MAY & BAKER NIGERIA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director
- Non Executive Director
Dr. Abebe was appointed as a Director on the 14th of March 2013. She obtained an MBBS from the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (1969 - 1974). She has an M.Sc. in Community Health from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (1978 - 1979). She is a retired Permanent Secretary of the Federal Government of Nigeria and a Fellow in the London Society of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She is also a member of the Nigeria Medical Association and has several International Awards/Honours.
Dr. Rahila Ilegbodu was appointed director at May & Baker Nigeria Plc, in June 2022. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Taylor University, Upland Indiana, USA, and an MBBS from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Westminster College, Pennsylvania, USA and also of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alabama, Birmingham, USA. An expert in power plant systems engineering.
Mr Michael Chineme Odumodu was appointed to the Board of Directors on the 27 th of July 2023. He holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Kent and a master's degree in Economics and Strategy, from Imperial College London.
Michael is an experienced Investment professional and has held several positions in PwC, S&P Global Ratings and Moody's Investors Service. He is currently an Investment Analyst at Direct Line Group UK where he manages investments in private corporate bonds, Infrastructure and commercial real estate loans.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Finance
- Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria
Mr. Ayodeji Aboderin is a 1993 Accountancy Graduate of The Polytechnic, Ibadan. He is an Associate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and holds a Commonwealth Executive MBA degree from the National Open University of Nigeria.
He has over two decades of cognate experience in the FMCG industry. Mr. Aboderin is an associate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. He holds the Mandatory 35 Contact Hours PMP Certificate in Project Management.
He has worked across diverse blue-chip multinational companies which include Nigerian Bottling Co. Ltd/CCHBC; Dangote Foods Industries; and PZ Cussons Nig. Plc and rising to Senior Management level before joining May & Baker Plc as Financial Controller/CFO. Mr. Aboderin is presently the Director of Finance.
Job Titles:
- Head
- Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria
Mr. G. O. Obiakor started his career in accountancy with Ojike Okechukwu & Co (a Lagos-based firm of Chartered Accountants) as an Audit Senior in 1995 and later became Audit Manager in 1997. He led audit teams for the examination of financial statements of companies in Manufacturing, Engineering, Banking & Finance, Trade & Commerce, and Aviation, etc. for more than six years.
He joined the services of May & Baker Nigeria Plc as Head, Internal Control & Compliance in 2001 having earlier worked as Factory Accountant with Ugochukwu Chemical Industries Ltd, Onitsha. He has held various positions in May & Baker including Financial Accountant, Management Accountant, and Head, Foods Division.
Mr. Obiakor is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Fellow, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), and Associate Member of the Certified Informations Systems Auditors(CISA) with over 16 years working experience in Audit practice & industry.
He has attended many management training courses including the Senior Management Programme (SMP) of the Lagos Business School, Auditing through the computer using CAATS tools, and the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for publicly quoted companies conducted by Akintola Williams Deloitte, Nigeria. He has also completed his training in computer skills with Aptech Worldwide where he obtained a certificate of proficiency in Information Systems Management.
Mr. Obiakor is currently the Head, Internal Control & Compliance pioneering the use of CAATS Tools in the examination and audit of Financial Statements.
Job Titles:
- Accountant
- Non - Executive Director
Mr. Kolawole Durojaiye is a seasoned Accountant and an Economist with practical involvement in the Apex Bank Key Business Operations until his retirement in April 2017. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) with over 31 years of work experience in various capacities in research, training, auditing, accounting and banking supervision.
He was part of the Team that codified the Nigeria Microfinance Policy Framework following International study tour of countries with successful Microfinance history and was fully involved in the implementation as the Secretary, Joint CBN-NDIC Consultative Committee on Microfinance Banking. He led the Specialist Team that formulated the Reforms of Primary Mortgage Banks in Nigeria as the Head, Supervision of Primary Mortgage Banks in Nigeria.
Job Titles:
- Head, Pharma Sales & Marketing
Obinna Sydney Emeribe currently serves as the Head, Pharma Sales & Marketing at May & Baker Nigeria PLC. He is a result and innovation driven change agent with over 26 years experience with increasing responsibility and scope both locally, and internationally. His blend of corporate and entrepreneurial involvements along with his solid academic formation provide him with a distinctive business perspective and strategic thinking.
