ASIWAJU CHIEF (DR.) THEOPHILUS ADEBOWALE OMOTOSHO

This piece is about the personality profile of a highly resourceful unassuming leader, a philanthropist, an international business strategist, a man of transparent honesty, a dynamic tactician, a diligent servant, an indefatigable achiever, a lover of truth, an Omni-present being, because he could be found in many places in one day, a making strategist and strategic planner, a model of sort, elegant, confident and God fearing.

This icon of accomplishment, who is an unusual inspiration of service, humanity and leadership by virtue of his tenacity for details and resilience to withstand challenges, is a strong personality with uncommon zeal and doggedness, the quality which can only be found among few men of his caliber. This is referring to the amiable and ever dynamic Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Bond Chemical Industries Limited.

Chief Theophilus Adebowale Omotosho is a man that sees Nigeria as an industrious entrepreneurial nation, vibrant in labour and attractive for investment, most importantly believes in the spirit of the nation development.

Chief Theophilus Adebowale Omotosho was born on the 29^th July, 1936 in Kano, his educational accomplishment extended from primary to the post graduate level, which earn him a First School Leaving Certificate from Prestigious C.M.S School in Kano, Cambridge School Certificate (O/level) at First Baptist Day School, Jos and Government College Keffi, and Cambridge advances Level paper from Technical College of Bradford in UK.

In 1963, had his first Degree in Pharmacy from the prestigious University of Bradford, United Kingdom, also Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration at University of De La Romande.

Asiwaju Adebowale Omotosho worked briefly after leaving college at the Barclays Bank D.C.O in Lagos and later transferred to Kano. The bank job was a stop gap because he was prepared to stay long on it, he also worked briefly with UAC at Kano before he proceeded to Bradford in United Kingdom for his Post Basic Education in England, he got his job after his education as a staff Pharmacist at St James Hospital, leads and not long, he left the hospital for Hudderfield Cooperative Chemists as a Relief Manager/Locum. The job took him to many parts of Britain and such engagement prepared him for similar task when he finally arrived Nigeria.

The young pharmacist Adebowale secured employment through the United African Company, United Kingdom Office as an Assistance Relief Manager and was sent to UAC Nigeria in 1968. Chief Adebowale Omotosho left UAC to join Burugh Welcome as Executive Sales and left in 1974, also he worked with Sandoz Pharmaceuticals as National Sales Manager and left in 1977. His quest for indigenous health development and his passion for production of quality drugs locally led him to his first outfit Bond Chemical Limited in 1977 at Palm Grove, Lagos and ever since then, it has grown beyond imagination with the help of God Almighty into a group with subsidiaries which includes;

• Bond Chemist Limited.
• Bond Chemical Industries Limited.
• Multibond Ventures Limited.
• Bethy Hotels and Resort Center.
• Rastdale Carton & Paper Converters Limited ……………….. to mention a few.

Mr Adebowale Omotosho is also a Director in many companies such as Reckitt and Benckiser Nigeria Limited, Go Prompt Packaging Industries Limited, Maayoit Health Care Limited and so on.

Social/ Community Roles and Recognitions:

In recognition of his steering qualities and immense contributions to the development of various communities he was awarded traditional Chieftaincy and religious titles among which are:

1. Asiwaju of Afijio Kingdom, Oyo State.
2. High Chief (Otun of Awe).
3. Seriki B’asegun of Ibadan Land.
4. Otunba B’amogun of Ibefun Land, Ogun State.
5. Atobase of Ogbomosho Land.
6. Grand Commander Knight of the Gospel Baptist (GCKGBC) of Nigeria and Overseas.
7. Commandment of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Oyo Divisional Command.
8. Host Community Representative, School Based Management Committee, Federal Government Girl’s College, Oyo.

