Grander Vision: Ibukun Awosika

Ibukun Awosika’s has vast combined entrepreneurial and high-level corporate and not-for-profit board experience across various sectors and geographies spanning over three decades. Globally recognized, she has received multiple awards, including the 2020 Forbes “Woman Africa Chairperson” award, and was also the first Nigerian recipient of the prestigious “International Women Entrepreneurial Challenge” award in 2008. Today, Awosika leads as founder and CEO of The Chair Centre Group, overseeing manufacturing, retail and bank-way security system services. Awosika also formerly led as chairman of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, the country’s premier and most valuable banking brand. Over the course of her career, her leadership has given her the honor of influencing Nigeria’s economic growth by chairing a number of corporate and nonprofit boards including, d.light Design Inc., Convention on Business Integrity, Digital Jewels Limited, and Afterschool Graduate Development Centre, a facility which she promoted to help address youth employability and enterprise issues in Nigeria. She also sits on the boards of Cadbury Nigeria Plc and the International Advisory Board of IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain. She was Chairman of GEMS Africa Limited, FBN Life Insurance Limited, FBN Capital Limited and Kakawa Discount House Limited. She also served on the pioneer board of Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, as well as the National Job Creation Committee. Awosika is a graduate of Chemistry from The University of Ife, Nigeria; an alumna of the Chief Executive Programme of Lagos Business School; the Global Executive MBA of IESE Business School (Barcelona); and Global CEO Programme of Wharton, IESE and China European International Business School. With high interest in social issues, including the plight of women in society, Awosika is co-founder and former chairperson of Women in Business, Management and Public Service, as well as the president of International Women's Entrepreneurial Challenge Foundation. An ordained pastor and founder of the Christian Missionary Fund, her faith-based organization works with hundreds of missionaries across Nigeria to change lives with the provision of medical and educational supplies and resources. As a fellow of the African Leadership Initiative, Aspen Global Leadership Network, Institute of Directors and Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria, Awosika aspires to use her opportunities in life to further the greatness of her country by raising entrepreneurs to create jobs. She is a member of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, served on National Job Creation Committee, and sits on the International Advisory Board of IESE Business School, Barcelona-Spain, and the Governing Council of Pan-Atlantic University.