Bimbo Ashiru’s Strategic Transformation at Odu’a Investment Company

If other people are announcing change with noise, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru stands differently. Since taking charge of Odu’a Investment Company Limited in 2022, he has worked through balance sheets, assets and structure, aiming to restore a legacy company to steady growth. The progress march is on, with revenue edged up and profits following both meekly and aggressively.

Odu’a sits on history. Owned by the South-West states, it holds assets built over decades. Knowing that such institutions often struggle to adapt, Ashiru has approached this with discipline, focusing on value. That choice is what is influencing decisions across the group.

One area stands out: asset use. Properties once treated as fixed holdings are now viewed as tools for growth. Through its real estate arm, the company is pushing new housing and warehousing projects. Partnerships are under review, while old assets are being reworked to yield stronger returns. The approach is careful but firm.

Financial signals support the shift. Profit before tax reached nearly N2 billion in 2023. Dividends to shareholders have continued without break. An improved credit rating has opened doors to larger funding. If these are not dramatic leaps that show direction, nothing applies.

Inside the firm, governance and accountability now carry weight. And because organisational moves are more deliberate and tighter, decisions move through clearer channels. Plus, the foundation focused on health, education and youth programs extending the company’s reach beyond profit and tying the business closer to the region it serves.

Ashiru’s style remains steady. Grand tours are as absent as loud claims. Yet the pieces of assets, capital, and culture are moving. Over time, such changes are certain to outlast the headlines that never came.