Fola Adeola’s Midas Touch
Over the years, Mr. Fola Adeola has given no one any cause to doubt his brilliance and exceptional ability. For a man who literally gave the Nigerian economy, nay global economy a very strong financial institution as Guaranty Trust Bank( now GT Bank Plc), it is clear that he is certainly endowed with an uncommon grace. Today, that same ‘baby’ has now grown so big to the envy of its competitors; it is now the financial institution to beat on the continent of Africa.
Society Happenings gathered that when the news broke that he was quitting his position as Managing Director of the bank in 2002, after 12 years of untainted records, many couldn’t just fathom the reason for that singular decision.
But what do you expect from a man full of ideas? His next venture has again proven that he is blessed with the proverbial Midas touch. He has since served as chairman, UTC, ARM, Lotus Capital, Eterna Oil, CardinalStone Partners Limited, Tafsan Breweries (Board member and Credit Registry Services.
Recently, Main One Cable Company Limited, the company he currently serves as chairman, completed the construction of an open access submarine cable system spanning 14,000 kilometres and provides international and internet connectivity to countries on the Atlantic Coastline from Portugal to Lagos.
Adeola, who once served as Chairman of the National Pension Commission, also chaired the Lagos State Disaster Relief Committee, following the 2002 Lagos Armoury explosion. He was the Vice-Presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) serving as running mate to former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission chairman (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, in the 2011 presidential elections.
Adeola was also a member of the National Honours and Awards Committee and was appointed a member of the Governing Council of Lagos State University in November 2004. He served as a member of the Solid Minerals Committee (constituted by the Federal Government) and was the Chairman of Ogun State Development Trust Fund Committee. Until January 17, 2011 he served as a council member, Olabisi Onabanjo University.
In 2000, he established the FATE Foundation, a nongovernmental organisation which encourages entrepreneurship, using a mix of training, mentoring, loan support and consulting to support young Nigerians. The FATE Foundation has so far served more than 30,000 young Nigerian entrepreneurs. In all these places, Adeola has displayed his unequal expertise and virtuosity.