In the Paint sector of the economy today, Chemstar Group is a big company that is doing well. It is a well-run company headed by a silent achiever called Apostle Remi Awode. He usually doesn’t make noise about his achievements. He does not court publicity. He does not grant interviews. He prefers for his success story to speak for him.
Let’s tell you more about this easy-going businessman who is very focused on his line of business.He has never been distracted. He knows what he wants and he goes for it.
Emmanuel Aderemi Awode was born in Lagos on Saturday, 7th September, 1963 to Dr. Dickson. Adekunle Awode & Mrs. Delphine Modupeola Awode.
Remi Awode started his primary education in 1969 at Ereko Methodist School, Lagos and had his secondary education at the prestigious Government College, Ikorodu, Lagos. In 1982, he gained admission into The Polytechnic, Ibadan to Study Chemistry and graduated with a Higher National Diploma (Upper credit)
In 1989, Remi Awode joined Bato Chemical Laboratories, Lagos as a Chemical Analyst and later joined International Paints for West Africa Plc (IPWA) as a Paints Chemist. At IPWA, he spearheaded the production of Industrial coatings used in the maritime and automotive industries. Remi Awode fell in love with manufacturing of paints and he resigned from IPWA in 1994 to start Chemstar Paint Industries (Nig.) Ltd. with the sole aim of manufacturing paints and allied products. The brands are FINECOAT, SHIELD and FINEDECO SPECIAL EFFECT Paints.
Remi Awode is a genius when it comes to business development and administration. He is the CHAIRMAN/Chief Executive Officer for Chemstar Group.
Chemstar Group’s businesses cut across Paint and Plastic products manufacturing, Agriculture, Trading, Haulage Services, Real Estates and Investments. He has set up companies not only in Nigeria but also in Ghana and South Africa. These include; CHEMSTAR INDUSTRIES GHANA LTD and SALES TALK 290 [Pty] SOUTH AFRICA LIMITED, Today, CHEMSTAR GROUP has engaged more than 1,000 Nigerians both within and outside the shores of Nigeria.
A few of the numerous awards received by Remi Awode are mentioned below:
- Fellow, The Polytechnic Ibadan: He was the first alumnus to be so honored in the history of the institution for over 40 years of existence of the old citadel of learning.
- Fellow Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria in 2012.
- Corporate Achiever Award, Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS).
- The Distinguished Alumnus Award by the Faculty of Science of the prestigious The Polytechnics, Ibadan.
- Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Excellence in Enterprise Award in recognition of his track record of outstanding performance in enterprise.
- INRI Widows Foundation Distinguished Philanthropist in Socio-economic Development Award.
- Role Model Award, The Chemical Society of Nigeria [Lagos Chapter]
- Meritorious Award, The Ijamido Childrens’ Home, Ota, Ogun State.
Under his captainship as the CHAIRMAN/CEO of Chemstar Group, the companies have won several International Awards; these include:
| AWARDING INSTITUTION/LOCATION | AWARD TITLE | YEAR AWARED |
| THE BIZZ, HAWAII | BEYOND SUCCESS AWARD | 2014 |
| EUROPE BUSINESS ASSEMBLY (LONDON, UK) | BEST ENTERPRISE AWARD | 2014 |
| EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR QUALITY RESEARCH (LONDON,UK) | QUALITY ACHIEVEMENTS AWARD | 2013 |
| THE BIZZ (PARIS) | PEAK OF SUCCESS | 2013 |
| EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR QUALITY RESEARCH (AMSRERDAM, NETHERLANDS) | NEW ERA AWARD FOR TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION AND QUALITY | 2013 |
| THE BIZZ (MIAMI,USA) | BE A LEGEND | 2012 |
| BUSINESS INTIATIVE DIRECTIONS (GENEVA, SWITZERLAND) | TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION QUALITY | 2012 |
| OTHERWAYS MANAGEMENT AND CONSULTING ASSOCIATION (PARIS,FRANCE) | THE GOLDEN EUROPE AWARD FOR QUALITY AND COMMERCIAL PRESTIGE | 2012 |
| EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR QUALITY RESEARCH (NETHERLANDS) | EUROPEAN AWARD FOR BEST PRACTICES | 2012 |
| OTHERWAYS MANAGEMENT AND CONSULTING ASSOCIATION (GENEVA,SWITZERLAND) | THE MAJESTIC FIVE CONTIENTS AWARD FOR QUALITY AND EXCELLENCE | 2011 |
| BUSINESS INTIATIVE DIRECTIONS (GENEVA, SWITZERLAND) | DIAMOND STAR-WORLD QUALITY COMMITMENT | 2010 |
| QUALITY SUBMIT AWARD (NEWY YORK,USA) | INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE AND BUSINESS PRESTIGE | 2008 |
| BUSINESS INTIATIVE DIRECTIONS (GENEVA,SWITZERLAND) | INTERNATIONAL QUALITY AWARD-ARCH OF EUROPE (FRANKFURT,GERMANY) | 2008 |
| OTHERWAYS MANAGEMENT AND CONSULTING ASSOCIATION (FRANCE) | DIAMOND EYE AWARD FOR QUALITY, COMMITMENT AND EXCELLENCE | 2007 |
| BUSINESS INTIATIVE DIRECTIONS (LONDON, UK) | QUALITY LONDON CROWN | 2006 |
Remi Awode’s CSR programmes are being done under REMI AWODE FOUNDATION (RAF). In 2007, a fully equipped Fifty million Naira (N50 million) Chemistry Laboratory was constructed and donated to The Polytechnic Ibadan. The Laboratory, commissioned by the then Executive Governor of Oyo State, Otunba [Dr.] Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala on Friday December 7, 2007, was named after Dr. J. A. Adejumobi (the then Rector of the Polytechnic). Also, Remi Awode Postgraduate School complex was donated to Joseph Ayo Babalola University in 2020
Since inception, RAF has been giving monthly allowances to widows, scholarships to orphans and under-privileged students in premium private universities within Nigeria and outside Nigeria. RAF has also carried out series of empowerment programmes for more than 1000 individuals since inception. The latest was the empowerment of 250 individuals with the sum of N100,000 each in the year 2021. RAF has also sent more than 100 Christians to Holy Pilgrimage in Jerusalem.
Remi Awode is a family man to the core who pays attention to his family matters and ensures that he spends quality time with his wife and children.
Remi Awode’s objective is “to attain Excellency in all that he does”. You will agree with me that he has been keeping faith with his objective.
