The 16th annual conference of Lagos business group, Women in Management, Business and Public Service popularly called (WIMBIZ), which is a Nigerian-based non-profit organisation formed in 2001 by 14 individuals with an overriding vision “to be the catalyst that elevates the status and influence of women and their contribution to nation building” was held in Lagos at the Eko Hotel. The event had over 50 speakers with a plenary and break sessions. This year’s theme was:” The Future Is Here. At the conference were 32 women, who call the shot and run the organisation. They include the founders, who are part of the executive council, board of trustees and past chairpersons. Below City People Society Editor, TAYO FAJORIN OYEDIJI reveals these amazing women.
OLUBUNMI ABODERIN -TALABI
The Chairperson, WIMBIZ Executive Council, Board of Trustees is Olubunmi Aboderin-Talabi, who is a printer, publisher, writer and photo enthusiast. She was the first Managing Director of Punch Commercial Printing Ltd and is currently the Executive Director, Business Development at Punch Nigeria Limited. Olubunmi has served on the Board of Directors for Punch Newspapers for over 23 years.
AISHA AHMAD
She is Executive Director, Retail of Diamond Bank Plc, and Head Consumer Banking. Her professional experience spans 20 years and includes global financial institutions such as Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc -a member of Standard Bank Group, where she was responsible for Standard Bank’s private wealth business in West Africa, Bank of New York Mellon (UK), Zenith Bank PLC and NAL Bank PLC. Aishah holds a M.Sc. in Finance and Management from the Cranfield School of Management in the United Kingdom, an MBA with a specialization in Finance from the University of Lagos, Nigeria and a graduate degree in Accounting from the University of Abuja, Nigeria. She is currently the Chairperson of the Executive Council of Women in Management, Business & Public Service, WIMBIZ.
BIMBO WRIGHT
Bimbola Wright is currently a General Manager and Group Head Coverage & Corporate Banking at FBN Merchant Bank with overall responsibility for a team of sector specialists and the Bank’s loan book. Earlier, her over 28 years in banking was spent in NAL Bank (now part of Sterling Bank) and Kakawa Discount House. Bimbola holds an MA from University of Kent at Canterbury and a BSc from University of Surrey, both in the United Kingdom. An Honorary Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and a Member of the Institute of Management (Chartered).
BUNMI OKE
She is the CEO/ Lead Consultant, Ladybird Ltd. Bunmi Oke is in charge of the day-to-day running of the leading integrated marketing communications agency in Nigeria 141 Worldwide (an international agency, which is a member of the WPP group, the largest communications group in the world). As the pioneer Chief Operating Officer/Executive Director, she has led a prolific team of professionals over the last seven years, and built 141 into a prominent world-class advertising agency in Nigeria. 141 handles several multinational accounts. Bunmi is a British-Born Nigerian, who started her career in advertising at Grant Advertising (McCann-Erickson affiliate) in 1986, where she worked as a PR Executive/Account Management trainee. Joining LTC (now JWT) advertising in 1989, her exceptional organisational and presentation skills resulted in her rising through the ranks rapidly over 10 years to become the first female client service director.
BUKKY GEORGE
Bukky George is the Founder & CEO of HealthPlus Limited and CasaBella Int’l Limited. HealthPlus is Nigeria’s first Integrative Pharmacy, the fastest growing pharmacy chain in West Africa. CasaBella is a one-stop store for grooming and beauty solutions for men and women. Bukky has over 25 years of experience in the retail health & beauty industry. She is a registered Pharmacist.
CHIZOR MALIZE
Chizor is the Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer, Brandzone Consulting LLC, With over 15 years’ experience in branding and communication, Chizor is passionate about helping organisations realise their full potentials. She has managed several international brands in local market, while managing and creating indigenous new brands of repute.
EBISAN AKINSANYA
Ebisan Akinsanya is a contracts advisor and senior analyst with Chevron. She has about 20 years’ experience and has held various positions of increasing responsibility in Policy Government and Public Affairs and Nigerian Content Development Departments. Ebisan has a great passion for empowerment and development programme for women and youth.
