communications and Technology industry. A strategic thinker with strong communication and inter-personal skills, Gerald’s multi-faceted experience, insights and combined management skills has added value to businesses within the African continent. A widely traveled man, he has established and maintained first-rate relationships with key influencers and ICT stakeholders in Nigeria and other African countries. Microsoft under his leadership has established a leading position in all the key market segments of public sector, enterprise businesses, and small and medium businesses. The company has achieved a remarkable annual growth rate in excess of 40 per cent over the last five years. Gerald has earned many honours including the ‘Outstanding Contributor’ award Microsoft Global Briefing 2002 and West, East, and Central Africa General Manager’s award 2003. Prior to his appointment with Microsoft, Gerald was in South Africa for SAP, the global leader in Enterprise Resource planning applications as a consultant. In the course of his 17 year career, he has also had stints at other blue chip companies such as IBM, Central Africa Operations, Nigerian Bottling Company Plc (part of Molino group), and MTS – Digital Telecoms. Gerald has a first degree in Electronics and an Executive MBA, all from local Nigerian Universities and is constantly developing himself by attending local and international training and development programs. He enjoys reading, lawn tennis and travelling.
Nicholas Okoye
He is the technical adviser to the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. He has a wide experience in advanced financial management and large scale project financing. At the NSE, he is responsible for building a global franchise for the Exchange. This involves getting an estimated 10 million Nigerians in the Diaspora to invest in the Nigerian economy. He used to be a financial consultant and global investment adviser for Merrill Lynch. He has worked as a consultant with the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), the Anambra State Government, the Federal Minstry of Health and the Federal Ministry of Commerce. He studied Applied Microbiology and Genetic Engineering at the Anambra State University of Technology graduating in 1988 after which he was at Harvard University, Boston, USA to study Global Management and Technology. He is presently the Chief Strategy Officer of the NSE.
Uzoma Dozie
Son of Dr. Pascal Dozie, chairman of Diamond Bank, Uzoma is the Head of Personal Banking department of the bank. The 36 year-old got educated in some of the world's best institutions. His foray into banking, where he is being groomed to take over from his father, seemed to have moved him away from his primary area of specialization, the natural sciences. But he has made resounding success in this chosen field. He joined Diamond Bank in 1998 as Head, Oil and Gas Unit after years of banking experience with Guaranty Trust Bank and Citizen Bank where he worked as trainee officer, commercial and retail banking and credit & marketing officer - Oil & Gas Unit respectively from 1993 to 1997. Uzoma has attended certificate courses in the Harvard Business School, Boston, Citibank, New York and the International Finance Corporation in Milan, Italy. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Reading, Berkshire from where he proceeded to the University College, London for a master's degree in Chemical Research. He also holds an MBA from the Imperial College Management School, London where he specialized in finance.
Suleiman Yahaya
The chairman of Rosehill Group, Suleiman is a first class graduate of economics from the Bayero University, Kano before proceeding to Cambridge where he made high distinction. Also a director at NUB International Bank, Suleiman is big-time into property development with a South African partner. He unwinds playing golf, often times in Abuja, at the IBB Golf Club where he is a member.
Ibrahim Dikko
Son of the late Yahaya Dikko, former petroleum adviser to President Shehu Shagari, Ibrahim specialised in Corporate and Commercial law and has worked in a variety of roles and industries that span corporate finance, banking and information technology. He worked in a variety of roles in First Securities Discount House Limited (FSDH), ranging from the project team tasked with setting up the discount house to operations and dealing. As a marketing manager in FSDH, he was in charge of the high net worth individuals/private banking accounts in the non-bank marketing unit. He was also responsible for the formulation of marketing strategy, account generation, maintenance and product marketing. Ibrahim joined Resourcery Limited in 2000 and is currently the Executive Director, New Business Group, responsible for alliance management as well as issues relating to advertising. He spearheaded the opening of a new branch in Abuja and the development of business in the government sector. He currently serves on the boards of Gateway Africa Services Ltd and School Net Nigeria. He joined the board of FSDH in 2001 and is currently Chairman of FSDH. Ibrahim obtained a LL.B (Law) from the University of Buckingham, England in 1987 and LL.M (Corporate & Commercial Law) from Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London, England in 1991 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1990. His interests lie in the use of technology and how to help deliver world class service given the infrastructural difficulties in the country. He is committed to raising this level without compromise in terms of standards and service delivery. To unwind, Ibrahim enjoys going to the beach most weekends when he can. He plays squash and enjoys classical music.
