Meet the Speakers
L
ike the Apostle Paul, some have described him as all things to all men.
To the over 2,450 people who have registered as his proteges, he is a mentor. To many people who have heard him speak at national, business or youth conferences around the world, he is an internationally sought-after motivational speaker. To any of the 14 banks that his organisation consults for, or anyone who meets him at business strategy meetings or training rooms, he is a consultant extraordinaire.
To many business executives, he is a life coach and to most people who have heard him at various church programs, he is a preacher, teacher and many say he is an "Apostle in the Marketplace." Many of the readers of his books, The 17 Secrets of High flying Students and The Dream Subordinate of Every Boss (the Secret to being the Right Candidate for Promotion Always),have described this enigma as a life-saving author.
Yet to Fela Durotoye, he is just an ordinary man being used by an extraordinary God to change nations into desirable societies one person at a time.
Dayo Israel is an astute motivational speaker and advisor to many world leaders, business executive, politicians, young entrepreneur and sports professionals. He is an
internationally recognized personality and has appeared on countless television interviews, commercials, talk shows, radio programs, and was even selected by the United Nations to represent all the young delegates to the UN General Assembly Special Session on Children on a special CNN Live Interview. Recently, He was specially invited by Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh to a private reception at Buckingham palace.
As a renowned professional speaker, author and television personality, Dayo Israel has risen to national prominence by delivering high energy message and speeches which tells people how to shake off mediocrity, turn their potential into performance and live up to their greatness. It is a message Dayo has learned from his own life and one he is helping others apply to their lives. He gets his message out to an international audience of millions through his various tours, motivational seminars, motivational coaching and the philanthropic work, TV show, Media appearances, audio programs, and Youth advocacy.
He is one of the Africa's leading authorities on Social Entreprise and Youth Development. Clients include VSO, The British Council, UNICEF, RCCG, Islington Council, Lagos State Government, UK National Center for Languages (CILT), AFRUCA and many more.
Bonike Odegbami was born in Chicago, raised in Nigeria and currently lives in Ann Arbor with her husband, Folusho 
Ogunfiditimi and two kids, Jomiloju and Yanjuola. She currently serves as the Provost of Professional Development, International Programs and Global Partnerships for Wayne County Community College District in Detroit, Michigan. She is the immediate past Campus President of the Eastern Campus of Wayne County Community College District and has served the District for over 7 years in various leadership capacities. Bonike, as she prefers to be called, has a strong passion for education both in the United States and Abroad. She is the co-founder of a non-profit organization, PHENIG - Public Health and Education in Nigeria. Bonike currently serves as the President of the Michigan Chapter of the Association of Women in Community Colleges, a member of the Detroit Rotary Club, and a guest editor of the Academic Exchange Quaterly, the journal devoted to ideas, research, methods, and pedagogical theories leading to effective instruction and learning.
In her free time, Bonike enjoys reading and traveling.
Ogunfiditimi and two kids, Jomiloju and Yanjuola. She currently serves as the Provost of Professional Development, International Programs and Global Partnerships for Wayne County Community College District in Detroit, Michigan. She is the immediate past Campus President of the Eastern Campus of Wayne County Community College District and has served the District for over 7 years in various leadership capacities. Bonike, as she prefers to be called, has a strong passion for education both in the United States and Abroad. She is the co-founder of a non-profit organization, PHENIG - Public Health and Education in Nigeria. Bonike currently serves as the President of the Michigan Chapter of the Association of Women in Community Colleges, a member of the Detroit Rotary Club, and a guest editor of the Academic Exchange Quaterly, the journal devoted to ideas, research, methods, and pedagogical theories leading to effective instruction and learning. In her free time, Bonike enjoys reading and traveling.
FOLAKE AYOOLA
Folake K. Ayoola, Esq., recently joined the Washington D.C. Division of Corporate Finance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as an attorney-advisor. At the SEC, Ms Ayoola is part of a team which oversees corporate disclosure of important information to the investing public. Prior to joining the SEC, Ms
Ayoola
was an associate in the securities and capital markets group of Simpson
Thacher & Bartlett LLP's New York office, one of the world's
leading law firms. At Simpson Thacher, Ms Ayoola was an active member of
the Associates Committee and a moderator for the Affinity Group Professional Development Series. Ms Ayoola started her legal career at
the Houston office of Baker Botts LLP, the premier oil and gas law firm
in the United States.While in private practice, she represented corporations in raising over $15 billion in a variety of complex corporate finance transactions. Her robust practice enabled her to work closely with business executives, accountants and financial analysts. Her practice also involved advising companies and their board of directors in regard to laws and regulations which seek to prevent corporate fraud, insider trading and other actions that may undermine the financial markets. She has also worked on numerous pro bono matters, including the successful representation of a Pakistani Christian girl in a novel religious and social group persecution asylum matter and a Colombian mother and child with their Violence Against Women's Act application. At various times, she has represented and provided legal services to survivors of domestic violence, and represented indigenes in divorces, child custody and probating of wills matters.