FOLAKE ADENIYI ADELEYE
She is the Regional HR Director of Oracle. Her career started in Management Consulting & HR Advisory at Phillips Consulting, Nigeria’s top 5 strategy & management consulting firms where she developed a flair for the HR profession. She was recruited after 6 years by the Oando Group –as its Manpower Development Manager and was later appointed HR Manager in charge of the Downstream Marketing business, Oando’s largest commercial venture. She later joined Celtel (which became Zain and now Airtel) as the Senior HR Business.
HANSATU ADEGBITE
Hansatu Adegbite is Wimbiz Executive Director. She is a development sector professional with extensive experience in Nigeria.
MORIN DESALU
Morin Desalu is the MD of Riskwatch Insurance Brokers. She is a Chartered Insurance Practitioner and manages Risk Watch Insurance Brokers Limited in Lagos.
NGOVER IHYEMBE NWANKWO
Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo is an Executive Principal and Relationship Manager within the International Corporates Segment in Standard Chartered Bank, Nigeria’s Global Banking Business. She joined Standard Chartered Bank in 2004 after previous roles in Afribank Nigeria Ltd and Citibank Nigeria.
OMOBOLA JOHNSON
Dr Omobola Johnson is the Chairman, Partner of TLCOM Capital. She was Minister of Communication Technology. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from University of Manchester, a Master’s degree in Digital Electronics from King’s College, London and a Doctor of Business Administration degree at the School of Management, Cranfield University. She joined Accenture, an international management consulting firm in 1985 and was in Accenture for 25 years (five years as Country Managing Director).
RONKE ONADEKO
She is a seasoned professional with cognizant experience in both the public and private sectors as well as a businesswoman in the entrepreneurial space with over 28 years experience. She has been active in the beverage manufacturing and marketing business, in agriculture and agribusiness ventures, in oil and gas as well as power related projects. Ronke acts as an energy and power consultant to Gov. Amosun.
TABA PETERSIDE
She is an accomplished financial services professional with experience across 5 countries. Among her many interests, Taba is an active mentor to younger career women. She is an Executive Council Member of Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), and chairs its Finance Committee.
TOPE OMAGE
Her reputation as a thoroughbred accountant saw her excel at the Benin Owena River Basin Development Authority, where she rose to Assistant Chief Accountant. Her illustrious career at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) started in 1993 as a Bank Examiner. In 2006, she became Assistant Director, Jos Branch where she coordinated and supervised banking services.
ZAYNAB MUAZU
Zaynab Usman Muazu obtained a Master’s degree in Strategic Marketing from the prestigious Cranfield University School of Management in 2007 and a first degree in Business Administration from the University of Abuja in 1996. She also has several professional certificates in Customer Service, Financial Analysis, Marketing and Negotiation Skills, and Culinary Cuisine and Pastry to mention a few from various institutions between 1998 to date.
FUNMI ROBERTS
Funmi is the Chairman, Board of Trustees Principal Partner, Funmi Roberts & Co.
Funmi’s tenacity has enabled her to build one of the leading value-driven legal and ADR law firms in Nigeria, Funmi Roberts & Co, which she registered in 1989.
ADEOLA AZEEZ
Adeola is the Deputy Country Head, Deutsche Bank. She is a seasoned banker with over 20 years of professional experience, more than half of which has been the Deputy Country Representative/Deputy Managing Director of Deutsche Bank, Nigeria, the leading client-centric global universal bank with approximately 30 million customer accounts and activities in more than 70 countries and jurisdictions.
In 2011, Adeola was elected the Chairperson of WIMBIZ, having been one of the founders.
BOLA ADESOLA
Bola Adesola is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank Limited, Nigeria. She was an Executive Director at First Bank of Nigeria Plc and prior to that Managing Director of Kakawa Discount House, Nigeria.
IBUKUN AWOSIKA
Ibukun Awosika is the Chairman, Board of Directors, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s premier and most valuable banking brand. She is also the founder and CEO of The Chair Centre Group.
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).
