Ibukun Awosika Biography: Early Life, Career, Awards, Husband, Children & Net Worth
Ibukunoluwa Abiodun Awosika (born December 24, 1962) is a Nigerian author and businesswoman. She is the first female Chairperson of the First Bank of Nigeria.
She was named to Binance’s Global Advisory Board in September 2022.
Ibukun Awosika Biography
Ibukun Awosika was born on December 24, 1962, to Mr. Abdulmashood Adekola and Hannah Aduke Adekola. She is the third child of seven and comes from Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Ibukun Awosika Education
Ibukun received her basic and senior education at St. Paul’s African Church Basic School in Lagos and Methodist Girls’ High School in Yaba, respectively. She attended the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and finished with a BSc in Chemistry, despite her initial desire to study Architecture at the University of Navarra.
She possesses a postgraduate certificate and an MBA from Lagos Business School and I.E.S.E Business School, respectively. Career Growing up, Ibukun Awosika aspired to be a variety of professions, including architect, lawyer, and accountant.
While studying chemistry at Obafemi Awolowo University, she aspired to be a lawyer and did everything she could to get there. When that didn’t work out, she decided to become an accountant and began taking accounting classes while studying chemistry at university.
Career
Ibukun Awosika began his professional career as an Audit Trainee at Akintola Williams & Co. (now Deloitte). She then realised she was not cut out to be an accountant while dusting and hauling files around.
Her creative and hyperactive personality will not allow her to settle for a mundane existence. She quit Akintola Williams & Co despite being given a permanent position.
She got a job as a showroom manager with Alibert Nigeria Limited. While at work, she acquired a passion for architecture as she imagined all the things she could do with furniture.
This prompted her to strike out on her own after spending a little over three months at Alibert Nigeria Limited. Ibukun founded Quebees Limited, a furniture manufacturing firm that opened in 1989.
Quebees Limited has since rebranded as The Chair Centre Limited and SOKOA Chair Centre Limited. SOKOA Chair Centre Limited was formed by a merger of SOKOA S.A. of France, Guarantee Trust Bank, The Chair Limited, and other furniture industry companies.
SOKOA Chair Centre Limited was established in 2014 as a result of the federal government’s restriction on furniture imports in 2014. She needs a successful merger to manufacture locally.
She is the CEO/founder of The Chair Centre Group, which includes subsidiary firms. The four companies are The Chair Centre Limited, SOKOA Chair Centre, Furniture Manufacturers Mart Limited, and TCC System & Service Limited.
The Chair Centre Group manufactures furniture, operates retail stores, and provides banking system services. In 2011, she co-founded the Afterschool Graduate Development Centre, a facility dedicated to addressing Nigeria’s high rate of youth unemployment.
Ibukun Awosika is the co-founder and former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Women in Management, Business, and Public Services (WIMBIZ), a platform that empowers women in business.
On September 7, 2015, the multi-talented entrepreneur was chosen Chairman of the Board of Trustees of First Bank of Nigeria. She is also the Chairperson of Intermac, which organises Nigeria’s smart card conference.
Ibukun Awosika serves on several boards, including Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Digital Jewel Limited, and the International Advisory Board of I.E.S.E Business School, Barcelona, Spain. Ibukun Awosika was the chairman of FBN Life Assurance Limited, FBN Capital Limited, and Kakawa Discount House Limited.
She has served on the boards of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority and the National Job Creation Committee (NJCC).
Ibukun Awosika is also a fellow of the African Leadership Initiative, the Aspen Global Leadership Network, the Institute of Directors, and Nigeria’s Society for Corporate Governance. Our renowned entrepreneur is a television personality who hosts the show “Business His Way.”
She also wrote “Business His Way” and “The “Girl” Entrepreneurs”. Ibukun Awosika was one of five Nigerian entrepreneurs to appear on the inaugural African season of Dragon’s Den in 2008. She also presents a television show called Business His Way.
She then co-starred with Temi Otedola in Kunle Afolayan’s 2020 film Citation.[9] Aside from her career achievement, Ibukun is a pastor at the Fountain of Life Church, and she launched the Christian Missionary Fund, which is dedicated to raising assistance for Christian missionaries across the country.
Books
- The “Girl” Entrepreneurs
- Business His Way
- The ‘Girl’ Entrepreneurs: Our Stories So Far Kindle Edition
Awards
- Ibukun Awosika’s Recognitions and Awards
- Nomination for the Entrepreneur of the Year at THISDAY Newspaper Annual Merit Award in 2005
- Nominated for Female Entrepreneur of the Year prize at the Success Digests Magazine’s Annual Enterprise Award in 2005
- Nomination for the Best Female Entrepreneur of the Year by Financial Standard and Pan-African Organization for Women’s Recognition in 2006
- FATE Model Entrepreneur Award of the Year at the FATE Foundation Awards in 2006
- Golden Heart Award at the International Women’s Society Awards in 2007
- International Women Entrepreneurial Challenge Award in 2008
- Nomination for the YNaija Person of the Year in 2015
Ibukun Awosika Husband
She is happily married to Abiodun Awosika and has three children: Oludola, Olafusika, and Olamiposi. Her husband, Abiodun Awosika, is the CEO of Excel Exploration and Production Company Limited.
Ibukun Awosika Net Worth
Ibukun Awosika’s net worth is expected to be more than $18.6 million by 2025. She is a prominent Nigerian author, entrepreneur, and former Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria who is well-known for her contributions to the furniture industry and motivational speaking.
