Rotary Club of Ikeja Installs Gbenga Badejo as 54th President, Decorates DIG Leye Oyebade

Ronke Kehinde/

Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, was the venue of a grand event on Sunday, July 11, 2021, as members and guests of the Rotary Club of Ikeja District 9110 witnessed the investiture of Rotarian Adegbenga Olufemi Badejo FCA KJW as the 54th President of the service organization.

The colorful gathering also witnessed the induction of the club’s 2021/2022 Board of Directors and the decoration of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Adeleye Oyebade as an honorary member of the second oldest club at District 9110.

It was a gathering of top professionals, legal luminaries, and businesspeople.

When the District Governor 2021-2022, Mr. Remi Bello FCA mounted the stage, he reminded everyone that Rotary is a humanitarian organization promoting peace around the world.

He celebrated the role played by the Rotary Club in achieving the certification of Nigeria as a polio-free country.

He also mentioned how the Rotary Club of Ikeja had executed projects in the seven areas of focus, including the protection of the environment.

He said that the club adopted a school, Ikeja Junior High School, at Ikeja GRA. The school was later awarded the best school status in Lagos State. The principal of the school won the award of best principal in Lagos State.

“We equipped their laboratory. They gave us their needs assessment. You can rest assured that whatever you give us will be well spent and well accounted for. We employ you to partner with the Rotary Club of Ikeja to make this world a better place,” Bello told the guests, including Dr. Demola Sogunle, CEO Stanbic IBTC Holdings, a member of the Standard Bank Group, Africa’s largest bank by assets.

After her colorful citation was read by Past President Goke Olayinka, the Keynote Speaker, Mrs. Dorothy Udeme Ufot SAN, who acknowledged a boardroom guru at the event, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye, as her benefactor, announced that the event marked the first time she would be among Rotarians.

“I’m happy to be here,” she said.

Mrs. Ufot said that she had known Badejo on a personal and professional level for several years. She described him as a man of deep conviction, industry, sound judgment, and imbued with the core values of the Rotary Club.

She presented a paper titled “The Role of Arbitration in Peace Building and Conflict Resolution”.

To illustrate the importance of arbitration in peacebuilding and conflict resolution, she cited the biblical story of how King Solomon resolved a dispute between two women fighting over a child after one inadvertently slept on her child and killed her, as narrated in 1st King: 3, 16-28.

“Conflict will always arise in every human situation,” she stressed as she spoke about why people get into conflict and how best to resolve conflict.

Mrs. Ufot charged everyone to participate and commit resources to key areas of service “to make our local communities, our country, and indeed the world a better place”.

She added that the little done would bring global peace.

The gathering celebrated the immediate past President, Rotarian Dotun Lanpejo, who was described as the man, who came, who saw, and who conquered, living up to expectation, notwithstanding the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It also celebrated the Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his deputy – Dr. Olufemi Hamzat, who was represented by Dr. Aina Oluwatomida, and the first elected female Governor of Rotary International District 9110, Ayaba Lawson, fondly called Koseleri the First.

There were goodwill messages from leading lights in the Rotary organization, including a past District Governor – 1982/83, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi OFR mni.

The organizers recounted how Rotary Club started with the vision of one lawyer – Paul Harris, who held the first Rotary meeting with his associates in Chicago on February 23, 1905.

The coordinators, including Rotarian Tunji Ola, also made a video presentation of how the Rotary Club of Ikeja District 9110 berthed in 1967 and the brains behind its establishment, including Rotarian Phillip Dudeney, a member of the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt, and his friend, Rotarian A.S. Guobadia.

Formed with 25 members, a charter was granted to the provisional Rotary Club of Ikeja on August 31, 1967. Chief Joe Harold was the charter president, and most of the meetings were held at the Lagos Airport Hotel, in Ikeja.

Badejo’s first assignment after his investiture was the induction of new members, including DIG Oyebade, whose smiling face appeared to show how much he cherished every moment at the event.

Before his investiture, the citation of the new president presented to the guests says:

“It takes many years to become an overnight success,” says Frank Sonnenberg, an award-winning author and a well-known advocate for moral Character, personal values, and personal responsibility. He must have had Rotarian Adegbenga Olufemi Badejo’s story in mind when he was coining this phrase.