IFEOMA IDIGBE
Ifeoma I. Idigbe is a business advisor/analyst (finance and human resource management) with over 30 years’ experience in banking & finance, human resource management, and general administration.
IFEYINWA IGHODALO
Ifeyinwa Ighodalo studied Accountancy at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, but upon realising her passion for interiors, in 1987, she established Design Options Ltd., a prestigious interior decorating and furniture manufacturing outfit. Since inception, Design Options has grown to become and is now widely recognised as one of the country’s very best in its area of expertise.
JULIA OKU JACKS
Julia is the Head, Corporate Strategy & Development, Moni Pulo Ltd. She is the Chief Executive of TreeWater Retreats Limited, a personal discovery, leadership and learning organisation.
MAIRO BASHIR
Mairo Bashir is the Managing Director of Creditcorp Limited, a financial consulting firm in Lagos. A 1983 graduate of Business Administration from ABU, Zaria, she holds an MBA from UNIJOS. She worked in banking and finance for over 15 years and was Executive Director, Corporate Services a United Bank for Africa Plc. She has two children.
TOYIN OLAWOYE
Toyin Olawoye is a Director at Multistream Energy Ltd, a company she co-formed in 2011, providing financial advisory and consultancy services. Prior to Multistream, Toyin had a 17-year career with Shell in Nigeria, UK, Netherlands and the US.
YEWANDE ZACCHEAUS
Yewande graduated in Law from University of Lagos 1982 and thereafter obtained an LL.M from Cambridge University, England in 1984. She began her career as a legal officer in the Nigerian-American Merchant Bank and after a brief stint in private practice, joined Ecobank Nigeria plc in 1989 as the pioneer Company Secretary and Legal Adviser. She resigned in 2002 at Deputy General Manager Level, to establish her own business, Eventful Limited, an events management company.
BOLANLE AUSTEN-PETERS
She is the CEO, BAP Productions & Terrakulture. She founded the Nigerian arts, education and cultural organisation, Terra Culture in 2003.She worked as a consultant to the Ford Foundation in Lagos.
IFUEKO OMOIGUI-OKAURU
She is the Chairman, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund. She is also the first female Chairman of federal inland revenue services. Mrs. Ifueko Marina Omoigui-Okauru serves as the Managing Partner of Compliance Professionals Plc. Mrs. Omoigui-Okauru served as Chief Responsibility Officer of ReStraL Ltd from 1996 to 2004 and left the services of Arthur Andersen & Co. in 1996 as National Partner of its Strategy practice after having spent twelve years in the firm.
MAY MBU
She is the National Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). May Agbamuche-Mbu is a seasoned legal practitioner with over three decades of experience working with diverse clients in both the Public and Private sectors.
NIMI AKINKUGBE
She is the Founder & CEO, Bestman Games Ltd. Nimi grew up in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, and attended the International School of Tanganyika, and later Limuru Girls School, Limuru, Kenya before returning to Nigeria for her O’ Levels at the International School, Ibadan. She holds a Bachelors Degree from The London School of Economics (LSE) and an MBA from Lagos Business School (IESE).
OSAYI ALILE
A 2007 “Young Global Leader” (YGL) by the World Economic Forum, a Fellow of the African Leadership Network and an alumni of the Harvard Business School, IMD and Yale Executive Education Programs. Ms. Alile was the Executive Director of FATE Foundation, a leading private sector led not-for-profit organisation in Nigeria for 8 years.
YEMISI AYENI
She is the Chairman, NASCON Allied Industries Plc. An experienced and competent Accountant, Mrs Ayeni, starting out her career as an Audit Assistant with Price Waterhouse UK, rose to become a Manager in corporate re-construction Insolvency in the same company. She has work experience as Manager, Corporate Finance, Price Waterhhouse – Lagos, Partner – Genesiscorp Ltd, Finance Controller – SNEPCo and Head Divisional Integrated Audit – SPDC, Lagos,Assistant Corporate Planner – SPDC.
Send Us News, Gist, more... to citypeopleng@gmail.com | Twitter: @CitypeopleMagz
