Demola Aladekomo

Sir Demola Ben Aladekomo KJW
Demola
Born (1957-12-31) 31 December 1957 (age 66)
Lagos, Nigeria
Education
  • B.Sc Computer Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University Ife - 1982
  • MBA University of Lagos -1984
Alma mater
  • Obafemi Awolowo University -Ife
  • University of Lagos
OccupationComputer engineer
Known forPioneering the first e-card in Nigeria
SpouseVery Reverend Titi Aladekomo
ChildrenFour
Engineering career
InstitutionsDATA Foundation

Sir Demola Aladekomo KJW HOA (born 31 December 1957) is a computer engineer from Lagos, Nigeria. Aladekomo is the chairman of SmartCity Resorts Plc,[1] Card Centre Nigeria Limited,[2] Treasure-nest Limited, Crops Nigeria Limited, Chams Consortium Limited,[3] Insider Concepts Limited, and the founder of Chams Plc.[4] He is a Fellow of the Nigeria Computer Society (FNCS)[5] and the Computer Professional Registration Council (CPN); a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), and the immediate past President of the Lagos Business School Alumni Association (LBSAA)[6] and the Nigeria Computer Society, respectively. Aladekomo has also served as the vice chairman of the Board of Trustees of SmartCard Society of Nigeria. He is the founder of DATA Foundation[7] and Volunteer Corps,[8] non-governmental organizations engaged in corporate social investments in Nigeria. He is a Patron and "Handler of the Order of Anchor (HOA)" of the Lagos State Council, of the Boys' Brigade in Nigeria.[9]

Early life and family

Aladekomo graduated from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1982 with a degree in computer engineering and obtained an MBA from the University of Lagos in 1984.[10] He was Chief Executive Programmer at the Lagos Business School (LBS) from 1991 to 1992.[11] He is married to the Very Revered Titi Aladekomo, a Methodist minister, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. They have four children, one of which is Tomiwa Aladekomo, and other grandchildren.

Professional life

Aladekomo founded Chams Limited (now Chams Plc, and listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange) as the first indigenous computer maintenance outfit in Nigeria in September 1985.[12] Working as the chief engineer at the time, the company deployed Nigeria's first Wide-Area-Network WAN) on personal computers, and deployed the country's pioneer card technology. The company also contributed to the development of the first e-payment card in Nigeria: the Valucard[13] project, working with a consortium of five local banks.

Aladekomo helped transform Chams from a privately held company to public company listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. It attempted to differentiate itself in the Nigerian market by focusing on the business of identity management, ceding the increasingly cluttered card technology and transaction payments segments to its subsidiaries, ChamAccess Limited[14] and Card Centre Nigeria Limited.

NIN:

From 2007 to 2010, Demola led the successful rollout of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) National ID (NIN) project, a pivotal initiative in establishing national identity infrastructure for Nigeria. [15][16]

SIMREG

Demola was instrumental in delivering the 2011 Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) SIM registration project, making possible the registration of millions of SIM cards and users nationwide. [17]

BVN

Demola also oversaw the 2013-2014 implementation of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) Bank Verification Number (BVN) initiative, which strengthened banking security and financial inclusion in Nigeria. [18][19]

INEC VOTER DATABASE, CARDS & WORLD RECORD

Additionally, Demola led Chams to deliver a purified database of 54.3 million Nigerians and managed the delivery of voter cards for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in 2007. DEMOLA’s Chams earned the world record for the largest card personalization centre in the world at 1.75 million cards per day in his Abuja card factory. [20]

GUINESS WORLD RECORD

Demola established ChamsCities in Lagos and Abuja in 2008, which earned double Guinness World Records for its innovation and largest cyber centres in the world then.[21][22]

Demola’s career is marked by numerous professional achievements. He served as President of the Nigerian Computer Society from 2011 to 2013 and as President of the Lagos Business School Alumni Association from 2012 to 2014.

