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It was a night of encomium as notable Nigerians graced the farewell party for Dr Segun Aina, OFR, immediate past Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited (OICL), and the former Group Managing Director (GMD)/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, Mr Adewale Raji. The farewell party held at the Oranmiyan Hall of the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, over the weekend was organised by Odu’a Investment Company Limited to celebrate outstanding performances of Dr Aina and Mr Raji during their tenure at the company. The farewell party has in attendance members of the Board of Directors of Odu’a led by the Group Chairman, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, subsidiary Companies board of directors, government parastatals, associate Companies, Captains of industries, leadership team of OICL and management team of Odu’a subsidies, among others. List of milestones achievements under the tenure of the duo of Dr Aina and Mr Raji as reeled out by Odu’a Investment Company Limited includes transitioning of Odu’a Investment Company Limited (OICL) real estate properties to WEMABOD, making it one of the largest properties management companies in the country by asset under management. Other include the transformation of OICL into a lean operating holding company, pioneering of a new corporate governance framework for OICL, Stimulation of a work culture of accountability and transparency, remarkable ascent in revenue and profit before tax(PBT) by 107% and 370% respectively in 10 years and consistent dividend payment in the history of OICL, with a total dividend payment of N3.11billion in 10 years. Dr Segun Aina and Mr Adewale Raji were also celebrated for their achievements in ensuring the landmark admission of Lagos state as a shareholder of Odu’a Investment. Achieved the first in-house succession planning, achieved the first assignment of an “A” rating with a stable outlook by Agusto & Co in 2023. Part of the milestones of OICL under the visionary leadership of Dr Segun Aina and Mr Adewale Raji also includes the creation of the three new entities into Odu’a Group; West Agriculture Company Limited (SwagCo), South-West Innovation and Tech Company (SWIT) and BITA Exploration Limited, which secured the BITA marginal oilfield. In his welcome address, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru said, “It is my great pleasure to welcome you all our distinguished guests on this special occasion as we gather to celebrate and honour two remarkable leaders, Dr Segun Aina, OFR, our Emeritus Chairman and Mr. Adewale Raji, our immediate Past Group Managing Director who have left an indelible mark on Odu’a Investment Company (OICL). “Tonight is not only a farewell to these distinguished gentlemen but also an opportunity to express our deepest gratitude for their immense contributions. In the time we have spent working together, both have inspired us with their vision, dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to excellence and their relentless pursuit of growth which have significantly shaped the success and reputation of OICL. “Their tenure has set a standard for leadership, integrity and innovation. Under their leadership, OICL has grown stronger, more resilient and positioned for greater success. “The theme of today’s event is “Celebrating years of legacy – a journey of transformation and growth”. No doubt, the two distinguished personalities timeless efforts, strategic insights, and ability to navigate both opportunities and challenges with grace, have left an indelible mark on the great legacy – Odua Investment Company Limited. Both have helped in the transformation and repositioning of our great company, improving the productivity of the business, while delivering significant impacts during their tenures. “Today, we honour not just their remarkable achievements, but also the relationships they have fostered, the values they have instilled, and the culture they have helped create. We are honoured that you all could join us this evening as we celebrate their dedication, achievements, and the lasting legacies they leave behind. In his remarks the former governor of Ogun State, an elder statesman , Chief Aremo Olusegun Osoba described the duo (Dr Segun Aina and Mr Adewale Raji) as a distinguished Nigerians that contributed greatly to the growth and development of the Odu’a Investment Company Limited. Also in her goodwill message, the first female minister of Industry, Chief Mrs Onikepo Akande commended the outstanding performances of Dr Segun Aina and Mr Adewale Raji which has resulted to the enviable height that Odu’a investment Company Limited occupied in the country and Africa at large. The Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Mr Olatokunbo Talabi lauded the celebrants for their visionary and leadership roles. Group Managing Director of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Mr Abdulrahman Yinusa said it’s an evening filled with deep reflection, fond memories, and, most importantly, heartfelt appreciation to the two remarkable emeritus leaders, Dr. Segun Aina, OFR, and Mr. Adewale Raji who have contributed immensely to the growth and development of OICL The Former Director at KPMG, Engr Joseph Tegbe in his words described the duo as thorough well breed administrators, noting that their tenure witnessed a lot of developmental achievements. He said, “today we are celebrating the outstanding performances and quality leadership role of Dr Segun Aina and Mr Adewale Raji, both of them of whom l have worked with have delivered excellently at their various capacities while in active service at Odu’a Investment Company Limited and that is why the management and staff of OICL is celebrating them tonight. Managing Directors of OICL subsidiary companies took turn to appreciate the leadership of the two celebrants in turning around the growth of their companies. In his remark, Dr Segun Aina linked dedication and commitment to work as a key to his successful career. Nigerians that are aspiring to be great in their various endeavours to be more committed and dedicated to their chosen profession. He said, “dedication and commitment are very key, we can’t achieve this feat without commitment and dedication to our jobs, in the next ten years I see Odu’a Investment Company Limited in an enviable height. Mr Adewale Raji, said, “I feel fulfilled, I feel honored, this reception shows how impactful our tenure was under the Odu’a Investment Company, I