Rotarian Adegbenga Badejo, the fifth child of the Late Revd Jacob Adesoga Badejo and Late Mrs. Grace Folorunsho Badejo of ljebu-Igbo, Ogun State since his early life had always shown traits of determination to succeed, ability to keep promises, a knack for time-consciousness, and rare talent to adapt and excel in whatever chosen assignment rested on him. His punctual habit earned him the position of the School’s Timekeeper in his Primary School days. His business-like attitude made him the first to always get to school, even when there were no promises at stake. His versatility earned him various lead roles in the Drama Troupe of his School that you might almost conclude he would end up becoming one of the A-list veteran Actors in Nigeria today, but no. Rotarian Adegbenga Olufemi Badejo had his eyes on bigger dreams. His exploratory nature made him start out as a pure Science Student in Secondary School, proceeded to the University as a Social Science Student, and capped his career journey as ‘ a Fellow of Institute of Chartered Accountants, with many record-breaking achievements to his credit.

Toughness, according to Alex Karras, is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles.” Rotarian Gbenga Badejo demonstrated this truism while climbing the ladder of academic and professional fulfillment. He graduated from Nigeria’s Premier University – the University of Ibadan in 1984 with a Degree in Geography from the Faculty of Social Sciences and emerged as one of the best in his class. After his first Degree, he thereafter aligned with Napoleon Hill’s postulation that “whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” His dream of becoming a Chartered Accountant became stronger than the obvious setback such ambition would have caused him. His focus was Machiavellian in nature. The end justifies the means. So, no turning back.

Rotarian Gbenga Badejo was humble enough to take up Accounting from the scratch and eventually qualified as a Chartered Accountant having trained at BDO Binder Balogun Badejo & Co, Chartered Accountants where he cut his teeth in accounting and consulting and later Ayorinde Thomas & Co., Chartered Accountants. He became the pioneer Finance Manager of SO & U Saatchi in 1991 an International Integrated Marketing Communications Company having offices in 36 countries across continents, and he rose to become the Chief Accountant and Head of Admin in 1996 before leaving to set up an accounting and consulting firm.

In his over 36 years career in Accounting and Consulting, Rotarian Gbenga Badejo’s exemplary records and the ability to add value at every given opportunity lends credence to the fact that success is not an accident. It is sheer hard work. There are no shortcuts. You have to take the stairs and you have to start from the bottom.

As the Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer of both GBC Professional Services and Gbenga Badejo & Co (a firm of Chartered Accountants and Tax Practitioners, Rotarian Gbenga Badejo has successfully moved these organizations beyond introductory stages to the level of relevance and value; specializing in Assurance, Audit, Taxation, Forensic Audit Financial and Management Consultancy, Mergers & Acquisition, Business Incubation, Corporate Re-organization & Restructuring Corporate Governance & Insolvency with clients across industries.

Today, GBC has now, under his able leadership, gone global. GBC is now a Correspondent Firm of Reanda International; an international network of Independent Accounting and Consulting Firms with 41 Member Firms and over 250 partners with 4,500 staff in 147 locations across the globe including Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.

An accomplished professional, scholar, and motivational speaker, Rotarian Gbenga Badejo, a Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Taxation, Fellow of The Nigerian Institute of Management Member of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (NICArb), Alumnus of the Lagos Business School and an Alumni of Harvard Kennedy School has many corporate caps he is wearing. He was appointed Expert-In-Residence at the Lagos Business School, Enterprise Development Centre, in recognition of his acumen, to counsel and mentor part of a pool of upcoming SMEs. He is an Expert-in-Residence for the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce. He served on the Board of ICAN Faculty for Forensic Audit and Investigation, ICAN Practice Monitoring Group, and ICAN Professional Practice Monitoring Committee. He was subsequently awarded a Certificate of Proficiency by ICAN in Corporate Finance. He is Vice-Chairman, Finance & General-purpose Committee – Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce and Member of Micro and Small Medium Enterprise (MSME) Committee. He acted as an Independent Assessor/Reviewer of the result of Sebeccly Cancer Care & Support Limited’s Light up Lagos project campaign tagged “The 12KLLP” Guinness World Record Project to form the largest, human awareness, pink ribbon in the world). He is a registered active sponsored individual with the Securities and Exchange Commission. He is registered as a professional and consultant with the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria. Rotarian Gbenga Badejo, an advocate of think global and act local, invested in the acquisition of knowledge beyond the shores of Nigeria to ensure that great value is added in his professional calling. He, at varied times, attended Strathmore Business School, Nairobi and IESE, Barcelona, Spain, and The Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, USA. He was also part of the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce Delegation to Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference in the United Kingdom in 2018.

