Cadbury Nigeria Plc, a subsidiary of Mondelēz International, one of the world’s largest snacking companies, has paid glowing tribute to Dr. Christopher Kolade, a former Managing Director and later Chairman of the Company, who passed away recently at the age of 92.
This announcement was contained in a statement issued by Frederick Mordi, Head, Corporate Communications and Government Affairs, Cadbury Nigeria, on behalf of the Company.
According to the statement, Cadbury Nigeria described Dr. Kolade, who was the Company’s first indigenous Managing Director, as an accomplished corporate colossus, a distinguished diplomat, and an intellectual giant that nurtured many business leaders.
The Chairman, Cadbury Nigeria, Mr. Adedotun Sulaiman, said: “The Board, Management and Staff of Cadbury Nigeria, join the family of Dr. Kolade and indeed Nigerians, to mourn the demise of one of the finest administrators that this country has ever produced.
“Dr. Kolade played a key role in the transformation of our Company and contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria’s human capital in various capacities. While we will miss him greatly, we are comforted in knowing in that he left behind enviable legacies.”
Oyeyimika Adeboye, Managing Director, Cadbury Nigeria, added that he was a stickler for discipline, a symbol of corporate governance, and an advocate of strong ethical leadership.
Adeboye said: “We flagged off our 60th anniversary with a fireside chat with Dr. Kolade, earlier in the year, as a mark of honour. Cadbury Nigeria Alumni Association (CNAA) Annual Lecture is named after Dr. Kolade, while a road within our corporate headquarters, bears his name.”
Dr. Kolade, the first Nigerian Managing Director, who later became Chairman of the Board of Cadbury Nigeria, joined the Company in 1978, and retired in 2002. He served as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, from 2002 to 2007.
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 and Conflict Management at SMC. Dr. Kolade was also a former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Pan-Atlantic University and Chancellor of McPherson University, Ogun State, Nigeria.
An ace broadcaster, he was a Fellow of the Society of Nigerian Broadcasters, and a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, Nigeria, among others. He was awarded the national honor of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in 2000, in recognition of his contributions to nation-building.
Cadbury Nigeria, which he helped nurture to greatness during his stint with the organisation, is recognised as a ‘Top Employer in Nigeria’ by the Amsterdam-based Top Employers Institute. The Company is also listed Among ‘Top 100 Companies in Nigeria’ and ‘100 Best Companies to Work for in Nigeria.’