Ms Ayoola is admitted to the New York State Bar and the Texas State Bar. She is also a member of the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, Houston Bar Association and the Houston Young Lawyers Association. Ms Ayoola is currently the President of the Nigerian Lawyers Association (USA), which provides leadership and advocacy for the legal needs and interests of the Nigerian community in the United States.
Ms Ayoola attended the Columbia University School of Law where she obtained her Juris Doctorate and Masters of Laws degrees. At the Columbia School of Law, she was, among other distinctions, a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and a Parker School Certificate for Achievement in International & Comparative Law award recipient. She holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University College London, University of London, graduating with upper class honors (magna cum laude). At UCL, she was, amongst her numerous accomplishments and involvement, the Vice President of the Law Society, a prestigious law faculty students association, and a founding member and tutor for the Property Law Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) Program.
In addition to Ms Ayoola's outstanding academic accomplishments, she is also deeply committed to building strong and vibrant communities, improving quality of life, and making a positive difference in the community she lives and works in. Ms Ayoola is an Associate Future Leader of the Nigerian Leadership Initiative (NLI), an international non-profit organization and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. The mission of NLI is to mobilize the energy, talent and resources of credible and accomplished Nigerians in Nigeria and the Diaspora to tackle the challenges that confront Nigeria. NLI provides a platform for highly accomplished, uniquely qualified Nigerian Leaders (Fellows) and emerging leaders (Future Leaders) to develop and express their values-based leadership skills and to assume a transformative role in the development of Nigeria.
While living in Houston, Texas, in 2005, Ms Ayoola, Esq. founded the Houston chapter of the African Professionals Network (AfriPRO Houston), a 501c3 tax exempt organization. Under her leadership, the organization has, amongst other achievements, launched its scholarship fund, mentoring program, and the African Professional Journal. Since inception, AfriPRO Houston has experienced steady growth and its programming now reaches hundreds of professionals in the greater Houston area and beyond.
Ms Ayoola moved to New York in the fall of 2007 and about a year after founded AfriMETRO, Inc. African Metropolitan Professional Organization, a New York not-for-profit organization. Under her leadership, AfriMETRO has organized various charitable and professional networking events and its programming now reaches hundreds of professionals in the Tri-State area and beyond.
Ms Ayoola works tirelessly to make a positive impact in her community. She has participated in numerous charitable fundraising efforts, including the New York AIDS Walk, the Houston Y-ME Breast Cancer Walk and she has raised over $10,000 for such initiatives, including raising funds to support the Littledrops Orphanage Fund's mission of providing orphans and vulnerable children a complete and healthy wellness of being now, and a good chance at a successful future through financial, intellectual and other necessary contributions. In 2008, she was recognized as the Top 40 Under 40 Nigerian Female Professionals by NiPRO International, Inc. for her academic prowess, community involvement, and philanthropy.
DELE MOMODU
Dele Momodu's life at 50 is spectacular; he has been a scholar, teacher, administrator, writer, polemicist, reporter, columnist, photographer, publisher, political activist, detainee, refugee, actor, restaurateur, speaker, and a world traveller. It is doubtful if any
one
of his age-mates has travelled more than this gentleman who caused a
revolution in magazine publishing when he started OVATION INTERNATIONAL
magazine in the city of London in April 1996.The story of Dele Momodu is a must read and a classic for young people who want to achieve greatness. Dele Momodu is a classic example of grass to grace destiny. He obtained his first degree in Yoruba from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, in 1982, and earned a Master's degree in Literature in English in 1988. He's the only Nigerian ever to have such a rare combination. During his 1982-83 NYSC service, he taught A-Level Yoruba at the Oyo State College of Arts and Science in Ile-Ife. Shortly thereafter, he became private secretary to the then Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Chief Akin Omoboriowo.
In 1986, Dele Momodu served His Royal Majesty the Ooni of Ife Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II, when he managed the Motel Royal Limited owned by the influential monarch. He later resigned to pursue his post-graduate studies in English Literature. During this period, he was contributing powerful articles to The Guardian, Sunday Tribune, and others. In May 1988, he got his first job as Staff Writer with the African Concord magazine, owned by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola. In 1989, Dele Momodu was transferred to Weekend Concord as one of the pioneer staff to start what soon became the largest-circulating weekend paper. He wrote the first cover story for the news-magazine in March 1989 and got many exclusive stories for the same magazine, which endeared him to the Managing Director of Concord Press of Nigeria Limited, Dr Doyinsola Hamidat Abiola, and the Chairman, Chief Moshood Abiola.
