Adetokunbo Oluwafolakemi Durotoye is a business consultant, a motivational speaker, and a mentor. FD, as he is fondly referred to, is the Chief Executive Officer of Gemstone Group, a Company that aims at building and harnessing human capacity towards excellent leadership and sustainable development, with the goal of building a more desirable Nigeria by 2025. Mr. Durotoye is married to Tara, a highly respected, renowned beauty specialist and the CEO of House of Tara. They are happily married with three sons.
Fela Durotoye Family & Educational Background
Fela born to professor parents, on 12-05-1971 in Ibadan, South West Nigeria
An alumnus of Obafemi Awolowo University where he obtained his Bachelors in Computer Science & Economics along with a Masters in Business Administration. He proceeded to Harvard’s Kennedy School where he enrolled in the Government Executive Education programme. He attended fellowships at Yale University, The Leadership Institute in the United States of America. He was recently awarded the United Nations Youth Ambassador for Peace for his dedicated service to ensuring sustainable development through his numerous social projects in across the African continent.
He presently guest lectures Ethical Leadership at the renowned Stanford University as part of the Seed program to Chief Executive Officers of businesses with operations across Africa.
In 2015, Fela attended the Lagos Business School where he completed a course on strategy, Innovation and Governance particularly how it affects sustainability for NGO’s and corporate organizations.
Fela Durotoye’s Professional Life
Fela’s belief in the role of law enforcement in social development and leadership by example enrolled in the supernumerary police training program at the Nigeria Police Training school, Ikeja where he graduated with an award.
Fela started his professional career in 1992 as a Project Finance Analyst in Ventures & Trusts LTD. Six years later, He moved on to Phillips Consulting Limited where he gained expertise in Total Quality Management.
According to him, “the most difficult aspect was leaving, having to detach myself from Phillips Consulting because I loved it with all my heart and had a personal drive to get to the top echelon. My vision was aligned with the growth of the company”.
In 2000, Fela set up VIP Consulting. This company focused on service delivery, performance management, and customer satisfaction. The company eventually metamorphosed from a traditional management consulting firm to Visible Impact Limited, covering management, multimedia, and social foundation.
In furtherance of his vision and mandate, Visible Impact Limited was established to proffer solutions to Nigeria’s social and environmental problems, creating responsible and active next generation leaders.
Fela was given the platform to speak at ECOWAS Regional Youth Conference. He articulated the voice of the youth so well that he was given a mandate by the West African regional body to formulate a 5-year policy towards youth empowerment and employment activation among the member states.
“17 Secrets of High Flying Students” was authored by the business guru, Fela in 2012. This book is highly revered as a treasure chest of secrets with the power to propel average students to high achieving, successful individuals. The book is packed with life-changing stories and remains a go-to guide for young adults who desire success in academics and all aspects of life.
In 2014, under the Gemstone platform, FD organized a simultaneous global live reading of excerpts of his book across 17 cities in Nigeria and 17 Nations globally.
He donated 17,000 copies of the book across the country to mainly underprivileged, public school students.
Fela has raised the educational standard in our schools through transformative initiatives and projects, to motivate the next generation of Nigerian leaders.
The Fela Durotoye Leadership network has enabled 15,000 youth and professionals of all genders, religions, businesses and professional sectors to gain mentorship and guidance.
Fela Durotoye is a highly desired business policy planner and strategist. He has more than a decade of relevant experience in the business industry, his expertise in multinational and indigenous business culture makes him a vital asset to entrepreneurs and business executives. He is notably among Nigeria’s highest ranked motivational speakers, mentors and consultants. This is evidenced by his widespread and diverse clientele, ranging from access bank , GT bank ,Diamond bank, Zenith Bank United Bank for Africa, Fidelity bank , Skye Bank, Stanbic IBTC, ARM Investments, Standard chartered, FCMB and Vetiva A&M Ltd in the Banking and Investment sector, Shell, Oando, Addaxx Petroleum, Masters Energy, Bell Oil and gas and NLNG in the Oil and gas sector, to Airtel, MTN and Multichoice in the telecommunications sector.
He has considerable clientele within Manufacturing & FMCG industry and in the public sector.
Fela Durotoye’s Inspirational Projects
The Mushin Project, largest urban renewal project in African history to be carried out by private citizens is the most notable among FD’s numerous inspirational projects. The project brought together over 2000 unemployed youth and empowered them. Through partnerships with Berger Paints PLC, over 100 young Nigerians were trained in the art of painting. At no cost to the residents, the volunteers painted over 200 houses across the streets of Mushin area of Lagos.
FD has dedicated his life to creating tangible impact and uplifting people wherever he finds himself. He has lived a life that deserves accolades and it is no surprise that several renowned bodies and organizations both nationally and internationally have recognized his magnificent work. His notable awards include Nigerian Achievers award (2009), Fly Network Africa Integrity Award, City People Young Male Achievers Award, Award of Excellence, by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPMN) and Heart of Africa Award (2006) by the Federal Ministry of Information and Communication.
Fela Durotoye’s Forray in Politics
“When you don’t know where you’re going in life ( No clear Destination), you don’t need direction.. You need divine revelation” – Fela Durotoye
At a time where the country is clamoring for younger and vibrant leaders, it is no surprise that Fela decided to run.
‘Selectocracy’ as he termed it, has eaten deep into our political fabric as a country. He reiterated the need for free, fair and credible elections as a viable means of selecting outstanding candidates void of godfatherism influence.
He intends to vie for the presidency under the platform of Alliance for a New Nigeria (ANN).
At 2pm, on February 22, 2018, Fela Durotoye formally joined the ANN after careful consideration of the ideologies of all the political parties. He claimed the parties ideologies resonates with his and their grassroot movement aligns with his ambitions. He strongly urged technocrats and youth alike who dream for a better Nigeria to actively join him in the political arena. He vowed to deliver good governance and reiterated its role in achieving the nation we all desire.
