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The Board of Odu’a Investment Company Limited as part of strengthening its corporate governance, repositioning the Company to achieve its ambitious 5-Year Strategic Plan and attain its vision ‘’To be a World Class Conglomerate’’ has approved the appointment of 2 each Independent Directors and Group Executive Directors to the Board which now has 11 members. Independent Directors: These are Otunba Mrs. Adebola Osibogun and Mrs. Folusho Olaniyan, OON. The Independent Non-Executive Directors are to support the Board by providing unbiased and independent views to strategic thinking and decision making while ensuring that all shareholders’ interests are protected and that full compliance with statutory rules and regulations are maintained. Otunba Mrs Osibogun currently serves on the board of FBN Holding Plc. She has over 3 decades financial services experience covering real estate financing, trusteeship, retail savings and loans at various reputable institutions. She is a Fellow and Former President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Fellow, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Fellow, Nigeria Institute of Management and Institute of Directors. She earned a Master of Science degree in Banking and Finance and a Bachelor of Education degree in Economics both from the University of Ibadan. Mrs. Olaniyan, OON, is the current Chairman Psaltry International Company Ltd, an agro-allied Company in Oyo State with giant strides in the production of various cassava based industrial products (i.e. starch, flour, sorbitol and glucose). A former Managing Director of UTC Nigeria Plc, Mrs Olaniyan is the founder of Contact Consulting Nigeria, a market research business advisory services organization that is facilitating agribusiness investment promotion and bridging gaps between investment hypothesis and impactful results. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing U.K. and a Fellow of the Institute of Directors. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Lagos and a Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Cookham, United Kingdom. Group Executive Directors: They are Ms. Adekemi Ajayi (Group CFO) and Mr Olugbolahan Mark-George (Group Chief Investment & Bus Dev Officer). Both are veritable addition to the management team of the company to deliver the audacious 5-years Growth Plan 2021-2025 Adekemi Ajayi is a finance executive, strategist and business leader with over 17 years in senior leadership roles across her 30 years of experience in Finance, Strategy Consulting and Telecommunications. She has experience working with regulators, auditors and tax authorities and her areas of expertise are in Corporate Finance, Strategic Management, Financial Markets and Project Management. A graduate of Imperial College, London and a UK qualified Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA) as well as a Global Certified Management Accountant (GCMA). Olugbolahan Mark-George is a seasoned strategy and business development guru with over 25 years multi-sector experience in microfinance, private equity, venture capital, international finance, insurance and Investment management. Mark-George’s experience encompasses multiple industries and programs/Projects within the development sectors (WB Group, USAID, DFID, GIZ, UN) and corporate sector, advising on organizational investment strategies and implementing successful business plans. He has qualifications in Law; Business & Finance; Insurance; Project management; Private Equity/Venture Capital; Investment Appraisal and Risk Analysis. All of them have since resumed in their roles. 

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The Ogun State Government has pledged to support Odu’a Investment Company Limited in its on-going Cassava Cultivation & Processing Project at Imeko, Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State. This disclosure was made on Thursday, September 24, 2020 when the Hon Commissioner for Agriculture, Ogun State, Dr Adeola Odedina along with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Dotun Sorunke and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agribusiness, Mrs Eva Adelaja made a tour of the Cassava Plantation. The Ogun State team were impressed that the operations started late in June 2020 and that at the time of the visit, 220 hectares of the land had been cleared and 86 hectares was planted. The Commissioner remarked that in three (3)months the Cassava Plantation looked very healthy and that the project is already having social impact with the engagement of about 35 youths who are indigenes of the host communities. The GMD/CEO of Odu’a Investment Company Limited(OICL), Mr Adewale Raji stated that the mandate is to clear and plant 1,200 hectares of Cassava in 13 months and that the ultimate goal is to establish combined processing plants of 100 tons per day fresh cassava value addition into High Quality Cassava Flour and High Quality Food Grade Starch.  Mr Raji said that in order to ensure raw materials  availability for the plants, OICL embarked on the plantation.  He commended the Executive Governor of Ogun State, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun for linking the administration’s focus of agriculture to industrial demand, job creation, food security and industrialisation.  He also commended the Ogun Agric Ministry’s approach on strong value chain coordination and achievements in registering volunteers of over 2,000 beneficiaries for rice cultivation and 3,000 beneficiaries for cassava cultivation under the Anchor Borrowers Programme. Chairman of Niji Farms Group, the Technical Management Partner of OICL on the entire project, Engr Kola Adeniji and his team were on hand to lead the tour of the Plantation.  In his goodwill message, High Chief Prof Anthony Asiwaju, Balogun of Imekoland who represented the Onimeko, HRM Oba Benjamin Olanite appreciated the Odu’a Group for bringing the long awaited development to Imeko Community and assured the group of the cooperation of the Imeko community towards the success of the project. Meanwhile, OICL and the Ogun Agric Ministry have agreed to have further roundtable discussion for collaboration and partnerships.

