Ibukun Awosika is a Nigerian businesswoman, author, motivational speaker and entrepreneur known for her leadership in corporate Nigeria. She became the first woman to serve as chairperson of First Bank of Nigeria, marking a significant milestone in the country’s banking industry. Her career spans business development, manufacturing, corporate governance, public speaking and entrepreneurship advocacy.
Born Bilkisu Abiodun Motunrayo Omobolanle Adekola on 24 December 1962 in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, she is also known as Ibukunoluwa Abiodun Awosika and Blessing Ibukun Awosika. She is the founder of SOKOA Chair Centre Limited, a furniture manufacturing and office solutions business, and has participated in several initiatives aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and women’s leadership.
Her professional journey has taken her from the manufacturing sector to the boardrooms of major Nigerian companies and international advisory bodies. In September 2022, she was appointed to the Global Advisory Board of Binance, the cryptocurrency and blockchain company.
Early Life and Education
Ibukun Awosika was born in Ibadan as the third of seven children. She completed her primary education at St. Paul’s African Church Primary School in Lagos before attending Methodist Girls’ High School in Yaba, Lagos.
She later enrolled at the University of Ife, now known as Obafemi Awolowo University, where she studied Chemistry and earned a Bachelor of Science degree.
Although she initially wanted to study Architecture at the University of Navarra in Spain, her academic path took her into the sciences. She subsequently pursued further management and executive education, including programmes at Lagos Business School and IESE Business School at the University of Navarra.
Her education provided a foundation for a career that would combine technical knowledge, business management and entrepreneurship.
Beginning Her Professional Career
Awosika’s professional journey began during her compulsory one-year National Youth Service Corps programme in Kano State. During this period, she worked as an audit trainee at Akintola Williams & Co., the accounting firm that later became part of Deloitte.
After completing her service year, she returned to Lagos and joined Alibert Nigeria Limited, a furniture company, as a showroom manager.
The role exposed her to the furniture and interior solutions industry and gave her practical experience in customer relations, sales and business operations. Her experience in the sector would later influence her decision to establish her own business.
Building SOKOA Chair Centre Limited
Awosika went on to establish SOKOA Chair Centre Limited, a company associated with furniture manufacturing and office solutions. Through the business, she developed a presence in a sector serving corporate organisations and institutions seeking furniture and workplace products.
Her involvement in manufacturing distinguished her career from those of business leaders whose activities have focused primarily on finance, oil and gas or retail. It also positioned her within Nigeria’s wider industrial and enterprise landscape.
As an entrepreneur, she became known for combining business development with an interest in leadership, professional development and the advancement of women in business.
Breaking Barriers at First Bank of Nigeria
One of the most prominent milestones in Awosika’s career was her appointment as chairperson of First Bank of Nigeria, making her the first woman to hold the position.
The appointment placed her at the head of one of Nigeria’s most established banking institutions and marked a notable moment for women’s representation in senior corporate leadership.
Her position at First Bank brought national attention to her professional experience and leadership profile. It also strengthened her visibility in discussions about corporate governance, business strategy and the participation of women in executive decision-making.
Her career has since been associated with the broader advancement of women in management and leadership across Nigeria’s business community.
Corporate Governance and Board Leadership
In addition to her entrepreneurial activities, Awosika has served in corporate governance roles.
In October 2009, she joined the board of Cadbury Nigeria Plc as a non-executive and independent director. She remained on the board until May 2026, when reports announced her departure after nearly 17 years.
Her service at Cadbury Nigeria reflected her participation in the governance of a major consumer goods company and added to her experience across different areas of the private sector.
Awosika has also been associated with Women in Management, Business and Public Service, an organisation focused on supporting women’s participation and advancement in management, business and public leadership.
In September 2022, she joined the Global Advisory Board of Binance, bringing her business and leadership experience to an international advisory body operating in the cryptocurrency and blockchain sector.
Media Personality and Public Speaking
Awosika has built a public profile beyond the boardroom through television, motivational speaking and business education.
In 2008, she appeared among five Nigerian entrepreneurs featured in the first African version of Dragon’s Den, a television programme in which entrepreneurs present business ideas to potential investors.
The programme introduced a wider audience to her entrepreneurial experience and helped establish her presence as a business personality.
She also hosts a television programme titled Business His Way, through which business-related ideas and leadership perspectives form part of her public engagement.
In 2020, she appeared in Citation, a film produced by Nigerian filmmaker Kunle Afolayan, alongside Temi Otedola. Her involvement in the production demonstrated another dimension of her public profile beyond business and entrepreneurship.
Through her speaking engagements and media appearances, Awosika has continued to discuss business development, personal growth, leadership and the experiences of women in professional life.
Books and Thought Leadership
Awosika is also an author whose publications focus on entrepreneurship, business experience and leadership.
Her books include:
- The ‘Girl’ Entrepreneurs — a work focused on women entrepreneurs and their experiences in business.
- Business His Way — a publication associated with her business and leadership programme.
- The ‘Girl’ Entrepreneurs: Our Stories So Far — a follow-up publication continuing the discussion of women’s entrepreneurial journeys.
Her writing complements her public speaking and mentoring activities by sharing business experiences and perspectives with readers interested in entrepreneurship and professional development.
Awards and Recognition
Awosika’s career has attracted recognition from Nigerian and international organisations. Her awards record includes both competitive nominations and honours received.
In 2005, she was nominated for the Entrepreneur of the Year category at the THISDAY Newspaper Annual Merit Awards and for Female Entrepreneur of the Year at the Success Digests Magazine Annual Enterprise Awards.
In 2006, she received a nomination for Best Female Entrepreneur of the Year through the Financial Standard and Pan-African Organisation for Women Recognition. That year, she won the FATE Model Entrepreneur Award of the Year from the FATE Foundation.
In 2007, she received the Golden Heart Award from the International Women Society.
In 2008, she won the International Women Entrepreneurial Challenge Award, further strengthening her recognition as a businesswoman.
In 2015, she was nominated for YNaija Person of the Year. Five years later, she received the Forbes Woman Africa Chairperson Award at the 2020 Africa Forbes Woman Awards.
These honours reflect recognition of her entrepreneurial work, leadership and contribution to conversations about women’s participation in business.
Personal Life
Ibukun Awosika is married to Abiodun Awosika, and they have three children.
While she maintains a public profile through business, speaking engagements and media appearances, her career has also involved balancing family life with leadership responsibilities across business and corporate institutions.
Leadership Philosophy and Influence
Awosika’s career has connected entrepreneurship with corporate leadership, manufacturing and professional development. Her transition from an early role in the furniture industry to building her own business and serving in senior corporate positions illustrates the range of opportunities available to entrepreneurs who develop industry knowledge and leadership experience.
Her appointment as the first female chairperson of First Bank of Nigeria remains a defining milestone in her public career. Her work in entrepreneurship, television and writing has also given her a platform to encourage business development and greater participation by women in leadership.
Through her business activities, board appointments and public engagement, Awosika has become a prominent figure in Nigeria’s corporate landscape.
Ibukun Awosika’s Continuing Legacy
Ibukun Awosika’s story is one of professional growth, entrepreneurship and advancement into influential leadership positions. From her early work at Alibert Nigeria Limited to the development of SOKOA Chair Centre and her role at First Bank of Nigeria, she has built a career spanning several dimensions of the business world.
Her participation in corporate boards, international advisory work, television and authorship has extended her influence beyond a single industry. Together, these activities have established her as a recognised Nigerian business leader whose career continues to feature in discussions about entrepreneurship, governance and women’s leadership.