Dele Momodu was a hot item on the stable of what was easily Nigeria's biggest newspaper conglomerate. The prolific writer contributed to other titles such as the National Concord, Sunday Concord, Business Concord and the Yoruba newspaper, Isokan. In May 1989, he earned a double promotion and became Literary Editor, and another promotion within six months when he became News Editor of Weekend Concord. This made him the third in command after the Editor, Mr Mike Awoyinfa and his Deputy Editor, Mr Dimgba Igwe. It was around this period that the responsibility to edit Nigeria's most popular MEE column fell on his desk. The column was written by the prodigiously talented May Ellen Ezekiel. Dele and MEE struck a chord which blossomed into inviting him to edit MEE's celebrity magazine, Classique, between May 1990 and September 1991. This appointment made him the highest paid Editor in Nigeria.
After his resignation, the humble journalist tried his hands at doing business and became a bread distributor for Chief Moshood Abiola�s Wonderloaf. For him, there was dignity in labour. He also started a public relations outfit, Celebrities Goodwill Limited, which managed the accounts of Chief Moshood Abiola, Dr Mike Adenuga, Mr Hakeem Belo-Osagie and other distinguished Nigerians. Dele Momodu married his heart-throb Mobolaji Abiodun Momodu on December 19, 1992, in Ijebu-Igbo. The star-studded wedding attracted Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Chief Alex Akinyele, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, Mr. Kola Abiola (who bought him his first car) and Chief Moshood Abiola who was the father of the day.
It was at this period that Dele Momodu was invited by Nduka Obaigbena to assemble the core staff that would start a new publication, Leaders & Company, which later became the parent company for Africa's most prestigious newspaper, Thisday. He was also the Founding Editor of Leaders & Company. He was able to attract some of the brightest journalists of the era to the company and the strong bond between him and the Publisher endures till this day.
In 1993, Dele resigned to join the Moshood Abiola Presidential Campaign Organisation, while Nduka Obaigbena supported Abiola's main opponent, Alhaji Bashir Tofa. Despite their political differences, they remained friends. Dele Momodu was arrested and detained at Alagbon Close in Lagos, after the annulment of the June 12 Presidential election by General Ibrahim Babangida. He was severely punished for his views but was unbowed. In 1995, he got into a bigger trouble when he was to be arrested and charged for treason by the Abacha Junta. He was accused of being one of the brains behind the pirate radio station, known as Radio Freedom and later changed to Radio Kudirat, after the cold-blooded murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.
Dele Momodu managed to escape through Seme border into Cotonou, in Benin Republic, he fled from there to Togo, Ghana, and eventually landed in England. This sad episode would totally change his life and that of his entire family. It was a most excruciating experience for a young family whose first son was under one year old. They lost all their possessions and could barely pay rent in London. For three agonising years, Momodu could not enter Nigeria. He started OVATION INTERNATIONAL in 1996, and it was a big struggle to keep the business afloat. He and his team were under constant harassment of court bailiffs when they couldn't meet their financial obligations.
It was when Chief Abiola died in prison, one month after Abacha's death, that Dele ended his exile. He was then able to restructure his business, and worked assiduously at publishing what is today seen as Africa's hottest celebrity magazine. Today, OVATION INTERNATIONAL is a global brand. The magazine has showcased the best of Africa by promoting those who would never grace the covers of HELLO, OK, EBONY, and Oprah magazines. Ovation is also the leading events magazine dishing out the most glamorous pictures of the lifestyles of the rich and famous Africans. Ovation has resisted the temptation of discriminating against anyone and has left its readers to be the judge. Its critics who reason that certain families should not appear in the magazine often forget that the tenets of journalism abhor censorship. Every Saint and devil must be afforded their fundamental rights of fair hearing and freedom of association. Ovation has never written anywhere that a rogue is a Saint or vice versa, and it has been globally applauded for its objectivity and world-class quality.
In the 14 years of its glorious existence, OVATION INTERNATIONAL has covered stories and events in over 60 countries and on all the continents of the world. Dele Momodu has enjoyed worldwide acclaim and has met the High and Mighty, including Her Majesty the Queen of England, African Presidents, former American Presidents, and world scholars. He has used his wide contacts to benefit the poor and the needy in many African countries. He has sent many poor students to school. He has created wealth for the boys on the streets of Africa by providing employment and paying the highest commission ever to news distributors and vendors. OVATION INTERNATIONAL is also a fashion catalogue to young tailors who are making brisk business by dubbing fashion styles from the glossy and colourful pages of the magazine. Event planners are also smiling to the banks by picking different ideas for their clients. OVATION INTERNATIONAL has remained a blistering phenomenon in the publishing business in Africa. It is only popular bilingual magazine out of Africa at the moment with a French office in Cotonou.
The doggedness of Dele Momodu and his team is highly recommended to the youths of today. Dele Momodu attributes his success to God and relentless hard work.