An astute Boardroom guru, Rotarian Gbenga Badejo had served and he is still serving on the following boards as a Non-Executive Director, Funmi Stores Limited, a major distributor to the FMCG companies in Nigeria who boast of over N10billion turnover annually, Non-Executive Director, BDS Consult, a Training and Management Development Consultancy outfit, Non-Executive Director, Pratix Consulting Limited a Project Management outfit with interest in Real Estate and Power, Pioneer Director, Omoluabi Garment Factory Limited – a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project between Sam & Sara Ventures Limited and the Osun State Government, Non-Executive Chairman, Crowne Farms Limited – a fledging Agri-Business, Director, Investment 2000 Limited – An Investment Portfolio Company, Director, Primus 1948 Limited – A World-Class Property- and Mall Development Company and Non-Executive Vice-Chairman, Emergent Power, and Energy Development Company. He is equally a Member of the Nigerian-South African Chamber of Commerce, Member of the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce, and Member of the Association of Reporting Accountants and Auditors in the Capital Market (SEC-regulated) A lover of God, and an ardent member of the Methodist faith, Sir Gbenga Badejo, a Knight of John Wesley, was the Past President-YMCA Methodist Church Opebi Cathedral of Peace and Excellence, Treasurer- Christian Brothers Society, Pioneer Treasurer- Diocese of Lagos West (The Best Diocese in the Conference Area during his tenure), Patron- Association of Methodist Brigades, Special Member- YWCA Methodist Church Opebi, Cathedral of Peace and – Choir of Excellence and Patron, Excellence Methodist Church Opebi, Cathedral of Peace and Excellence.

Apart from the highest honor of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Knight of John Wesley (KJW) conferred on him for his outstanding support towards the growth of evangelism in the Church and several others within the Church, Rotarian Gbenga Badejo also won the Sebeccly Cancer Care Award – In recognition of sterling support and contribution towards Cancer Control, A Guinness World Record Project for the World Largest Human Pink Ribbon formed by 7,598 Nigerians on 10th October 2015, Award by IMTC / NCC UK for pioneering efforts leading to the procurement of a Franchise Agreement for Nigeria, Comprehensive High School Old Students’ – Award for Excellence and the Methodist Church Nigeria -Diocese of Lagos West – Award for Excellence.

It was Tony Robbins that wrote: “People who succeed have momentum. The more they succeed, the more they want to succeed, and the more they find a way to succeed…” Little wonder Rotarian Gbenga Badejo served meritoriously in various capacities within Rotary before becoming the 54th President of Rotary Club Ikeja today. He was a past Treasurer and the Rotary Foundation Director, Rotary Club Ikeja.

Rotarian Gbenga Badejo who plays Golf, Squash, and Tennis at his leisure is a Member of Ikeja Gulf Club and Lagos Country Club. He is happily married with three children who are budding professionals in their respective fields.

“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” So wrote Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd American President. Let us stand up and give a rousing applause to a man who is determined to make the difference in all his life’s callings. A man of strong character and convictions whose modest acts give a leap to humanity: Ladies and gentlemen, presenting Rotarian Gbenga Badejo.

Guests at the event were richly entertained with sumptuous meals and choice drinks.

Among the guests were the Royal Fathers of the Day – HRM Alayeluwa Oba Isaac Adeyeba Ayeni Okin Oloro II, the Akinla of Erin Ijesha; HRM Alayeluwa Oba Abdul-Razaq Adenugba Ebumawe of Ago Iwoye; HRM Alayeluwa Oba Adedokun Abolarin, Aroyinkeye 1, the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi, Hon Justice Ogala, Alhaji Sulemon Elegbede represented Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Jaiye Oyedotun, Akin Adelakun, Olaseni Kosoko, Wahab Owokoniran, Ehi Buramoh, Akin Osuntokun, CEO Modesty Oil & Gas, the representative of Dr Taiwo Afolabi, Babatunde Okewale, Mrs Kike Okewale, Hon Sanya Osijo, Ambassador Esho, Mr Demola Osinubi, Mrs Modupe Akande, Mr Victor Ayeni, Mr Ademola Adepegba, Mr Biodun Olukoya, Oladele Ogunlana, Tayo Ojutalayo, Eniola Babalola, Oba Michael Babalola, Banjo Adewunmi-Ola, Mr Biyi Otegbeye, Mr Aiyegbo, Emmanuel Donatus, Mr/Mrs Ola Omolayo, Abidemi Falore, Ola Owolabi, Dr Sogunle, Hon Adeniyi Oyemade, Yemi Ogunseye, Adenike Ibirogba, Ademola Olonilua, Oyebade Olutola, Ola Omolayo, Abidemi Falore, Olaolu Owolabi, and Adewunmi Adesuwa.

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