Ibukun Awosika is a Nigerian entrepreneur, author, motivational speaker, and the former Chairperson of First Bank of Nigeria. She has become an icon because of her tenacity, business skills, and leadership, both in enacting social change and in the corporate world, encouraging women and young people throughout Africa. Her career has brought her a lot of pain, resilience, will, and belief. This speaks of her rise from a woman unknown to one of the most powerful women in Africa.
Early Life and Education
Ibukun Awosika was born into a polygamous family on December 24, 1962, in Ibadan, Oyo State where she was the third child. A graduate teacher from a teacher training college, her father, a teacher reuse, and her mother, a trader, taught her that hard work and education are religion. Right from her early years, she displayed exemplary leadership skills and an entrepreneurial spirit.
She attended St. Pauls African Church Primary School in
Lagos before proceeding to Methodist Girls’ High School situated in Yaba, Lagos
for her O’level education. Thereafter, she went to Obafemi Awolowo University
(OAU) - a university known as the University of Ife in the years before - and
graduated with a degree in Chemistry. Despite taking up a science-related course,
just like she was aware of how physics works, Awosika through her heart was
dedicated in business and entrepreneurship, and that would turn out to be the
direction of her career.
Professional Career
It was the pharmaceutical industry that first employed Ibukun Awosika after her studies in Chemistry, and her career has been different since. She began her career at Akintola Williams & Co., which later merged with Deloitte, where she had a brief spell before reaching her current position. Although it enabled her to gain useful business knowledge, she was still unsatisfied. Furniture designing was the area that intrigued her most, and thus she decided to go into business in the rigid manufacturing sector.
In 1989, Awosika established Quebees Limited which later
transformed into The Chair Center Group, a company that focuses on the
production of office chairs. The strategic vision and hard work contributed to
the swift expansion of the company making it a household name in the furniture
business in Nigeria and West Africa. Awosika’s business acumen was apparent as
she achieved success in the business sphere in spite of the many challenges she
faced, especially the societal attitudes against women’s businesses, which she
did not allow to impede her aspirations.
While such success proved beneficial for her in the corporate world, several opportunities presented themselves which enabled her to take various directorships including with Cadbury Nigeria Plc, and Digital Jewels Limited. However, her greatest achievement came in the year 2015 when she was named the first female chairman of the First Bank of Nigeria. This appointment shattered glass ceilings and bore witness to the advances women were making into positions of leadership in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
Leadership and Advocacy
Ibukun Awosika is much more than a business leader, she is also a spirited campaigner for social justice, particularly on the issues of education, youth development, and women’s rights. Over the years, Nyanshinski has been a mentor and a motivational speaker to many women encouraging them to assume leadership positions and eliminate the glass ceiling in women's leadership in many sectors.
She also established the After School Graduate
Development Centre, a youth training program meant to train Nigerians on
employability skills. She has reached and trained thousands of Nigerian graduates through the platform and assisted them in gaining employment.
she is also a pastor and a coach in the church where she
helps people, strengthening their belief that they can realize their potential.
Her leadership is not restricted to the boardroom; it also encompasses outreach
programs and personal enhancement, making her an inspirational figure to many
young entrepreneurs and leaders in Africa.
Authorship and Public Speaking
Ibukun Awosika is a writer with a number of books already published, some of which are, for instance, The ‘Girl’ Entrepreneurs and Business His Way, her books are well known. In these books, she chronicled her own journey through the ups and downs of being a female entrepreneur while providing pragmatic insights on how to run a successful business in such a cut-throat environment. Her books also bring out the factor of faith, integrity and purpose in leadership.
An effective speaker in demand, she has delivered
numerous keynote addresses at international conferences, mostly on issues like
entrepreneurship and leadership, as well as women empowerment. One could say
she had shining moments when she was a keynote speaker at the Harvard Business School African Business conference or when she graced so many index talks and
televisions.
Personal Life
Ibukun Awosika is married to Abiodun Awosika, an entrepreneur and businessman. They are blessed with three children. The two tend to lead a somewhat quiet life, as they prefer to center their focus on their selves and their work, rather than indulging in social interactions. On the other hand, she has at times made it clear that it is equally important to lead a reasonable life and also, if engaged in professional work most hours of the day. She is very active in the church and gives a lot of credit to God, saying she believes and prays about things and acts them out when it comes to her personal and work life.
Abiodun, her husband, is a caring husband who understands
her, values her, and with him, they have built a loving home. For many,
especially those who want to juggle work and family, their brand of life and
business is something to look up to.
Age and Legacy
Age 61 as of 2024, Ibukun Awosika’s impact is felt more and more in Nigeria and other countries beyond her native land as time goes by. Her narrative is one of toughness, tenacity, and a clear and theft-ridden pursuit of their vocation. In all of her achievements, however, the true impact of Awosika’s life work, is in the motivation to other people, women in particular, who can dream and accomplish all that they wish, which empowers them and gives meaning to a woman’s and man’s existence.
Conclusion
Ibukun Awosika has a unique success story proving that
one can be a powerful businesswoman and a leader at the same time. From the
grass of Ibadan to the top chair as the first female chairman of the First Bank of Nigeria,
her career has been a record of achievements. Currently, she is not only an
entrepreneurial role model for millions but also an author and a successful
mentor. She is still active today at 61 years old, particularly on women’s
issues, children and faith-based leadership. Her impact as a pioneer and female
inspiration to any intending leaders in Africa will indeed be felt by
generations to come.
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