Tajudeen dantata
The heir apparent to Aminu Dantata’s business dynasty, Tajudeen is an astute Polo player who holds memberships of the Lagos Polo Club and Kano Polo Club. Deploying his experience in the United Kingdom where he studied, Tajudeen has diversified his fathers conglomerate into oil and gas with a partnership with United States Conoco oil. He is said to own quite a number of stocks in the Nigerian stock market. He controls what is arguably the most prominent northern business empire in the last four decades. He is an alumnus of Manaret College, Jeddah, Victory College, Alexandria, Egypt and West London University, London. He is currently the Group Managing Director of the Dantata Organisation where he oversees the operations of companies like Dantata Investment and Securities Limited, Bebeji Oil and Allied Products Limited, Express petroleum and Gas Company Limited, Nigeria Sugar Products Limited, Fertiliser Processing Company Limited and Dantata Property Development and Management Company Limited. Tajudeen also seats on the board of companies like Electricity Meter Company of Nigeria where he is the chairman, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria, Nal Bank Plc and Virgin Nigeria Airways among others. He enjoys travelling, snooker, squash, polo and horse racing.
Yewande Sadiku
Yewande, a young and vibrant investment banker oversees the Corporate Finance Department of Investment Banking & Trust Company Plc (IBTC), the pre-eminent investment bank in Nigeria, where she has worked for about 10 years. She has headed the Department since 2000 and works with a multi-tasking team to provide innovative financial solutions to clients’ needs, while ensuring conformity with legal, statutory and regulatory requirements. Yewande is directly responsible for the execution of the debt and equity issues, mergers and acquisitions, divestitures and financial advisory assignments handled by IBTC. She has been responsible for a variety of assignments and has handled the packaging, analysis and execution of landmark privatisation and financial advisory mandates.
At IBTC, she has handled transactions for clients in virtually every sector of the Nigerian economy, including the utilities, financial, pharmaceutical, food/beverage, packaging and conglomerate sectors. She holds a Bachelors degree in Industrial Chemistry from University of Benin and an MBA from University of Warwick, United Kingdom. She started her banking career with Nigeria International Bank Limited, where she worked from 1992 to 1994. She is in regular contact with the Securities & Exchange Commission, The Nigerian Stock Exchange and other regulatory authorities as well as several of Nigeria’s leading corporations and multinationals at the senior management levels. A member of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group she is currently the Chairperson of the Rules and Regulations sub-Committee of SEC’s Capital Market Committee. Though a little bit conservative, Yewande socializes well with friends and associates and is often sighted at highbrow restaurants in Victoria Island and Ikoyi.
Charles O’Tudor
Charles O' Tudor, head strategist, Adstrat, has over the years proven beyond any doubt to be exceptionally creative in terms of brand strategy and execution. He stands out as a pace setter for new and disruptive ideas, and has remained undaunted by the seeming dearth of creativity in the Nigerian marketing communications sector. O' Tudor started his career as a client service executive with The Shops and later sojourned to Explicit, Solutions and Impact Plus. In 2001, he had a dream to start up a brand management consultancy that will be hinged on the philosophy of sound strategy, creative profundity and honest business practice, a firm that will also set the standard for professional brand management practice. And so, with just a burning desire for professionalism and exceptional creativity, Adstrat was born. Today, the firm has not only stood out as a fast growing institution with two affiliates- Axle, the strategic media and Stratis, the strategic image and events affiliates respectively, but has crafted phrases like Cerebral Filtration Processes, Processed thought to Finish, O2ygenation, Re-O2ygenation and O2yculturation as its intellectual property.
Barely four years in the industry; Adstrat has handled blue chip brands spanning the construction, aviation, fashion, telecommunications, banking, furniture, entertainment, education, hospitality and pharmaceutical industries, including GTBank, Afribank, First Atlantic Bank, Standard Trust, NAL bank, Chartered bank, Manny bank, Fegora Estate, Sosoliso Airlines,Tanmo Pharmaceuticals, Suburban Telecoms, Leatherworld, Halifield School, Oando, the Genesis Group and most recently Alpha Technologies. August 4th, 2005, Charles O’Tudor entered the Junior Chamber International Hall of All Time Fame of Exemplary Leaders. By this award he goes down in the history of the movement as the 4th individual person to be so honored in the 47 years existence of the Nigerian chapter of the international organisation. An Alumnus of the Wits Business School of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, O’Tudor has attended both creative and brand management courses within and outside the country.
