Business
Address Homes Founder, Bisi Onasanya Bags Honorary Doctorate Degree
… Donates Cash Gift to FUOYE’s Best Accounting Student
The Chairman and Founder of The Address Homes, Dr Stephen Olabisi Onasanya has been conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) in Finance at the 7th Convocation ceremony of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) held at the Main Campus, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State on Saturday, February 11, 2023.
The conferment was approved by the University Senate and governing council in recognition of Onasanya’s professional excellence, illustrious persona as an excellent banker and brilliant Chartered Accountant, as well as his exemplary leadership in contemporary Nigeria especially the real estate industry with positive impacts on the lives of the vast majority of people.
Onasanya, a former Group Managing Director/CEO of First Bank Plc, was decorated during a well-attended ceremony, by the Vice Chancellor of FUOYE, Professor Abayomi Fasina, Chancellor, His Royal Majesty. Alhaji Matthew Opaluwa (Ata Igala) and members of the University Senate alongside two other prominent Nigerians; football legend, Segun Odegbami, aka ‘mathematical Odegbami’, and legal luminary, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN.
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A quintessential Nigerian banker, chartered, suave gentleman, and intellectually fertile colossus who phenomenally transited from the pinnacle of the banking industry to redefine excellence in the burgeoning real estate sector, Onasanya is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, and an Associate Member of the Nigerian Institute of Taxation. He also served as a member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers’ Sub-Committee on Fiscal & Monetary Policies, and of the Presidential Committee on Reduction of Interest Rates.
In his acceptance speech, Onasanya expressed gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor, the Governing Council, the Senate, staff and students of the University for finding him deserving of such an exalted honour as he promised not to relent on his efforts.
An elated Onasanya, who was accompanied to the event by his wife, Mrs Helen Onasanya and some of his close friends and associates, announced the donation of one million naira to the FUOYE’s best-graduating student in Accounting, a 24-year-old lady, Oyedele Abibat Adejoke, who bagged first class in Accounting.
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“I thank God that after seven years of my retirement as the Group Managing Director of First Bank, I am still active and relevant to my society”, he declared. “We should be able to give back to Society and perform our duty wherever we find ourselves so as to encourage the young ones”.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Prof. Abayomi Fasina said that the institution within the shortest time of creation has carved a niche for itself on the international grid of academic excellence and connecting the town and the gown for economic prosperity.
While congratulating the graduates on their academic feats, Fasina admonished them to positively project the image of the institution.
Responding on behalf of the honorary award recipients, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN spoke glowingly of Dr Onasanya about his selfless impact in the society and that he has a lot to still offer Nigeria.