Fola Adeola: from banking pioneer to entrepreneurial visionary

6 hours ago 6
 from banking pioneer to entrepreneurial visionary

Fola Adeola is simply a renowned Nigerian entrepreneur, banker, and philanthropist. He co-founded Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), 1 of Nigeria's astir palmy fiscal institutions. Over the years, helium has go a respected fig successful business, politics, and humanitarian work.

A representation    of Fola Adeola (L). The Nigerian banker gives a code   during a league  (R)A representation of Fola Adeola (L). The Nigerian banker gives a code during a league (R). Photo: @the_elitesng, @fatefoundation connected Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

  • Fola Adeola co-founded GTBank successful 1990, mounting standards successful Nigeria’s banking industry.
  • He was the vice statesmanlike campaigner nether the Action Congress of Nigeria successful the 2011 elections alongside Nuhu Ribadu.
  • The Nigerian banker is joined to Hajara Adeola, and they person six children together.
  • With a agelong vocation successful banking and investment, helium has amassed sizeable wealth and is an influential dependable successful fiscal and societal spheres.

Profile summary

Full nameTajudeen Afolabi Adeola
GenderMale
Date of birth10 January 1954
Age71 years aged (as of 2025)
Zodiac signCapricorn
Place of birthLagos, Nigeria
Current residenceLagos, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
EthnicityAfrican
TribeYoruba
ReligionChristianity
SexualityStraight
Hair colourBlack
Eye colourDark brown
Siblings16
Marital statusMarried
PartnerHajara Fola Adeola
Children6
SchoolSt. Paul’s Breadfruit School, Methodist Boys’ High School
CollegeYaba College of Technology, Harvard Business School, Lagos Business School
ProfessionBusinessman, banker, investor

Fola Adeola’s biography

The Nigerian banker was calved Tajudeen Afolabi Adeola successful Lagos State, but his parents hail from Ogun State, Nigeria. His begetter was reportedly a slope clerk, but his mother’s concern is unknown. Fola spent astir of his puerility successful Lagos and was raised alongside 16 siblings, immoderate of whom are Bayo, Yinka, and Yemi.

His acquisition travel began astatine St. Paul’s Breadfruit School, and helium proceeded to Methodist Boys’ High School, wherever helium completed his high schoolhouse education. He joined Yaba College of Technology successful Lagos, obtaining a Higher National Diploma successful accountancy.

In pursuit of further knowledge, helium pursued undergraduate studies astatine Harvard Business School and Lagos Business School. He is besides an alumnus of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies successful Kuru, Jos, Nigeria.

Five facts astir  Fola AdeolaFive facts astir Fola Adeola. Photo: @solaadeola connected Instagram (modified by author)
Source: Original

Fola Adeola’s career: banking, business, and beyond

Fola Adeola’s nonrecreational travel began successful the backstage sector. Notably, helium served arsenic a elder auditor astatine D.O. Dafinone & Co. earlier joining the NAL Merchant Bank Plc arsenic a manager betwixt 1982 and 1986.

From 1986 to 1990, helium was the lawman wide manager & divisional head, fiscal services part of the Continental Merchant Bank Limited. He co-founded Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) successful 1990, on with Tayo Aderinokun.

Under his leadership, GTBank became 1 of Nigeria’s astir innovative and customer-focused banks, introducing modern exertion and systems into the banking space.

Fola Adeola OFR during a nationalist   meetingFola Adeola OFR during a nationalist meeting. Photo: @mmwithnimi (modified by author)
Source: Instagram

In a YouTube interview with Gbenga Agboola, helium expressed his pridefulness arsenic the co-founder of GTBank, saying:

You person to beryllium wide successful your beingness astir what you want. Like I said, for me, it is perpetually the involvement of Guaranty Trust Bank, and if I basal successful their mode oregon deliberation that I indispensable beryllium the lone idiosyncratic who tin proceed to bash things, past it is not going to grow.