Jimoh Ibrahim
The Chief Executive Officer of Global Fleet Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited, Jimoh Ibrahim left politics for business after a lost bid for the Government House in Ondo State. Within a year, he has turned the company he founded few years ago into a household name in the country. A very rich and astute businessman, his company has built over 140 petrol stations out of his target of 1000. He attended Community Grammar School, Igbotako, Ondo State and went to the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) before proceeding to Harvard Law School. At Ife, he obtained two degrees, Bachelors of Law and Masters in Public Administration and at Harvard he had a Masters degree in Economic Tax Law. He was a consultant to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on tax reforms in Croatia and Etonia. He was called to the bar in 1991. As a young boy, he had always dreamt of becoming famous and successful person but he also wanted to leave a legacy of a first class attendance to human development. This led him into politics. Jimoh Ibrahim socializes very well.
Kelechi Nwosu
The 39-year old Kelechi Nwosu was recently appointed the new Managing Director of Nigeria's leading creative outfit and winners of many creative awards, TBWA/Concept Limited. TBWA/Concept is the first Nigerian advertising agency to enter for the annual Cannes Advertising Awards. Cannes Advertising Awards, also known as CannesLions is the most celebrated advertising award in the world. Nwosu's, appointment as the youngest Nigerian to run an agency that is amongst the ten in Nigeria, also marks a successful transition from founders to a relatively new management team at TBWA/Concept and in the Nigerian advertising scene. This represents a major personal accomplishment for Nwosu, who until his appointment, was the Deputy Managing Director of TBWA/Concept. His tenure at TBWA/Concept has been most remarkable. As Accounts Director, then client Services Director, Nwosu anchored all creative, media and integrated marketing services for one of the cost demanding clients in Nigeria, MTN and spearheaded pitch wins for Virgin Atlantic, Allied Soft, Liberty Bank, Tura/Lornamead and Virgin Nigeria. As Deputy Managing Director, he boosted TBWA/concept record and reputation as the most awarded creative agency in Nigeria. And apart from forging closer strategic relationships with TBWA/Hunt Lascaris SA, he successfully led efforts to catapult TBWA/Concept and championed application of technologies for improved productivity and cost efficiency. A 1992 Master's degree holder in mass communications form the University of Lagos who had earlier earned a first degree in English Language and Literature from Imo State University in 1985, Nwosu joined TBWA/Concept Limited in 2001 as Account Director. The turning point in Nwosu's career came at LTC Advertising Limited where he rose to become the Associate Director, Client Services. In that capacity, he contributed largely to winning and retaining for the agency key accounts such as SGBN (ATM), Arthur Andersen, Critical Hope Gemcard and Guinness Stout.
Eghes Eyieyien
Eghe Eyieyien is the Managing Consultant and Chief Executive Officer of Pharez Limited. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Benin and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and an Associate member of the Nigeria Institute of Management. He joined Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) as a pioneer staff in August 1989, where he served for eight years as a Senior Bank Examiner in the Field Examination Department. He resigned from NDIC in October 1997, to assume responsibilities in Pharez Limited. Eyieyien has extensive experience in bank examination, bank operations, bank restructuring and failure resolution having led various assignments and covering several banks during his years in NDIC. He acquired international banking supervision exposure through a work-study attachment, which he undertook with the Division of Resolution of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), USA. He served as the Executive Director of Operations and Corporate Services on the Management Board of Merchant Bank for Africa (Nig.) Limited on appointment by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation between September, 1995 and August, 1997. While at NDIC, Eyieyien won the Corporation’s formal recognition for outstanding performance. He is very conservative and rarely socializes.
Andrew Alli
Andrew Alli is the Country Manager of the International Financial Corporation (IFC) in Nigeria. This means that he has overall responsibility for IFC's activities in the country. In the three and a half years that he has been in this position, IFC's activities in Nigeria have tripled, making Nigeria IFC's most active country in sub-Saharan Africa. Recently, IFC has invested is some landmark projects in Nigeria, including MTN and Dangote Industries' Obajana Cement project. IFC has also supported a number of banks, hotel projects, as well as those in the general manufacturing sector. Alli attended Kings College, Lagos before going to the United Kingdom to study Electronics and Electrical Engineering. After graduating top of his class, he went on to work for Coopers and Lybrand in London as a management consultant. During this period, he qualified as a Chartered Accountant before going to work in S.G. Warburg, one of UK's leading investment banks. He joined IFC after obtaining an MBA from INSEAD in France. While at IFC he worked on the oil and gas and telecommunications sectors before taking up his position in Nigeria. A very conservative person, Alli does not miss his holidays.
