Oando Plc has officially appointed Ademola Ogunbanjo as the President and CEO of its subsidiary, Oando Clean Energy Limited (OCEL), signaling a significant advancement in the company’s commitment to sustainable energy initiatives throughout Nigeria and Africa.
This leadership transition, announced via a LinkedIn update, emphasizes Ogunbanjo’s crucial involvement in OCEL’s objective to implement environmentally friendly projects, further reinforcing Oando’s dedication to the green energy transition.
Ogunbanjo boasts a distinguished career, characterized by extensive experience across various sectors, including banking, telecommunications, and oil and gas. Before taking on this leadership position, he was the Executive Vice President at OCEL, collaborating closely with Ainojie Alexander Irune (PhD), the previous President and CEO.
His role as Executive Vice President placed him at the forefront of OCEL’s renewable energy projects, establishing him as a forward-thinking leader in the energy industry.
Ogunbanjo’s leadership of OCEL is anticipated to propel the company’s ambitious objectives in promoting sustainable energy solutions in Nigeria, in line with the global push for decarbonization.
His expertise extends beyond corporate leadership to strategy consulting, where he has engaged with a variety of clients and organizations both within Nigeria and internationally.
He has contributed to numerous initiatives, including mentoring entrepreneurs through NGOs such as The Fate Foundation and Designing Futures, as well as providing guidance to The Oando Foundation and Fela Durotoye’s AddVantage Series.
Throughout his varied professional journey, Ogunbanjo has held senior roles, including General Manager of the Business Support Group at a $2 billion indigenous Exploration and Production (E&P) company, where he managed essential departments such as Information Technology, Corporate Communications, Human Capital Management, and Legal.
His academic qualifications are highly commendable, featuring a specialized MSc in Consulting and Coaching for Change from the esteemed Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, along with credentials from HEC Business School in Paris. Additionally, he has obtained certifications in Business, International Relations, and Political Economy from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
Ademola Ogunbanjo’s leadership background is further enhanced by his entrepreneurial endeavors. He serves as the CEO of Proviant Integrated Services Limited and previously held the position of CEO at Avaizon Consulting, where he spearheaded strategic projects and implemented business transformation initiatives.
In 2018, Ogunbanjo made a notable foray into politics as a gubernatorial candidate for the Alliance for a New Nigeria (ANN). Although his political tenure lasted just over a year, it underscored his dedication to driving change in both the energy sector and governance.
Oando Plc has expressed strong confidence in Ogunbanjo’s capability to guide Oando Clean Energy in achieving its objectives related to energy diversification and sustainability. The company anticipates his leadership as it continues to seek and implement environmentally friendly solutions aimed at minimizing Africa’s carbon footprint.
A Peep Into The Background Of Ademola Ogunbanjo
Ademola Ogunbanjo comes from a long line of Ijebu Aristocracy of Odobotu, Oke Sopen Ijebu-Igbo Ogun State.
He was born on a stormy Friday night in Ibadan on the 12th of July, 1974 to the family of Mr. Isaac Aderounmu and Felicia Oluwakemi Ogunbanjo.
As a result of the restriction of movement during the Agbekoya war, Ademola was born at home, and taken to the hospital the next morning.
Mr. Isaac Aderounmu Ogunbanjo was a military man who fought on the side of the British Army in Burma during World War II. He went on to become the Secretary General of Ex-Service men, South-West region, an active member of the Action Group Party, and close associate of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. This could be traced as what may have later influenced Ademola’s passion for social development and matters of the State.
As a child, Ademola attended Adeko Memorial Nursery & Primary School, Ijebu-Igbo and Army Children’s School, Yaba. During his time in Lagos, Ademola was exposed to a significant level of physical abuse while under the care of a relative. This resulted in him absconding from home, and for a three month period, he worked as a bus conductor while becoming acquainted with the idiosyncrasies of the streets of Lagos.
He was eventually found by a neighbor and sent back to his relative, returning to Ijebu shortly after. He then completed his primary education at St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Obada, Ijebu-Igbo, where he was appointed Head Boy.
Ademola attended Abusi Odumare Academy, Ijebu-Igbo for his secondary school education. As a student, he worked part time at the LAT Sawmill to enable him pay for his books, school uniforms and other expenses. This resulted in Ademola developing a strong work ethic, sense of responsibility and drive to succeed at a relatively young age.
As his school shared the same campus with the Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University), Ademola was exposed to and admired the sophistication of the university students he saw on campus, an experience that has shaped his sense of style since.
As a true son of Ijebuland, his first language was Yoruba. He however learnt his impeccable command of the English language by diligently watching Western programs on television, studying the dictionary, and perhaps through his paternal genes, as his father, Mr. Isaac Aderounmu Ogunbanjo was also known as English Oguns; a nickname derived from his flawless command of the language. Ademola would often seize the opportunity to practice and perfect all he had learnt, whenever he visited Lagos on holiday.
He briefly attended Delta State University, Abraka for less than a semester, and later moved to the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, where he graduated with a B.Sc. in Urban and Regional Planning.
While an undergraduate, Ademola’s hard working nature came into play once again as he took up a job as a Taxi driver to earn money for his upkeep, in a bid to help augment the efforts of his older siblings who were paying his fees. From his savings, he eventually ventured into entrepreneurship by founding The Closet, a clothing retail store in Bodija, Ibadan which exists to this day.
Ademola is a scholar of the Said Business School, University of Oxford and HEC Business School, Paris where he studied Consulting and Coaching for Change.
He trained as a consultant at Oxford Management Consulting, UK, and is a member of the Institute of Management Consultants, and a SEC-certified Market Analyst, with an Executive Masters Certificate in Project Management from the PM College, London.
Ademola joined Ocean and Oil Holdings (OOH) as Manager, Energy Investments; his role was to deliver on the MSA/TSA between OOH and Oando Plc., covering such functions as Human Resources, Energy Services and Sales & Marketing. He later co-pioneered the startup of an OOH subsidiary, Avaizon Consulting Limited, a Strategy, Execution Management and Business Performance Coaching firm he headed as Chief Executive Officer having previously served as VP, Strategy and Performance Coaching for two years.
With core expertise in strategy, execution management, organizational design and development, transaction management, business opportunity assessment, performance management, leadership coaching, etc.
Ademola has worked with diverse clients such as the Oando Group, Imo, Kaduna, Lagos, Cross River, Ondo, Ogun and Kano States of Nigeria, the World Bank, DfID, Airtel Nigeria, Interswitch, BankPHB, The Liberian Government, Triton Aviation, First Bank Plc., and a number of HNIs.