Contributions and Activities within Professional Bodies/Awards

• Former President, Oyo State Council, Chambers of Commerce, Industries Mines and Agriculture
• Former President Odua States Chambers of Commerce, Industries Mines and Agriculture.
• National Life Vice President, National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA).
• Nominee Oyo State Government Representative on committee of vision 2020 in Abuja.
• Chief (Sir) Dr. T.A Omotosho is a dedicated and active Financial Member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN).
• He has attended all (but four) PSN National Conference since 1972.
• He has attended up to five Federation of International Pharmacist (FIP) Congress since his return to Nigeria.
• He is a Merit Award Winner (MAW) of PSN, Lagos State Branch.
• He was Awarded “Star Price Donor” of PSN, Lagos Branch for Donation a Kombi Bus in 1992.
• The Association of Lady Pharmacist (ALPS), Lagos State Branch, awarded him “Star Donor” in 1992, also for his donations.
• The Nigeria Association of General Practice Pharmacist (NAGPP), Lagos State Branch awarded him a certificate of Merit for his noble contributions to the profession of Pharmacy and consistent support to the TV Programme “Drugs and Society” in 1995.
• He has in his employment at least ten Pharmacist.
• He has consultancy arrangement with the Facilities of Pharmacy of the University of Ibadan and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife respectively.
• He is the Chairman, Pharmacy Building Fund Raising Committee of the Faculty of Pharmacy University of Ibadan.
• He is the Honorary Grand Patron of Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Student (PANS) of University of Ibadan.
• He is Patron, Association of Lady Pharmacist, Oyo State Branch.

Membership of Social Clubs:

• Member of Lagos Island Club (Awarded KCOP).
• Member of Yoruba Tennis Club, Lagos.
• Member of Ogbomosho Recreation Club.
• Member of Lagos Country Club.
• Member of Golf Club Ibadan.
• Member of Oyo Premier Club.
• Member of Awe Recreation Club.
• Member of Regal Club, Awe.
• Member of Club Arcade of Nigeria.
• Patron of Oyo Tennis Club.
• Member of Rotary Club International District 911 Ikeja.
• Member of Twelve Relief Society.

Contributions to the Economic and Social Development of his Community and the Nation: Chief (Sir) Dr. Adebowale Omotosho is a Pharmacist, Industrialist, Philanthropist and a seasoned Administrator and his contributions to various economic and social developments among other include;

1. In 1977, he started his own business- Bond Chemist Limited, a retail/Community Pharmacy, that later became an agent to many overseas companies.
2. In response to the Clarion call of the Federal Government of Nigeria to disperse industries and development to the rural areas, Chief Omotosho in 1986, started and sited his Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Factory- Bond Chemical Industries Limited- in his home town, Awe in Oyo State. Subsequently, two other Industries facilities- Multibond Ventures Limited (Food- Processing and Related Industry) and Bond Integrated farms (crops farming and animal husbandry) are also sited by him at Awe.
3. Bond range of Pharmaceutical products being locally manufactured contribute to effective healthcare needs of the nations as the product are readily available and affordable. This serves the nation foreign exchange which could had been expended on the importation of these range of products.
4. Bond Integrated Farms has planted and is nurturing 100 hectares of land of various herds’ plants. This project is for research purpose aimed at preparation and production of herbal formulations. This is also in furtherance of his commitment to backward integration and self-sufficiency in his effort towards local sourcing and development of raw materials.
5. The Factories and facilities in Awe are providing job opportunities and economic well-being for the rural dwellers, both males and females. The UNIDO teams that visited Bond Chemical Industries Limited factory in 1999 were pleased to see many rural people gainfully employed.
6. There has been attraction to non-indigenes of Awe who are service providers to the factories who had settled in the town contributing to the development of the community.
7. Chief Omotosho (at his home and factories) provides treated water for the community folks from his bore-holes, among other social amenities being extended to the community.
8. Chief Omotosho’s set-ups provide gainful employments (not only in the factories at Awe) at the marketing, distribution and related service points throughout the country for professionals and personnel of various fields.
9. He also receives technical assistance from expatriates who come in for specific needs to work in Nigeria and contribute towards the training of the Nigeria staff, Nigeria Managers and technical staff as well sent overseas for technical training and international experience and exposure.
10. Instituting a Tertiary Educational Scholarship fund in 2015 for the less privileged but brilliant indigenes of Awe resident in Awe or Afijio Local Government.