To chart a new course to improve performance  and increase the profitability of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, the Company owned by the six South-West States has mapped out ambitious growth plans that would re-position the organization to fulfill the aspirations of the founding fathers and serve the interest of all the stakeholders now and in the future. The Group is poised to operate with purpose and accountability with full engagement and inclusiveness of stakeholders. The organization had a two-day brainstorming strategy session facilitated by KPMG Advisory services for the company’s Board of Directors, Chairmen of the Board of Subsidiaries and Chief Executive Officers  of its Subsidiary Companies and the Management team of Odu’a Investment at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Lagos on the 4th and 5th of September, 2020. It was also attended by selected special guests who are renowned entrepreneurs, subject matter experts and business leaders, technocrats, intellectuals and others. The retreat articulated the building blocks for achieving the five years ambitious plan based on the strategic pillars of growth and expansion; Investment Excellence; Profitability and Efficiency; Governance and Reporting as well as People, Culture and Transformation. Some of the resolutions arrived at during the retreat is the decision to focus investment in priority sectors of Real Estates, Energy including Oil and Gas, Hospital, Agriculture, Logistics and storage, Healthcare, ICT/ Digital and Financial Services. Innovation mindset will underpin the activities of the entire group. It agreed to ‘sweat’ the Group’s portfolio of assets to achieve an acceptable return on assets, reducing operating recurring cost significantly, ensure effective governance framework, oversight on the group and subsidiaries and also institute culture transformation initiatives to drive operational excellence. The Group’s Vision, Mission Statement and Core Values were also revised to fit into the current restructuring and repositioning drive of the company as “To be a world-class conglomerate” and a new Mission Statement “To deliver sustainable returns for all stakeholders; enhancing the legacy for future generations” were agreed. It adopted a new Core Values of Respect; Integrity; Resilience; Innovation and Collaboration (R.I.R.I.C). It was defined that core to achieving the aims and objectives of retreat outcomes will be active engagement of the Group’s employees to ensure staff understanding and buy-in into the new Vision, Mission Statement and Core Values to have a highly motivated workforce and enthrone a meritocratic culture to deliver on the organization’s goals and objectives. The Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Dr Segun Aina OFR, charged participants on the need to take the company and its subsidiaries to a level that each and everyone would be remembered for in delivering the Odu’a of our dream. He noted the retreat has put in place required strategies needed to refocus, re-calibrate and accelerate delivery Odu’a Investment’s desired result, according to him “the board’s priorities include delivering shareholder’s value and social impact which will be based on asset optimization and efficient management of resources” He added that urgency and priority attention will be given to human capital development, digital transformation and creating joint ventures and alliances through strategic partnerships. Some quick wins according to the Chairman included completion of a Corporate Governance reform in line with global best practice, recruitment of two Executive Directors and the appointment of two independent Non-Executive Directors, and looking at recruiting top individuals in the management level. While noting that the transformation change in Odu’a Investment is mandatory, he enjoined the Management and the staff to imbibe the change, the desired culture and have a common purpose to drive the organization to the greater height that will result into making Odu’a Investment Company Ltd the economic powerhouse of the South-West nation and the Strategic partner of the first choice. Commenting, the Odu’a Investment Group Managing Director, Mr Adewale Raji said “the retreat was a worth‐ while effort for both the board and the Management to agree on a common focus in moving the company forward and achieving a quantum leap with emphasis on Growth, Profitability and Sustainability” Prominent Guest Speakers at the retreat included Chief Segun Osunkeye, former Chairman of Nestle/ GSK/Lafarge, Mr Dotun Sulaiman formerly Head Accenture and currently Chairman Cadbury Plc and Financial Reporting Council, Mr Kunle Elebute, Chairman KPMG Africa, Mr Daniel Monehin, a Global Leadership Expert and Mrs Ifueko Omoigui-Okauro, former Chairman of FIRS. (https://chainwitcher.com/)

