Board of Directors
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Board of Directors
BABATUNDE DABIRI
Chairman
The Chairman, a retired banker, holds a B.Sc. Hons (Economics) from the University of Ibadan (1974) and MBA from Columbia University, New York USA (1978). He had his NYSC at the Ministry of Finance, North Eastern State, Maiduguri in 1974/75. He then worked as an Economist at the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (now BOI) afterwards.
His banking career started at the Chase Merchant Bank limited (later known as Continental Merchant Bank) in February 1978, where he spent over 10 years working in various departments before heading the Credit and Marketing Division. During his time there (1983-1986) he rose to the rank of AGM North based in Kano and he was responsible for business in all the states in the northern part of Nigeria.
In December 1978 he moved to Prime Merchant Bank Limited as the founding Deputy Managing Director/Chief Executive. In 1990 he helped to establish Fountain Trust Bank Limited where he was the Managing Director/CEO for 8 years. He later joined Magnum Trust Bank Pic in December, 1998 as the Managing Director/CEO. Magnum Trust was a well-regarded commercial bank focused on providing exceptional services to the key Markets in the city of Lagos. Mr. Dabiri led the Bank to form Sterling Bank Plc. (a merger of 5 banks) in 2005. He was the founding Group Managing Director/CEO.
Since 2008, Mr. Dabiri has served on many Boards; Chairman, Lagos State Pension Commission; Vice Chairman, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc; President Lagos Business School Association; Director, University of Lagos Holding Company; Member, University of lbadan Advancement Board. He also serves as an independent Director on the Board of First Marina Trust Finance Company Ltd and in a Trustee of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Educational Trust Council. He was recently appointed the chairman of the Nigerian India Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
OLUGBENGA LADIPO, FCA
Managing Director
The Managing Director of Academy Press Pic, Lagos Nigeria, a leading Printing Company listed on the Nigeria Stock market. He has held the position for 20 years during which the Company sustained its enviable position as an industry leader. He is a qualified Accountant and a Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria. He is also a member of the Institute of Management.
An erstwhile financial magnate who worked for one of the top accounting firms in Nigeria, Akintola Williams Deloitie & Co. (Chartered Accountants).
MRS.OLUWAKEMI OGUNNUBI, FCA, MBA
The Managing Director
The Managing Director joined Academy Press Pic in November 2023 with extensive experience in Finance, Audit, Risk Management, Sales and Marketing and General Management Practice.
Prior to her joining AP pic, she had worked in various capacities in UAC of Nigeria (UACN) Pic as Lead Internal Auditor (Lagos/West) UACN Audit, Business Efficiency Manager-CAP Plc, Supply Chain Manager – CAP Pic and National Customer Service Manager – CAP Pic. She was transferred to UAC Foods in July, 2009 where she worked as National Sales Manager and following the strategic partnership between Tiger Brands South Africa and UACN Pic in 2011, she became the General Manager Sales, UAC Foods Limited.
Kemi became the Pioneer Head of Risk and Compliance unit of UACN Plc in June 2013, and later appointed Head, Financial Services of UACN Plc in March, 2016; and in January 2018, she became the Managing Director of CAP Plc. She retired from there in February 2019 to pursuit of self-development. She has attended various local and international courses. She is an alumnus of Ashridge Business School, London Business School, UK; a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and an International Certificate holder of the Institute of Risk Management, UK. Kemi has a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom.
PAUL 0. ADERIBIGBE
Executive Director, Sales & Operations
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from the University of Jos and joined Academy Press Pic. as a Graduate Trainee in 1996. He is an Associate member of National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), and a graduate of Lagos Business School in the Advanced Management Programme.
His proficiency in computing have seen him performed in the Accounts department from where he was saddled with the responsibility of setting up the company’s information Technology unit which he headed for some years before he was appointed the Deputy Coordinator, Production.
He was confirmed Coordinator (Sales & Marketing) in 2016 and in recognition of his hard work and resilience in service, his designation was changed to General Manager (Sales & Marketing) in 2017. He was appointed Acting Sales Director (Sales & Marketing) in April 2020. As an astute Team Player with flair for business development, he became Executive Director (Sales & Marketing) in January 2021.
FOLASHADE B.OMO-EBOH
Non-Executive Director
She is a Non-Executive Director and graduate of Psychology and Publishing from Yorkshire, Huddersfield Polytechnic and Oxford Polytechnic, Oxford, respectively.
She joined the West African Book Publishers Limited in 1990 as Assistant Production Manager. She became Production Manager in 1991 and Senior Production Manager in 1995. She was promoted Executive Director, Production & Publishing in March 1996 and became the company’s Managing Director in 2001. She was appointed to the Board of Academy Press Pic in November 2009. Mrs. Omo-Eboh is a graduate of Lagos Business School.
