Rufus Giwa

THE MULTINATIONAL COMPANY BOARD ROOM GURU: SIR RUFUS FOLUSO GIWA (1942-2003) 

By 

Seye Adetunmbi, first written in 2003

It was my wish that one day I will pay a tribute to Sir Rufus Foluso Giwa (RFG) perhaps on his 70th, 80th or 90th birthday anniversary. The inevitable happened less than a month to his 61st birthday, which had left me with no option than to do this write-up. Man proposes God disposes. To me it would amount to an understatement describing the unfortunate incident as bad news! By the time the reality of the tragedy dawned on me, I got to realize that around 9.15 a.m. on Wednesday 26th March, 2003 death had snatched away through road mishap the best chairman I ever had. My mind quickly flashed back to my first encounter on Tuesday July 23, 1991 with this colossus of a technocrat, an astute boss, mentor, confidant, role model, benefactor, referee and perhaps the most celebrated company executive at the peak of his career in the contemporary Nigerian corporate world. I must state that no attempt is made here to ascribe perfection to the person of RFG, after all he was like any other mortal. Jesus Christ is the only perfect master.

Sir Rufus Giwa

No doubt, there are lessons embedded in the numerous beautiful sides of Chief Giwa that are worthy of emulation for those who desire to leave their mark in the sand of time. It is really tough for me discussing him in past tense and summarizing his extensive achievements in this tribute of few pages.

   Sometime in 1991, I coordinated the establishment of 3i (Idumota, Idumagbo & Isale-Eko) Community Bank which was initiated by High Chief Luyi Rotimi, my erstwhile boss with the support of one-time treasurer of Mobil Oil, Iyaloja of Lagos and the City Hall Chairman, Prince Ademola Adeniji-Adele. The successful completion and location of the Community Bank in Odo-Alagbafo area of Lagos Island apparently prompted Prince Adeyanju Olateru-Olagbegi, onetime chairman of Owena Bank PLC to request my input in the establishment of Owo Community Bank (OCB). After the OCB was commissioned in the middle of 1991, Chief Rufus Giwa got in touch with Prince Olateru-Olagbegi. The Prince then said to me that RFG wanted me to assist Oke-Agbe to also benefit from the community bank project. This development eventually led me to the Apapa office of RFG when he was the Chairman/Managing Director of Lever Brothers PLC now Unilever PLC where I got formal briefing on my first assignment from him and since then I became part of his extended household. Together with Otunba Oladunni, Chiefs Akeju, Sunmonu, Messrs Olotu and Awoseyi his loyal personal assistant for many years and I, worked with him on the Oke-Agbe Community Bank project until I concluded my assignment in the last quarter of 1991.

We met with him several times as the chairman in his house, after he must have had a very long busy day in his office. More often he had his dinner late and madam his very devoted wife, Lady Margaret Oluyemisi Giwa would wait for him. This was a community project that was not solicited for in the first place but an initiative on RFG's part, born out of his unrelenting compassion for development projects for his community. How many company executives would be interested in that kind of community service without any visible contribution to their personal or corporate bottom line? An assiduous worker and sometimes I wondered loud to him and inquired where he got the natural strength from, to do all the great exploits.

Knighthood Investiture, by Bishop Olowokure

   The significance of the background story is the selflessness of Chief Rufus Giwa that caused my first formal meeting with him. What was he going to gain from a community bank project except that he committed his personal resources, energy, time and goodwill before the project could take-off. One thing that unequivocally endeared RFG to some of us that worked closely with him and his people in general was his foresight and unflinching love for the empowerment of his people through functional community development initiatives. Despite his tight schedules as a Lagos based multinational company executive, he always looked out for opportunities that could enhance the lot of his people back home. A diligent man who loved his people and stood by them come rain or shine. Anyone who was truly acquainted or friendly with him must have accompanied him to his country home at Oke-Agbe for one function or the other in his lifetime. He would never allow any accessible opportunity elude his kinsmen and this service he rendered in gratis and certainly not for any material gain.

