SMEs and Ventures

Chairman of Aluko & Oyebode, Gbenga Oyebode, joins Green Africa Airways Board of Directors

Nigeria based airline Green Africa Airways has announced that Mr. Gbenga Oyebode has joined its Founding Board of Directors.

Mr. Oyebode, who is widely regarded as a legal giant in the country, is the co-founder and Chairman of Aluko & Oyebode, one of the largest integrated law firms in Nigeria.

He was the Chairman of Access Bank, one of the five largest banks in Nigeria from 2000-2015 and he’s currently the Chairman of Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc (both on the Nigerian Stock Exchange NSE). He also serves on the Boards of MTN Nigeria, Nestle Nigeria Plc and the Africa Advisory Committee of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

Babawande Afolabi, Founder & CEO of Green Africa Airways said, “We are incredibly honoured and excited to welcome Mr. Oyebode to Green Africa Airways’ Founding Board of Directors.

Given his senior business leadership in Nigeria and seasoned entrepreneurial journey, Mr. Oyebode’s presence on the Board will provide invaluable guidance to the team as we continue to build Green Africa Airways.”

Mr. Oyebode was educated at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, and the University of Pennsylvania graduating in 1979 and 1982, respectively. He’s a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (admitted in 1980) and an attorney-at-law of the Supreme Court of New York State (admitted November 1983).

Mr. Oyebode was conferred with one of Nigeria’s highest honours, the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (MFR) in 2000. He was also conferred with the Belgian Royal Honour of “Knight of the Order of Leopold” in 2007. Mr. Oyebode was recently featured on the cover of Forbes Africa as the new face of business in Africa.

“I am delighted to join Green Africa Airways as a Founding Member of the Board. The Nigerian commercial aviation industry is ripe for the entrance of a game-changing player and it’s been inspiring watching the impressive progress that Green Africa Airways has made over the last few years. I look forward to working with Babawande and other members of the Board – Tom, William and Virasb – to finally get Green Africa Airways off the ground and position the new airline for long-term success,” said Mr. Oyebode.

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