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Leading with Trust in Challenging Times: CEO Igbuan Okaisabor Joins Business Leaders at Harvard Business School Event

At a recent Harvard Business School Association of Nigeria (HBSAN) event, Igbuan Okaisabor, the CEO of Construction Kaiser Limited (CKL), had an engaging discussion with other business leaders about building trust, especially during challenging times. As a private sector panelist, Okaisabor shared valuable strategies CKL has implemented to foster trust within its ecosystem and among stakeholders. This left attendees with actionable insights into effective leadership. The event also featured distinguished business leaders including Adedotun Sulaimon, Abubakar Suleiman, Fola Laoye, Danladi Verheijen, Fola Aiyesimoju, and Ladi Balogun. They engaged in a thought-provoking discussion on trust-building in today's dynamic landscape.

Igbuan’s talk shed light on the successful approaches CKL has embraced to establish and maintain trust with various stakeholders, including customers, employees, shareholders, and the public sector. Here are the key insights shared during the session:

  1. Embracing Transparency and Open Communication: With trust as a cornerstone of CKL’s operations, Okaisabor emphasized the importance of transparency. CKL actively engages in openly sharing information regarding its activities, decisions, and goals with stakeholders. By fostering an environment of open communication, the company demonstrates its commitment to building trust and valuing the input of its stakeholders.
  2. Demonstrating Consistency and Reliability: Consistency plays a pivotal role in building trust. Regardless of external challenges, CKL remains steadfast in upholding its core values. Okaisabor stressed that the company’s unwavering commitment to consistency builds trust over time.
  3. Employee Engagement and Empowerment: Recognizing the significance of its employees, The organization actively provides growth opportunities and involves employees in decision-making processes, fostering a sense of ownership and commitment.
  4. Agility in Response to Trends: Adapting swiftly to evolving trends is crucial for building trust in times of uncertainty. Okaisabor highlighted CKL’s proactive response during the COVID-19 pandemic, prioritizing the safety of its employees and clients. The company implemented strict health and safety protocols on job sites even before government mandates, demonstrating CKL’s commitment to protecting its stakeholders and their well-being.
  5. Leveraging Technology for Social Good: CKL firmly believes in harnessing technology to address societal challenges and promote positive change. CKL fosters trust among stakeholders who witness the organization’s unwavering commitment to social responsibility.
  6. Fostering Home-Grown Businesses: In his talk, Okaisabor emphasized the importance of nurturing home-grown businesses that contribute to national development. In line with this vision, CKL launched the Graduate Entrepreneurial Skill program in collaboration with the Kaiser Foundation for Social Development’s Graduate Entrepreneurship Scheme (GES). Through this initiative, CKL guides aspiring entrepreneurs in the Nigerian construction industry, fostering local content and infrastructure development, and thereby strengthening the nation’s economy.
  7. Building Trust with the Public Sector: As a representative of the private sector, Okaisabor highlighted the need to build trust and goodwill with the public sector. He proposed reducing policy uncertainties to encourage investment and emphasized the importance of engaging in policy dialogue and participating in public-private partnerships

In conclusion, Igbuan Okaisabor’s talk at the Harvard Business School Alumni event underscored the vital role of trust in leadership, particularly during challenging times. CKL’s commitment to transparency, consistency, employee empowerment, agility, technology for social good, fostering home-grown businesses, and building trust with the public sector serves as a shining example for organizations navigating uncertain times. Through these inspiring strategies, CKL continues to thrive and contribute positively to society. It sets an example for others to follow in building trust and driving success in today’s complex business landscape.

Sam Etomi

Director

Samuel is a Quantity Surveying and Subcontracting Professional with several years of Commercial Management industry experience in all forms of building. Establishing Samuel Etomi & Associates in 1993 and later rebranded as SEA Surveyors Ltd in 2007, Samuel assumed the role of Managing Director, orchestrating a multitude of large-scale projects across Nigeria. Notably, his portfolio includes engagements with prestigious entities such as the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lagos State Government, Petroleum Trust Fund, and various multinational corporations.