A grass root man to the core who was more satisfied or at least was always at peace with himself when he was associated with the fact that he had input to the development of his community and its environs. This his natural urge must have been responsible for his taking interest in everything that happened around him throughout his lifetime which made him to excel and standout among his peers. Whatever he was involved with no matter how humble, he did it with all seriousness and commitment. This is one of the several virtues of Chief Giwa that made me to admire his person and disposition.

   His lifetime journey started with a humble beginning in Oke-Agbe on April 24, 1942 when he was born. He attended St. George's Anglican Primary School, Oke-Agbe in 1948 to 1954, passed through a secondary modern school and Divisional Teacher's College, Ikare-Akoko in 1959 to 1960. He later passed his relevant GCE papers without going through any secondary school and gained admission in 1963 to University of Lagos for a degree in Accounting. Through dint of hard work, academic brilliance, devotion to duty and God's grace he got to the peak of his career. After graduating in 1966, he never worked for any other organization apart from Unilever. He rose through the ranks and worked in virtually every department of the multinational company which afforded him the opportunity to see it all in the organization. He gave the company all he had by putting his best and this paid-off for him. Consequently, he earned the respect of his employers and predecessors who handed over management to him without any reservation in 1987.

   His secondment in May 1982 to May 1984, to Unilever in London for an international management exchange programme was a response to the blooming ingenuity of RFG among his peers. During this period he asserted his brilliance in a commendable manner that enhanced the business of Unilever in Ghana, Zaire, Japan, Thailand, Brazil, Columbia and Morocco. Salute to the versatility of RFG was emphasized in the testimony of the highly revered Chief Omolayole his erstwhile boss. The statement said it all: "When he returned, it became obvious that just making him a finance director would be a great disservice to the company. He could do the job with his eyes closed". For 32 years Sir Giwa diligently served the company. He was on the board for 21 years and was the chief executive officer for 10 years. His tenure brought Unilever to great heights characterized with consistent and commensurable dividend payout which made the company the toast of investors in the stock market.

Undoubtedly, his name at a stage was synonymous to Lever Brothers in Nigeria. It may also go down in history uncontested, as the most powerful and influential chief executive officer the company ever produced. His ability to combine his primary assignment and official callings with other honourable interests without one suffering for the other was a feat.

Chief Giwa, HRM Oba Adeleye, Senator Felix Ibru during wedding service of Seye & Labo Adetunmbi

   Chief Giwa was a Fellow of these professional bodies; Institute of Directors, Nigerian Institute of Management, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Chartered Institute of Secretaries & Administrators and Institute of Cost & Management Accountants. He served, either as chairman or a director of many organizations in the private sector and some government establishments. He was the chairman in April 1986 to May 1987 of Ondo State Investment Holding Company Limited and Banque du Benin, Cotonou. One-time Chairman of Delta Steel Company in 1991 to 1993 and Raw Materials & Research Development Council in 1991 to 1994, former President of the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria, Chemical & Non-Metallic Products Employers Federation, Nigerian Employers Consultative Association and University of Lagos Alumni Association. He was on the board of UACN PLC, Wema Bank PLC and O'dua Investment Holding Company. RFG was on the council of Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Ogun State (now Olabisi Onabanjo) University advisory council and Nigerian Urban & Rural Industrial Mission. Chairman Board of Trustees of the Cargo Defense Fund and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Defunct National Petroleum Trust Fund.