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima commended the Odu’a Investment Group for its sustainability and business initiatives while emphasizing that investment in agriculture, digital economy and MSMEs which the Group focuses on were pivotal to the growth and development of the nation’s economy. According to Senator Shettima, these key sectors remain critical to the nation’s future development and youth empowerment. The Vice President, gave this commendation when the Board of Odu’a Investment Company Limited led by its Group Chairman, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, paid him a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday. Senator Shettima said, “The shareholder States of Odu’a, the Southwest region of our country, has enormous capacity to revolutionise the country given its endowment with large arable farmland, human capital and natural resources just as the policies of the Federal Government will, in no time, manifest as the greatest milestones crossed for the development of Nigeria.” While assuring the Company of his support, the Vice President, restated the firm resolve of President Bola Tinubu-led administration to revolutionise Nigeria’s Digital Economy, saying it was on course and fully backed by the necessary support, initiatives and partnerships. To this effect, he said the Federal Government would continue to open its doors to all willing partners and stakeholders who continue to believe and invest in the Nigeria project, adding that it was just a matter of time before the nation takes its rightful position across the globe. Earlier, the Group Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, commended President Tinubu’s administration for promoting ease of doing business in Nigeria, expressing optimism that this initiative will help businesses to thrive even as he called on citizens and investors to take advantage of the opportunities that abound in Nigeria and invest in the country. Otunba Ashiru appreciated the encouragement his team received from Vice President Shettima, as he mentioned that Odu’a Investment Company Limited, as the investment hub of the South West will continue to make forays into new profitable ventures and create more employment opportunities for young graduates in the country. He mentioned that Odu’a will continue to seek collaboration with the federal government in areas of agriculture, information technology and skill acquisition programs across the six south-west states. Speaking to journalists, the Group Managing Director of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Mr Abdulrahman Yinusa expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the emphasizing the need for private and public sector collaboration to drive economic growth. He highlighted the company’s passion for agriculture and information technology.He further said the Vice President assured the delegation that the government is focused on positioning Nigeria as a leader in these sectors, which is in alignment with the company’s goals. “We are passionate about agriculture and we are passionate about information technology because that is the fourth industrial revolution and the Vice President has assured us, including the President, that they are actually focused on making sure that Nigeria takes its rightful place in the comity of nations in those two fields.” He said

Odu’a Investment Company Limited (OICL) on Wednesday, July 31st, 2024 held the official opening ceremony of its new Lagos Island liaison office strategically nestled at the Western House building, the iconic first high-rise in Lagos state. The move was a bold step towards bringing the legacy South Western government-owned conglomerate closer to Lagos Island’s hub of business and enterprise, as part of its ongoing repositioning efforts to become a truly modern business empire with investments across energy, real estate, agriculture, technology and manufacturing. Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, the Group Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited (OICL), Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, said the idea of a new liaison office was borne out of the need to enhance ease of access for local and international partners of the emerging conglomerate in line with its ambitious growth strategy. The Chairman noted: “We are commissioning today our tastefully well-furnished offices and board room that will act as an information hub for gathering market intelligence, conducting research and facilitating collaboration between OICL and potential business partners. The liaison office will serve as a communication bridge between the holding company and the investing community. “This magnificent OICL Lagos liaison office where we are all gathered today is strategic in our drive towards accelerated growth and expanding the footprint of OICL. Two of our new subsidiaries have their offices within the facility – South West Agribusiness Company (SWAgCo) and South West Innovation and Tech Company (SWIT). The facilities in the Lagos liaison office include an executive office, modern board room with teleconference equipment, lounge, meeting rooms and kitchenettes,” he stated. Ashiru added that the facility is beyond a mere physical space but a strategic asset that will facilitate easy asses to the business community, communication, and a step towards fostering international relationships and navigating the ever-evolving landscape of global business with finesses in the drive to become a world-class conglomerate. Meanwhile, OICL Group Managing Director/CEO, Abdulrahman Yinusa emphasised the development as a testament to the company’s resilience, innovation, and unwavering commitment to excellence. He stated, “The new OICL Lagos liaison office has been well structured for comfortability and ease of operation for better proficiency.” Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, the Secretary to the Lagos State Government (SSG), represented by the Director, SSG Office, Omotayo Gbajabiamila expressed confidence in the board and management team of OICL, noting that with Lagos state’s involvement, excellence is inevitable. Also, Dr Seye Oyeleye, Director-General, Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, in a goodwill message titled Rekindling the Flame of Progress, enthused that “OICL holds a unique place in the heart of every Yoruba person. Therefore we are not simply witnessing the expansion of a business entity, but the continuation of a grand vision that has shaped the collective social, political, and economic aspirations of Southwest Nigeria. “OICL carries the weighty responsibility of living up to this lofty ideal set by its founding fathers. We, the Yoruba people, look to this organisation with the same eyes that gazed upon the transformative initiatives of the Awolowo era. We expect nothing less than audacious thinking and ambitious projects that will reshape the landscape of Yorubaland and beyond.” “This new office in Lagos, the economic powerhouse of West Africa is therefore not just a geographical expansion. It is a launchpad for greater achievements and a statement of intent that echoes the ambitions of our forebears,” he noted. He urged the group to, “Draw inspiration from other success stories worldwide. Just as Temasek has become a symbol of prosperity for Singapore, we envision Odu’a Investments playing an even more transformative role in our region. We dream of a future where the proceeds from this organisation fund initiatives that guarantee ‘life more abundant’ for all our people.” Other directors, staff, and stakeholders in the company group and its subsidiaries witnessed the event.

Odu’a Investment Company Limited (OICL) and the Nigerian Office for Philanthropy and Impact Investing has signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) towards the provision of grants for MSMEs in the South-West states. The MoU was signed yesterday by officials of both organisations at the Job creation and MSME Secretariat, BOI Building, CBD, Abuja The MoU is geared towards providing funding for startups in order to develop and grow businesses in critical sectors, including Agriculture, renewable energy , fashion and furniture manufacturing. It intends to ensure parties work together towards providing funding for businesses in the six south-west states to spur socio-economic growth of the region for enhanced contribution to national economy. Mrs Thelma Ekiyor-Solanke, Chairperson of the Nigeria Office for Philanthropy and Impact Investing, said the MoU was part of roadmap towards ensuring the office fulfill its mandate by working with relevant stakeholders. “We are pleased to work with our first batch of partners, engaging in different areas of interest, so that when each person brings what they are good at we get a whole” “We hope that through this partnership we will be able to unlock skills and capacity-building advantages. “After this, we hope it will encourage more and more people to partner with the government in this area because the high rate of unemployment has caused social problems and insecurity. Mr Abdulrahman Yinusa, Group Managing Director/CEO, Odu’a Investment Company Limited who signed on behalf of the group, said the execution of the MOU was very important to achieve “impact investing” in the South west states. “We see economic development as an essential combination between meeting statistics and also achieving social goals,so this partnership is supposed to give us an opportunity to actually have what we call impact investing. “In impact investing, you want to go beyond the profit and loss, and go into how much people are getting employed and how sustainable are the developments. “This partnership is supposed to help go beyond making money but to get jobs for our people and also look after the environment. “ You will recall that Odu’a Investment is owned by the six South West states, and first thing we are going to do is to create a platform whereby we will be able to engage all the economic agents within the South West. “This will enable us to participate in activities that will not only grow the economy, but will also create jobs for our people,” he said. Earlier in his remark, Mr Tola Johnson, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Job Creation and MSMEs, said the MoU was a milestone towards realising the president’s commitment to job creation. He, therefore called for commitment from all partners to ensure that the targeted sectors benefit from the presidential intervention for a better life for Nigerians. The Nigeria Philanthropy Office (NPO) is a private-led coordinating office, situated in the Office of the Vice President to drive philanthropic support for MSMEs for targeted sectors that have high job creation potential. The Office is aligned with the job creation vision of President Tinubu and the administration’s ongoing work with MSMEs in terms of job creation by working with donors, impact investors, financial institutions and foundations.