Muhtar Bakare
Muhtar Bakare studied architecture at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife. He was recruited from school by Citibank Nigeria as a Management Associate and rose to the position of Assistant General Manager before he was headhunted as part of a turnaround team to rescuscitate the then distressed Trust Bank of Africa Limited. He was Executive Director at Trust Bank for two years before he left in June 2002 to effectively launch his publishing business Kachifo Limited, which trades under the name Farafina. Their free online magazine www.farafina-online.com has over the last two years built a sizeable high brow readership and contributor base worldwide. Over the last 18 months, Farafina has become one of the most energetic and forward looking book-publishing companies in Nigeria. Its first title, the West African paperback edition of Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was not only exceptionally well made in Nigeria, it is also priced within the means of the generality of Nigerians. The marketing, promotion and distribution of the book were carefully done to achieve maximum impact at negligible costs. Their second and new book, Everything Good Will Come, is already off the press and again Farafina balances cost, quality and marketing with the kind of self-confidence not common in that industry. Farafina is already working on its third book, a visual commentary on June 12 in four parts, the first of which is due by the end of the year. A monthly print magazine called Farafina will be released worldwide in the last week of August. Farafina also has emerging interests in comics and animation.
Francis Okumagba
Okumagba holds a Bachelor of Science Degree and Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Benin, Nigeria. He joined Oceanic Bank in 1999 as a Senior Manager, he worked in the Treasury of four Banks (Ecobank, City Express Bank, Equitorial Trust Bank and Universal Trust Bank) where he served principally as a major driver in liability generation, Asset and liability management and service excellence initiatives. He oversees liability generation bank wide. He presently heads the treasury and finance department of Oceanic Bank. An alumnus of the prestigious Lagos Business School now Pan African University, he is a member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria. He is a recipient of several service excellence awards and has attended various courses both within and outside Nigeria.
Suleiman Abubakar
Suleiman, the Group Executive Director of Imani Group hails from Keffi, Nassarawa State. Born in Kaduna, he attended Capital School Kaduna and Federal Government College Kaduna. And obtained a Masters in Business Administration in International Finance from American University. Guided with the philosophy that you need not re-invent the wheel, he believes that working with people of proven success in their respective fields is a critical success factor in any field of endeavour. His business empire spans construction, real estate, hospitality, solid minerals, etc. He has built an ultra luxury estate in partnership with Shell Trustees at Maitama, Abuja, as well as constructed affordable housing projects in Abuja and Port Harcourt.
His company is currently handling the proposed CBN co-operative staff housing also in Abuja and only last month, the Kaduna State Secretariat Annex was commissioned where Imani was the turnkey contractor for the project. In the hospitality industry, Suleiman also controls Trappco Resort and Conference Centre, Kaduna. And Mararaba Cultural Village, Karu, Nassarawa State which is still under development. One of his companies has started prospecting and exploitation of solid minerals such as tantalite, gems stones and industrial minerals for the export market while currently discussing a collaborative partnership for subsequent processing of same. A major Polo player of note, Suleiman enjoys swimming and reading. Though easy going, Suleiman who lives a low-key kind of life does not miss opportunities to party with close friends. He is presently the National Treasurer of Real Estate Developers’ Association of Nigeria; National Executive, Nigeria Polo Association (NPA) and Chairman, Disciplinary Committee, NPA as well as Chairman, Kaduna State Swimming Association.
Omobola Johnson
Omobola Johnson is the Country Managing Director of Accenture in Nigeria and becomes the first woman to hold that position. Omobola holds a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Manchester and a Masters degree in Digital Electronics from King's College, London. She joined Accenture, then Andersen Consulting in 1985. In about two decades she has been at Accenture, she has progressed through various roles and was a Director and the Head of the Financial Services operating group in Nigeria before her appointment as the Managing Director December 2004. Omobola likes traveling and plays golf. She is a member of many prestigious clubs in Nigeria.
Chuka Eseka
He is the Chief Executive Officer of Vetiva Capital Management Limited. He has overseen the affairs of Vetiva from inception and has guided the company to evolve from a fledgling institution into one of the most respected, efficient and innovative investment banking boutiques in the country today. He is a highly experienced investment banker, having overseen numerous path-breaking financial advisory and capital market assignments with values in excess of N30 billion some of which include capital raising and financial advisory mandates. He is a graduate of Accounting from the University of Lagos, Nigeria and a member of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers. He is regarded as one of the foremost investment bankers in Nigeria today with broad complimentary competences covering financial, operational and legal issues.
