- Ibukun Awosika is a Nigerian businesswoman and motivational speaker; she has been married to Abiodun Awosike
- The mother of 3 is one of the 5 Nigerians to appear in the debut African version of the reality TV show Dragon’s Den
- The 1962-born studied chemistry; she also appeared in the movie Citation
Ibukun Awosika is one of the most influential women in Nigeria. She is a multifaceted woman with a career in business, the banking sector, writing, and even media and entertainment. She is the first woman to have served as the chairman of the First Bank of Nigeria. In her private life, she is married to an oil and gas businessman, Abiodun Awosike.
More to her fame, Ibukun wrote books such as The Girl Entrepreneurs, Business His Way, and The Girl Entrepreneurs: Our Stories So Far Kindle Edition and has appeared in the film Citation.
Summary of Ibukun Awosika’s Bio
- Full Name: Ibukunoluwa Abiodun Awosika
- Nickname: Ibukun
- Date of Birth: 24 December 1962
- Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
- Place of Birth: Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
- Parents: Abdulmashood Adekola (father) and Hanna Aduke Adekola (mother)
- Siblings: 6
- Nationality: Nigerian
- Ethnicity: Yoruba
- Religion: Christianity
- Sexuality: Straight
- Marital Status: Married
- Spouse: Abiodun Awosike (husband)
- Children: 3 sons (Olamiposi, Oludola, and Olafusika)
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Her Early Life, Parents, and Siblings
The entrepreneur was born Bilkisu Abiodun Motunrayo Omobolanle Adekola on December 24, 1962, in Ibadan, Oyo State in the South region of Nigeria.
She is the third of 7 children of a Nigerian father and a Cameroonian mother
Her parents are Abdulmashood Adekola (father) and Hannah Aduke Adekola (mother).
Her father was a food technologist before his death in 2020. Her mother on the other hand was a fashion designer.
Her parents have been supportive of her dreams, especially her father. According to her in an interview, her father availed himself to always help out even if it meant selling his property.
The businesswoman was raised partly by her grandmother. From there, she learned some basics about business.
Ibukun’s Education
Awosika attended St. Paul’s African Church Primary School, Lagos. From there, she headed to Methodist Girls’ High School, Yaba, Lagos State.
For her tertiary education, she studied Chemistry at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ibadan.
To further her education, she went to the Chief Executive Programme of Lagos Business School, and the Global Executive MBA of IESE Business School, Barcelona Spain.
She also attended the Global CEO Programme of Wharton, IESE, and C.E.I.B.S Business Schools.
Moreso, the businesswoman revealed on her LinkedIn page that she attended China European International Business School.
Her Career Highlight
At a young age, Awosika wanted to become a doctor before she switched her interest to architecture. Both never became a reality as she studied chemistry but took accounting and business as her career.
Her journey into accounting started at the time she was at the University when she picked some accounting courses as electives. She then became interested in the field.
She first explored accounting in a professional manner when she was observing her compulsory one-year National Youth Service Corps.
At the time, she served as an audit trainee. Afterward, she started at a furniture showroom as a manager at Akibert Nigeria Limited. She later resigned to start her own business.
Ibukun Awosika Started Her Company in 1989
Before Awosika made big in the banking sector among others, she took a leap into the business in 1989.
She started with the furniture business The Chair Center Group as Quebees Limited.
The company imported furniture for years until the Nigerian government stopped importation in 2004. Nonetheless, she found a way to merge with companies such as Sokoa S. A. and Guarantee Trust Bank.
The company has grown over the years and it currently has 5 other companies under it. They include Furniture Manufacturers Limited (FMM), Sokoa Chair Center Limited (SCCL), The Chair Center Limited (TCCL), TCC Systems and Services Limited (TSSL), and Cubes and Boxes Limited.
How She Became the First Woman to Become the Chairperson of First Bank
Ibukun Awosika is most notable for her place in one of the oldest and leading banks in Nigeria, the First Bank of Nigeria.
On September 7, 2015, following the resignatio of Prince Ajibola Afonja, Ibukun rose to become the first woman to be made the first Chairman of the Bank.
Based on the information gathered from her website, the businesswoman has played vital roles in several notable companies’ boards.
Others include:
- Member of the Governing Board, Convention on Business Integrity
- Member of the Governing Board, Digital Jewels LTD.
- International Advisory Board of IESE Business School, Barcelona Spain
- Member of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG)
- She was on National Job Creation Committee (NCJC)
She is a Public Speaker and Author
The former Chairman of First Bank is also a public speaker and writer. She has spoken within and outside Nigeria on topics that range from business to career among others.
Also, with respect to this, in 2021, Ibukun started working towards influencing the minds of people as well as helping in the development of their personal value systems called The Life Series with Ibukun Awosika.
In the aspects of writing, Awosikas is notable for several books. They include:
- The Girl Entrepreneur 3
- The Girl Entrepreneurs: Our Stories So Far
- Business His Way
- The Girls in the Boardroom
- My Thoughts in Quotes
Ibukun Awosika has appeared in a Movie and Another TV Show
The Oyo State-born appeared in the first African version of the Dragon’s Den. The reality TV show focuses on the pitching of business ideas to a panel of venture capitalists with the hope of getting investors.
Moreso, Nigeria’s adaptation of the show was broadcast weekly in 2008 on AIT and it was produced by Storm Vision.
Ibukun served as a Dragon alongside Alexader Amosu, John Momoh, Prince Femi Tejuoso, Chris Parkes, and Tokunboh Ishmael.
With respect to her life in the movie industry as an actor, Ibukun made her debut in Kunle Afolayan’s 2020 Citation.
See Also: Richest Woman In Nigeria – Folorunsho Alakija And 9 Others
Meet Her Husband and Kids
Ibukun Awosika is married to Abiodun Awosika and they are parents of 3 sons – Olamiposi Awosika, Oludola Awosika, and Olafusika Awosika.
Abiodun is a businessman, CEO, and managing director at Excel Exploration and Production Company. Abiodun serves as a managing director and chief executive of the company which explores and exploits oil and gas resources.
Awosika’s husband is a Geology graduate from Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio, USA. He also obtained a PGD in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Ibadan.
Abiodun has also worked in the Oil and Gas Sector, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
Away from his career, Abiodun Awosika has been praised by his wife for his contribution towards the success of their marriage as well as her personal growth and her career.
Other Quick Facts About the Businesswoman
- Kunle Afolayan reportedly saw her in his dream that she was in his movie; he then reached out to her and she accepted after some conditions she gave were met
- She won the Forbes Women Africa Hairpersin Award in the 2020 Africa Fornes Woman Award
- Awosika co-founded a center called the Afterschool Graduate Development Center which trains entrepreneurs
- The businesswoman has helped in women’s empowerment
- Ibukun Awosika is a pastor at the Fountain of Life Church
- The former chairman of First Bank of Nigeria has a net worth estimated at $18.6 million