The Group Managing Director/CEO of Odu’a Investment Company Limited (OICL), Mr Abdulrahman Yinusa has commended the good work that is being carried out by the Odu’a Investment Foundation (OIF), particularly with the Digital Education for Innovation and Economic Development (DEFINED) project which was officially inaugurated in October 2023 at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State. The GMD while on an official visit to the OIF Chairperson, Ambassador Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu at the Chief Obafemi Awolowo Ikenne Residence on Wednesday, 10th July 2024 said the decision of the OICL Board in appointing men and women of vision, pedigree, commitment and compassion into the Advisory Council of the Foundation was a right step in the right direction judging by the successes recorded The GMD also use the occasion to present progress updates to the Yoruba Leader on developments in the Odu’a Investment Group particularly efforts being made to enhance the legacy for future generations. He cited the ongoing Premier Hotel redevelopment project and said the project was to revamp, remodel and reposition the hotel to become the preferred hospitality destination in the southwest. He spoke also on the stability in OICL with the new strategy of the organization and corporate governance structure put in place by the Board. He praised the commitment of the immediate past GMD, Mr Adewale Raji in laying a solid foundation for business. Earlier the Project Officers of the Foundation, Mr Temilorun Okediji and Mr Yinka Babalola reported the first endeavour under the DEFINED project is the Byte Buster After School Coding Club aimed at public secondary schools in the Southwest States. The pilot phase is now operational in Oyo State at Government College Apata Ibadan with 100 students enrolled. In Ogun State, suitable centres have been identified and OIF has conducted a pre-admission assessment to shortlist and admit 100 students. There are ongoing engagements with state education ministries and stakeholders in Ekiti, Lagos, Osun and Ondo states for the selection of suitable facilities in those states ahead of the new academic session in October 2024. In her response, Amb, Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu thanked Prof. Seun Kolade of Sheffield Business School UK, the initiator of the DEFINED project and consultant to the foundation for his steadfast support and commitment towards the project. He assured the OICL GMD and OICL Board that the target is to enlist a total of 1,200 students for the DEFINED project before the 1st anniversary of the OIF in October 2024. She stated the other Area of Focus which is on healthcare will be focusing on non-communicable disease prevention and control. On behalf of the members of the OIF Advisory Council, Amb Dr ‘Tokunbo Awolowo Dosumu thanked the OICL Board for appreciating the contributions of the Advisory Council and congratulated the OICL GMD, Mr Abdulrahman Yinusa for his new appointment. She expressed her concerns about the high food prices and inflation in the country and wanted OICL to give food security and agriculture development a high priority. The OIF Chairperson advised the GMD to ensure diversity, equality and inclusion guide his leadership style and that he should imbibe Papa Awolowo’s principles of moderate lifestyle while in office and out of office. Check this: Best Pills for Erection – Your Guide to Optimal Sexual Health

Odu’a Investment Company Ltd.,(OICL) and the Nigeria Philanthropy Office, has concluded plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU)in providing grants to spur industrialisation in the South-west zone. Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, Group Chairman, Odua Investment Company Ltd., confirmed this at a meeting between OICL and the Office of the Philanthropy held in Lagos to discuss areas of collaboration and partnership between the two organizations. He said the project which is designed to cater for between 500 and 1000 persons is geared towards growing businesses, alleviating poverty, promoting agriculture and education. According to him, the parties would sign the MoU on the partnership tentatively by July 15 to guarantee OICL to take ownership of the project in the South-west zone. Ashiru said that the amount of the fund for the grant is still under discussion and would be announced when finalised. The chairman explained that the South-west Governors who are owners of Odu’a Investment Company Limited are involved in the project, while OICL is the flagship company for the initiative. ” The collaboration between the parties would spread across several areas, but particularly, to support businesses of the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises(MSMEs), agriculture and education that would lead to industrialisation. “We have so many companies, banks, that are partners too on the project, but Odu’a is the flagship for South-west zone, while there are other companies for the South-East and the North,” he said. “MSMEs are the drivers of any economy in the world; “they are about 90 per cent, while the multinationals are just about 10 per cent. “They create about 90 per cent of jobs across the world, but have a problem with funding; this partnership is geared towards addressing the problem and alleviating poverty,” he said. According to him, if the Government focuses on such empowerment, it will reduce the level of poverty and create more jobs. He expressed the willingness of the parties to ensure that everybody that are qualified benefit from the initiative, hence, the ongoing fine tuning of the MoU before it is finally signed. Ashiru said: “we will ensure that people that are qualified get the fund and the right calibre of people are put at the helms of affairs of the project. “That is why the Government is not handling it so that people with vested interest would not hijack it.

