Abiola is a lawyer, Governance Professional and strategic thought leader with over 19 years’ experience garnered from different industries in Nigeria, with a stint in Dubai, UAE. She is an experienced General Counsel, Company Secretary and Executive Board Director with the ability to combine the leadership of legal, company secretarial and corporate service functions with broader business and strategic responsibilities. A strong track record of consistently delivering successful outcomes and projects, across a variety of different industry sectors, in both developed economies and emerging markets.
She is an outgoing, conscientious, relationship-oriented and passionate professional with proven skills in corporate services, government and regulatory affairs, sustainability, strategic planning and corporate strategy.
She was the Group General Counsel/Head of Corporate Services of PZ Cussons Africa. On the role, she led the successful implementation of various strategies and objectives for the legal, government and regulatory affairs, assets management, sustainability and governance functions of PZ Cussons business entities in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya. She was also the Executive Secretary of PZ Cussons Foundation through which the Group drives the implementation of its Good4Business (G4B) strategy -Business Governance & Ethics, Environment, Sourcing, Community and Charity to drive sustainable value and growth through its day-to-day decision-making.
Previously, she was the Legal Counsel, West Africa/Deputy Company Secretary of Cadbury Nigeria Plc and Cadbury Ghana (members of the Mondelēz Group of Companies). Abiola holds a Bachelor of Laws degree with Honors (LL. B) from Ambrose Ali University (formerly known as Edo State University) and a B.L. from the Nigerian Law School, Abuja. She currently has an MBA in view. She is a Certified Trainer with the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Africa Corporate Governance Program. She is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), Nigerian Branch and a Member of the Governing Council of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN).
Abiola is a member of the Board of Directors of the Strap & Safe Child Foundation, a non-for-profit organization which advocates the importance of children’s safety on the road, in school and at home. She is also a non-Executive Director of True Value Marketing Solutions, a brand and marketing strategy firm. She is a past Chairman of ICSAN Lagos State Chapter; a former PRO of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, Nigeria (FIDA), the Immediate Past President of Caring Sisters Inc. (a charity for the empowerment of underprivileged women and children. She is a founding member of the Association of Company Secretaries and Legal Advisers in Manufacturing and a facilitator with the ICSAN Training Academy and the DCSL Corporate Services.
Abiola has capacity and key strength in relationship management including liaising and maintaining relationships with relevant government, regulatory agencies and other stakeholders. She is an ardent believer in continuous professional development and has attended several professional trainings, seminars and conferences at home and abroad in the course of her career. She is also a public speaker and has delivered over 70 papers at several fora in Nigeria, Ghana and Dubai.