As the Cadbury Nigeria Plc marks its diamond jubilee,  it has tasked workers and staff of the company on  core principles as business landscape evolves, pledging  to continue creating value for its stakeholders.

In a fireside chat  commemorating the occasion, former chairman, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Dr. Christopher Kolade,  emphasized the importance of adhering to core principles, as  a company does not perform better than its people.

He  drew inspiration from Winston Churchill’s leadership during World War II, highlighting the need for leaders to adapt to changing contexts.

Dr. Kolade also stressed the significance of prioritizing people and responsibility over status, citing a personal experience at Cadbury Nigeria.

According to him, human capital aligns with the company’s commitment to sustainable growth and development.

As Cadbury Nigeria looks to the future, it remains dedicated to driving innovation, quality and profitability, while keeping people at the forefront of its operations.

Dr. Kolade, the first indigenous CEO, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, charged workers to live up to expectation in the discharge of their duty..

Citing his  his personal life philosophy, he said he  begins with God the creator; proceed with Him; trust, follow and Obey Him daily and totally rely on Him for the outcome.

“Your responsibility leads to your status. Without responsibility no status. If you don’t know your responsibility people will push you to the wrong part.

The  distinguished diplomat, academic and corporate leader,  noted that change is inevitable but good principles remain constant. “Times change -and so do many other things; Good principles remain constant. Leaders are tenants of time.”

The former CEO, who left the company 23 years ago, noted that,

“people are the most important resource in the management of a business company..

“People look at status rather than responsibility..

He noted that every human activity faces at least four questions: the What, How, Who and Why.

He urged the audience to  consider the following seven simple principles:

“This business company gives something to people.

“People are seeking to obtain some value that they consider to be of appropriate quality and worth to themselves.

“People make business resources productive.

“Each person can give or demand his/her best.

“People can usually do better because they can (desire to) learn and apply the fruits of learning.

“Success, failure and mistakes are opportunities for learning.

“The Company does not perform better than its people.”

He emphasised that people go the extra mile for the benefit of the company. charging the audience the workers best is yet to come.

Dr. Kolade, CON, was born on December 28, 1932, in Erin-Oke, Osun State, Nigeria.

He completed his secondary education at Government College, Ibadan, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, in 1954

His career began in education as an Education Officer in Western Nigeria in 1955. He transitioned to broadcasting in 1960, serving as Director of Programs and later as Director-General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation until 1977.

In 1978, he joined Cadbury Nigeria Plc, rising to the positions of Managing Director. He was the first Nigerian Managing Director and later, Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc until 2002.

He is indeed a pioneer of the Cadbury Nigeria Business.

From 2002 to 2007, Dr. Kolade served as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. He is actively involved in academia.

He was a faculty member of the Lagos Business School (LBS)and the School of Media and Communications (SMC), both affiliated to the Pan- Atlantic University. He taught Corporate Governance and Human Resource Management at LBS and Leadership & Conflict Management at SMC. Dr. Kolade, as of 2012, was the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Pan-Atlantic University. He is presently the Chancellor of McPherson University, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Throughout his career, Dr. Kolade has been a strong advocate for corporate integrity and governance, holding leadership roles in various professional organizations, including the Nigerian Institute of Management and the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management.Dr. Christopher Kolade, CON, is the Founder of The Christopher Kolade Foundation (CKF), a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, Nigeria and the Society of Nigerian Broadcasters.

In recognition of his contributions to nation-building, he was awarded the national honor of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in 2000.

Dr. Kolade’s life exemplifies dedication to public service, ethical leadership and the pursuit of excellence across multiple sectors in Nigeria.