WFC NAMES OWOFEMI, AINA CHIEF EXECUTIVE, VICE CHAIRMAN
World Cocoa Foundation, WCF, an international membership foundation that promotes a sustainable cocoa economy by providing cocoa farmers with the tools they need to grow more and better cocoa, market it successfully, and make greater profits, has named Mr. Demeji Owofemi and Lawrence Olusegun Aina as Chief Executive and non-executive Vice-Chairman of Multi-Trex Integrated Foods PLC, respectively.
Owofemi, a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and Aina, a former Managing Director/Chief Executive Fountain Trust Bank Plc (now member of Spring Bank Plc) are parts of the other appointments announced by at the just concluded 20th Partnership meeting and Roundtable session of WFC held in Accra, Ghana.
WCF's membership includes cocoa and chocolate manufacturers, processors, supply chain managers, and other companies worldwide, representing more than 80% of the globalcocoa market.
Owofemi was appointed a member of the Executive Committee, the highest organ of the Foundation to represent the Small Medium Entrepreneur Member (SME) member companies.
Partnership meetings attract a wide range of organizations and individuals interested in cocoa sustainability, and cover programme updates as well as current issues and other topics of importance.
Mr. Owofemi, a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and with about 25years practical experience in the Cocoa Economy, presented a paper at the October Partnership Roundtable Session titled 'African Cocoa: Today and Tomorrow'.
Mr. Aina, a seasoned and well grounded professional Banker has been appointed Vice Chairman of Multi-Trex Integrated Foods Plc in non-executive capacity.
He has contributed significantly to the growth and development of the banking industry. He started his professional banking career at the United Bank for Africa Plc in 1974, moved to Ecobank Nigeria Plc as Assistant General Manager in 1989 and rose to the position of Executive Director of the bank in February, 1994.
He left the services of Ecobank Plc in 1999 and joined Fountain Trust Bank Plc (now member of Spring Bank Plc) as the Managing Director/Chief Executive until his voluntary retirement from the bank in 2004.
He has served as Director of many other institutions within the financial services industry such as: Nigeria Interbank Settlement Scheme PLC (NIBBS), First Securities Discount House Ltd, (FSDH) and Financial Institution Training Centre (FITC).
He is an alumnus of Universities of Lagos and Ibadan with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Masters of Science in Banking and Finance respectively. He is also an alumnus of Lagos Business School; INSEAD, France and IMD, Switzerland.
Mr. Aina is currently the 1st Vice President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).
In recognition of his services to the Banking Industry and to Nigeria's national development generally, Mr. Aina was conferred the National Honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Other appointments include Mrs. Folasade Bafunso; Executive Director, Factory Supply Chain & Backward Integration, Mr. Francis Odudu, Group Head, Banking & Finance and Ola Azeez, Group HEAD - Human Capital & Administration Services