The Board of Nestlé Nigeria PLC has appointed Mr Gbenga Oyebode, as the new chairman of the Board of Directors with effect from 18 May, 2023.
The appointment announced to shareholders at the Annual General Meeting of Nestlé Nigeria Plc, held at the MUSON Centre on May 17, 2023, followed the retirement of Mr David Ifezulike, as a director and the chairman of the Board of the company with effect from 18 May, 2023.
Oyebode¸ who is Member, Federal Republic (MFR), qualified as a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1980. He holds a Master of Laws degree and is the co-founder of the law firm of Aluko & Oyebode. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) and the Nigerian Leadership Initiative. He is the Chairman of Okomu Oil Palm PLC, Teach for All, and the African Philanthropy Forum. He is also a Director of both CFAO Nigeria and Lafarge Africa PLC, as well as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Ford Foundation.
He was first appointed to the Board of Nestlé Nigeria PLC on 24 February, 2014, and has served on the Statutory Audit Committee, Nomination, Governance and Remuneration Committee as well as the Board Audit and Risk Management Committee of the Company.
Mr Ifezulike who holds a Masters in Management Science and a Diploma of Imperial College, London, was appointed to the Board of Nestlé Nigeria PLC on 22 December, 2000. He became the Chairman of the Board on 10 May, 2013 and served the company meritoriously during his tenure.
He joined Nestlé Nigeria PLC on 1 January, 1980 and worked for over 26 years in various capacities and locations including Nigeria, Malaysia, Zimbabwe, Switzerland, and Ghana. He was on an international exchange programme as factory manager of Nestlé Ghana between May 1999 and April 2003.
He retired from Nestlé Nigeria PLC as the Executive Director, Industrial Development in October 2006.
In a statement signed by the Corporate Communications & Public Affairs Manager, Victoria Uwadoka, made available to Pharmanewsonline, she appreciated Ifezulike, on behalf of the Board of Nestlé Nigeria PLC, for his contributions to the growth of the company and wished him success in his future endeavours.
She said the Board of Nestlé Nigeria PLC also expressed confidence in the ability of the new Chairman of the Board of Directors, Oyebode, to further contribute to the development of the Company and wished him personal satisfaction in his new role.