Work Focus: Civil & Structural Engineering, Education, Entrepreneurship

I spoke to my mother Dr. Olatokunbo Somolu. She graduated top of her class from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) in 1973 with a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering. Before then, she had her primary education at Anglican Girls’ School, Lagos and secondary education at Queens College Yaba, Lagos where she finished with distinctions.  She also completed her A’ Levels in Queens College and was the HeadGirl.

Dr. (Mrs.) Somolu obtained a Ph.D in 1978, thus the first Nigerian woman to hold a Ph.D in any field of Engineering.

She was a lecturer in Theory of Structures & Strength of materials at the Yaba College of Technology and also Head of Department of Civil Engineering.

She joined the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in 1982 and rose to become, in 2003 General Manager, Projects and in 2005, became the first woman to head the Engineering and Technology Division (ETD) of the NNPC as the Group General Manager.

A remarkable display of her project management skills was supervision of the construction of the magnificent and world class NNPC Towers complex, Abuja (from foundation to completion).

She was the Engineer and Project Manager for the Kofo Abayomi (DPR) office, the New Atlas Cove Jetty as well as the Zonal headquarters in Warri and Port-Harcourt.  The NNPC Land Mega Stations and Floating filling Stations most recent of her achievements.  The floating Stations are the first ever of such to be built in concrete anywhere in the world - an engineering feat by any standards.

She voluntarily retired from the services of the NNPC on 31st May 2009 after 27 years of active and dedicated service.

A widely travelled woman, Engr. Dr. Somolu is a member and Fellow of many organisations and professional bodies, including the Nigerian Society of Engineers, National Academy of Engineering and the Nigerian Institute of Management, NIM.

She has also undertaken several national assignments and served on the Boards of Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA and the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA.

In November 2007, she was inducted into the Nigerian Women Hall of Fame as the first Nigerian Female to hold a Ph.D in Engineering. In commemoration of Nigeria’s 50 years of independence in 2010, she was among the 50 Nigerian Women of Distinction honoured by the First Lady, Her Excellency, Dame Patience Jonathan

Links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olatokunbo_Somolu

http://laureatescollege.com/

http://dawncommission.org/olatokunbo-arinola-somolu-engr-dr/

https://www.nae.org.ng/fellows_profiles.asp?fid=92

Work Focus: Law, Intellectual Property, Technology, Data Protection

I spoke to Sandra Oyewole, who is a Partner at Olajide Oyewole LLP and has been in practice for over 26 years. She leads the Intellectual Property & Technology practice and co-leads the Employment & Global Mobility practice of the firm.

Mrs. Oyewole provides legal services on a multitude of issues in various sectors and industries. She has guided the growth of the Firm’s practices in advertising, brand protection, employment and global mobility, entertainment, estate planning, hospitality, information technology, intellectual property, media and broadcasting, sports and technology.

With her intellectual property background, Mrs. Oyewole helped to establish the firm’s technology practice, from which sub practice groups in financial technology and data protection are now fully developed. She has in-depth knowledge and experience in Nigeria’s creative and innovative industries, regularly structuring deals and providing legal, business and regulatory advice.

Mrs. Oyewole started her career in 1993 with the Chambers of the Late Chief Rotimi Williams SAN where she made regular appearances at all levels of the judicial system. She handled a myriad of disputes, made a number of court appearances and drafted a multitude of court processes and commercial contracts.

She is often invited to speak at seminars and workshops in and outside Nigeria on matters pertaining to chain of title, intellectual property, Nigeria’s creative industry and digital technology.

In contributing to the growth of Nigeria’s technology industry, Mrs. Oyewole regularly participates in master classes, workshops and mentorship programmes covering a range of intellectual property, tech and regulatory issues for startups and entrepreneurs. She is committed to the creation of structure within the creative and innovative industries and this includes the strengthening of Nigeria’s anti-piracy and intellectual property laws and policies.

Mrs. Oyewole received a Bachelors of Law degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, after which she attended the Nigerian Law School and was called to the Bar.

Links:

https://www.dlapiperafrica.com/nigeria/

Work Focus: Medicine, Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities, Special Needs

I spoke to Dr. Olayinka Akindayomi, who is the Founder and Service Director of the Children’s Developmental Center (CDC) in Lagos, Nigeria.  CDC is a not-for-profit organisation, established by her over 20 years ago, which provides a broad range of educational and support services for children and young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families within the community. 

She started early intervention programmes for children with IDD at the Massey Street Children’s Hospital in Lagos 10 years ago and has started similar programmes in six other states in Nigeria, which has trained thousands of mothers to date. 

She has trained health and educational professionals from the 6 geopolitical zones in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO). She has also collaborated in setting up 3 voluntary community projects providing assessment and therapy to hundreds of children with disabilities. 

From 2003, Dr. Akindayomi has been an Associate Lecturer of the Institute of Child Health and Primary Care - College of Medicine at the University of Lagos and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. 

She is the recipient of the Rare Gem Award recognized by UNICEF, UNIFEM, UNFPA, UNIC and UNDP as well as the Service to Humanity Award from the Lagos State Government. 

Dr. Akindayomi is an accredited trainer and has trained over 2,000 teachers through the train-the-trainers programmes for the National Teachers Association. She has been involved with the national strategy for children with disabilities as well as the Lagos State Government Special Peoples Law. 

She was recently recognized as a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants (FIMC) and a Certified Management Consultant (CMC). 

Links:

Children’s Developmental Center (CDC) - https://www.linkedin.com/company/children%27s-development-centre

About Autism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism

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