When Mrs. Ibukun Awosika was made
Chairman of First Bank a few years back, many didn’t know she was going to be
able to turn around the bank for good, the way she has done. This is because
many thought since she wasn’t a banker, it might not be easy for her to run
this behemoth of a bank set up in 1984. She was only a big successful corporate
player who is quite good in business. But today under her chairmanship First
Bank has not only regained its leadership position. 1st bank is the bank to
beat.
Don’t forget that First Bank of
Nigeria Limited (FirstBank) is the premier Bank in West Africa and the leading
financial inclusion services provider in Nigeria for over 125 years.
With over 750 business locations
and over 57,000 Banking Agents spread across 99% of the 774 Local Government
Areas in Nigeria, FirstBank provides a comprehensive range of retail and
corporate financial services to serve its over 15 million customers. The Bank
has international presence through its subsidiaries, FBN Bank (UK) Limited in
London and Paris, FBNBank in the Republic of Congo, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Sierra-Leone and Senegal, as
well as a Representative Office in Beijing.
The Bank has been nimble at promoting digital payment in the country and
has issued over 10million cards, the first bank to achieve such a milestone in
the country. FirstBank’s cashless transaction drive extends to having more than
9million people on its USSD Quick Banking service through the nationally
renowned *894# banking code and over 3 million people on FirstMobile platform.
Since its establishment in 1894,
FirstBank has consistently built relationships with customers focusing on the
fundamentals of good corporate governance strong liquidity, optimised risk
management and leadership.
Over the years, First Bank has
led the financing of private investment in infrastructure development in the
Nigerian economy by playing key roles in the Federal Government’s privatisation
and commercialisation schemes. With its global reach, FirstBank provides
prospective investors wishing to explore the vast business opportunities that
are available in Nigeria, an internationally competitive world-class brand and
a credible financial partner.
FirstBank has been named “Most
Valuable Bank Brand in Nigeria” six times in a row (2011 – 2016) by the
globally renowned “The Banker Magazine” of the Financial Times Group; “Best
Retail Bank in Nigeria” for seven consecutive years (2011 – 2017) by the Asian
Banker International Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards and “Best
Bank in Nigeria” by Global Finance for 15 years. The bank’s brand purpose is to
always put customers, partners and stakeholders at the heart of its business,
even as we standardise customer experience and excellence in financial
solutions across sub-Saharan Africa, in consonance with their brand vision “To
be the partner of the first choice in building your future”. First Bank brand
promises are to always deliver the ultimate “gold standard” of value and
excellence.
This commitment is anchored on
its inherent values of passion, partnership and people, to position You First
in every respect.
Let’s tell you about Ibukunoluwa
Abiodun Awosika born Bilkisu Abiodun Motunrayo Omobolanle Adekola on December
24, 1962, is a Nigerian businesswoman, author and motivational speaker. She
currently serves as Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria.
Born as the third child of seven
children in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, Ibukun completed her primary and
secondary school education at St. Pauls African Church Primary School, Lagos
and Methodist Girls’ High School, Yaba respectively before she proceeded to the
University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University where she graduated with a
B.Sc in Chemistry. She holds post-graduate and MBA certificates upon the
completion of several business programmes at the Lagos Business School and IESE
Business School.
While on her compulsory one-year
National Youth Service Corps service, Ibukun worked as an audit trainee at
Akintola Williams & Co. upon her love for architecture before she left for
Alibert Nigeria Ltd. as showroom manager. In her quest to be independent, she
established a furniture manufacturing company called Quebees Limited in 1989
before it evolved into The Chair Centre Limited and later SOKOA Chair Centre
Limited following a venture merger with SOKOA S.A and Guaranty Trust Bank in
2004.
A fellow of the African
Leadership Initiative and Aspen Global Leadership Network, Ibukun is a member
of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, member of the board of Nigerian
Sovereign Wealth Fund and former Chairperson, Board of Trustees of Women in
Management, Business and Public Service. In 2011, she co-founded the
Afterschool Graduate Development Centre, a career centre established in order
to checkmate the high rate of unemployment in Nigeria. On September 7, 2015,
Ibukun became the first woman to be appointed Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria
following the resignation of Prince Ajibola Afonja. Ibukun Awosika is member of
IESE’s International Advisory Board (IAB). She also sits on the board of
Digital Jewel Limited and Cadbury Nig Plc.
In 2008, Ibukun was among five
Nigerian entrepreneurs who appeared in the first African version of the
Dragon’s Den. She also hosts a T.V programme called Business His Way. She is
also the founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Chair Centre Group. The
companies within the group include The Chair Centre Limited, Sokoa Chair Centre
Limited, Furniture Manufacturers Mart, TCC Security Systems and Cubes and Boxes
Limited. These companies are involved in manufacturing, retail and bank-way
security systems services.
Ibukun chairs a number of
corporate and not-for-profit boards amongst which are: House of Tara
International and Afterschool Graduate Development Centre (AGDC), a facility
which she promoted to help address youth employability and enterprise issues in
Nigeria. She sits on the boards of Digital Jewel Limited, Cadbury Nigeria Plc.,
Convention on Business Integrity (CBI) and the Nigerian Sovereign Investment
Authority. She was Chairman, FBN Life Assurance Limited, FBN Capital Limited
and Kakawa Discount House Limited.
Ibukun is a graduate of Chemistry
from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Nigeria; an alumna
of the Chief Executive Programme of Lagos Business School; the Global Executive
MBA of IESE Business School, Barcelona-Spain; and Global CEO Programme of
Wharton, IESE and China European International Business School (CEIBS).
With high interest in social issues, including
women, Ibukun is a co-founder and past chairperson of Women in Business,
Management and Public Service (WIMBIZ). An ordained Pastor and founder of the
Christian Missionary Fund, Ibukun, through this faith-based organization, works
with hundreds of missionaries spread across Nigeria to change lives with the
provision of medical, educational, and other supplies.
As a fellow of the African
Leadership Initiative, Aspen Global Leadership Network, Institute of Directors
and Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria, Ibukun, through her projects
aspires to use her opportunities in life to further the greatness of her dear
country by raising entrepreneurs to create jobs for the large unemployed
youthful population.
She is a member of the Nigerian
Economic Summit Group (NESG), served on National Job Creation Committee (NJCC),
and sits on the International Advisory Board of IESE Business School,
Barcelona-Spain.
Ibukun is a multiple
award-winning entrepreneur and the first Nigerian recipient of the prestigious
International Women Entrepreneurial Challenge (IWEC) Award as a nominee of the
US Department of State in 2008. She loves to watch investigative and legal
series in her leisure time. She is happily married to Abiodun Awosika and they
are blessed with three wonderful sons
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