Asiwaju (Dr.) Michael Olawale-Cole is a Nigerian business expert, politician, and philanthropist. He is the former President of the Nigerian Institute of Management and Vice President, Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).
Born in 1949, he grew up in Lagos as an Awori with a middle-class background. His mother was Awori too from a ruling house in Isolo. Interestingly, his brother is the reigning Oba of Ojota Kingdom – Oba Olawale-Cole.
Asiwaju (Dr.) Michael Olawale-Cole started his education at Maryland Demonstration School and secondary education at Bola Memorial School in Agege, including the prestigious King’s College before proceeding to study Accounting at the University of Lagos.
He started his career with a stint as an account manager with Total Oil before traveling to England to further his studies for a diploma program.
Olawale-Cole’s foray into politics is a culmination of his cordial working relationship with the former Governor Lateef Jakande who appointed him then as a member of the first board of Lagos State Assurance Plc. Gaining purpose and relevance on the corridor of governance, he served as a two-time commissioner in the Late Governor Michael Otedola’s cabinet with the portfolios of the Commissioner for Finance and Commissioner for Works.
Committed to serve his people and effect changes in his capacity through public service, Olawale-Cole is a past Governor of Rotary International and the former President of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM). In this role of leadership at NIM, he used the office to give suggestions, advice, and ideas to the government about serving the people better.
Reputed as a man of timbre and caliber in the affairs of social and economic development, he was in 2012 and 2014 conferred with the national honors of a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) and the Commander of the Order of Niger (CON) respectively.
With a full resume of adroit leadership, Olawale-Cole served as President of the Nigeria-British Chamber of Commerce and he is today their patron. Having paid his dues in serving his people in several respects, he has been the President of at least five different organizations.
Olawale-Cole is the first Asiwaju of Ojota, who in his capacity would support the king and ensure the development of Ojota. He is the founder and CEO of Coleson Brokers Nigeria Limited.
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