Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the president of Nigeria, honoured Mr. Fola Adeola, a prominent business man and long time friend, on his 70th birthday on Wednesday.
He characterized Guaranty Trust Bank’s founder as “a great asset to the nation,” extolling his patriotism in “promoting initiatives for the economic advancement of Nigeria.”
President Tinubu’s congratulations are found in a statement headlined “President Tinubu celebrates top business leader, Fola Adeola, at 70,” which was signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
Adeola completed his HND in accounting at Yaba College of Technology. In addition, he holds degrees from the Lagos Business School, Harvard Business School, London School of Accountancy, and International Institute for Management Development.
Adeola served as the Divisional Head and Deputy General Manager of the Financial Services Division of the Continental Merchant Bank Limited from 1986 to 1990, when he and Tayo Aderinokun founded GTB Plc.
He was the Chairman of the National Pension Commission in the public sector. In the wake of the Lagos armory explosion on January 27, 2002, he also served as chair of the Lagos State Disaster Relief Committee.
In the 2011 presidential elections, he ran as the vice presidential candidate for the Action Congress of Nigeria, assisting Nuhu Ribadu, the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. In addition, Mr. Adeola is a member of the Commission for Africa and the founder and chairman of the FATE Foundation.
Ngelale said, “President Tinubu felicitates Mr. Adeola for reaching the milestone age and for his numerous contributions to the Nigerian business ecosystem by creating jobs, opening up investment opportunities across sectors, as well as promoting initiatives for the economic advancement of Nigeria.
“The President extols the brilliance, integrity, courage, and patriotism of the founder of one of Nigeria’s leading banks, describing him as a great asset to the nation.”
The President wished the top business leader many more years in good health and strength.