Mr. Abdulrahman Yinusa assumed office as the 9th GMD/CEO of Odu’a Investment Company Limited (OICL) on Monday, 3rd of June, 2024. He was up till the time of appointment the Group Chief Financial Officer of the Company. He took over from Mr. Adewale Raji who retired from the service of OICL on 31st May 2024, after serving meritoriously as the GMD/CEO for 10 years. Mr. Yinusa was appointed GMD/CEO having passed through a transparent and competitive selection process carried out by KPMG. He is a thoroughbred finance professional with over 3 decades of quality industry experience. Prior to coming on OICL board as the Group Chief Financial Officer, he was the ED/CFO in Diamond Bank, where he coordinated the capital raising exercise of over $500m in a combination of four different Tier I & Tier II standard and bespoke Financing Instruments as well as raising of a 7-year $200m Senior Eurobond Debt Instrument listed in Europe. He also participated actively in the M&A process that led to the acquisition Diamond Bank UK. He was the ED, Finance & Strategy, where he coordinated the strategy for the successful merger of Finbank with FCMB. Prior to that, he was pioneer CEO of UBA subsidiary in Sierra Leone where he established the Head Office and five branches within two years. And prior to his offshore assignment, he was the CEO of UBA Asset Management and he was responsible for the launch of four Mutual Fund products within two years. Before that, he functioned as Treasurer and CFO at different times during his 13-year career within the UBA Group. He held the position of Financial Controller/Head Strategy in FSB International Bank (now part of Fidelity Bank) as at a relatively young age of 26 years old. He had a record of being promoted three times during his 3-year career in Citibank. Beyond the massive successful feats achieved in the financial services and consulting space, he had served two terms on the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) where he functioned as Chairman of its Capacity Building and Certification Committee and the Chairman of the Membership Development and Services Committee. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria and equally holds MSc. Economics and MBA degrees from the University of Lagos. He is a certified member of many professional institutions, including being Fellows of both ICAN and CIBN. He is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Chartered Institute of Taxation and Nigeria Institute of Management. He also holds the Treasurer Dealership Certificate of MMAN (now FMDA). He has attended a wide range of general management development courses in prestigious institutions across the world, including Cambridge, IMD and INSEAD. He is an industry expert whose views and commentary on both Fiscal and Monetary Policies are well sought after on the efficacy of the periodic MPC decisions. He will be in charge of the overall management and operation of the OICL and its subsidiaries

Group Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru has expressed the company’s readiness to partner with the Ondo State government for more business opportunities in real estate, tourism, hospitality, and agriculture. Otunba Ashiru stated this during the visit of the Board of Directors of Odua to the governor’s office in Akure, Ondo state capital on Monday. He implored the State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa to promote the real estate sector owned by the Odu’a group in the state and also appealed to citizens of the state to support and patronise Odua’s various businesses. The Group chairman, who said the move would further enhance the vision and mission of the founding fathers, commended the Governor for his leadership style and the peace and harmony the state has witnessed. Responding, the Governor expressed gratitude for the group’s efforts in fostering prosperity over the years, emphasising the importance of top-notch packaging to attract global customers. The governor specifically expressed interest in the agriculture sector saying that agriculture used to be the country’s primary source of wealth before oil. He extended his heartfelt thanks to the board of Odu’a for her continuous efforts in sustaining the vision of Odu’a progenitors over the years. “Your dedication and hard work have not gone unnoticed and are greatly appreciated” the Governor said. On state patronage, the Governor said so far high standard is being maintained and the importance of high-quality packaging is put into consideration, the state will be willing to patronise the conglomerate goods and services. “By maintaining top-notch standards in this area, you can expand your reach and increase market share internationally while the state will also be willing to patronise your services” He noted that agricultural business, requires patience and time unlike some other sectors. The returns on agricultural investments are not immediate ‘They depend on various factors, including seasons and growth cycles. Historically, before the discovery and exploitation of oil, agriculture was the main source of wealth for our country. It provided economic stability and food security” He maintained The Governor emphasised that revitalising and investing in agriculture is essential, as it remains a vital sector with the potential to contribute significantly to our economy once again.” Earlier the Group Chairman, Otunba Ashiru has introduced Mr Abdulrahman Yinusa  to the Governor as the incoming Group Managing Director/CEO effective from June 2nd, 2024. He takes over from Mr Adewale Raji who retires meritoriously from the service of Odu’a on May 31st, 2024, having spent 10 years as GMD/CEO