Publications
Publications
- December 2006 (Revised January 2007)
- HBS Case Collection
Chief Timothy Adeola Odutola and Nigeria's Manufacturing Sector
By: Nitin Nohria, Anthony Mayo, Foluke Otudeko and Mark Benson
Abstract
Chief Timothy Adeola Odutola was an important contributor to Nigeria's manufacturing sector, creating a multimillion-dollar conglomerate including three factories, a retail franchise, a cattle ranch, a 5,000-acre plantation, a sawmill, and an exporting business before the end of British colonial rule in 1960. Seizing business opportunities as he saw demand, Odutola moved between markets at every opportunity, creating companies servicing a diverse variety of needs. Odutola's keen, unwavering interest in improving the infrastructure of Nigeria allowed him to enjoy a successful career in business and politics, despite the vastly fluctuating political landscape of Nigeria. From British rule through civil war and subsequent coups and countercoups, Odutola remained a popular leader for his commitment to promoting Nigerian business ventures. Elevated to Prime Minister of his tribe--the Ijebu-Ode--in 1956, and later selected as the first President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Odutola campaigned for manufacturing interests and consulted with government officials about national fiscal policy. As a statesman and as a business leader, Odutola worked tirelessly to improve the infrastructure of his country.
Keywords
History; Business Conglomerates; Corporate Social Responsibility and Impact; Corporate Entrepreneurship; Success; Leadership Style; Business History; Market Entry and Exit; Personal Development and Career; Business Startups; Manufacturing Industry; Nigeria
Citation
Nohria, Nitin, Anthony Mayo, Foluke Otudeko, and Mark Benson. "Chief Timothy Adeola Odutola and Nigeria's Manufacturing Sector." Harvard Business School Case 407-027, December 2006. (Revised January 2007.)