He started his career as a Medical Representative at Roche Nigeria Limited in 1997. His employment was later transferred to Swiss Pharma Nigeria Limited where he served in various capacities including Area Manager, National Sales Manager, Business Development Manager, Marketing Manager until 2017 when he was elevated to Head of Prescription Business following a takeover by the French Servier group. He joined May & Baker Nigeria PLC in 2019 as the Head of Marketing with an oversight function on sales operations.
Mr. Patrick Ajah was appointed Managing Director /CEO with effect from 1 ST January, 2021. He is a passionate and visionary leader with over two decades of progressive experience and responsibility in a variety of business environments; from Pharmaceuticals to FMCG, Telecoms and manufacturing. Demonstrable experience in business development, distributor engagement and contracting, P&L oversight, organizational transformation and managing through crisis across countries and cultures in sub-Saharan Africa and in more than eight reputable international/multinational organizations among which are Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Novartis, GSK , Globacom, Guinness and Twinnings Ovaltine.
He has a Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm.) degree from the University of Ibadan, Oyo State and an MBA in Marketing from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State.
Job Titles:
- Head, Pharma Plant Operations
- Head, Pharma Plants Operations
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Executive Director, Sales & Marketing
Valentine Okelu was appointed Executive Director in September 2016. Prior to this appointment, he has been a General Manager in the company since 2009. In that capacity, he led Pharma Sales & Marketing Division, and Foods Division respectively. He was, until recently, the Executive Director for Corporate Planning & Strategy.
Valentine has served the company for over 25 years; and held other senior positions including Head, Demand Creation; Product Manager-Cardiovascular and Market Development Manager. He started his career as a Medical Representative for Rhone Poulenc Rorer products; and later, Aventis Pharma.
He graduated with distinction from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1994; from where he obtained a Bachelor of Pharmacy and Master of Pharmacy (Pharmacology & Toxicology) degrees.
An alumnus of Lagos Business School, Mr. Okelu has attended several other advanced management courses including ‘Strategic Agility' at London Business School. He also studied International Marketing and Strategy at The Royal Holloway, University of London.
Valentine is married with children and loves photography, tennis and music.
He is a member of several professional bodies including International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and Strategic and Competitive Intelligence Professionals (SCIP), USA.
Odumodu brings to the board of May & Baker Nigeria Plc a wealth of experience in banking and finance and Customer Relations gained in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. A former manager with ABYZ Logistics, London, 2004-2005, Mrs. Odumodu served at various levels with Afribank Nigeria Plc (now Mainstreet Bank) between 1993 and 2004.
A graduate of Banking from the Institute of Management and Technology, (IMT) Enugu, 1985, Mrs. Odumodu also holds a Masters in Finance and Banking from the Delta State University since 1998.
She has attended various courses in management and skill development in Nigeria and London.
Job Titles:
- Head, Human Capital Development
She joined May & Baker Nig. Plc in 2023 after more than nineteen (19) years working experience in Quality Assurance, Operations and Human Resources Management in various sectors of the economy. Prior to joining May & Baker, Mrs. Essien was Head of Human Resources at Smackers Limited (Owners of The Place Restaurant, Bar and Hotels). She also worked for fifteen (15) years in various capacity in UAC of Nigeria Plc.
She holds a B.Sc Degree in Biochemistry, Masters Degree in Human Resources & Industrial Relations (MHRIR), is an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (ACIPM) and holds a professional certification SPHRi from the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI).
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Trustee of the H
Senator Daisy Ehanire Danjuma was born on the 6 th of August, 1952 in Benin City, Edo State. She was first appointed to the Board of Directors of our Company on 30 th July, 1999 until 8 th October, 2003 and later on 30 th May, 2019. She is a law graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria with over 4 decades post-call experience having been called to the Nigerian bar in 1977. She worked as a State Counsel in Lagos State Ministry of Justice (DPP), a pioneer legal counsel to the Legal Aid Council. She was Company Secretary/Legal Adviser to the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) from 1982 to 1992.
She was elected Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (2003-2007). While in the Senate, she was a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and Chairman, Women and Child Right Committee of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Parliament). She was also the Chairman, Senate Committee on Women Affairs and Youth Development. She served as Member, Senate Committees on Health, Education, Finance and Land Transport of the National Assembly.
She was the Chairman of South Atlantic Petroleum Limited from 1999 - 2003. She is an alumnus of the Lagos Business School. A member of the International Bar Association (IBA), The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA).
Senator Danjuma is a Trustee of the H I D Awolowo Foundation. She is the Chairman, Board of Trustees of Lagos Public Interest Law Partnership and currently the Executive Vice Chairman of South Atlantic Petroleum Limited. She is married with five children.