As a trailblazer in Nigeria’s ICT industry, his leadership has been instrumental in driving innovation, particularly in pioneering e-payment platforms and smart card technologies in Nigeria

Demola voluntarily retired from Chams after serving for 30 years.

Now, as the Executive Chairman of SmartCity PLC, Demola is focused on shaping the future of urban living in Nigeria through the development of HazanaCity, a polycentric smart city with residential areas, tech hub+ and markets, in Ibadan and Osogbo. His commitment to sustainable, tech-driven urban environments is a testament to his vision of fostering innovation and economic growth.

Philanthropic activities

Aladekomo is a Knight of John Wesley, the founder and past chairman of the Board of Trustees of Volunteer Corps and the DATA Foundation; a non-governmental organisation committed to professional volunteerism for public school education which has repeatedly awarded scholarships to students in public schools.[23]

Aladekomo has served in the following capacities:

References

  1. ^ Kokumo, Goodie (10 June 2015). "Germans, SmartCity Innovation Hub promoters meet". Biztech Africa. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  2. ^ Uzebu, Christie. "Card Centre Invests in SIM Card plant in Nigeria". No. April 2015. CP Africa. Archived from the original on 18 July 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  3. ^ Abayomi, Olabisi. "How National Identification Management System Will Stimulate Development". No. 28 October 2012. Osun Defender. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  4. ^ Salako, Taofeek (1 April 2015). "Chams grows profit by 145% as Aladekomo retires". The Nation Newspaper. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  5. ^ Nweke, Remmy (29 July 2011). "Aladekomo emerges as NCS President". Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  6. ^ Sunrise, Channels TV. "LBS Alumni Association Set To Hold 20th President's Dinner". Channels Television. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  7. ^ Utor, Florence (4 April 2015). "How To Ensure Sustainable Water Supply, By DATA Foundation Boss". The Guardian Newspaper. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  8. ^ Ugwu, Peter (28 August 2014). "Chams Hosts Volunteer Corps @ ChamsCity". Nigeria Communications Weekly. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  9. ^ "Facebook". web.facebook.com. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  10. ^ "CHAMS Plc brings back Demola Aladekomo as Chairman following Dere Awosika's resignation". Nairametrics. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  11. ^ Olawoyin, Oladeinde (10 March 2020). "Chams Plc appoints board chairman - Premium Times Nigeria". Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  12. ^ Benson, Emmanuel Abara (30 July 2018). "Company profile: Chams Plc and the perils of competition". Nairametrics. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  13. ^ "Executive Profile, Demola Aladekomo". Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  14. ^ Bellanaija (17 March 2014). "ChamsAccess Introduces Debit & Credit Card Solution to Eco, Fidelity, Stanbic IBTC & More Banks at Industry Event". Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  15. ^ "Chams Holdings ends partnership with FG over $100m national ID card debt - Technext". 15 September 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  16. ^ "Chams "back on its feet" after N9.2 billion Nigeria National ID Card loss, MD says - Technology Times | Latest and Breaking Nigeria Tech News". 7 September 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Telecompaper". www.telecompaper.com. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  18. ^ Aderounmu, Zainab (14 February 2024). "Chams Holdco's BVN project clocks one decade". Businessday NG. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  19. ^ "Chams Plc. | Biometric Update". www.biometricupdate.com. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  20. ^ Benson, Emmanuel Abara (30 July 2018). "Company profile: Chams Plc and the perils of competition". Nairametrics. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  21. ^ vanguard (6 September 2015). "Closure of ChamsCity: Death of entrepreneurship, innovation". Vanguard News. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  22. ^ "About Chams". www.chamsholdco.com. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  23. ^ "Home". manpower.com.ng.
  24. ^ "PRESS RELEASE: COMPOSITION OF COUNCIL AND APPOINTMENT OF AN ACTING VICE CHANCELLOR". www.uniosun.edu.ng. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  25. ^ Admin. "Philanthropic activities of Sir Aladekomo Demola" (PDF).