OYEWOLE OLAOYE
Non-Executive Director
Is a Non-Executive Director of the company. He is a graduate of the University of lfe where he bagged B.A. (Literature in English) and the University of Lagos where he obtained M.Sc. in Mass Communication. His working career spans from the Western Nigerian Broadcasting Service (WNBS) to Indigo Magazine and then to Drum Publications where he rose to become an Editor. He was also a columnist with both Drum and Trust Magazines between 1975 and 1984.
He joined West African Book Publishers Ltd. (WABP) in 1984 on the editorial team of Monthly Life magazine and later became the Editor-in-Chief and a director of the company. He has served as a member of the Governing Council of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, between 2006 and 2010, and a Director of OAU Investment Company Ltd. He is a former Chairman of the Joint Council/Senate Committee on Senior Staff Discipline of Obafemi Awolowo University and a former worldwide president of the institution’s Alumni.
He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Archbishop Aggey Foundation and also the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for the Care and Rehabilitation of the Mentally Ill, (CAREMI) He was appointed to the Board of Academy Press on April 29, 2013. Chief Olaoye is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) and a Fellow of the African Public Relations Association (APRA). He is the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Diametrics Limited, Abuja.
FEMI AKINGBE
Non-Executive Director
A Chartered Accountant, who started his professional career in 1976 with various Audit Firms including Price Waterhouse & Co. (1978-80). He joined Chase Merchant Bank Nigeria Limited in 1980 as a Credit Analyst, rose to become Lagos Branch Manager of the bank. In 1983, Mr. Akingbe completed the 12 Month Credit Development Program of Chase Manhattan Bank, N. A., New York, and was graded “Outstanding”.
Mr. Akingbe has been the Chief Executive Officer of Ventures & Trusts Ltd since 1989 and has exceptional competence in relationship/portfolio management, financial consultancy and venture capital services, product marketing and international trade finance. Asides being a Director at Academy Press Plc, Mr. Akingbe is also the Chairman, Board of Directors at Agusto & Co and the Senior Partner at VANDT Advisory Partners LP. Mr. Akingbe was appointed a Director at Academy Press Plc. in 2016.
DAVID RONALD PRITCHARD
Non-Executive Director
A graduate of cambridge University, he is a Seasoned Solicitor, Legal Advisor and Mediator with expertise in managing complex projects and commercial matters. He is versatile in mercantile jurisprudence and a Consultant in Litigation and dispute resolution. He is also a former Army Officer in UK, a business magnate and lawyer par excellence.
He trained in the City of London and was Head of Litigation at Penningtons Manches LLP. He also served as a Consultant and Director in Setfords Solicitors LLP and Moot Hill Limited respectively in UK. He has a long association with Academy Press as a Director of the Hambleside Group of Companies in UK, a long standing technical partner of Academy, since 2015. David brings his legal and analytical skills to the Board of Academy Press. He was nominated to the Board in April 2020.
DR.FATIMA LARAI HASSAN BETARA FCIOD, FICAD
Non-Executive Director
Dr. Fatima L. Hassan Betara, is an astute Administrator, Entrepreneur, Gender Activist and President/CEO of Kuva Consulting. She holds a B.Sc in General and Applied Psychology from the University of Jos, and a Masters in Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Dr. Fatima worked at the Nigerian Export Promotion Council and the Federal Housing Authority in various capacities spanning Administration, Trade Information and Incentives, Procurement, Marketing, Corporate Planning and Info Technology, amongst others.
She was MD/CEO of FHA Homes (Savings and Loans) Ltd, now FHA Mortgage Bank. Her last appointment in Public Service was as DG/CEO of the National Centre for Women Development from 2009 to 2013. She attended several Meetings and Courses in Nigeria, Africa, and Overseas. Some of these include Trade Facilitation and Gender related meetings at the United Nations in Geneva and New York respectively. Courses at the Lagos Business School, the Simpler Trade Procedures (SITPRO) London, Shannon Export Free Zone in Ireland, FITC Nigeria, Housing Finance in the UK and USA, Corporate Governance Programme by the World Bank, etc.
She served on several Presidential, National and Ministerial Committees over the years. Prominent among these are as National Secretary Nigerian Committee on Trade Procedures (NITPRO), Member Presidential Committee on Affordable Housing, and Member of Nigeria’s Vision 20 2020 in both the Business Support Group and the Special Interest Group on Women. Until very recently, she was Member, pioneer Governing Council of the Nigerian Army University Biu. Dr. Fatima was awarded an honorary Doctorate Degree by the Commonwealth University Belize in 2013. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Directors Nigeria, Fellow of the National Institute of Credit Administration Nigeria, and, Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administration Nigeria.
