Born in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State to the illustrious Ashiru family, Otunba Ashiru has a degree in Marketing, Purchasing & Supply, and holds a Master’s Degree in Strategic Management. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (FCIB); the Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria; the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (FNIMN) and the Chartered Institute of Commerce Nigeria.
Otunba Ashiru currently seats as a director for BlackCOD Asset Management, his experience in governance, the corporate world and managing people makes him a great asset to the company.
In a successful career that has spanned two decades and taken him to various institutions, he has served in various capacities of Management, he entered the services of the then Chartered Bank in the year 1989. From there he performed other roles which may include; (Head, Private Banking Unit; Branch Manager; Head, Institution & Professional Banking; Regional Coordinator; Country Director, Personal and Business Banking; Director, Corporate Affairs and Corporate Social Investments; until his last position as Group Head, Public Sector with Stanbic IBTC Bank. Otunba Ashiru was also on the Technical and Communications Committees of the 17th Nigerian Economic Summit (2011).
In addition, Otunba Ashiru was a two-term Honourable Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in Ogun State from 2011 to 2018. Under his stewardship, the business environment of the state developed by over 1,279.84% increase in internally generated Revenue. With the help of his team, he was able to attract over 300 factories/companies to Ogun State with a cumulative investment profile of about N691.77 Billion in 2014, compared to N377 Billion in 2013. This placed Ogun State in the first position in Nigeria as a top-earning state according to the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria. Also, during his tenure, the World Bank Group, in its 2014 Report, ranked Ogun State as one of the best five States in terms of ease of doing business in Nigeria against the 36th position in its 2010 report. He also facilitated the creation of a One-Stop-Shop Investment Center (OSSIC) which sits within the Ministry of Commerce & Industry to assist potential investors with procedures for investment and documentation processing.
Due to his excellent work, Otunba Ashiru has over the years been recognized by some top bodies in the country, some of those recognitions may include; Best Commissioner of the Year – Nigerian NewsDirect Award 2015, Most Proactive Commissioner – FIBAN Excellence Award 2013, Award of Honor for Outstanding Leadership – Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Recognition Award for Excellence – Armed Forces Command & Staff College, Jaji, Recognition Award of Excellence – Nigeria Union of Journalist – Ogun State, Award for Excellence, Outstanding contribution to Commerce & State Industrialization in Ogun State – Fed. Technology Incubation Center, Ogun State, and so much more.
Otunba Bimbola Ashiru is happily married to Olukemi Ashiru, a lawyer, and they are blessed with two lovely children.