It comes as no surprise that when you talk about top women in finance and business in Nigeria, Ibukun Awosika is one name that rings a bell as she is a force to be reckoned with.
Unlike before, the population of real estate investors in Nigeria have skyrocketed as more people continue to take advantage of the opportunities that abound in the sector. Awosika has made it her priority to educate people and create awareness about gaining wealth creation through real estate investments.
Awosika who has held and been invited to various seminars and forums where she spoke to young people about real estate investments and its importance, it is safe to say she indeed has love for the industry.
In one of the forums called Finer Wealth Series where Ibukun Awosika was invited and gave the Keynote address, she emphasized the value of real estate investments by sharing her personal experiences. She also stressed the need for women to adjust their lifestyle and embrace delayed gratifications so as not to derail from focusing and developing the mindset of long-term wealth building.
Ibukun Awosika’s Profile
Ibukun Awosika is currently the Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria. As a matter of fact, she is the first woman to become the Chairman of First Bank after several years the bank was established. She is also the founder and CEO of the Chair Centre Group, an association of large companies in the manufacturing, retail, and financial security services.
She further holds seats in the corporate boards of Cadbury Nigeria, Digital Jewel Limited and the Convention on Business Integrity, and she is a former chair of several other enterprise boards.
Born December 24, 1962, Awosika is a graduate of Chemistry from Obafemi Awolowo University. She is an alumna of the Chief Executive Program of Lagos Business School, the Global Executive MBA of IESE Business School, Wharton’s Global CEO Program, and the IESE and China European International Business School (CEIBS). She is multiple award-winning entrepreneurs 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.
Awosika’s Career
Awosika is a businesswoman, author, and motivational speaker. She is also a co-founder and past chairperson of Women in Business, Management, and Public Service (WIMBIZ).
She started her early career days as an audit trainee at Akintola Williams & Co. She later left Akintola Williams & Co and moved on to Alibert Nigeria Limited where worked as showroom manager. She found interest in architecture and went on to establish her own furniture manufacturing company called Ouebees Limited
Quebees Limited, the furniture manufacturing company was then established in 1989. This company has evolved into The Chair Centre Limited and SOKOA Chair Centre Limited. SOKOA Chair Centre Limited is a merger between SOKOA S.A of France, Guaranty Trust Bank, The Chair Limited and Other stakeholders in the furniture industry. SOKOA Chair Centre Limited was created in 2014 due to the federal government’s ban on the importation of furniture items in 2014. She needed the merger which was successful to produce locally.
Ibukun Awosika’s Philanthropic Gestures
Awosika is not just a business tycoon but also a philanthropist who is steadily helping people across the country. She co-founded a facility with the aim of helping youths get employed hence addressing the high rate of unemployment in Nigeria. This was called the Afterschool Graduate Development Centre and it was established in 2011.
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