His illustrious career, spanning decades, encompasses both contracting and private practice, with significant contributions in the UK and Nigeria. Samuel embarked on his educational journey at Edo College, Benin, Nigeria, before pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying from Bristol Polytechnic in the United Kingdom. His professional stature is underscored by his esteemed affiliations, including a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), a Registered Member of the Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria, and a Membership in the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Additionally, his association with the Institute of Directors (IOD), Construction Arbitration Institute, Fellows’ Forum NIQS, and the Association of Consulting Quantity Surveyors (AQS) reflects his commitment to excellence and continuous professional development.

Aidevo D. Okaisabor

Director 

Aidevo D. Okaisabor is an Industrial Engineer with a remarkable track record of enhancing quality and production efficiency in advanced engineering environments.
Aidevo’s expertise also extends to project management. Graduating from Texas Tech University with a BSc in Industrial Engineering and a minor in Mathematics, Aidevo’s educational foundation equips her with a strong analytical prowess.

Her professional journey has included various roles both in Nigeria and abroad. She has spearheaded initiatives to enhance preventive maintenance procedures and address equipment inefficiencies. She brings a breadth of technical skills, including proficiency in software such as Autodesk Inventor, SAP, and Microsoft Project, complemented by certifications in Google Analytics and Lean Green Belt.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Aidevo is actively engaged in community service through organizations like the National Society of Black Engineers, where she mentors youth and contributes to charitable initiatives

Ademola Ogundipe

Director 

Abiodun is the Executive Director of Construction Kaiser Limited, a highly reputable indigenous construction company servicing valuable companies across Nigeria. She was previously the Chief Financial Officer of Filmo Realty. Abiodun has a strong reputation for forecasting an organisation’s financial and business health before it becomes apparent to others.

Abiodun is known for eliminating financial leakages, championing a value-based culture, and putting business processes on a healthy path to growth. She is an alumnus of the Daystar Leadership Academy, a Fellow of ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), and holds a first-class Bachelor’s degree in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom. Abiodun also has a bachelor’s degree in Economics and is currently undertaking an Executive MBA degree at INSEAD. She also attended the Advanced Management Programme at the Lagos Business School, Lekki.

Detlev Lubasch

Director 

Detlev worked for Julius Berger for 30 years of which 25 years were in Nigeria. He retired as Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. in 2016. Some notable positions and roles Detlev occupied in Julius Berger Plc include: Project Manager for Infrastructural contracts in Abuja; Project Manager for the Building Department (ABD) in Abuja; Divisional Manager for ABU-FSP.

He was a member of the Board of Julius Berger International GmbH and was an Office Engineer for Technical Departments at the Bilfinger Berger Nigeria GmbH in Wiesbaden. He has a Diploma – Ign. (Civil Engineer) in 1983 from Technical University, Darmstadt.

Ayuli Jemide

Chairperson

Ayuli is a highly regarded Corporate and Commercial lawyer who brings an unmatched eye to key aspects of service delivery. He has led notable transactions including: Lagos State Blue Line Railway; UPDC Plc N30 billion REITS; 2nd Niger Bridge Design Build Operate & Transfer; Warri Industrial Bank Project; Consultant on World Bank’s Nigeria PPP Project.

Ayuli obtained a degree in Law from the University of Benin in 1987 and was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1988. He obtained a Masters Degree in Law from the Northwestern University, Chicago, USA and has a Post Graduate Certificate in Business Administration from the Institute de Empresa, Madrid, Spain. He is also a Certified Public Private Partnership Specialist from the Institute of Public Private Partnerships Washington DC, USA.

Johnson Olubusayo Joseph

Project Manager

Joseph is an experienced Civil Engineer with over 15 years of work experience. He has executed key Construction Kaiser projects including the construction of the 450MW gas turbine Project, Lot 3 Sapele Power plant Project, Delta state, and Ikoyi Plaza Multi-Level Carpark on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi Lagos.

He holds HND in Civil Engineering from Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro Ogun state, and a B.Eng. from Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti state. A  member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers

Tosin Soremekun

 Head – Land Surveying

Tosin is a tested Land Surveying professional with 15 years of professional experience.
His professional journey has taken him across different construction firms most recent of which was Abrico Plc, where he held the position of Assistant Principal Surveyor.

