Interestingly, the greatness of Otudeko, who has dedicated over five decades of his very illustrious career/life to nation building, comes from his desire to do extraordinarily serve humanity and nothing more
Oba Otudeko – A little about the National Treasure | By Johnson AKESODE
According to William Shakespeare, the globally revered English playwright and poet, and in his seminal book, Twelfth Night: “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.”
For Dr Ayoola Oba Otudeko, however, despite being born into a royal family, he has gone ahead to achieve additional greatness in virtually all facets of life.
As a matter of fact, the nonagenarian’s achievements and accomplishments are boldly and vividly etched in the pantheon of the all-time greats.
As the founder and chairman of the Honeywell Group, Otudeko’s greatness extends beyond the shores of Nigeria.
Otudeko, a former president and chairman of council, Nigerian Stock Exchange, is also the life patron of the highly respected Nigerian-South African Chamber of Commerce.
An astute and astounding businessman, Otudeko is a national treasure with a difference and one of the highest employers of labour in Nigeria.
His numerous companies employ thousands of Nigerians, thus contributing unquantifiably to the growth and development of our dear country.
Unknown to many, Otudeko is also a member of the prestigious office of distinguished friends, London Business School, UK.
As the chairman of First Bank Limited, from 2009 to 2012, and later as chairman of FBN Holdings, between 2012 and 2021, Otudeko gave his all.
Specifically, Otudeko, as chairman of FBN Holdings, was instrumental to the remarkable transformation of the bank from an old generation bank to its current leadership role as a pan-African financial services holding company.
This is a rare feat that no other chairman, both past and present, has been able to surpass.
Deservedly awarded the prestigious national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR), by the Federal Government, he has built many leading companies in Nigeria from the scratch and has equally worked with others to build many other successful companies and distinguished individuals.
A boardroom guru, he has sat on the boards of several blue chip organisations either as chairman or director. Aside from First Bank, Otudeko was a former chairman of Honeywell Flour Mills, Airtel Nigeria, Fan Milk of Nigeria Plc, Nigerian-South African Chamber of Commerce and National Maritime Authority.
He equally contributed immensely to the growth of our nation’s economy, while sitting as a director on the boards of Central Bank of Nigeria, Ecobank Plc, Guinness Nigeria Plc, British-American Tobacco Company, Franco-Nigeria Chamber of Commerce, First Bank of Nigeria, among others.
Undoubtedly and unarguably too, Otudeko’s giant strides and invaluable contributions to the growth and development of Nigeria’s economy cannot be easily quantified. Reasons he is constantly applauded and decorated with awards and diadems, both within and outside Nigeria and by private and public institutions.
Otudeko, a proud recipient of the globally acclaimed Paul Harris Fellow Award of Rotary International, was also honoured with the ICAN Merit Award for his unending services to the accounting and banking sectors of our economy.
One of the few honorary citizens of Dallas, Texas, USA, he is equally a recipient of the National Order of Productivity Merit Award of the Federal Government of Nigeria, alongside the Zik Foundation for Leadership Award, among numerous other honours and recognitions.
This great Nigerian, who was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, is a fellow of the Institute of Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria.
He was a member of the Presidential Advisory Council on Nigeria’s industrial plan as well as a council member respectively, for both the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and Nigerian-Netherlands Chamber of Commerce.
Interestingly, the greatness of Otudeko, who has dedicated over five decades of his very illustrious career/life to nation building, comes from his desire to do extraordinarily serve humanity and nothing more.
A proud “old boy” of the popular Olivet Baptist High School, Otudeko is one of the leading lights of our nation’s economy.
Therefore, this calculated attempt to pull him down by all means and again tarnish his legacies must be condemned by all men and women of goodwill.
No amount of lies and propaganda, especially in the media, can distort, displace or diminish his impactful contributions and dedication to the Nigerian economy and his country.
Johnson Akesode, a public affairs analyst and social commentator, writes from Abuja
