From Business Visionary to Knighthood: Sir Femi Ogunlowo’s remarkable journey of Service and Excellence

Sir (Dr.) Femi Ogunlowo, the esteemed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Outsourcing Limited, has been recognized and knighted for his outstanding contributions to both God and humanity.

The Order of St. Christopher recognizes men and women who have achieved remarkable feats in advancing society and have demonstrated exceptional dedication in the service of God and the church.

On Sunday, September 10, 2023, Sir Femi Ogunlowo was officially inducted into the prestigious Order of St. Christopher of the Anglican Church during a grand ceremony at the magnificent Cathedral of St. Peter in Aremo, Ibadan. This momentous occasion also honored his wife, Omowunmi Ogunlowo, with the esteemed title of Lady.

Among the distinguished individuals who received this remarkable knighthood alongside Sir Ogunlowo were notable Nigerians such as Dr. Zacch Adedeji, the Special Adviser to the President on Revenue; Sir (Dr.) Bukola Oguntola; Sir (Chief) Yemi Aderibigbe; Sir (Chief) Reuben Famuyibo; Sir (Chief) Wale Akinrinade; Sir (Prof) Henry Ladipo; Sir (Dr.) Johnson Abatan; Sir (Prof) Christopher Osita Anyaeche; and Sir (Prof) Akinbola Morakinyo.

Other esteemed individuals include Chief Bode Amao; Chief Kunle Kalejaiye, SAN; and the son of the former Minister of Justice, Muyiwa Ige, all received the Order of Saint Christopher (KSC), the highest honor bestowed upon practicing Anglican members.

In a moving homily delivered at the Cathedral of Saint Peter by the Right Reverend Sunday Timothy Adewole, the Bishop of Ilorin Diocese, the newly knighted individuals were urged to view this honor as a calling for even greater service to God and humanity.

Citing the book of 1 Corinthians 4:7, Bishop Adewole encouraged them to uphold the gospel, emphasizing the values of service without seeking praise, sacrifice, and submission to God, which he referred to as the "three Ts" – time, treasure, and talent.

Notably, these knights represent the first cohort of individuals to receive this prestigious recognition from the Anglican Church in the entire South-West region.

Speaking after his investiture, Sir Femi Ogunlowo expressed his commitment to continued service. As a pioneer in human resources management, he has established a legacy of providing young Nigerians with valuable employment opportunities. Strategic Outsourcing, the company he founded 17 years ago, is renowned for its leadership in managed staff services and temporary staff services. It is the trusted partner of many of Nigeria's leading businesses for their staffing needs.

Strategic Outsourcing Limited - SOL's recruitment and selection processes, along with its HR management techniques, have been honed over the years to the point where the company can deploy 500 individuals nationwide to a client within just two weeks of executing an engagement contract.

Sir (Dr.) Ogunlowo, a distinguished businessman, holds a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering with First-Class Honors from the University of Ibadan (1992). He furthered his academic pursuits, earning a Master's Degree with Distinction in Water and Waste Engineering (1998) and a Ph.D. in 2016, both from Loughborough University, UK. His extensive career spans over 25 years, covering management consulting, banking, and engineering.

Throughout his career, Sir Femi Ogunlowo has participated in training programs at renowned institutions, including the Strategy School in St. Charles, Chicago, Illinois, the School of Management at Cranfield University, UK, and the Lagos Business School.

His professional journey commenced as a pupil engineer with Intecon Partnership, a civil/structural engineering firm, and he later served as the planning engineer for the 24,000 km World Bank-assisted Lagos State Water Expansion project. He held the position of Senior Strategy Consultant at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture), where he excelled in project execution. He also served as Assistant Vice President and Lead Strategist at First City Monument Bank, the first indigenous investment bank in Nigeria, and at times, even headed retail banking within the same institution.

As the founding partner of BMC Consultants, Sir Ogunlowo expertly led numerous engagements across diverse industries. These included commercial due diligence and turnaround strategy for Afribank Nig Plc, post-merger integration of United Bank for Africa Plc and Standard Trust Bank, commercial due diligence for Ecobank Nigeria, the establishment of Heirs Insurance Co Limited (now UBA Insurance), and the restructuring of portfolio companies within Odu’a Investment Company, among many other notable achievements.

Sir (Dr.) Femi Ogunlowo's investiture as a knight is a testament to his unwavering commitment to excellence, service, and the betterment of Nigerian society. His journey from civil engineering to becoming a knighted business visionary showcases the remarkable impact he has made throughout his illustrious career. As he embraces this new calling, Sir Ogunlowo remains dedicated to providing opportunities and shaping a brighter future for young Nigerians.

2023-09-14 11:04:06