Oba Otudeko opts for low key 70th birthday celebration

Renowned Nigerian investor and entrepreneur, Dr. Ayoola Oba Otudeko, who is set to clock 70 on August 18, 2013, has opted for a quiet, low key celebration.
In line with his personal philosophy of modesty, Dr. Otudeko has requested that no media advertisements or messages of any kind be published to congratulate him and would not welcome any public event organised to coincide with his birthday.
The Honeywell Group Chairman has requested that to further promote his ideals of philanthropy and giving back to the society, those who plan to send gifts or media messages should channel the funds to Footprints Occupational Training Centers, an initiative of the Oba Otudeko Foundation.
The patriarch has expressed that the upcoming birthday be celebrated with thanksgiving and touching lives in select concrete ways.
The OOF is a private, not-for-profit organisation inaugurated in 2003 as a vehicle for public-spirited programmes.
It is “committed to programmes aimed at ensuring that Nigeria keeps pace in the technologies and competencies that will define the twenty-first century and beyond, through people empowerment, capacity and institutions building.”
The vision to implement Footprints Occupational Training Centres model was informed by the need to respond to the challenges posed by youth unemployment and dearth of essential and much needed skilled manpower in our country.
The Oba Otudeko Foundation believes that Technical and Vocational Education needs to be revolutionized and refined in Nigeria by empowering a new generation of skilled artisans, craftsmen, technicians and technologists to power the Nigerian economy.
Dr. Oba Otudeko explained: “The Oba Otudeko Foundation has done extensive work and obtained the required licensing to actualize FOTCs’ model towards the implementation of the initiative at seven locations nationwide (one in each geopolitical zone and the Federal Capital City, Abuja).
“FOTCs’ trainees will have the opportunity, through the different modules, to attain recognised certifications such as the National Business and Technical Examination Board and City & Guilds of London Certification.
“The annual output of skilled artisans and technicians from the seven centres will range from 1,000 to 1,400.”
He urged that donations towards the initiative should be made in favour of Footprints Occupational Training Centers and forwarded to the Project Director, FOTCs Implementation, 6B, Mekunwen Road, Off Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi, Lagos State.
Dr. Oba Otudeko, holder of the prestigious national title of the Commander of the Federal Republic, is an astute and highly successful Nigerian investor and entrepreneur, whose domestic and foreign interests cut across diverse sectors of the economy.
Professionally, he is a Chartered Banker, Chartered Corporate Secretary and a Chartered Accountant.
He has attended management courses at several prestigious institutions including the Harvard Business School; the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland; the Arthur D. Little School of Management; and the London Business School.
Dr. Otudeko is currently the Chairman of Honeywell Group, Airtel Nigeria and Fan Milk of Nigeria Plc.
He retired as the Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria Plc after 12 meritorious years on the board of the bank.
He also served on the boards of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Guinness Nigeria Plc and Ecobank Transnational Incorporated between September 2006 and August 2009.
He was the 16th President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.