The Chairman, Toyota Nigeria Limited, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, is set to bow out of active participation in the day-today-running of the auto company when he turns 80 on June 14 this year.
Ade-Ojo fondly called Mr. Toyota, singlehandedly made the Japanese motor brand, Toyota, a household name and a leading auto company in Nigeria after he had acquired 100 percent equity in RT Briscoe Nigeria, and raised his total holdings in Toyota Nigeria Limited to about 74 percent.
He founded Elizade Independent Agencies (now Elizade Nigeria Limited) in 1971, with his wife, Elizabeth, a company that focused on the distribution of automobiles, especially Japanese cars, in the country.
He hinted about his retirement in Lagos during the Toyota award and customers’ night, where he allayed the fear that his exit could create a vacuum, saying his son, Kunle, currently the managing director of the company, would be a good replacement.
Ade-Ojo stated, “By the grace of God, I’ll be 80 years old on the 14th of June. I know you will want to celebrate me; I’ll also want to celebrate you because you’ve been wonderful.
“I do not have any fear that our customers will suffer. You’re not going to suffer. Kunle is there for you when daddy retires. It’s not that I’m saying bye for now. But I’m warning you that things are changing. I might not be able to continue to do this (functioning as the company’s chairman) for long.”
For his numerous achievements and contributions to the development of the auto industry, the industrialist was recently named the icon of Nigeria’s auto industry.
In August 2015 when he made the cover of the Forbes magazine, Ade-Ojo said: “I have dealt with the Japanese now for 44 years. And it is only through me that they can mirror Nigeria. Throughout these 44 years, there have not been promises broken, or monies owed. My word has always been my bond.”
Chief Micheal Ade Ojo, CEO Elizade Motors and founder of Elizade University, hails from Ondo state south-west Nigeria. He was born on June 14, 1938 at Ilara-mokin, a town in Ondo state into the family of the late chief Solomon Ojo and Mrs. Beatrice Ademolawe Ojo.
He attended St. Michael’s Anglican School, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, Nigeria. He later attended Imade College, Owo, Nigeria (1954-1958), where he obtained the West Africa School Certificate. He proceeded to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in 1961, where he obtained a Bachelor of Art (B.A) degree in Business Administration in 1965.
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