   In his lifetime, he blessed God's work with every substance at his disposal and was indeed a devoted Christian. The clergy and laity in the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) will always remember his zeal for God's work and generous support. As a delegate of the 3rd Session of the 26th Synod of the Diocese of Lagos, I witnessed the standing ovation accorded him after presenting a paper titled "Managing Church Men for Progress" on June 3rd 1997 at All Saints' Anglican Church Yaba, Lagos. He came in just before his turn and immediately after the presentation he left for the airport to catch up with another appointment elsewhere. He was very busy, yet was always willing to contribute his quota big or small to every project of God. My home parish, St. Michael's Anglican Church, Ifaki-Ekiti got some donation from him and many other churches benefited from his generosity. He built a Church Hall for his home Church at Oke-Agbe which was commissioned to mark his retirement in 1998. St. Mathias' Chapel was also built inside his compound in Oke-Agbe all to the glory of God. In December 1999 his son, niece and I were the harvest chairmen (alaga-Ikore) of St. Mathias' and he practically funded everything including the bazaar. All his efforts in the Akoko Diocese earned him the Grand Commander of Dominica.

   Likewise, his multifaceted disposition earned him several diverse titles which include; Honorary Doctorate Degree from University of Lagos, Ekpoma State University and Federal University of Technology, Akure. He was the Aro of Afa, Oke-Agbe, Jagunmolu Babalaye of Ibadan, Otunba of Ilara-Mokin, Mayegun of Akoko and Asiwaju of Akoko land. He also held honorary chieftaincy titles from Ikole-Ekiti and Aiyedun-Ekiti.

  L-R: Chief Bode Sunmonu, Chief Rufus Giwa, Seye & Labo Adetunmbi and Lady Yemisi Giwa

It is not very common to see a man of this stature associated with many parts to still have a formidable home front. Chief with all sincerity and to God be the glory, was indeed an all rounder. A fine family man who had time for everybody around him including his childhood friends and well wishers. His friends would attest to the fact that RFG was a "jolly good fellow" in his elements. He was a member and the life patron of Club 15 in Oke-Agbe. A club predominantly made up of his childhood friends. A lot of people followed him to his home town in 1991 when the club house was commissioned. He was found of playing ayo game whenever the opportunity arose with members of his household and friends when they visit him. A loving father who invested so much in his family God in turn blessed him with a virtuous wife, cultured and brilliant children. One memory remained indelible in my mind when he asked me to accompany him on a journey to Odo Owa-Ekiti for a function in February 2000. He called everybody at home, young and old and hugged them one after the other before he entered the vehicle. Despite being a day trip, it was another joyous reunion with the members of the family when we arrived back home. A strong family values personified and an embodiment of love for his wards who loved him dearly in turn. Death where is thy sting! May God grant his beloved aged mother (aya), wife, children and other loved ones the fortitude to bear thie irreparable loss.

   For anyone to parade his type of credentials in the peculiar Nigerian society, such person is bound to have admirers and detractors alike. He tried his best to weather the storms. His believe was that once you are upright, you will survive all intrigues; it is only a matter time and I subscribe to this school of thought. He had very high regard for professionals, men of integrity and liked keeping the company such persons or being in the midst of honorable people. A stickler of time who will neither condone indiscipline nor hesitate to call any erring subordinate, associate or ward to order when necessary, and this will be done with precision. Quite often, he got to the office before most of us and he was always the last person to leave, a practice he had been used to since his days in Unilever. Likewise, he would read or attend to all mails addressed to him and replied where necessary. A principled board room guru, firm and bold professional. I often looked up to the board meeting as the chief operating officer of his stockbroking firm because I was bound to gain a new thing. Such session was often a business school for me.

   Different people associated with RFG for various reasons, I was content with the confidence he reposed in me generally. The cordial relationship with him and his family I cherished. It was a privilege passing through his tutelage, sharing in his joys and low periods within the short space of time I was around the indefatigable man. My consolation is in the opportunity I had in his lifetime to let him know I much I appreciated him, and this he acknowledged. His exploits earned him the exalted position of an institution, and "institutions don't die". Nobody earns reputation by doing nothing and this is the challenge for those of us he left behind. Procrastination is the thief of time. Whatever you can do to make the difference and add value to the life others, do it now. The trumpet may sound anytime.

   May God teach everyone reading this tribute how to number his/her days. May the Lord incline our hearts unto wisdom and ways that will assure us of salvation.

Sleep well sir.