Ayo Ajayi

GOLDEN JUBILEE WEDDING ANNIVERSARY: MR & MRS AYO AJAYI

The celebrants 

On the 27th of July, 2024, Mr & Mrs Ayo Ajayi çelebrated the 50th anniversary of their wedding ceremony with a thanksgiving service at Our Saviour's Anglican Church, Tafawa Balewa Square,  Lagos. The memorable occasion was graced by the erstwhile primate of the Church of Nigeria, the Most Reverend Jasper Akinola; Right Reverend Odejide and Right Reverend Ifedola Senasu Okupevi, the Bishop of Lagos Diocese, who delivered a remarkable sermon.

Bishop Okupevi

The bishop in his sermon, testified to the good nature of the exemplary couple from his personal relationship with them. The video clip below says it all.

It was yet another beautiful and a well attended church service hosted by the quitessential couple. The climax for me, watching it virtually, was when the dexterous pipe organist clinically played different melodious tunes per stanza for one of the hymns sang during the administration of the sacrament.

Oga and madam have done it again. They are excellent in planning and organising family events and ceremonies. The 50th wedding aniversary was not an excemption. Kudos!

My prayer is that God will continue to keep them both. They will live long together in good health in Jesus Christ’s name 🙏🏾 

1

CELEBRATING QUINTESSENTIAL SEPTUAGENARIAN AYO AJAYI

By

Seye Adetunmbi, 6/3/18

Having a humble beginning may not necessarily be a big deal or any serious issue considering the fact that it is a relatively common phenomenon in the contemporary world. What would make news is how someone has been able to rise above early challenges while growing up in a small Ekiti community, thereafter got to the pinnacle of a working career in the foremost multinational company in Nigeria, finished well in the office, live well after retirement and continue to be relevant in his community and environs. This is the story of a provident man of destiny, Ayodele Ajayi in summary. Considering his background and various tasks he overcame to secure primary and secondary education while counting his blessings today, one is bound to agree with him when he says that he is an extremely lucky person that received and still enjoys an uncommon favor of God the almighty. 

In a way his humble beginning turned out to be a strong foundation for him to build on, as well as an asset for him in his working career by way of an applied knowledge in the corporate world. All the things he learnt from getting involved in the trading activities of his highly resourceful entrepreneur mother, contributed immensely to the successes he recorded as a salesman in his early career days in UACN PLC. As a little boy he worked hard with his enterprising mother to produce various consumer goods for the local community. He assisted his diligent mother to sell the wares in Aiyede-Ekiti his home town and the neighboring community markets which they plied on foot and it was from this petty trading endeavor that his secondary school fees were paid. At some point he wondered why the management of UACN placed in the G.B. Olivant division of the conglomerate after his induction to the management cadre as a fresh university graduate. It then occurred to him that the information he provided during interview about his childhood exploits in trading activities informed their decision.

Joshua Ayodele Ajayi was born on the 6th of March 1948 to the family of Pa Ajibola and Chief Mrs Jolade Ajayi in Aiyede-Ekiti. He passed out with Grade One at Aiyede Grammar School in 1965. After his Higher School Certificate course at Ijebu Muslim College, Ijebu-Ode, he graduated with honours in Economics from University of Ibadan in 1972. With several offered corporate jobs before him, he settled for the best among them, UAC of Nigeria PLC (UACN), as a graduate management trainee.

In 1981, Ayo Ajayi was posted to the Personnel Division as the Management Training Coordinator. He became the Merchandise Manager, Kingsway Stores in 1985 and General Manager G.B. Olivant (GBO) in 1988.  He was appointed head of Personnel in December 1990 and in September 1993 got on the Board of Directors of UACN PLC. He became the Managing Director of UAC Foods Division in January 1999 and in January 2000 he was appointed the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of UACN. He is a product of University of Michigan Business School (1982) and Harvard Business School (1999). He was a member of the: Nigerian Institute of Management, Nigerian Institute of Personnel Management, Governing Council of the Nigeria Employers' Consultative Association, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Council of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria. In 2017, he was elected the President of Aiyede Progressive Union.

His tenure as the CEO of UACN revolutionized the fortune of the foremost multinational company in Nigeria. The voice of the people as the popular philosophical saying, is the voice of God. Colleagues, friends, relations and other ranks of associates at various times attest to the imitable character of Ayo Ajayi. They give kudos to a life full of notable achievements, significant landmarks and tremendous success. After he marked 60^th birthday and retired in 2008 as the Managing Director of UACN, there was a special report on him by The News magazine of March 10^th 2018 where a number of people shared their personal experiences with him, the summation of it all is that he is a man of excellence and impeccable character.