To enhance its performance, profitability and sustainable growth necessary to achieve the expectations of its shareholders, Odu’a Investment Company Limited is poised to explore new areas in Innovation, Creativity, Digital and Technology which are key enabling factors for business success in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The Chairman of OICL, Dr Segun Aina on Friday, August 28, 2020, stated this while constituting the Innovation and Technology Advisory Team (ITAT) made up of selected individuals in the innovation, creativity and technology space. The experts with a proven track record of accomplishments in their respective fields would assist OICL in charting a pathway to drive innovation and technology business initiatives in OICL to ensure it has an impactful effect on company’s business and also in the South-Western region. Odu’a Chairman noted that the essence of the Innovation and Technology Advisory Team (ITAT) is to see how OICL can plug in on Innovation and Technology to drive the activities of the company. Dr Aina noted that the Advisory team would help drive Innovation and Digital Transformation mindset of staff as well as help the business and shareholders by harnessing the kind of opportunities that is available in Innovation and Technology space. “OICL desires to leverage on innovation and technology to drive the economic transformation of the South West” He added In his remarks, Odu’a GMD/CEO, Mr Adewale Raji expressed delight that the Innovation and Technology Advisory Team would assist in creating what is considered to be the agenda the organization should be focused on while believing that OICL can further get involved in the business that is related to Innovation and Technology to grow the knowledge base of the teeming population of the South West.

The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has inaugurated 14 Committees of its Governing Council to strengthen operations and drive its activities on banking Museum. Group Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Mr Adewale Raji makes the list. Mr Nelson Olagundoye, Head, Corporate Communication and External Relations, CIBN, said in a statement that the committees comprised three Statutory, nine Standing and two Adhoc. He said that the committees were comprised of members who had been in the service of the Institute for over five decades of its existence.  Speaking at the inauguration, the Chairman of Council, Mr Bayo Olugbemi, said the committees would be required to articulate new initiatives, ideas and strategies toward the actualisation of the strategic vision of the Institute. He urged members to deploy their expertise and wealth of experience to ensure the realisation of the Terms of Reference of their various committees for the next two years. The CIBN President expressed gratitude to the 180 members who participated at the first virtual CIBN Committee Inauguration Programme, for accepting to sacrifice their time and resources to serve the Institute. The Chairman, Business and Government Relations Group, Chief Femi Pedro, while responding on behalf of members of the Committees, expressed delight over array of personalities that the Institute attracted. He described them as “great and eminent personalities” whose integrity had been proven to be of good records. Pedro, therefore, pledged the committees’ support and commitment to the President and Institute. Members of the Committees include:  Mr Adewale Raji, Group Managing Director/ CEO, Odu’a Investment Company Limited; Mallam Isa Dutse, FCIB, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance; Chief Femi Pedro, FCIB, Chairman, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria; Mr U.K. Eke, FCIB Managing Director/Chief Executive, FBN Holdings; Mrs Osaretin Demuren, FCIB, Chairman, GTBank Plc and Bank Directors Association. Others are: Mr Oscar N. Onyema, OON, CEO, Nigerian Stock Exchange; Sen. Ibrahim Rafiu, FCIB; Hon. Justice Olateru-Olagbegi; Sen. Rafiu Ibrahim, FCIB; and Mr Bola Oyebamiji, FCIB, Commissioner for Finance, Osun, among others.

The Group Managing Director/ CEO of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Mr Adewale Raji, has reiterated the need for a conducive and safe environment for economic activities to thrive.  In achieving this, Odu’a GMD said that it would continue to partner with the Oyo State police command to fortify security network in its area of business operations. The Odu’a boss stated this at a visit of the new Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Joe Nwachukwu Enwonwu and his team to Odu’a Group Headquarters on Thursday, June 25,  2020.  Mr Raji commended the new police boss for the visit, saying it showed his commitment to the business community in the state. “We will also continue to support the police as we have been doing, thereby, strengthening the relationship between the two organizations for the benefit of the people,” the Odua boss said.   Mr Raji noted that in curbing the high rate of crime in the society, most people needed to be economically engaged so as to reduce the number of people involving in crime The GMD said that the Odu’a Board in alignment with the drive of the owner state governments to unlock value in the Agriculture value chain in the South West, is committed to operationalising the South West Agricultural Corporation Limited (SWAGCO) by end of June 2020. He noted that a new dawn has started in Odu’a as management and Board are committed to creating shareholders value with social impact as the company is poised to fulfilling its mandate as the engine room for economic development of South Western Nigeria. In his remarks, CP Enwonwu assured that the police under his command would continue to maintain peace in the state in order for businesses to thrive.Enwonwu, who commended the entrepreneurial spirit of residents of the state, said economic activities would be grounded in an atmosphere of insecurity. He then urged Odu’a Investment Company to continue to partner with the police, especially by extending its support in the area of logistics.On hand to welcome the police commissioner to the Group Headquarters office were Head Group Human Resources, Dr Morakinyo Oloyede, Company Secretary/ Head of Legal, Mrs Abiola Ajayi, Head Corporate Affairs, Mr Victor Ayetoro and Public Relations Manager, Mrs Nike Ajobo., while on the entourage of the police boss were ACP Abayomi Oladipo; DC CID, ACP Gabriel Dibie; AC Administration, CSP Olubunmi Apapa; Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO), SP Olugbenga Fadeyi, among others. (Adipex)

