All About

THE BIOGRAPHY OF ENGR. OLUMUYIWA OLUWOLE AIYEGBUSI

By E K Ajanikoko.

Engr. Olumuyiwa Oluwole Aiyegbusi was born in Lagos over 60 years ago to the family of Afolabi Aiyegbusi of Efon Alaaye, Ekiti State- Nigeria 

He started his primary education in Efon and completed his O and A level education in flying colours at Igbobi College, Yaba, Lagos. He obtained an M.Sc degree in chemical engineering at University of Cincinnati, Ohio-USA and started his engineering career in Boston, Mass- USA.

He served his NYSC year with Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO) in 1984 where he was converted from petrochemical engineering into food process engineer. After youth corp service he opted to start his own business rather than take an offer as a civil servant with FIIRO. He formed Water Purification Associates Ltd specialising in bore hole drilling. He later formed Olu Olu Winery Ltd in 1984, pioneer in commercial bottling of Palmi (Palm Wine) which he started exporting to UK in 1986. By mid 1980s the Nigerian media named him as one of the young future African industrialist. Unfortunately, he was forced to relocate to UK with his family in 1987 due to downturn in Nigerias economic situation. He started driving mini cab to pick up his life again until 1988 when he and his wife ventured into production and packaging of poundo yam flour and exporting same to UK and US. Olu Olu branded products which started with a meagre capital of £ 1,400 has now grown to a turnover of over £3 million.

The several international awards winning US-trained engineer, is Chairman of Olu Olu Group Worldwide - a multinational conglomerate manufacturer and distributor of African foods all over the world. OLU OLU is one of the best known African food and beverage brands. The group comprises OLU OLU Industries (Nigeria), Upland Flour Mills (Nigeria), Yem Yom Ventures (UK) and United Tastes of Africa Inc. (USA) with supportive operations in countries in South America. The group is probably the largest producer and exporter of indigenous Nigerian foods to Europe and America.

Olu Olu brands are visible on the shelves in 4 continents. As a visionary for the sustainable economic development of Africa, he says, “the fortune of Africans will not depend on exploring the Moon, but feeding ourselves.”

Mr Aiyegbusi is married and blessed with grown up children. He is a philanthropist, a Christian and deep thinking spiritualist/philosopher. A very enthusiastic football fan.