New Dawn in Southwest as Directors Reposition Odu’a Investment Company Limited

Ololade Adeyanju/

A new dawn has emerged on the horizon for a greater agricultural and industrial advancement of the Southwest region as the newly inaugurated Board of Odu’a Investment Company Limited (OICL) unveils 11-point agenda to retune its engine room.

Led by the Chairman, Dr Segun Aina, OFR, the new OICL management says it is committed to repositioning and restructuring the Company and its subsidiaries to enhance its performance, profitability and sustainable growth necessary to achieve the expectations of its shareholders and other stakeholders.

One of the objectives of the shareholders is to make Odu’a Investment a world class company with strong governance framework that could compete with similar organizations in terms of growth, profitability and sustainability.

To achieve this objective among others, the Board commenced action immediately it was inaugurated on May 7, 2020 and have held two board meetings within two weeks to quickly familiarize itself with the operations and current status of the Company as well as chart a road map for the board.

The Board has drawn up an 11-points agenda and quick wins for its first 85 days in office which would provide the requisite foundation needed for the transformation of the Company.

The 11-point agenda include the development of a 5-year strategic plan (2020-2025). A Board Strategic retreat to be facilitated by KPMG has been scheduled to hold in July 2020. The retreat will determine strategies required to refocus, recalibrate and accelerate delivery of desired results.

The board will identify new key investment opportunities in Agriculture, Technology, and commercially viable infrastructure, ensure the creation of a Project Management Office and corporate transformation agenda, improve brand and media profile, and have oversight function in rigorous quarterly business reviews. The Board in alignment with the drive of the Owner State Governments to unlock value in the agriculture value chain in the South West, is committed to operationalize the South West Agricultural Corporation Limited (SWAGCO) by end of June 2020.

Also, the Board recognizes the importance of funding, strategic partnership and alliances in the growth of the business, as such, it would identify and create local and international relationships with funding partners such as IFC, African Development Bank (AFDB), Afrexim Bank and other leading local and International institutions.

To ensure Best Practice and Corporate Governance in Odu’a Investment, the board will accelerate the completion of the Corporate Governance Advisory Assignment being carried out by KPMG and would provide all necessary support to ensure the strengthening of executive capacity with recruitment of two Executive Directors in due course.

At a recent virtual meeting held with the Management team of Odu’a Investment, Chairmen and Managing Directors of Subsidiary Companies on Friday, May 22, 2020, the Board emphasized profitability, professionalism, team work and culture change in the management and operations of the Group.

It charged them that all hands must be on deck to support the Board towards the achievement of its objectives.

It was agreed that it would no longer be business as usual as mediocrity would not be tolerated while competence and performance would henceforth drive the work force.

The Board assured that existing businesses will be supported, inactive companies will be resuscitated and new businesses would be embarked upon in line with the strategic plan to be developed.

A new dawn has started in Odu’a Investment as the new Board made up of eminent personalities are committed to creating shareholders value with social impact as Odu’a is poised to fulfill its mandate as the engine room for economic development of the South Western Nigeria.

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