Oyeyimika Adeboye: Breaking the glass ceiling in corporate Nigeria

Oyeyimika Adeboye is one woman who broke the corporate glass ceiling and became the first Managing Director of Cadbury Nigeria Plc. Cadbury Nigeria, formed in 1965 had never had a female Managing Director up until Oyeyimika in 2019.

This not only brought women to the forefront but enhanced the company’s goal to promote gender equality, diversity and inclusion. Many people see here as a trend setter, but like everyone else, she worked her way up to become a top MD.

Oyeyimika had built her career in finance, strategy and business administration, in Nigeria and United Kingdom, paving her way to this position.

Oyeyimika Adeboye’s Early Life and Education

Oyeyimika spent her early life and high school education in Nigeria. Her father, the late Chief Timothy Adeola Odutola, was among the top and foremost Nigeria’s entrepreneurs.

He was among the pioneers of manufacturing industry in Nigeria and became the first President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN). His work got him to be honored by the British royal family honored with the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1948.

To Oyeyimika, her father was very passionate about education which drove their drive towards striving higher. His passion about education led to him establishing Adeola Odutola College and Adeola Odutola Elementary School in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

Being a daughter to the man who created a “multimillion-dollar conglomerate before the end of British colonial rule in 1960” must have been an inspiration.

Her mother is still an eye for business in Nigeria. At over 80 years, her mother still runs and manages some of her businesses. Maybe these genes led her path to becoming one of the greatest business women of Nigeria, who knows? After all, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

After High School, she joined the University College Cardiff, Wales, for a Bachelor of Science honors degree in Economics & Social Studies. She also got executive management education certification in Finance and Business Administration from the Institute of Management Development (IMD), Lausanne, Switzerland.

The Rise Into the Entrepreneurship Ladder

Oyeyimika started her career as an articled clerk with Midgley Snelling & Co. in United Kingdom. She then delved into Chartered Accountants while on this job and later qualifying as a Chartered Accountant.

This accomplishment made her a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Additionally, she further became a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Nigeria.

Oyeyimika returned to Nigeria in the 90s and got an opportunity with the Erstwhile Nigerian Accounting and Tax Practice of Arthur Andersen & Co.

In 1994, she joined Nigerian Bottling Company Plc. as the Director of Finance and Chief Financial Officer for about 13 years.

In November 2008, she joined the board of Cadbury West Africa as Finance and Strategy Director, West Africa. She was also made a director on the board of Cadbury Ghana Ltd. At the later company, she became a member of the audit committee of the company until October, 2016.

With over 10 years at Cadbury, she was appointed as the Managing Director, Cadbury Nigeria Plc in April 2019. She also became the Cluster Director, Mondelez (Cadbury) West Africa, in July, the same year (2019). Mondelēz International is the parent company of Cadbury Nigeria Plc

The Drive to Nigeria’s Corporate World

While still in the United Kingdom, she had a conversation with an English friend and colleague who was a senior manager in a firm. She had worked in this firm for many years but remained a senior manager while the firm admitted other male managers into partnership.

In an interview, she claims that, that was the moment when it dawned on her that her career limitation in the UK may be two-fold – female and black.

The decision to relocate back to Nigeria was not a tough one from this experience. Additionally, her father wanted her back home – for other reasons.

Oyeyimika Adebayo Outside Entrepreneurship

Philanthropic Works

Oyeyimika Adebayo is among the members of the Board of Trustees of the Timothy Adeola Odutola Foundation. This family-owned philanthropic foundation aims to provide educational, industrial and technological development for Nigerian youths who are unable to further their education.

She also serves as the chairperson of the advisory board of Genesis House, a home for disadvantage young women which was set up by Freedom Foundation.

Adeboye is also a member of the Board of Trustees of YEO Foundation which provides various initiatives to empower less-privileged women.

She also partners with Handmaidens WiLS, a Christian NGO, which seeks to mentor and empower professional women along an ethical career path. She is also a member of the board of The Parity in Income and Education Foundation.

Family

While asked how she balances work and family life, Oyeyimika Adeboye stated that “God comes first; her family (her husband and children) are second; and then her career comes after.