PROFESSOR LABO POPOOLA - Chairman
Professor Labo POPOOLA was born into the family of Sheik Yahaya Adekansola Obadara POPOOLA of blessed memory and Alhaja Rabiat Owoola POPOOLA on 28 September, 1960. He is of the famous Areoye Clan of Inisa, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State. He had his primary education at the Seventh Day Adventist Primary School in Inisa before moving on to Ibadan in 1973 to attend the Saint Patrick's College, Ibadan and Government College, Ibadan. He graduated in Division one in 1978 as the best all round student in academics, character and sports, carting away more than 70 percent of the available prizes at graduation. Though a Muslim, He also won the Character and Service Award of the Ibadan Catholic Diocese in 1978. After graduating from Higher School in 1980, He proceeded to the University of Ibadan to pursue a degree in his first choice course, Agriculture and graduated BSc (Honours) in Forest Resources Management in 1984, MSc (Forest Economics and Management) in 1987 and PhD (Forest Economics) in 1990. He was a Postgraduate Scholar (University of Ibadan, 1988 - 1990)
He started his working career as a Graduate Assistant in the University of Ibadan in 1988 and in 1992 he was promoted to the grade of Lecturer II, a position he occupied until 1994 when he was promoted to the post of Lecturer I. In 1997, he became a Senior Lecturer. His academic career was finally capped with a Professorship in Forest Economics in October 2002, ten years after his first academic appointment. His wide ranging academic experience include appointments as Undergraduate Coordinator, Postgraduate Coordinator, Sub-Dean, Undergraduate, Sub-Dean Postgraduate ( Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry) and later, Sub-Dean Postgraduate School. He has also served as Head, Department of Forest Resources Management, Dean Postgraduate School and the pioneer Director, Centre for Sustainable Development, University of Ibadan. As Head of Department and Dean of Postgraduate School (where he supervised over seventy staff of various cadres), he introduced several innovations including full online method of application for admission and registration as well as introduction of electronic boards/smart classrooms to aid teaching and demonstration. He served as the Chair and convener of the committee that prepared the first University of Ibadan Research Policy and Research Management Office. He also chaired the committee that prepared the first University of Ibadan Policy on International Visitors. He has held appointments as Visiting Professor in several Universities including University of Calabar (Department of Forestry and Wildlife), Olabisi Onabanjo University (College of Agricultural Sciences), Kano University of Science and Technology and University of Ilorin and external examiner in over twenty institutions within and outside Nigeria.
An experienced researcher and project leader, Labo has led several internationally-funded researches, the most recent being the MacArthur Foundation USD 900,000.00 fund for the establishment of the Master's in Development Practice (MDP) Programme. The University of Ibadan is one of the ten Universities that won the grant involving over 70 Universities that competed for the grant across the globe. He is a member of several professional associations and networks. They include Forestry Association of Nigeria, Commonwealth Forestry Association, International Society of Tropical Foresters, African Forestry Research Network, African Forest Forum, African Network for Agroforestry Education, Association of Research Managers and Administrators (UK), West African Research and Innovation Management Association among several others. He was elected the Business Manager of Forestry Association of Nigerian in 1997 and served in this capacity till 2001 when he became the National Secretary of the Association – a position he still holds to date. He has held several responsible positions in these associations and networks. They include: Member, Editorial Board, Nigerian Journal of Forestry (1995 to date); Assistant Editor (Business), Journal of Tropical Forest Resources(1995 – 2003); National Contact Point, African Forest Research Network (AFORNET) - 2001 to date; Managing Editor, Journal of Tropical Forest Resources (2003 to date); Member, FAO Expert Committee on Economics of Sustainable Forest Management in the Tropics (2004); Vice Chairman, National Agroforestry Training and Education Group (2005 to date); Chairman, Committee of Deans of Postgraduate Schools in Nigeria (2008 - 2010); Focal Person and Consultant, African Forest Forum (AFF) (2008 to date) and General Secretary, West African Research and Innovation Management Association (WARIMA) - 2010 to date. In 2005, he was elected into the elite cadre of the Forestry association of Nigeria as a Fellow.
In addition to his brilliant educational feat, he had various awards and honours they include award for Invaluable Service in Agroforestry from the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (2001); Chairman, Committee of Deans of Postgraduate Schools in Nigerian Universities (2008 to date) and General Secretary, West African Research and Innovation Management Association (2010 to date). In the recognition of his innumerable service to humanity, he was elected the National Chairman of Inisa Descendants' Union (the umbrella union of indigenes of Inisa worldwide) in 2004 for two terms up till year 2010 and recorded so many achievements during his tenure. The Osun State Government, in the year 2010, awarded him the State Merit Award for Excellence in Science, Research and Community Development, a feat that has never been achieved in his immediate community. As expected, Professor Labo Popoola has supervised many academic theses/dissertations including 19 PhD, one MPhil, 45 M.Sc and 31 B.Sc student projects. He has authored and co-authored over 110 Publications and Books in addition to various articles that have appeared in academic journals.