Awwal Tukur
The 40 year old hails from Yola, Adamawa State. The former chairman, House of Representative Committee on Aviation and a member of the just concluded National Political Reform Conference, holds an LL.B (Hons) from the prestigious University of Birmingham. He had attended Federal Government College, Lagos before proceeding to England where he got his A-Levels from the Millfield School. He was called to the Bar in 1988. He started his law careeer as a legal officer at Galadima Aminu Chambers, Yola and has worked at Crown Flour Mills Group, Daddo Group and BHI Holdings where he is now the Group Managing Director. In 1999, he went for a stint in politics and became a member of the House of Representatives where he held several positions including chairman of the House Committee on Aviation,, member, Committee on Agriculture and Committee on Foreign Relations. The young Turk presently holds directorship positions in some companies, including Alusteel Construction Limited, Port Harcourt; B.M.T Domestic Appliances, Yola; Alraine (Nigeria) Limited; Multimalt Limited; Inter State Flour Mills Plc and; Calabar Wood Company Limited. A golfer, Awwal is a member of the Ikoyi club and Yola Polo Club.
Adetokunbo Modupe
Adetokunbo Modupe popularly known as Mr. Media is an unrepentant creative rebel. At 36, he has over 14 years experience in the media, Public Relations and publishing. A graduate of Sociology, Toks, as he is fondly called by colleagues, has attended several courses in brand management, reputation management, persuasive presentation and team building. A member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Tokunbo served as the Secretary General of Public Relations Consultant Association of Nigeria (PRCAN) 2002 – 2004 a period that the professional body was repositioned to its present enviable status. Under his visionary leadership, TPT International has not only grown in size but added two subsidiaries namely, Brandfaces, Nigeria’s leading and most consistent marketing journal and Innovative Media Concept, one of the fastest growing media planning and buying agencies in Nigeria. As a PR person, he believes in unnatural acts in achieving the magic result. TPT is known as one of the most creative PR companies in Nigeria and one of the biggest and most professional firms in West Africa. He likes partying and socializes well and has taste for sporty cars.
Gboyega Balogun
Another son of Otunba Subomi Balogun, Gboyega holds a B.Sc. in Economics and Management from the University of London (Royal Holloway College), and M.Sc. in Property Investment from City University, London. He is a registered member of the New York Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange, through his accreditation with Futures and Securities Association Registration (SFA). Gboyega also holds an Investment Management Certificate from the Securities Institute (United Kingdom) and has completed Part 1 of the Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. He recently spent three years with Merrill Lynch International Bank, London, in the Private Wealth Management department.
Ibrahim Dutsinma Boyi
With over 18 years practical experience in the downstream oil and gas industry, Boyi is currently the chief executive officer of Eterna Oil and Gas Plc, a pioneer natural gas distribution company. He had held several senior management positions across several functions. With extensive experience in financial and business process reengineering, IT systems design, he has acquired training on and offshore in advanced and modern management programmes and IT. A Bachelor of Accountancy graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Boyi, became the managing director of Gaslink Nigeria Limited in January 2004 having left Unipetrol Nigeria Plc (now Oando) in June 2001 as Executive Director, Corporate Planning and Investments. At Unipetrol, he was responsible for the corporate strategy planning and performance management and his major achievement was the successful merger and integration of Agip Nigeria Plc with Unipetrol following the acquisition of Agip by the latter in a record breaking transaction of $84 million. As the managing director of Gaslink, he supervised the completion of the first most extensive metropolitan gas distribution network (100 km) in Lagos. He also provided significant and valuable inputs into the ongoing development of gas policy and regulatory framework in the country. He has attended courses in France and US and he is a member of the International Who is Who of Professionals.
Mohammed Sheriff
Mohamed Sheriff hails from Borno State and is the younger brother of the incumbent governor of the state. He is said to have independently made his money from building and construction of radio and television stations in the north. Mohammed who schooled in the United Kingdom has built broadcast stations in Jigawa and Taraba states. Married to an Italian-Somalian, Mohammed mostly socializes with business associates. He is a conservative northerner.
Olusegun Agbaje
Segun Agbaje holds a first degree in Accounting and a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of San Francisco. He worked with Ernst & Young, San Francisco for three years before joining Guaranty Trust Bank as a pioneer staff in 1990. He has worked in various groups in the bank including institutional banking, commercial banking, investment banking and settlements. He is known to possess tremendous capacity for results while his steamy appetite for excellence and disciplined attention to details have impacted positively in positioning GTBank among the largest and most profitable in the Nigerian banking industry. You hardly see him in public yet he is hardworking. As has been said by many who work around him, Agbaje always demonstrates a keen sense for perfection as well as pay attention to details. This is coupled with his creative and intellectual bent that drives his obsession for great ideas and values that has helped GTBank attain many of its goals. A pioneer staff of the bank, he is involved in general management of the bank’s day-to-day operations. He helped develop the Interbank Derivatives market amongst dealers and introduced the balance sheet management efficiency system at GTBank and as head of settlement group, he supervised the conversion of its operations from a cost center to a profit center in 2000.
