By Odita Sunday
Frontline administrator and management expert, Mr. Idowu Olanrewaju has bagged honorary doctor of Philosophy in Human Resources Management from the prominent Prowess University in Delaware, USA.
Idowu was among the few Nigerians bestowed with the rare honour.
An expert in human resources and administration, Idowu has over two decades vast experience in his field.
He is an ambitious and goal-oriented Human Resources Professional with over 20 years experience cutting across ICT Industry; Telecommunications Industry; Shipping Industry and currently with one of the fastest growing Special Economic Zones situated in Lagos, Nigeria – Lekki Free Trade Zone.
He is an agile and resourceful professional with a broad spectrum of profit-oriented businesses. Highly creative and reliable team player with good interpersonal skills, diligently proffers solutions to the disruptive current trend of Human Resources in a VUCA world and using his own initiative to balance work – life situations in today’s work environment.
His academic journey started from Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School (Otherwise known as MCSS) before proceeding to obtain his B.Sc (Hons.) Psychology in 2002 from the prestigious University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. He went further and bagged Masters in Business Administration (with the option of General Management) in 2012 from the University of Lagos Akoka – Yaba, Lagos.
In his quest and drive to understand the current human resource trends, he is affiliated to a number of Institutions such as Fellow – The Institute of Management Consultants IMC, Full Member – Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, Member – Nigeria Institute of Training and Development, Member – Society of Human Resources Management, USA, Certified Management Specialist – London Graduate School, Senior Professional in Human Resources International SPHRi, Associate Member- Certified Shippers amongst others.
His career objective is to enhance his professional skills in a dynamic way on how best to solve the current human resource issues in a fast-paced workplace and do so much more of employee engagements in keeping the Company’s morale high and the identification of great talents within the Company.
Over the years, he has been privileged to develop a safe and positive work culture, provide incentives to retain key talents and maintain a stable work environment, develop efficient communication methods between departments to ensure effective collaboration, provide high-quality and consistent training opportunities for members of staff, consistently assess training standards and analyze the effectiveness of current training and development program, hire qualified individuals in leadership positions to ensure fair and effective leadership throughout all company departments to mention but a few.
In order to enhance his capacity, he has attended a number of trainings/ conferences home and abroad; ranging from Institute of Directors – Company’s Direction Course, Lagos Business School, Managing People for Strategic Advantage
Lagos Business School (School of Media) – Motivating and Winning through Communication, Corporate Leisure in conjunction with Project Summit South Africa – Team Enhancement Program.
Introduction to Project Management – Prince II, Oracle Discoverer for e-recruitments, Human Managers 4.0 Upgrade, Alpha Learning – Advanced Strategic Management
Various CIPMN Annual Conferences/ Trainings
SHRM – Conferences/ Trainings in USA amongst others.
Due to his recognition in the HR Space – Mr. Olanrewaju Idowu received the “Human Resources Professional Award” from the International Certified Professional Managers in May 2008.
Currently, Mr. Olanrewaju Idowu is a licensed HR Practitioner and occupies a strategic position as the Head, Human Resources for Lekki Free Zone Development Company commonly referred to as “LFZDC” since May 2009.
Lekki Free Zone Development Company is a joint venture Company between the China Africa Lekki Investment Limited (CALIL), Lekki Worldwide Investment Limited (LWIL) and Lagos State Government. LFZDC is the establisher, developer, operator and manager of Lekki Free Zone South West Quadrant. It is an international organization which is amongst one of the fastest growing special economic zones in the world.
Prior to joining LFZDC, he has been opportune to work in other sectors such as Maritime Sector: (Sifax Group which is now a foremost glocalized Company in Nigeria); Telecommunication Sector (VMobile Nigeria now trading as Airtel Nigeria) and a brief stint at ICT Sector namely Automation Nigeria Limited within the Personnel and Administrative Department working as Human Resource Consultants and or personnel Officer.
Mr. Olanrewaju Idowu is an astute Christian and lover of God. He is happily married with a lovely family. He loves reading, traveling and listening to music.