Bayo Olugbemi: A Prodigy of Great Repute, Creating a Lasting Legacy

That Nigeria is blessed with immense wealth is never in doubt: men and women of remarkable business integrity and brilliance, of outstanding grit, dedication, enviable character, values and principles.

These, believes First Registrars CEO and MD Bayo Williams Olugbemi, are symbols of a great country. Among this army of prodigies is a financial industry captain of sterling qualities: Dr Bayo Williams Olugbemi, Managing Director and CEO of First Registrars and Investor Services Limited.

A career banker, a doyen of the investment management world and a capital market guru of unparalleled repute, Olugbemi is the immediate past-president of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), where he took the institute on the path of great achievements during his impactful two-year tenure. In the annals and chronicles of the banking and capital market industry with regard to innovative business and financial masterplans and development strategies, Bayo Williams Olugbemi is a force to be reckoned with.

Armed with professional and business certifications as well as academic recognitions, Olugbemi grew in the lowest ebbs of societal “have-nots” in remote Olugbemi Village in Oluyole LGA of Ibadan, Oyo State of Nigeria, to become a world class banker, capital market registrar, stockbroker and financial market consultant who is globally recognised.

With 40 years of banking experience with reputable organisations, the CEO is an acknowledged expert in all aspects of Investment Banking and Capital Market industry operations. To many, Bayo Olugbemi is the godfather of the Nigerian Share Registration Industry, one who has mentored many heads of teams of other registrars. In academia, Olugbemi has fearlessly advanced through the ranks.

His quest for knowledge is insatiable. Another colourful feather was added to his cap with the conferment of an Honorary Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) in Entrepreneurship by the Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU) in 2021. This was followed in quick succession in 2022 by 2 other Honorary Doctorate Degrees – Doctor in Business Administration (D.BA) by Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Ogbomosho, Oyo State and Doctor of Science (D.Sc) by Adeleke University Ede, Osun State, Nigeria. In pursuit of learning more, in line with his life goals and aspirations, Olugbemi has enrolled for an academic PhD programme in advanced studies in Entrepreneurship Management at the Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State of Nigeria.

He holds a BSc in Accounting from the University of Lagos and a Master’s degree in Corporate Governance and Ethics (MSc) from Leeds Beckett University (formerly Leeds Metropolitan University), UK. He also holds a Master’s in Business administration (MBA) with specialisation in International Business Management from the Lagos State University, Ojo.

Bayo Williams Olugbemi is an alumnus of many prestigious Nigerian and international institutions such as the Harvard Business School (AMP 179), Wharton Business School, US, Stanford Business School, US, Institute of Management Development, Switzerland, INSEAD, Singapore and France, Euro Money Capital Market Training, UK, and the Lagos Business School (CEP 11) — among others.

A fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Dr Olugbemi is also a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (FCTI), the Institute of Capital Market Registrars, the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, Institute of Directors (Nigeria), Certified Pension Institute of Nigeria, Nigerian Institute of Training & Development (NITAD) and Association of Enterprise Risk Management Professionals (AERMP). He is also an Associate Member of The Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Institute of Company Secretaries & Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), Nigeria Institute of Management (Chartered), Association of National Accountants of Nigerian (ANAN), and Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP).

Olugbemi has authored three books, as well as many unpublished but recognised works. His presidential valedictory lecture paper, delivered at the baton-exchange ceremony of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, was titled Entrepreneurship Innovation and Disruption in the Nigerian Banking Industry; What Next?

In the paper, Dr Olugbemi highlighted the roles of entrepreneurship, innovations, and disruption as critical and essential elements for efficiency in the banking sector.

His achievements at the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria crowns the list of achievements. Upon his assumption, he outlined a five strategic agenda code named A-TEAM which encapsulates his management and leadership style as a world-class manager of teams.

Bayo Williams Olugbemi is a dedicated family man, happily married with five children. To his clan of relatives, and his corporate, spiritual and community children, he is a father, mentor and provider.