Being a project-oriented person, Agbaje is said to be very instrumental in the introduction of Valucard (an electronic payment system) and Western Union Money Transfer by GTB. He also drives the electronic aspect of the bank’s service delivery system.
Doris Ojo
The chief executive officer of Datapro Systems Limited, an Internet services provider (ISP) based in Lagos with interests in the United Kingdom and South Africa, Doris is a qualified and skilled management professional with in-depth technical knowledge and hands on ability. She has over 12 years experience in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry. An alumnus of South Bank University London, Doris possesses a post graduate Diploma in Management studies as well as certificates from various IT courses. She has also spent the last nine years working at strategic decision making level, overseeing several high profile, turnkey ICT projects for various blue chip companies in the United Kingdom, Nigeria and South Africa. Some of the companies she worked for include British Telecom and ICL/Fujitsu and has also worked for some London Borough Councils. She currently offers consultancy, internet services and e-training services for multinationals.
Oboden Ibru
Oboden Ibru is the Executive Director in charge of Oceanic Bank’s operations. He supervises Head Office Operations (foreign & domestic), branch operations, human capital development, information technology, administrative services and risk management. He holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the International Graduate School of Management (IIESE), Navara, Spain. He has a B.Sc (Hons.) Finance and B.Sc. (Hons.) Statistics from University of San Francisco, California. He has acquired over 14 years banking experience in Oceanic Bank Plc. Mr. Oboden Ibru has worked in various strategic capacities in the Bank including treasury, branch operations & management, domestic and international operations. He also oversees the corporate finance strategy of the bank.
Adamu Attah
The son of late Mahmoud Attah, former chairman of First Bank Plc, the 38 year old Adamu made his fortune in chemicals and deals with textile companies. Another major Polo player who even has a team, Adamu runs a cattle ranch in Kaduna named Fifth Chukka as well as manages Mia Motels also in Kaduna.
Ladi Balogun
Ladi is Deputy Managing Director and acting CEO of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and holds a Bachelors degree in Economics from the University of East Anglia, United Kingdom as well as an MBA from Harvard Business School, United States of America. Ladi has over 13 years experience in investment and commercial banking, working in the United Kingdom, United States of America and Nigeria. Prior to joining FCMB, he worked with Deutsche Morgan Grenfell (Investment Bank) in London, now wholly owned by Deutsche Bank AG as well as Citibank, New York. He joined FCMB as a Senior Manager/Team Leader in the Investment Banking Division of the bank (now FCMB Capital Markets Limited) in 1995 and rose to become Executive Director, Investment Banking Division. He has been a team leader on capital raising, mergers and acquisition as well as privatisation assignments. He moved to the Institutional Banking Group (IBG) of the bank as executive director in 1997. His transformation of IBG was instrumental in the doubling of profits for the bank between the years 1997 and 1998.
He spearheaded the creation of First City Group, the transformation of FCMB into a commercial bank and the recent recapitalisation drive, during which the bank raised over N20 billion in the space of six months. In addition to being the Deputy Managing Director and acting CEO of FCMB, Ladi is also a director of FCMB Capital Markets Limited, Primrose Property Investments Limited, S&B Inc Limited (a Nigerian joint venture with a leading South African printing company) and Interswitch Nigeria Limited. He sits on the Advisory Committee of one of Nigeria’s leading private equity firms, SME Partnership. He is a volunteer speaker for Junior Achievement Nigeria, an NGO in Nigeria focused on training and mentoring the youth. He is also the chairman of the Otunba Tunwase Foundation (a charitable organisation established to improve the health and welfare of children in Nigeria).
Emeka Onwuka
Emeka, a chartered accountant is the new managing director of Diamond Bank plc, is a political science graduate of the University of Nigeria and obtained an MBA from the University of Benin. Prior to joining the Diamond Bank team in 1992, he worked with Arthur Andersen and Co. where he was exposed to both local and offshore training in accounting and management consulting for the finance as well as oil and gas industries. Emeka joined the Diamond Bank’s Corporate and Investment Banking Division in 1992 and from there progressed to managing the bank’s Oil and Gas Department. In 1996, he became the treasurer with direct reporting responsibility to executive management. In 1999, he was given the responsibility to manage branches in the Lagos region as head, commercial banking division, Lagos, from where he became the bank’s head, commercial banking in 2004. Having gained over 14 years experience in key aspects of banking, Emeka was elevated to the position of managing director in 2005, overseeing the entire operations of the bank.
