The Jericho Businessmen Club (JBC) is only for men and Ibadan indigenes.
Its primary aim is to bring development to Ibadan and it always works towards achieving this. The members are big men in their lines of business. Some head companies; others have business abroad.
The club members gathered on April 9, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, to honour five of their colleagues elevated.
They were led by their President, Alhaji Remi Bello, a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA).
The occasion was chaired by the former Minister of Commerce and Industries, Mrs Nike Akande.
Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi was the special guest of honour; the President, Centre Council for Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Bayo Oyero, was the father of the day.
The citations of the awardees were read by some members of the club.
After that, the honorees were presented with plaques.
They are the Director, Business Development, UACN Property Development, Mr Yemi Ejidiran; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, First Registrars Limited, Mr Bayo Olugbemi; Executive Director and Group Chief Financial Officer, Finance, FirstBank Plc, Mr Bayo Adelabu; Director, Nigeria Export Processing Zone Authority, Mr Oyesola Oyekunle, and Director, Finance, Regional Municipality of Wood Buaffalo, Albert Canada, Mr Kola Oladimeji.
Only Oladimeji was absent.
They couldn’t hide their joy as they received the plaques.
Mrs Akande urged JBC not to relent in its efforts to promote professionalism in Ibadan and the country at large.
Oyero congratulated the club for its achievements and praised the members for their contribution to Ibadan and its citizens.
“I congratulate you for honouring eminent Ibadan citizens. I am delighted to be here to celebrate excellence in Ibadanland. All of you are eminent Ibadan sons with whom we are not just pleased but very proud of; I can say it that of about 19 clubs that form CCII, JBC has contributed more to the town; it has been sponsoring the annual Ibadan Conference and has donated a set of computers to the CCII house and they have also given us a generator to power it”.
JBC President Alhaji Remi congratulated the honourees.
“To reach a top executive position in private and public establishments is not an easy task, you will all agree with me. So also you will agree with me the more that reaching the top is not as difficult as remaining and even sustaining the momentum that took you to the top,” he said.
He noted that the gathering was meant to tap from the experience of the elders.
“Therefore, in addition to the physical effort of individuals, you need spiritual effort and words of elders. Our gathering tonight is, therefore, not only for wining and dining but to feed ourselves with words of wisdom to sustain our honourees to ensure they remained on top and give those on the way to greatness hints on how to get to the top,” he said.
Oyero called on the government to ensure sound and qualitative education for the citizens, pledging the club’s willingness to assist it in actualising sound education in the country.
“JBC is a willing tool in achieving the above call and more in the development of our people and our environment, we have men in all spheres of life to support the government efforts if called upon,” he said.
Governor Ajimobi said: “My understanding of the club is that it is one that has the noble objective to network people of progressive minds and this club has succeeded in bringing honour, fame and improving the socio-economic development and progress of the state,” he said.
Ajimobi said the honorees were a pride to the state and the nation at large.
“You are a pride to this club, Oyo State and Nigeria. I believe you deserve this recommendation and I can extend it; you are a pride to the entire human race,” he said.
The governor urged the club members to extend their development beyond their scope and participate in active politics.
“Do not limit yourself to internal development, extend yourself to socio-political development, begin to promote some of your members to participate in politics, we need good people in politics,” he said.
Given the vote of thanks on behalf of the honourees, Ejidiran assured the club that they would not let it down.
“We assure you that this is just the beginning; we will continue to make you proud and never let the club down,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer, Taimez Nig. Ltd and Artis Ltd, Mr Taiwo Akande, described the honorees as icons of good ambassadors to future generations and Ibadan.
“I know what kind of effort goes into earning these feats. You guys are icons of your individual field and that of our generation and good sons of Ibadan. You have just made us to realise that, whatever man can conceive, he can achieve,” he said.
Guests were treated to choice food and drinks.
