IoD Nigeria Mourns the Demise of its Past President
The Institute of Directors Nigeria regrets to announce the demise of its Past President, Alhaji A. O. G. Otiti. The sad incident occurred on Sunday, January 5, 2020, and has been buried according to Islamic injunction.
The Governing Council and the entire membership of the Institute pray for the repose of his soul and for Allah to grant him eternal rest in His bosom.
Late Alhaji Amusa Oladimeji Gbadamosi Otiti, was the President of the Institute from 1995 to 1997. He was also a former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria. To say that late Alhaji Otiti had made good in life is to simply state the obvious. Late Pa Otiti was generally regarded as the doyen of banking in Nigeria considering his immeasurable contributions to an industry he served meritoriously both in his active days and even in retirement.
Born on the 12th of November 1927 in Ibadan, the young Otiti started his banking career in January 1949 as a chief clerk under the British and French Bank Limited, a position he held till the end of 1951.
He later joined the employ of the Central Bank of Nigeria, in October 1958, as one of the pioneer staff. At CBN he rose from Managerial Assistant, Assistant Banking Manager, Assistant Currency Officer, Manager Grade “A” and Assistant General Manager to Deputy General Manager (Kano Branch) and was later transferred to the head office where he held the position of the Deputy General Manager between December 1966 and August 1968 and became the Deputy Exchange Controller of CBN and acting head of department –1968 to March 1970.
He served as Head of Department from April 1970 to 1976 and was subsequently promoted to the position of Chief of Banking Operations in January 1976–September 1977. He later assumed the role of Executive Director, Operations from September 1977–May 1982.
In May 1982, he became the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, a role he served for six years until his retirement in May 1988. As one of the leading lights in the nation’s financial service sector, his main forte, even in retirement Pa Otiti played leading roles in the banking and allied sector, whether in advisory capacity, amongst other opportunities.
A man who truly distinguished himself, late Pa Otiti earned numerous accolades both locally and internationally, including: Order of the Niger (OON), chieftaincy titles, as well as professional honours of several professional bodies in and outside the country.
Indeed, Alhaji Amusa Oladimeji Gbadamosi Otiti, aka Baba Otiti to many, was an excellent professional who thrived in best practises while in service, and deserves a place in the echelon of great minds and motivators that Nigeria has ever produced.
IoD Nigeria would surely miss him and his invaluable contribution to the Institute. The IoD Secretariat would inform all Members of the Institute on the burial plans when announced by the family.