Herbert Wigwe
Herbert Wigwe holds a B.Sc. Degree (Second Class Upper) in Accountancy from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters Degree in Banking and International Finance from the University College of North Wales. An Alumnus of Harvard Business School, he also holds another Masters in Financial Economics from the University of London. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. Herbert had a two-year professional accountancy experience with Coopers and Lybrand Associates, an international firm of Chartered Accountants prior to his banking career, which spans over 15 years. He worked for Kapital Merchant Bank as a Credit Analyst before joining Guaranty Trust Bank. He spent over 10 years with Guaranty Trust and while there, managed several portfolios including financial institutions, local corporates and multinationals. He left Guaranty Trust as an Executive Director together with Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede to champion the transformation of the institution. His experience covers corporate/institutional banking, commercial banking and product development. Herbert has led some of the industry’s significant syndication arrangements including the offshore funding arrangement of over $350 million for LNG’s Train III project. Herbert spends most of his leisure time with friends and has high taste for good things.
Aigboje Aig - Imoukhuede
Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede is a law graduate of the University of Benin and an Alumnus of Harvard Business School. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987. He acquired over 18 years banking experience largely from Guaranty Trust Bank where he resigned as Executive Director to become MD/CEO of Access Bank Plc. His professional exposure covers almost all areas of banking ranging from Credit and Marketing, Treasury, Funds and Portfolio Management, Corporate Finance, Strategic Management, Planning and Financial Control and Public Sector. He has also been exposed to some of the best professional and leadership development training courses in leading global institutions like Harvard, INSEAD, IMD etc. A tested and proven charismatic leader, Aigboje is leading a formidable team of professionals at Access Bank Plc committed to transforming the bank into a world–class financial services provider. Under his leadership, Access Bank Plc is set to emerge as one of the successful banks post consolidation. Access Bank is set to be the 2nd Bank to comply with the CBN’S merger requirements ahead of the December 2005 deadline. Aigboje serves on the sub-committee of the Bankers Committee on Professional Ethics as well as the sub-committee on payment systems and is a Governing Council member of the Financial Institutions Training Centre. He is a resource person to the nations private public partnership and participates actively in the growth of the organ’s banking industry and financial system.
Tonye Patrick Cole
Tonye Cole is the Managing Director of Sahara Energy Resource Limited which he co-founded in 1996 with his friends Tope Shonubi and Ade Odunsi. Sahara Energy started out as an oil and gas company whose core business at the time was the trading of excess fuel oil from the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries. With a refineries combination of hard-work and dogged determination not to be a middleman in the transactions, Sahara Energy established itself as a credible trading house within three years with a respectable trading line from a first class international bank, BNP Paribas. This has enabled the company to carry out transactions from the point of purchase from the refinery, chartering of vessels and shipping the products, to the point of sale and delivery to the end users. Within five years of operations, Sahara Energy had diversified into storage depot and vessel ownership, building depots in Lagos, Onne and Abuja with a combined capacity of 55,000 metric tonnes and a fleet of five vessels moving products across West Africa. Today, Sahara Energy is a major employer of labour with a staff strength of just over 300 people. The company also has a growing portfolio which includes upstream assets with a marginal field block awarded in 2003 and an equity partner in Block 5 of the JDZ awarded in 2005.
Sahara Energy remains very strong in the trading sector and has set up a trading office in Geneva, Switzerland which actively trades in crude oil, gas oil, Jet A1, mogas and bitumen in various markets globally. The company also maintains a strong physical presence with in Ghana, Ivory Coast and Senegal and representative offices in Cameroun, France and Brazil. Sahara Energy is participating in the privatisation exercise for the Port Harcourt Refinery and would soon be expanding its downstream retail activities in 2006.
Son of Patrick Dele Cole, Tonye was born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State some 38 years ago. He attended Corona School, Victoria Island and later King’s College, Lagos before proceeding to King’s School, Ely, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom. He is also an alumnus of the University of Lagos and Universidade de Brasilia, Brazil. A merit honours graduate of architecture, Tonye Cole worked as an architect for frontline Brazilian architectural firm Grupo Quartro SA in Goiania Brazil (’90-92) where he was involved in the design and implementation of the urban planning and city development of Palmas, the capital city of the newly created state of Tocantins. The city of Palmas was designed as a ‘green fields’ project and built up from scratch.
Amongst the projects he worked on in Palmas are the State Ministry of Justice HQ and the City Hall. Upon his return to Nigeria, Tonye Cole was recruited in 1993 as the Director of Operations EMSA S.A., a Brazilian civil engineering company, the 7th largest engineering firm in Brazil that was awarded World Bank-financed water projects for Lagos State Water Corporation. He was responsible for incorporating and setting up the Nigerian office, recruiting the local staff and managing the office. The company, in a joint venture with Sakamori Limited successfully executed three World Bank sponsored contracts valued at $58m and one ADB sponsored contract for Anambra State Water Corporation valued at $15m. Tonye socialises but rarely party’s.