Chief Ernest Sonekan has this to say about him. “Ayo is transparently honest. When I was the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer of UACN, Ayo Ajayi was among the few that shared in the vision of the UAC. One of the things I was appointed to do was to foster a good leadership and create a change in every aspect of our operations. Then we needed good managers who were Nigerians and transparently honest to move our vision to the next level. Ayo Ajayi belonged to this group and he really supported me and made my administration succeed. When he took over as the Managing Director in 2000, there was no denying that the UAC was operating far below its potential and the statistics bear this out. Within seven years in office, he stabilized the business and brought it to the point of profitability. He put a lot of courage and dedication to reposition the company for better returns to the shareholders and other stakeholders.

            Bassey Ndiokho, the man he succeeded said that Ayo Ajayi is a good manager of resources. “The selection of my successor in 2000 was a great task the UACN took with all seriousness. There was the task of ensuring that things were turned around in UAC and at the end of a rigorous exercise of screening and indeed looking for the best hand for the job of leading the UAC, Ayo Ajayi emerged the best candidate for Chief Executive Officer of UACN. He knew where the shoe pinches and the best way to bring the business to the level of profitability. He was creative and full of ideas and had worked with me closely and passionately. I saw how he managed and controlled people to induce and induct them to work towards getting maximum effective and efficient result. He appreciated team spirit and I was delighted that he succeeded me as the Managing Director. His tenure stabilized the business and repositioned it for maximum benefit to the shareholders. He left a legacy that will endure the minds of his predecessors and successors. He is a national legacy whose potential should be tapped at the national level for the good of the country. He is a kind of person Nigeria needs to move country forward and restore hope in for instance in the energy sector as he did in the UACN PLC.”

            Larry Ettah, his successor said that Ayo Ajayi was the face of stabilization for UACN PLC. “Ajayi has a persevering spirit, character, integrity and a lot of doggedness in him. In his generation he represents a bundle of loyalty, creativity and vision. In terms of leadership, he is a role model that should be emulated by business executives of today. He is a very honest, transparent, fair and just leader who loves hard work and devotion. Above all he is a good Christian and a symbol of courage, loyalty and dedication in UACN. When he took over as the Managing Director in 2000, he inherited a business portfolio that had significant challenges. It then became imperative to look at reshaping and restructuring the business in terms of divestment, creation of new business ideas and to a large extent radical change in budget allocation. His era marked when the company moved radically from making losses to declaring profits. It was a landmark achievement for UACN PLC and his personality. He reshaped the business and channeled it towards the path of success and profitability.” Larry remarked.

            Chief Isaaz Ogbue is a shareholder of UACN PLC; he said that Ayo Ajayi made an indelible mark at UACN. “We were both members of the choir at Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos. Ajayi is an amiable man of God who has charisma that attracts people to him. He is ever cheerful and ready to help others. As a shareholder of UACN PLC, I would say that Ajayi raised the level of our hopes and aspiration. When he came on board as the Managing Director in 2001, he transformed the organisation from running at a loss to making profit. In fact it was a remarkable feat to say the least. The transformation he made was such that the share price of the company increased tremendously. The shareholders will ever be grateful for making UACN what it is today. He made an indelible mark that will remain forever in the sands of time. Ayo is a very godly man who has respect for family life and values. Such a person can contribute meaningfully if invited at the national level. He is highly disciplined”

            The Right Reverend Akin Odejide said that Ayo Ajayi is a bundle of humility. “He has no pride at all. He associates with both the small and the big in the society. He is a convinced and committed Christian who has knowledge of the scripture and puts it into practice. He uses time, talent and treasure to serve the Lord faithfully. He is a man of his word, a very frank person who calls a spade a spade. H e always stands absolutely on the side of the truth all the time, he doesn’t waver at all. He is an example of a topmost executive that should be emulated by other executives. He is approachable and helpful to anybody around him or that comes his way. He is a typical Ekiti man who likes his ethnic group and loves his Aiyede-Ekiti home town”

            Chief Gboyega Awomolo said that Ayo Ajayi is a bundle of good character. “My main attraction to him is of two significant factors. The first one is his humility and friendly disposition. He makes us to be part of him. He honours and respects everybody around him. The second aspect of him is that he is one man with an outstanding character and integrity. Ajayi is a man of consistency and unwavering dedication. When he was made the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the UACN PLC, he opened his life to the outside world where people thought he was a superman. At the beginning when he unfolded his agenda for the UACN, we thought he was daydreaming and said to him that he can’t cope with target. But at the end of his first year in office, the company’s record was outstanding and highly rewarding. He is a man that is not corrupt who can turn Nigeria around if given the opportunity. He is a man of his word. He is an example of people who can give hope and aspiration to the younger generation of Nigerians. His life, character and integrity are worthy of emulation”. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria remarked.

Need I say more about a man who is happily married to a virtuous complementary wife and the the marriage is blessed productive children and grandchildren than to wish oga a happy 70th birthday anniversary and many more years in good health in Jesus name, amen.