By Yemisi Sulaiman

Nigeria’s boardroom matriarch, Otunba Ayora Bolajoko Aduke Dorcas Kuforiji-Olubi is dead.

It was gathered that the veteran corporate Amazon, died yesterday at Lagoon Hospital, Lagos. She was aged 80.

It will be recalled that Ayora Kuforiji-Olubi, celebrated her 80th birthday last September, with family and friends at a high-profile thanksgiving at the All Saints’ Church in Yaba, Lagos Mainland.
A woman of many firsts, Kuforiji-Olubi, was a former Minister of Commerce and Industry, was the first female graduate of Member of the Institute of Chattered Accountants (ICAN). She was elected the first female ICAN President, 1989, as the 25th President. She was also a foundation member and Grand Matron of the Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN).

 Kuforiji-Olubi was the first Nigerian woman to become the Managing Director of an international company in Nigeria, VYB (Nigeria) Ltd. in 1977. She was also the first female Chairman of a public quoted company on the stock exchange-BEWAC Plc., the holding company for VYB and its subsidiaries. Kuforiji-Olubi was also the first female Chairman of United Bank for Africa(UBA).