Oba Otudeko, CFR — biography

From 1966 to 1968, he studied accountancy at Leeds College of Commerce in the United Kingdom. There, he distinguished himself academically, winning the Mayor of Leeds Prize for the best final accountancy student, placing third in the national A.C.C.A. examinations, and taking the prize for best final-year London student in the Chartered Institute of Secretaries course. He returned to Nigeria in 1969 as a Chartered Banker, Chartered Accountant, Chartered Corporate Secretary and Chartered Certified Accountant, and holds fellowships of all four institutes to this day.

Back at Co-operative Bank, he rose to Senior Accountant, then General Manager, and eventually served as Acting Chief Executive. Yet as his banking career flourished, his entrepreneurial ambition took shape. In 1972, while still a banker, he founded Honeywell Enterprises as a trading concern that imported and exported essential goods. It was a modest start with dairy products, stockfish, glass, steel rods, but it was his, and he intended it to last. In 1983, after twenty-three years at Co-operative Bank, Oba Otudeko retired from the bank to devote himself fully to the enterprise he had built on the side.

Honeywell Enterprises grew into the Honeywell Group, a diversified investment holding company with interests across food manufacturing, oil and gas, energy services, telecommunications, financial services, hospitality, real estate and infrastructure.

It was a modest start with dairy products, stockfish, glass, steel rods, but it was his, and he intended it to last.

Beyond Honeywell Group, Dr Otudeko has built a record as a strategic investor taking early and often decisive positions in companies such as Econet Wireless (now Airtel Nigeria), First Bank of Nigeria and Fan Milk. His influence extends into the governance of some of the country's most important private institutions. Over more than three decades, he chaired or served on the boards of First Bank of Nigeria, Fan Milk, Airtel Nigeria, Guinness Nigeria, Ecobank Transnational and others, bringing rigour, strategic insight, and long-term thinking to each.

He also has a substantial public service record, having served as a Director of the Central Bank of Nigeria, as President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, and as a member of the Constituent Assembly, amongst other roles.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has twice recognised Oba Otudeko's contributions to the country's economic life, by conferring the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic in 2011 and the National Productivity Order of Merit in 2019. He has also received honorary doctorates from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Crescent University, and Ajayi Crowther University.

In 2003, he formally established the Oba Otudeko Foundation, through which he supports work in education, health, entrepreneurship and community development.

He is married to Adebisi Aderonke Otudeko, and they have seven children, several of whom are active in the leadership of the Honeywell Group.

Dr Otudeko began his working life at seventeen with nothing but discipline and an uncommon determination to make something of consequence.

Dr Otudeko began his working life at seventeen with nothing but discipline and an uncommon determination to make something of consequence. More than sixty years later, he continues to strengthen institutions and expand opportunity.