Oyinade Adegite: A leading force in African finance and community empowerment

By Seun Ibiyemi

In the ever-evolving world of African finance and corporate communications, Oyinade Adegite (Ogunade) has emerged as a remarkable figure known for her strategic brilliance and dedication to community empowerment.

As Chief Communication Officer at Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc since July 2021, Oyinade has played a pivotal role in shaping the narrative of one of Africa’s largest financial services groups.

With over 20 years of experience in banking, strategy, and communication, Oyinade’s career has been defined by impactful roles across the industry. During her time at GTBank from 2012 to 2022 as Head of Corporate Communication, she led marketing initiatives that significantly contributed to revenue growth and customer acquisition across various African markets.

Before her tenure at GTBank, she gained expertise at Stanbic IBTC as Global Markets Head, where she specialised in interest rate sales and structuring, as well as in treasury and upstream energy roles at GTBank between 2003 and 2006.

Oyinade’s professional accomplishments go beyond corporate strategy. She is deeply committed to social impact, demonstrated by her leadership of GTCO’s “Waste-for-Gas” initiative. The programme, which distributed over 3,000 gas cylinders to residents of Obafemi Owode Local Government Area in Ogun State, promotes cleaner communities and improves household welfare by providing access to gas-powered cooking solutions, reducing reliance on firewood, and fostering environmental sustainability.

Discussing the initiative, Oyinade reflected on the importance of reaching those in genuine need: “We visited various households across the local government and were surprised to find that some residents had already borrowed from money lenders just to afford gas cylinders, while others were considering doing the same.”

Oyinade holds a Master’s degree in Finance and Management from Cranfield University, alongside a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Lagos. Her educational background, paired with her extensive professional experience, underscores her ability to navigate complex challenges and drive growth within the financial sector.

Her strategic leadership has earned her recognition among the top marketing and communications directors influencing Nigeria’s billion-dollar companies. Oyinade’s efforts in fostering industry partnerships and ensuring brand resilience have made a significant impact in competitive markets.

Oyinade Adegite (Ogunade) exemplifies the qualities of a successful woman leader—strategic, impactful, and unwavering in her commitment to both corporate excellence and community development.