Celebrating A Philanthropist, Entrepreneur, And Community Developer, Dr. Akpodiete Otemu Olotu @ 40

The Executive Director, Olotu & Ekuogbe Rowland Akpodiete Foundation, DR. Akpodiete Otemu Olotu, was born on the 20th of February, 1982 in Ughelli, Delta State, Nigeria. Between 1985-1991, he attended Auntie Rose Primary & Secondary School, Effurun in Delta state. He then proceeded to Twins Fountain Secondary School, Warri where he schooled briefly from 1991-to 1992. He also attended Government College Ughelli where he continued his secondary education between the years of 1992-1996 and Delta Careers College, Effurun, Delta State where he completed his secondary education between the years of 1996-1998.

Akpodiete Olotu graduated from the Ambrose Alli Unversity Ekpoma​ in 2005 where he obtained a B.Sc Applied Physics (Geophysics). DR. Olotu’s highly impressive educational arsenal includes certifications from the Paris Graduate School of Management, France between 2008-2010, where he obtained the International Executive Master of Business Administration (Strategic & Project Management) and Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Management Consultancy Practice &   Organizational Transformation in 2017 from International Professional Managers Association (IPMA-UK).

In 2018, European America University, Commonwealth of Dominica, ​(Honorary Doctorate Degree in Project Management and Corporate Governance), 2019 Baze University Abuja (Diploma in Terrorism, Security & Intelligence Studies), 2020 Institute of Security & Strategic Studies, Abuja. (Certificate in Private Security Studies)2020. Africa Institute of Public Administration, Accra, Ghana. (Advanced Executive Certificate in Transformational Leadership and Management) 2020. London Bridge Business School the UK and the University of Nicosia, Cyprus. (Honorary Doctorate degree in Public Administration) 2020.

Not one to rest on his laurels, his endeavours to empower his community also attracted an appointment as a JUSTICE OF THE PEACE by His Excellency, Senator (Dr.) Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State in 2021.

2. DR. Olotu began his working career with Blue George Limited where he held the position of Training Coordinating Officer (January 2007 – October 2008) where he had the enviable achievements of:

• Formulating, directing and coordinating all marketing activities and policies in enhancing the promotion of the companies’ products and services.
• Developed budgets for all training/programme activities
• Coordinated training programmes in conjunction with the company’s partners.
• Contact person for all travel arrangements, negotiation with Hotel management on pricing, protocol and logistics for clients and facilitators.
• Developed pricing strategies, for the companies’ products and services, balancing the firms’ objectives and customer satisfaction.

From there he went on to lend his services to P P & E Logistics limited where he served as a sales and liaison manager from October 2008 – to September 2009. Among his several achievements were that he:

• Procured å good number of properties to prospective clients within the country and∂ in the diaspora.
• Was able to advise clients on strategic locations to invest in.
• Also was able to build å solid network around the real estate industry both nationally and internationally.
• Maintained good customer relations (courtesy calls etc.) to enhance the customer service image of the bank.
• Ensured that the sales process prescribed by the company was fully adhered to.
• Adhered to the administrative requirements of checklists, field sales reports and submission of market feedback at all times.

3. DR. Olotu being one who never really loved employed labour, but always fancied a life of service delivery, focused his attention on his developmental platform: Akpo Olotu & Associates Limited (October 2009-Date) which is the platform he has continued to contribute vastly to the betterment of his immediate and remote communities. In his capacity as the Executive Director, he has been able to influence such accomplishments as:

• Coordinate all company’s projects/Administrative activities.
• Develop Strategic plans & implementation of Strategies.
• Develop new business for the company to ensure the growth and progress of the company.
• Introduce the company to new opportunities and potential clients.
• Track and Ensure that the company is making adequate profits.
• Work as a high-level bridge and salesperson for bringing new clients to the company.
• Maintain effective relationships with clients.
• Oversee the process of recruiting and retaining the employees of the company to ensure that the standard of a company never deteriorates.
• Report to the board of directors about the vital information on the company’s overall performance.
• Develop business policies for the growth of the company.

