Asiwaju Micheal Olawale-Cole studied Accounting at the University of Lagos. He launched his professional career with Total Oil as an Account manager, but after just a year, his undiluted thirst for knowledge led him to England for further studies – it was while there, that he met his now-wife, a daughter to the late Chief Amzat Adebowale.
A one-time Commissioner for Finance, later, works, Lagos State, past District Governor of Rotary Club International, President of the prestigious Lagos Alumni Association, and President of the Nigerian Institute of Management, Dr. Micheal Olawale-Cole has in no small measure proved himself an influential voice in leadership.
As an entrepreneur, Asiwaju Dr. Micheal Olawale-Cole started his first company, an insurance brokerage firm, in 1983 which he started from his savings gotten from his salary while working with the Lever brothers. After resigning he went into a full-time business.
A humanitarian at heart, his journey as a Rotarian began in 1989 when he joined the club while still working with Lever brothers Nigeria. He served as president of the Rotary Club of Isolo between 1983 and 1984. The Rotary center in Ikeja, Lagos, was built during his tenure as district governor.
Records reveal that it was during his term that the Council conceived several ambitions that have been institutionalized in the Council to date. Among others, he took the first step in setting the pathway for a glamorous investiture ceremony to draw the attention of those that matter in the society to the Council. This was accomplished at his investiture held at the Airport Hotel Ikeja, where the very best in the society were present.
Engraving on his management initiatives, the revered pioneer scribe of the Council, Dr. Remi Alo noted that Asiwaju Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole came to lead the Council at a time when the challenges of globalization and how to affirm with it by professionals were bogging.
He noted that with adroit leadership skills, he helped the Council to wade through. It was also noted that during his term, the now popular “Brokers Evening” of the Council was conceived as a bi-monthly bridge-building platform between Insurance Underwriters and Brokers.
Although it should not be lost on anyone that a great task beckons as President of the famous LCCI, more so that the nation’s economy has regrettably remained stagnant, putting huge operational challenges on operators who are significant members of the Chamber, there is no question that Asiwaju Dr. Micheal Olawale-Cole, like a popular navigator that he is, is also a follower of the legendary Benjamin Distraeli, who posited that “the secret of great leaders is that they are prepared before their time”.
A highly focused and diligent man, Asiwaju Dr. Micheal Olawale-Cole’s odyssey could be likened to a man who, though unwittingly, lived by the popular Japanese principle of “Kaizen” which infuses “constant and never-ending improvement in man”, making him soar unfettered in life and career.