He continued:

When we look astatine everything astatine the extremity of the day, Guaranty Trust Bank has not shrunk, and that is my joyousness that successful my lifetime, an organisation that I birthed with my person tin proceed irrespective of what happens to us. That is what I'm astir arrogant of. The 2nd happening is that erstwhile you look astatine this abstraction today, those who are doing absorbing things successful the abstraction came retired of this establishment.

After stepping down arsenic managing manager successful 2002, Adeola focused connected entrepreneurial ventures and nationalist service. He served arsenic president of the National Pension Commission (PenCom) and was instrumental successful reforming Nigeria’s pension administration.

Fola Adeola gives a code   during his 70th day   solemnisation  (L). The GTBank co-founder and a woman  airs  for a representation   during FATE instauration  yearly  solemnisation  (R)Fola Adeola gives a code during a solemnisation (L). The banker and a woman airs for a representation (R). Photo: @makabisandbenet, @blessing.u.sunday connected Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

His power besides extended to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Lagos State Government, and planetary bodies similar the Global Advisory Committee connected Philanthropy of the United Nations. He aboriginal founded FATE Foundation, which supports young Nigerian entrepreneurs done training, mentoring, and backing opportunities.

Adeola is reportedly the president of Main One Cable Company Limited and besides a subordinate of the Board of Trustees of the International Crises Group. In 2002, helium was nationally decorated arsenic an Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) by the Nigerian president.

In 2011, Adeola aspired to beryllium a Nigerian politician erstwhile helium vied arsenic the vice statesmanlike campaigner for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), moving alongside erstwhile EFCC Chairman Nuhu Ribadu.

Meet Fola Adeola’s family

The GTBank co-founder is joined to Hajara Adeola, a salient fig successful Nigeria’s fiscal sector. Fola Adeola's wife, Hajara, is the founder, managing director, and main enforcement serviceman of Lotus Capital, an concern institution known for pioneering non-interest concern successful Nigeria.

It is chartless erstwhile the mates exchanged matrimony vows, but their matrimony is blessed with six children. Despite being a celebrated family, they person kept their children distant from the spotlight, and their details are not publically known.

FAQs

  1. What is Fola Adeola known for? He is champion recognised arsenic the co-founder of GTBank, a starring Nigerian fiscal instauration known for its innovation and governance practices.
  2. How aged is Fola Adeola? The Nigerian investor is 71 years aged arsenic of 2025. He was calved connected 10 January 1954, and his zodiac motion is Capricorn.
  3. Who are Fola Adeola’s brothers? He was calved into a household of 17 children, but the nonstop names of his brothers are unknown.
  4. What is Fola Adeola’s authorities of origin? The banker hails from Ogun State but was calved and raised successful Lagos State, Nigeria.
  5. Was Fola Adeola ever progressive successful politics? He ran arsenic a vice statesmanlike campaigner successful Nigeria’s 2011 elections nether the Action Congress of Nigeria alongside Nuhu Ribadu.
  6. What organisations has Fola Adeola founded oregon led? He co-founded GTBank and FATE Foundation and besides served arsenic president of PenCom and held roles successful respective nationalist and planetary organisations.
  7. Who is Hajara Adeola? She is Fola Adeola’s spouse, but professionally, she is the founder, managing director, and main enforcement serviceman of the concern institution Lotus Capital.
  8. How galore children does Fola Adeola have? The banker and his wife, Hajara, are parents of six children.

Fola Adeola’s travel from a young banker to 1 of Nigeria’s astir admired entrepreneurs is thing abbreviated of inspirational. He has made an indelible people successful the banking industry and beyond. His bequest continues done his ventures, family, and unwavering dedication to nationalist development.

Legit.ng precocious published Cynthia Obianodo Obi-Uchendu’s biography. She is simply a Nigerian manner designer, entrepreneur, societal media influencer, and erstwhile HR manager. Cynthia founded Something Labelled and is besides known arsenic the woman of Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Big Brother Naija host.

Cynthia has made a sanction for herself successful the fashion industry, particularly since she founded her bridal-focused brand. However, her matrimony to media property Ebuke Obi-Uchendu thrust her into the limelight. Her biography has each the accusation astir her vocation and idiosyncratic life.

Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, transcript exertion astatine Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng

Read Entire Article