Tosin obtained a Bachelor’s of Science in Surveying and Geoinformatics from the
University of Lagos. He is a registered member of the Surveyors Council of Nigeria and an Associate Member of the Nigeria Institution of Surveyors. Completed projects in his portfolio include the JK Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, Onikan, Lagos
and the Ikeja Aviation Centre

Faith Ezeugoh

Commercial Team Lead

Faith is a qualified Quantity Surveyor and Quality Management Systems professional.
She is a QMS ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor and was responsible for leading
Construction Kaiser Limited to attain an ISO 9001:2015 Certification.


Faith has a Higher National Diploma in Quantity Surveying from the Yaba College of
Technology, a Bachelor of Science in Building from the University of Lagos and a Master’s in Construction Management also from the University of Lagos. Before joining CKL, Faith was the Head – Cost Management and Control at Alpha Mead
Facilities and Management Services

Kizito Meze

Senior project Manager

Kizito is a certified Civil Engineer whose professional experience has seen him pass through different construction companies including Bouygues Construction Nigeria Limited. During his time there, he functioned as a Deputy Site Manager on numerous
projects including the 16-storey FIRS Headquarters in Abuja, The Ivory Coast Embassy
Abuja and The NLNG Head Office Development in Port Harcourt.

He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering and is a registered member of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).

Tossan Ossai

Head, System Compliance

A resourceful, motivated and dynamic management system professional with comprehensive

Quality Management System(QMS), HSSE, ISMS,BCMS,EMS, FSMS, Auditing experience, proven management and leadership ability, and a strong background in process development and improvement.

Skilled in identification of compliance gaps and quality related issues, utilizing resources and personnel as well as fearless approach to problem solving to quickly resolve issues and achieve improved output.

John Adeokhor

Commercial Team Lead

John is an experienced Quantity Surveyor with over two decades of relevant work experience. He spent 16 years with Costain West Africa Plc where he ascended to the position of Assistant Commercial Manager. Before joining Construction Kaiser Limited, John held the position of Cost Supervision and Procurement Manager at HFP Engineering Nigeria Limited.

John holds a Higher National Diploma in Quantity Surveying from Yaba College of Technology. He also has a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State. He is a registered member of the Nigerian Institution of Quantity Surveyors. Throughout his career, John has executed several construction projects including the Watari Water Treatment Plant Kano, Civil Works for Dangote Cement Power Plant Ibeshe, Ogun State and the Development of Luxury Residential Apartments in Ikoyi, Lagos State.

Abiodun Mamora

Executive Director – Finance

Abiodun is the Executive Director of Construction Kaiser Limited, a highly reputable indigenous construction company servicing valuable companies across Nigeria. She was previously the Chief Financial Officer of Filmo Realty. Abiodun has a strong reputation for forecasting an organisation’s financial and business health before it becomes apparent to others.

Abiodun is known for eliminating financial leakages, championing a value-based culture, and putting business processes on a healthy path to growth. She is an alumnus of the Daystar Leadership Academy, a Fellow of ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), and holds a first-class Bachelor’s degree in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom. Abiodun also has a bachelor’s degree in Economics and is currently undertaking an Executive MBA degree at INSEAD. She also attended the Advanced Management Programme at the Lagos Business School, Lekki.

Chinedu Osonwa

Chief Operations Offficer

Chinedu is an experienced Civil Engineer with his professional experience
exceeding 15 years. He has executed key CKL projects including the constrution
of a Switchyard in Odukpani, Calabar, the 540MW NIPP gas-fired power plant in
Calabar, and NIPP Employers Accommodation (50+ Units) Calabar to mention a
few.
Chinedu is a QMS ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor, a registered member of the
Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). He holds a Bachelor of Engineering Civil Engineering
from the Enugu State University of Technology

Jamila Mohammed-Faniyi

Executive Director

Jamila holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Building, from the Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria. She is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB).
She has attended many local and international training programs, including the Advanced Management Programme at the Lagos Business School, Lekki, Building Businesses in Turbulent Times (BBTT) at the Harvard Business School, Boston, MA in the United States of America, and Project Management training in CPMS, Lagos. She is a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI).

She joined the company in 2005 and has served in various capacities as a Planning Engineer, Project Manager, Operations Manager and currently an Executive Director.