Wale Tinubu
Wale Tinubu is a workaholic who does not mix business with pleasure. But even at that, he never misses partying opportunities with friends. His after-work life begins at around midnight when he hangs out with friends and associates. He knows how to enjoy himself and likes good things. Son of one time Assistant Commissioner of Police in Lagos State and nephew of Governor Bola Tinubu, Wale Tinubu is the Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director of Oando Plc. He assumed duty in July 2001. He is a second class upper degree law graduate of the University of Liverpool, England after which he proceeded to the famous London School of Economics and bagged an LLM. Upon graduation, Wale started his career with the family's law firm, K.O. Tinubu where he worked on corporate and petroleum law assignments. In 1994, Wale became one of the founding partners of Ocean and Oil Group. Whilst at Ocean and Oil, Wale was mainly responsible for the strategic expansion of the business. He specialised in International Finance and Shipping. A member of the Nigerian Bar Association. He is the Chairman of Gaslink Nigeria Ltd and Tilca Nigeria and also serves on the board of Oando Plc Sierra Leone, Oando Plc Togo, Oando Plc Ghana, West African Refinery Company (WARCO) Sierra Leone, Ocean and Oil Services, and Vmobile Nigeria. He is also a member of the Institute of Directors. He is a member of the Ikoyi Club, Lagos Motorboat Club, Lions Club and Lagos Polo Club.
Sayyu Dantata
A mechanical engineer by training, this younger brother of business mogul, Aliko Dangote is the scion of the Dantata family in Kano. He is the chief executive officer of M.R.S, a major petroleum products supplier where he made his fortune. Sayyu was educated in the United States and started his own company about ten years ago after a stint at business heading one of his brother’s numerous companies, Dangote Transport. He is a success today in his chosen business. An ardent polo player, Sayyu socializes very well and is often sighted at exclusive niteclubs around the Lagos Island metropolis.
Jite Okoloko
A graduate of Economics from University of Benin, Okoloko is the Managing Director of Ocean & Oil. He left the country after graduation for the United States where he worked as Marketing Representative with Banty Alarms which was into security systems. He was also previously with AT&T Security Systems and Ricon Financials. Okoloko who sits atop a business of over N7 billion annual turnover, became the Managing Director of Ocean & Oil about four years ago when his other two partners (Wale Tinubu and Mofe Boyo moved to take control of Unipetrol. With his family in the United States, he enjoys outings with friends in exclusive restaurants and bars in Victoria Island and Ikoyi, Lagos.
Mofe Boyo
Currently the Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Managing Director of Oando, Boyo studied Law at the University of London. He assumed this current position in July 2001 after a stint as the Executive Director, Marketing of Oando. In 1991, he started his career with F.R.A Williams and Co, a prominent law firm in Nigeria where he worked for four years. Whilst at F.R.A Williams and Co., Boyo specialised in the shipping and oil services industries and worked on various joint venture deals between NNPC and major international oil companies. He was also a member of the team that represented the refineries in the NNPC judiciary enquiry. In 1994, he joined the Ocean and Oil Group where he developed and managed the operations department. Boyo has a Bachelor's of Law Degree from Kings College, University of London, England. He is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association. He serves on the Board of Directors of Gaslink Nigeria Ltd., Oando Plc Sierra Leone, Oando Plc Togo, Oando Plc Ghana. West African Refinery Company, (WARCO) Sierra Leone, Stallion Properties and Ocean and Oil Services.
Femi Otedola
Son of one time Executive Governor of Lagos State, Sir Michael Otedola, Femi established Zenon Oil a few years ago and has grown it rapidly to take a commanding bite of the diesel market. A daring, adventurous and ambitious entrepreneur, Femi has built an empire. He has become an index to measure the success and the resilience of the youth to conquer in the face of daunting odds and his insatiable quest to explore business opportunities has led him to the very top of his chosen business. He has succeeded where many have even feared to tread. In just four years of establishing Zenon, he has effectively seized the diesel market in Nigeria, not only has he dominated the market, he even dictates the frontiers of competition with clients in the league of Dangote Group, Cadbury, Coca cola, Nigerian Breweries, MTN, Unilever, Nestle, Guinness, etc. Zenon, sometime ago acquired a massive flat bottom bunker vessel with a storage capacity of 16,000 metric tonnes of diesel for 6.8 million dollars. The cargo ship, named after his mother, was just one of four in the world and the first of its kind in Africa.