Professor Labo Popoola is a specialist in Sustainable Development and Resource Economics. His main areas of competences include: Natural Resource Economics and Management; Capacity Building, Institutional and programme management, Networking, institutional linkages/positioning, Research extension, Communication and Organizing ability, Bio-diversification of landscapes and Administration. He has served as consultant to FAO, AfDB, the World Bank, DFID, RSPB, , ICRAF, IBRD, NRI, AFORNET, NCF, AFF, Several NGOs and PSOs and several other national and international organizations. In the course of his diverse services to humanity, he has visited nearly 40 countries in different continents across the globe. His high selling points are humility, honesty and diligence. His personal interests include farming, gardening, travelling, professional associations, photography, debate on current thinking in a variety of fields, music, nature walks, meditation, counseling, teamwork, mentoring. He is a member of the Governing Council of the University of Ibadan.
In July, 2011 he became the third Chairman, Board of Directors of Legend Microfinance Bank Limited (the first academician to be appointed to this exalted position) in the history of the Bank.
MR. IDOWU OSUAH AJAYI – Managing Director
Mr. Idowu Ajayi was born in Lagos on August 24, 1964. He competed his General Certificate of Education GCE O/L in 1984 through private studies. In 1996, he qualified as an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and later proceeded to Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State obtaining a B.Sc. (Hons) in Banking and Finance in 2000.
He was admitted as an Associate member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered) in 2004. Mr Ajayi also holds a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) with specialisation in Marketing from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho. He has working experience spanning over 26 years and covering accounting, banking and finance and administration. His working career started in 1981 as a Clerk with Savannah Bank of Nigeria Plc and in 1993 left as an Officer to join Victory Savings and Loans Limited as a Deputy Manager. He left in 1996 join the accounting and audit firm - Akinlolu Fayinminu & Co. where he worked until 2001 when he was engaged as an Accountant with Inisa Community Bank Limited (the precursor to Legend Microfinance Bank Limited).
He later became the Manager of the bank and was appointed to the position of Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Legend Microfinance Bank in 2008.
MR. JOSEPH ADELEKE OYEDEJI - Director
Mr Joseph Adeleke Oyedeji, a veteran of the accounting profession and seasoned administrator, is the incumbent Chairman of Legend Microfinance Bank Limited. Mr Oyedeji completed his secondary education in 1961, at the Saint Augustine Model Secondary School, Inisa, Osun State. He also attended Royal Commercial College, Osogbo from 1963 to 1965 and obtained Royal School of Arts (RSA United Kingdom), stages 1, 2 & 3 in Book Keeping, Accounting and Commerce (International Trade).
He is a fellow of Association of International Accountants (FAIA) and Association of Certified and Corporate Accountants finalist. He worked as a Production Accounts Clerk with Pan Electric Nigeria Limited (a division of UAC) in 1967. He was with the company till 1969 before he joined Cocoa Industries of Nigeria Limited in the same year as Senior Wages Clerk. He was with the company till 1970 and left for Continental Motors and Engineering Limited as a Senior Accountant.
He worked for the company for three years and in 1973, joined Shell-BP Petroleum Development Company Limited as a Management Accountant. He was with the company for four (4) year to 1977 before he joined ENI-Saipem Nigeria Limited as Chief Accountant and Administration Manager. He retired in 1995.
ALHAJI TIJANI AFOLABI ADEGBITE - Director
Alhaji Tijani Afolabi Adegbite is a seasoned business executive and public administrator. He attended Ansar Ud-Deen Secondary Modern School, Inisa, Osun State between 1961 and 1963; Community Development School, Shasha Olumogo, Ijebu Ode from 1965 to 1966 and Rapid Results Correspondence College, London from 1967 to 1971 and obtained Social Workers Certificate, GCE O/L respectively. He obtained a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) Honors in Sociology in 1974 and Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 1989 both from the prestigious University of Ibadan.
He started his working career with Ministry of Social Development, Western Region, Ibadan as a Social Development Worker and was with the Ministry from 1966 to 1971. After completing the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) assignment, he joined the Nigeria Customs and Excise Department as an Assistant Preventive Superintendent (APS) in 1975 and left the same year for Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Western Region, Ibadan where he worked until 1977 as Inspector of Taxes. Alhaji Adegbite joined Nigerian Tobacco Company Plc as a Divisional Marketing Manager in July 1977.
