Awo secured the future of Yoruba nation —Odu’a Investment MD
Jun 14, 2016 22:27:41 GMT
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Post by Honorebu on Jun 14, 2016 22:27:41 GMT
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Mr Adewale Raji, has restated the commitment of the company to the vision of its founding father and former Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, noting that though his management was looking at growing the company’s from N4.5 billion to N20 billion in the next five years, it still retained the passion to provide jobs, take care of people and lift them from poverty.
Raji, who paid a courtesy visit on the management of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, at the Tribune House, Ibadan, alongside the company’s Head of Group Human Resources, Dr Morakinyo Oloyode; secretary/Head of Legal, Mrs Abiola Ajayi; Corporate Affairs Manager, Mr Victor Ayetoro and Public Relations Manager, Mrs ‘Nike Ajobo, lauded Chief Awolowo and his team for securing the future of the Yoruba nation through the establishment of the Odu’a Investment Company.
Noting that Tribune and Odu’a had the privilege of having the same founder, the Odu’a MD paid glowing tribute to the sage for establishing the country’s foremost newspaper, which, he said, demonstrated resilience at the highest level, even as he praised the past and present owners and management of the company for sustaining the institution, appreciating them for the “age-long support that Odu’a has received from Tribune.”
“I have seen the coverage that Tribune has given to us, not just as a group, but the South-West geopolitical zone, and this created the consciousness and awareness about Odu’a among Yoruba people. If there is any entity that has helped in that regard, it is the Tribune. We are leveraging on that; we have received massive support from you and we are asking for more of that going forward,” he said.
Speaking on the programmes and plans of his management, Raji stated that they always thought about the dreams that Chief Awolowo and his team put into reality by establishing Odu’a and could only conclude that they were commendable, noting that the challenge facing the current management as trustees of the heritage of the Yoruba nation had always been that what they should bequeath to the next generation, “if our parents have bequeathed so much to us, should have additions from us and not that we will pass what has been handed over to us.”
Raji, who is the eighth MD of the Odu’a Investment Company, said the management had the challenge of taking the company to the next level, noting that the board and management of the company had taken strategic decisions at the outcome of its retreat, to try to look at the business “as an investment outfit that has both social and economic responsibilities to the people of the South-West.
“As an investment, it is important that we grow the business and deliver profits; give back to the owners and also meet the aspirations of all stakeholders. Typically, the stakeholders are all Yoruba sons and daughters. So, for those of us in the management, it is a rare honour that out of all the Yoruba at home and in the diaspora, estimated at about 35 million, we are privileged to be the ones managing the investment for the Yoruba,” Raji said.
Responding, the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of ANN Plc, Mr Edward Dickson, commended the leadership of Odu’a Investment Company for its drives in repositioning the company in the last two years, noting that Chief Awolowo would be happy seeing that the company continued to prosper.
“Whatever is founded on truth will always thrive. We have seen that through Tribune and Odu’a Investment Company,” Dickson said, noting that the things that Papa Awolowo thought of in establishing the company, which bordered on taking care of the people, were addressed by Raji, noting that as he spoke, he demonstrated that he was the man for the job.
He added that Tribune valued the visit by Odu’a management, saying the visit was beyond the sentiment of having the same founder in Chief Awolowo, noting that Tribune was capable of adding value to whatever Odu’a Investment was doing rightly and looking forward to a strong partnership with the company.
Tribune
Raji, who paid a courtesy visit on the management of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, at the Tribune House, Ibadan, alongside the company’s Head of Group Human Resources, Dr Morakinyo Oloyode; secretary/Head of Legal, Mrs Abiola Ajayi; Corporate Affairs Manager, Mr Victor Ayetoro and Public Relations Manager, Mrs ‘Nike Ajobo, lauded Chief Awolowo and his team for securing the future of the Yoruba nation through the establishment of the Odu’a Investment Company.
Noting that Tribune and Odu’a had the privilege of having the same founder, the Odu’a MD paid glowing tribute to the sage for establishing the country’s foremost newspaper, which, he said, demonstrated resilience at the highest level, even as he praised the past and present owners and management of the company for sustaining the institution, appreciating them for the “age-long support that Odu’a has received from Tribune.”
“I have seen the coverage that Tribune has given to us, not just as a group, but the South-West geopolitical zone, and this created the consciousness and awareness about Odu’a among Yoruba people. If there is any entity that has helped in that regard, it is the Tribune. We are leveraging on that; we have received massive support from you and we are asking for more of that going forward,” he said.
Speaking on the programmes and plans of his management, Raji stated that they always thought about the dreams that Chief Awolowo and his team put into reality by establishing Odu’a and could only conclude that they were commendable, noting that the challenge facing the current management as trustees of the heritage of the Yoruba nation had always been that what they should bequeath to the next generation, “if our parents have bequeathed so much to us, should have additions from us and not that we will pass what has been handed over to us.”
Raji, who is the eighth MD of the Odu’a Investment Company, said the management had the challenge of taking the company to the next level, noting that the board and management of the company had taken strategic decisions at the outcome of its retreat, to try to look at the business “as an investment outfit that has both social and economic responsibilities to the people of the South-West.
“As an investment, it is important that we grow the business and deliver profits; give back to the owners and also meet the aspirations of all stakeholders. Typically, the stakeholders are all Yoruba sons and daughters. So, for those of us in the management, it is a rare honour that out of all the Yoruba at home and in the diaspora, estimated at about 35 million, we are privileged to be the ones managing the investment for the Yoruba,” Raji said.
Responding, the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of ANN Plc, Mr Edward Dickson, commended the leadership of Odu’a Investment Company for its drives in repositioning the company in the last two years, noting that Chief Awolowo would be happy seeing that the company continued to prosper.
“Whatever is founded on truth will always thrive. We have seen that through Tribune and Odu’a Investment Company,” Dickson said, noting that the things that Papa Awolowo thought of in establishing the company, which bordered on taking care of the people, were addressed by Raji, noting that as he spoke, he demonstrated that he was the man for the job.
He added that Tribune valued the visit by Odu’a management, saying the visit was beyond the sentiment of having the same founder in Chief Awolowo, noting that Tribune was capable of adding value to whatever Odu’a Investment was doing rightly and looking forward to a strong partnership with the company.
Tribune
