Adebola Adedeji MSc Management, Graduated 2011
Managing Director, Ecobank Nominees Limited (A Member of the Ecobank Group)
My time at Southampton broadened my horizons and accelerated my career. It was the first time I was going to be away from home for an extended period of time. My ability to make new friends, connect with people of different cultures and values, work as part of a team and do a lot of individual research are part of the skills I learnt while at Southampton.
Why did you choose to come and study at Southampton?
I researched my options by looking at University rankings and speaking with family and friends in the UK and found Southampton. It was relatively close to my family who lived in Surrey, compared to the other two Universities I got offers. I also attended a presentation in Nigeria by the University’s International Office which helped me make up my mind.
What were your Southampton ‘highlights’ (best experiences)?
Making new friends from all over the world, some of whom I am still friends with till today
What other activities did you take advantage of while at University?
- The weekend team bonding exercise at Liphook, as part of my course
- Making calls to University alumni for the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey
What did you enjoy most about your course?
- The extent and quality of support available in the University from the Career office, to the International office and most importantly the lecturers which helped me settle down well. This was something I was not used to coming from my background.
- Working in teams, some teams were fun to work with, while a couple, not so much.
What are you up to now?
I oversee the overall performance of the Global Custody business in Nigeria with regional oversight within the West African market. The Ecobank Group is a Pan-African Bank with presence in 33 African countries. Custody is a financial service provided by a financial institution (Custodian Bank) for the safekeeping of customer assets.
How did your time at Southampton help you to grow as a person and help you get to where you are now?
My time at Southampton broadened my horizons and accelerated my career. It was the first time I was going to be away from home for an extended period of time. My ability to make new friends, connect with people of different cultures and values, work as part of a team and do a lot of individual research are part of the skills I learnt while at Southampton.
What advice would you give to a student starting their degree at Southampton?
- Be open-minded because you never know whom you’ll meet or what to expect
- Be curious, knowledge is indeed power, and no matter how much you know, there is someone who knows something you don’t
Be friendly, you may just make new friend(s) for life
What tips would you give to current students looking to start a career in your sector?
The financial services sector could be demanding depending on where you find yourself. Go for it and be ready to give it your all in order to make lasting impact.