He worked for the company for Nineteen (19) years rising to the position of Regional Marketing Manager (North and South) before he retired in 1996. For two terms running, he was the Chairman of the National Association of Community Banks (Osun State Chapter) between 2005 - 2008 where he was instrumental to the conversion of virtually all the Community Banks in Osun State to Microfinance Banks. He has held several positions at the Community level.
He is the pioneer Chairman of Inisa Community Bank Nigeria Limited. He is a Fellow of both the Institute of Marketing of Nigeria and the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered). He is also Executive Chairman of Ero-Onibode Nigeria Limited.
MRS. ZAINAB RASHEED-ADEGOKE - Director
Mrs. Zainab Abdulrasheed-Adegoke was born on November 10, 1973 at Ibadan. Having had a successful elementary education, she left for St. Theresa's College, Ibadan where she successfully completed her Secondary education in 1991. In pursuit of academic excellence, she obtained admission to the prestigious Yaba College of Technology graduating with a Certificate in Computing in 1997. In 2005 she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree (Honours) in Business Administration from the University of Lagos.
Her work experience started in 1998 with F. K Agoro & Co, a firm of Solicitors where she provided secretarial support to the firm and also managed their diverse clients' base. Between 1999 and 2002 she successfully distributed Forever Living Products to a vast number of clients, a feat that led her to Bloomsplace Limited in the year 2002 as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer. While at this company, she managed the setup and operations of retail communications services (Internet Services and Telephony) and grew the business from zero revenue to over N5m in one year. She has successfully diversified Bloomsplace Limited and refocused it on retail distribution of baking products and tools as well as baking quality/unique celebration cakes in addition to developing a clientele and business strategy for the entire services of the company. Bloomsplace Limited is also the exclusive distributor for Ramon Molvizar, a premium perfume brand, in Nigeria. Mrs Abdulrasheed-Adegoke was appointed unto the Board of Directors of Legend Microfinance Bank Limited in July 2011.
DR. (MRS) FOLUKE FASOLA - Director
Mrs. Foluke Fasola was born on March 29, 1966 at Ilorin. After her elementary education, she had her secondary education at Queen Amina College, Kaduna. In 1983, she proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria and had her first degree in medicine (MB.BS) in 1988 after which she left for University College Hospital Ibadan where she did her residency training and became a fellow of the West African College of Physicians. She also has a certificate in immunology from the University of Ibadan and HIV prevention from Hokkaido University, Japan. In 2003 she went for further training in medicine at National Blood Service, Sheffield, United Kingdom where she was awarded an Intermediate Certificate in Transfusion Medicine. She is a medical doctor by profession and has won scholarships and prizes amongst which are: Macarthur Grant, University of Ibadan (2007), Japan International Cooperation Agency (2005) and Senate Grant, University of Ibadan (2000).
Her professional qualifications include Fellow of the West African College of Physicians (FWACP) Laboratory Medicine, Member, National Postgraduate Medical College of Pathology (FNMCPath). She has also received various honours, distinctions and membership of the Learned Society, while presently serving as a Coordinator of the West African College of Physician (WACP) revision course in laboratory medicine.
Her work experience started in the year 1988 as a house-officer in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria and subsequently in the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan as a resident doctor, where she is currently a honorary consultant. She presently carry out a lot of functions including attending to Haematology patients, supervision of blood bank activities, managing blood transfusion related disorders, supervising resident doctors and carrying out basic science and clinical research. She is a lecturer in all areas of Haematology and Blood transfusion at the University of Ibadan. In addition, she is a resource person at the yearly revision course of the West African Postgraduate Medical College of Physician (WACP) in Nigeria as well as an Examiner for the Fellowship Examinations of WACP. Her vast experience and exposure in Haematology led her to Visiting Fellowship of some notable medical and research institutions in the United Kingdom and Japan between December 2003 and June 2007 including University Hospital, Aintree, Liverpool, Christie Hospital (NHS Foundation Trust), Manchester, United Kingdom and Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
Dr. Foluke Fasola has carried out many research works in Haematology and Blood Transfusion and these have resulted in several publications in peer reviewed medical journals.
She is presently a Consultant in the Department of Haematology in the University College Hospital, Ibadan and Senior Lecturer at the University of Ibadan. In July 2011, she was appointed into the Board of Directors of Legend Microfinance Bank Limited. |