The newly inaugurated board of Odu’a Investment Company Limited (OICL) led by the Chairman, Dr Segun Aina, OFR, is committed to reposition and restructure the Company and its subsidiaries to enhance its performance, profitability and sustainable growth necessary to achieve the expectations of its shareholders and other stakeholders. One of the objectives of the shareholders is to make Odu’a Investment a world class company with strong governance framework that could compete with similar organizations in terms of growth, profitability and sustainability. To achieve this objective among others, the Board commenced action immediately it was inaugurated on 7th May 2020 and have held two board meetings within two weeks to quickly familiarize itself with the operations and current status of the Company as well as chart a road map for the board. The Board has drawn up an 11-points agenda and quick wins for its first 85 days in office which would provide the requisite foundation needed for the transformation of the Company. The 11 points agenda include the development of a five-year strategic plan (2020-2025). A Board Strategic retreat to be facilitated by KPMG has been scheduled to hold in July 2020. The retreat will determine strategies required to refocus, recalibrate and accelerate delivery of desired results.The board will identify new key investment opportunities in Agriculture, Technology, and commercially viable infrastructure, ensure the creation of a Project Management Office and Corporate transformation agenda, improve brand and media profile and have oversight function in rigorous quarterly business reviews. The Board in alignment with the drive of the Owner State Governments to unlock value in the agriculture value chain in the South West, is committed to operationalize the South West Agricultural Corporation Limited (SWAGCO) by end of June 2020. (https://brownshvac.net/) Also, the Board recognizes the importance of funding, strategic partnership and alliances in the growth of the business, as such, it would identify and create local and international relationships with funding partners such as IFC, African Development Bank (AFDB), Afrexim Bank and other leading local and International institutions.To ensure Best Practice and Corporate Governance in Odu’a Investment, the board will accelerate the completion of the Corporate Governance Advisory Assignment being carried out by KPMG and would provide all necessary support to ensure the strengthen of executive capacity with recruitment of two Executive Directors in due course. At a recent virtual meeting held with the Management team of Odu’a Investment, Chairmen and Managing Directors of Subsidiary Companies on Friday on May 22, 2020, the Board emphasized profitability, professionalism, team work and culture change in the management and operations of the Group.It charged them that all hands must be on deck to support the Board towards the achievement of its objectives. It was agreed that it would no longer be business as usual as mediocrity would not be tolerated while competence and performance would henceforth drive the work force.The Board assured that existing businesses will be supported; inactive companies will be resuscitated and new businesses would be embarked upon in line with the strategic plan to be developed.A new dawn has started in Odu’a Investment as the new Board made up of eminent personalities are committed to create shareholders value with social impact as Odua is poised to fulfill its mandate as the engine room for economic development of the South Western Nigeria.

Dr Segun Aina, Former President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has been appointed, Chairman, Board of Directors, Odu’a Investment Limited. Dr Segun Aina, Former President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN). The Head, Corporate Communication and External Relations of CIBN, Mr Nelson Olagundoye, said in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos, that Aina’s appointment was approved by the South-West Governors’ Forum. “The appointment was approved following the reconstitution of the Board by the six governors of South West states, the owners of the company, led by the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu. “The new board, which has since been inaugurated is charged with the responsibility of restoring the lost glory of the company and repositioning it to realise the objectives of its founding fathers,” he said. Olagundoye said that Aina’s appointment to the position was an indication of the confidence the South-West Governors’ Forum had on him. According to him, the forum has no doubt that under his leadership, wisdom and guidance, the company will strive to much greater heights and achievement. He mentioned other members of the Board to be: Mr Segun Olujobi (Ekiti), Dr Tola Kasali (Lagos), Otunba Bimbo Ashiru (Ogun), Chief Segun Ojo (Ondo) and Seeni Adio Esq, SAN (Oyo). Aina, who will be representing Osun State on the Board, is a global professional banking leader, internationally rated fintech influencer and thought leader, respected Futurist and a Philanthropist. Until his appointment, he was the Chairman of Global Council of Global Banking Education Standards Board (GBEStB), and President, Africa Fintech Network. He has also served as the President/Chairman of Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (2012 -2014) as well as West African Bankers Association (Nigeria Chapter) 2001, among others. Source : Pulse Nigeria