His Royal Highness King Okuodu III (Oba Bamildele Obaitan , R.Ph., MBA, CBE, UN / IAWPA Eminent Peace Ambassador) is the paramount ruler of Ososo Kingdom, in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.
Prior to his Ascension to the Most Revered throne of His Forefathers, His Royal Highness was a former Honorable Commissioner for Arts, Tourism, Culture and Disapora Affairs in Edo State; an accomplished pharmacist, consultant and manager in the healthcare, sales, marketing and branding arena.
He has over 30 years in the hospital pharmacy, clinical pharmacy consulting, big pharma sales, marketing, branding and account management space with a track record of documented success in various roles. He have served on various roles over 3 decades including entrepreneurship.
He attended primary school, secondary school and University in the United States and Nigeria and graduated with honors with Bachelors in Pharmacy and a 4 year MBA in Marketing from Temple University in Philadelphia, USA. In addition to his degree, he has various professional licenses and certification in Blockchain Technology.
He worked as a clinical staff pharmacist in various hospitals, consultant pharmacist, started the nightshift program at the first United States hospital, Pennsylvania Hospital. He has worked in various capacities in world class companies from banks to Pharmaceuticals and start up oncology drug companies. Examples in banking include: MBNA, Marine Midland, Citibank, etc. Examples in Pharmaceuticals include: Eli Lilly & Company, Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies, Chiesi USA, Glaxo Smith Kline Oncology, SOBI Pharmaceuticals (Formerly Dova Pharmaceuticals). He also started and built an independent retail pharmacy and medical and pharmacy consulting business: American Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. where he served as President/ CEO for 10 years before selling the business to relocate home to Nigeria to serve my people as an Edo State Commissioner.
Over the years, he has served in various capacities such as staff pharmacist to Assistant Director of Pharmacy at a Community Hospital Clinical Pharmacy in Philadelphia. He has served as a medical representative/ neuroscience specialist; district manager role, diversity and inclusion champion, corporate sales trainer, mentor and CEO/ President before returning home to Nigeria. He won many accolades over 3 decades in these various roles.
He has also served a term as the President of the Nigerian Pharmacists Association of Tampa Bay in Florida, USA where he turned around the reputation and status of the association for the better. He is an Executive Director of the Nigerian American Business Forum.
Since his return to serve as Honourable Commissioner for Arts, Tourism and Culture in Edo State, my accomplishments over the 14 month stint include:
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- Negotiation of the return of several Arts and Artifacts that were looted from the Benin Kingdom in the British Expedition of 1897
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- Broke ground on the first phase of the Museum of West African Arts in Benin City, Edo State
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- Execution of the first ever Edo State International Film Festival which with submission from 192 countries
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- Launch of the Edo State 30 year Tourism Masterplan
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- Launch of the Digital Benin Online Museum; a repository of all things Benin Arts and Culture (DigitalBenin.org)
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- Published the Edo State Cuisine/ Cookbook
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- Established a committee for the Heritage Policy Making for the Arts, Culture and Tourism sector
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- Led the Edo State delegation to the Eko NAFEST where Edo State emerged as the Best in Digital Marketing of Arts in Nigeria.
Accolades and Recognition:
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- Presented Integrity and Service Award for service as an Honorable Commissioner
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- Presented an Excellence Award by the Organization of Great Benin Worldwide
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- Honoured with an Appointment as an Eminent Peace Ambassador with the UN/ IAWPA
With his leadership experience of over 30 years spanning over various sectors, he has a reputation for performance/ results, integrity and inclusiveness. He is at a phase in his life where his overarching desire is to give back to my people of Nigeria and the African continent as a whole. With this is a deliberate desire to expose his young twins to our Nigerian culture and have them establish their roots and network in Africa and globally.
His Royal affiliation also makes my presence in Nigeria and the African continent a priority. The education, experience and networks he has built globally are assets that he bring to Ososo Kingdom and to Nigeria at Large as he looks forward to collaborating with Individuals and businesses towards greater successes.