RONKE OKEREMI, FNCS: A SEASONED AND INNOVATIVE IT BUSINESS EXPERT PROMOTING BUSINESSES IN AFRICA

“Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness” – Napoleon Hill.
The above quoted statement perfectly describes the innovative impact and visionary leadership of one of the seasoned professionals in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector of the Nigerian economy, Mrs. Ronke Okeremi, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Arit of Africa Limited, one of the leading & oldest IT companies in Nigeria founded in May, 1974.

Over the years Mrs Okeremi has distinguished herself not only as a seasoned Computer Scientist and Information Technologist but also as an accomplished entrepreneur and a reputable professional that has demonstrated high degree of integrity, professionalism and transparency in all her transactions in the public and private sectors. Indeed, she has carved a niche for herself through impactful leadership and technical execution of her responsibilities in the Information Technology (IT) industry.

Mrs. Okeremi is an indigene of Ibadan in Oyo State, South-West geo-political zone, Nigeria. She attended the prestigious University of Lagos where she obtained her first degree in Computer Science. She has a Master’s degree in Information Technology and is an Alumus of the China European International Business School (CEIBS). She is an enterprise business expert with focus on management, strategic marketing and corporate finance for business interests having a unique ability to multi-task between roles.

Mrs. Okeremi is a pragmatic and result driven leader who has a positive influence on her environment and a passion for selling technology and its adaptability to businesses. She has over thirty-five (35) years of consistent and unblemished career in the Information Technology sector in which about twenty-five (25) has been in management and leadership capacity.

Prior to joining Arit of Africa Ltd, she had her career at the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited in the Information Technology Department. In 1996, she left Shell Petroleum to join Arit of Africa as the General Manager, Business, a position she held and rose to become The Executive Director, Business Development and subsequently the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company in 2010.

Since her assumption as the Chief Executive Officer of Arit of Africa Limited, Mrs. Okeremi has proven to all and sundry her capability to translate vision into reality. Indeed, her transformational skills and innovative leadership style has helped Arit to create positive impact in the lives of its clients and businesses in Nigeria and beyond. Nonetheless, Arit of Africa is a leading and a world-class Information and Technology (IT) services organization in Nigeria that specializes in the deployment of high-end IT systems, solutions and services. The company is recognized as the preferred technology service provider in Sub-Saharan Africa, functioning as a pioneer Enterprise IT systems integrator. The firm deploys cutting-edge systems, solutions and services that are not only innovative but also strategically aligned to help businesses achieve their set goals across the continent.

Indeed, Arit of Africa is an impact-driven organization, dedicated to delivering innovative, practical, and scalable solutions that anticipate and address the evolving strategic needs of the digital economy. Its unique strength lies in their “glocal” model; deep domain expertise and strategic insight into the dynamic Nigerian and African business landscape, combined with an unwavering commitment to global best practices and world-class service standards. Its core services span Enterprise Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, Network Security, Cloud and Data Centre solutions, Digital transformation advisory and Managed services. The company also supports organizations with IT governance, system integration, and business continuity frameworks.

With well-articulated vision and mission statements “To be a leading IT service provider in the industry” and with the mission “To partner with clients in the provision of value-added solutions”. Based on this mission, the company is partnering with top technology OEMs to design, map, and integrate technology roadmaps that are precision-tailored to specific client requirements, ensuring that the optimal solutions are independent of any single platform or product.

Undoubtedly, Mrs. Okeremi, an IT expert and a business technocrat is synonymous with value creation, she is not one of those who got to where they are by “whom they knew” but her journey to the top of her professional career has been the product of hard work, determination, commitment, dedication and honesty.

As Guardian is celebrating IWD today, one of the Inspiring and award-winning Amazons in Nigeria, Mrs. Ronke Okeremi spotlights on how “Gender Equality” can be achieved in Nigeria and domestic violence minimized. In her words, she said “Gender equality in Nigeria will not be achieved through advocacy alone. It requires deliberate structural changes across education, opportunity access, and workplace systems. Firstly, we need to strengthen the pipeline, that means investing in education for girls, especially in STEM and digital skills, where future economic value will be created. Secondly, organizations must move beyond symbolic inclusion and build systems, that support women to grow into leadership.

This includes fair living practices, mentorship, sponsorship, and clear performance-based progression. Thirdly, there has to be accountability. Both public and private sector institutions should track and report gender representation across levels, not just at entry level. Finally, we need to address cultural biases that limit women’s participation. Until mindset shifts happen alongside policy, progress will remain slow.

In addition, as the theme of this year’s IWD implies, “Give to Gain” the government focus should be on creating enabling structures. This includes policies that support female entrepreneurship, access to financing, and protection frameworks that allow women to operate and grow business safely.

Also, for organizations, the message is clear. If you invest in women, you are strengthening your organization. This means investing in leadership development, creating inclusive work environment, and ensuring women are represented in decision-making roles. Importantly, there is also a responsibility to give back through mentorship and capacity building. For instance, when experienced professionals supports the next generation, the impact compounds over time. Therefore, in practical terms, giving is not just about resources, but it is also about access, opportunity, and trust, and when these are given, the returns are always significant, both economically, socially and otherwise.

On the issue of domestic violence, I want to emphasize that domestic violence is a serious social issue that requires a coordinated and pragmatic response across legal, institutional and community levels. Firstly, enforcement of existing laws must be strengthened. Infact, it is not enough to have policies on paper, there must be visible consequences for offenders. Secondly, support systems for victims need to be more accessible. This includes safe shelters, legal aid, and counseling services. Thirdly, there has to be more education at the community level. Many cases go unreported due to stigma or lack of awareness. Also, public sensitization can help to change the situation, so that those victimized are not ashamed to speak out. Finally, economic empowerment plays a crucial role. When women are financially independent, they are better positioned to leave abusive environments. Emphatically, domestic violence is not just a woman’s issue, but is a societal issue and it requires collective responsibility and coordinated approach to address it”.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS, SOCIAL IMPACT AND RECOGNITIONS

Apart from being an Alumnus of the China European International Business School (CEIBS), Mrs. Okeremi is a Fellow of the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS); A Member, Computer Professional Registration, Council of Nigeria (CPN), just to mention but a few. She is an enterprise business expert focused on management, strategic marketing and corporate finance for business interests having a unique ability to multi-task between roles. She is an extraordinary IT leader who has a positive influence on her environment and passion for selling technology and its adaptability to business.

In addition, she has mentored many young men and women in the industry. She co-founded an NGO which is dedicated to supporting girls and young women in Science and Technology.

Succinctly, it is pertinent to state that Mrs. Okeremi whose contributions and legacies speak louder than words remain a woman of integrity, a visionary leader, an agent of positive change and a seasoned IT expert. Indeed, her innovativeness, pragmatic and exemplary leadership qualities, mentorship as well as her many insightful solutions in the Nigerian Information and Technology sector has again been recognized among the hundred (100) Inspiring and Award-Winning Amazons in Nigeria.

She is happily married with children.