Ms. Awosika has been engaged with IWEC since the inception of the organization.
Ibukun Awosika currently sits on the board of directors
For Immediate Release
November 4, 2019. New York, NY. – The International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge Foundation (IWEC) announced a strategic appointment to their Board of Directors: Ibukun Awosika, Chairwoman of the First Bank of Nigeria, is named as their new president.
Ms. Awosika was elected to replace Miguel Valls, former president of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce and president of the IWEC Foundation, who passed away last month. “The Foundation is very excited to announce the appointment of our new president,” stated Ruth A. Davis, IWEC Chairwoman and distinguished former U.S. Ambassador. “Ibukun Awosika has been a solid, steady presence at IWEC since its inception, and she is also a past IWEC awardee. Ibukun has not missed one IWEC Conference since 2008 and has lent her voice and experience not only to our conferences, but to our meetings after joining our Board in 2017. We are delighted that our Board of Directors voted on her appointment, and we’ll introduce her as our president at our upcoming 12th Annual IWEC Foundation Conference in New Delhi, on November 10th.”
The Foundation’s 2019 Conference will focus on “Connecting Women Businesses Globally: Leading the Way to Innovation and Integration” and is hosted locally by the FICCI Ladies Organization (FLO) of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), who represents over 5000 women entrepreneurs and professionals across India. This year, IWEC welcomes 39 awardees from 18 countries, with a combined revenue of over US$5.7 billion among all awardees to date.
IWEC Foundation Vice Chair, Carmen Castillo, CEO of SDI International, adds: “Ibukun has demonstrated a significant commitment to IWEC over the years. Her breadth of knowledge extends from being an entrepreneur running SOKOA Chair Centre Limited, to overseeing a board of directors for the renowned First National Bank of Nigeria. We are looking forward to her wise counsel and to continuing to drive IWEC globally as a source of support, connection and impact for women business owners the world over.”
About Ibukun Awosika
Ibukun Awosika heads Nigeria’s premier bank, and she is also the founder and CEO of the Chair Centre Group, an association of large companies in the manufacturing, retail, and financial security services. Ms. Awosika further holds seats in the corporate boards of Cadbury Nigeria, Digital Jewel Limited and the Convention on Business Integrity, and she is a former chair of several other enterprise boards.
Ibukun is a graduate of Chemistry from University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Nigeria, an alumna of the Chief Executive Program of Lagos Business School, the Global Executive MBA of IESE Business School, Wharton’s Global CEO Program, and the IESE and China European International Business School (CEIBS). Ibukun is a multiple award-winning entrepreneur and the first Nigerian recipient of the prestigious International Women Entrepreneurial Challenge (IWEC) Award as a nominee of the US Department of State in 2008. Ibukun is also a best-selling author and motivational speaker.
Ibukun was just honored last month with the International Friendship Award presented at the IESE Business School by the Queen of Spain.
Press Inquiries:
IWEC: Nancy Ploeger, Executive Director, IWEC. nancyp@iwefoundaiton.org. (917) 796-4201
Press Office: Conchie Fernández, CF Creative. marketing@cf-creative.com. (954) 225-9342
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Keywords: IWEC, International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge, Ibukun Awosika, Women’s Entrepreneurship, Women’s Business Development, Conferences, Board Appointments, FICCI/FLO, India