4. He has also alongside his personal endeavours continued to serve as the Special Representative/Abuja Liason Manager, International Professional Managers Association(IPMA)UK 5, Starnes Court, Union Street, Maidstone, Kent Me14EB, the United Kingdom to date and his Responsibilities/Duties and roles for the betterment of the African subregion includes:

• Liaisoning and guiding students about IPMA-UK professional training and examinations.
• Recruitment of students for IPMA-UK programme for every diet.
• Monitoring and following up with registered students for the IPMA-UK programme.
• Ensuring that students are satisfied with their academic/exam relations based on their qualifications.
• Ensuring that students receive adequate training and write examinations that may be required and qualify them for Annual induction.
• Adequate daily report about registration of students for the IPMA-UK programme.

5. Dr. Olotu in 2011 was awarded the Meritorious Diamond Award for National Development (MEDA) by Corporate and Media Africa Communications Limited. He also is a recipient of the Legacy of True Leadership Award by Africa Leadership News Magazine Limited (2012). In 2020, he was granted the Rights and Privileges of Transformation Leadership Medalist TLM of Osagyefo Dr. Kwameh Nkrumah of Ghana. In the same 2020, he was also bagged the Award of Excellence by Student Union Government, Delta State University, Oleh Campus.
6. DR. Olotu in his ever-increasing desire for knowledge development and impact such knowledge for the betterment of humanity and his community undertook several strategic developmental courses such as:

• Nigerian Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition
• Technical paper: Effects and Causes of Oil Spillage in Marine Environment
• Project Management Training for Professionals (PMP)
• Strategic issues in Globalization/International Business Management, United Kingdom IPMA(UK)
• Strategic issues in Operations Management, IPMA UK
• Strategic Issues in Crisis Management, IPMA UK
• Strategic Issues in Project Management, IPMA UK
• Strategic Issues in Change Management and Organizational transformation, IPMA UK
• Strategic issues in Management Consultancy Practice, IPMA UK
• Strategic Issues in Change Management IPMA(UK)

7. Dr. Olotu Otemu Akpodiete has contributed immensely to the course of humanity through several interventions in the areas of social welfare, enterprise development training, strategic empowerment, and Medical outreach to communities. Among others, he has facilitated the following;

• Free medical outreach in various communities including Otor-Ihwreko in Ughelli North and Okparebe in Ughelli South, Delta state
• Raised Water projects for various indigenous sites including, but not limited to Ogbavweni Grammar School, Usiefrun, and Okparabe community both in Ughelli South, Delta State.
• Advocacy and Awareness campaign on Medical checkups amongst rural dwellers in Ughelli North and South LGA.
• Vocational and Enterprise training for women and youth in various communities
• Digital marketing skills for women and youth in various communities such as Warri, Ughelli etc
• Donation of relief materials to various prisons in Delta state (Warri, Sapele & Ogwashi-Uku)
• Skill acquisition training for women and youths in Fish farming in Ughelli.
• Donation of Notes books to Primary and Secondary Schools in Ughelli community.
• Providing security education to schools in Delta state
• Proactive measures to ensure public health safety during the Covid-19 pandemic by the provision of personal safety measures such as face masks, sanitisers, hand washing equipment to schools and other strategic public places in Delta state
• Presentation of educational scholarships to deserving students of Delta state university
• Presentation of educational scholarships to deserving students of Delta state university
• Cash Prize Awards to educationally excelling students in a Government College, Ughelli.

8. Dr. Olotu Otemu Akpodiete JP was a pioneer Nigeria Forum Executives of International Professional Managers Association UK and member of International NGO Safety and Security Association (INSSA). He is currently the President of Explorers Innovative Initiative, a recognized NGO that provides scholarships and award prizes to students, human capital development and research and developments among others. A devout Christian, DR. Olotu is married with children.
9. It is now my immense pleasure to present to you a distinguished Nigerian entrepreneur, philanthropist and community servant per excellence, a veteran trainer, public relations guru, an honest, high-achieving, emotionally stable, intelligent, humane and humble son of Nigeria. A Member, Society of Exploration Geophysics, Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), International Professional Managers Association UK (IPMA), West Africa Federation of Institute of Administration & Management Consultancy (WAFIAMC), Institute of Management Consultants IMC-Nigeria, Africa Institute of Public Administration, Accra, Ghana, The Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria (IMCON), DR. Olotu Otemu Akpodiete!!!