born on April 3, 1952, He was educated at St. John’s African Secondary Modern School, Ijebu-Igbo, where he obtained the Modern Secondary School Certificate in 1965. He went further to obtain a certificate in Finance Management at Bennett College, England in 1975. He attended courses at the Community Development Resources Association (CDRA), South Africa in 2003, the World Bank Institute, Washington D.C., U.S.A. in 2006, and OGC, UK in 2010. His other academic qualifications include a Certificate in Development Supervision(2005), a Certificate in Poverty Reduction Strategy (2006), and a UK-Prince 2 Project Management Certificate (2010). He has also attended several international conferences and workshops and participated in panel discussions at many international fora.
Otunba Ajayi-Smith started his career as a store Assistant at President Clothing Company Limited, Iganmu, Lagos from 1969 to 1974. He later joined Training and Marine Limited, 45, Martin Street, Lagos, where he served as Accounts Officer(Apapa, Warri, and Post Harcort) from 1975 to 1977. In 1978, he left the company to join Stefan Boltzmann Limited, Surulere, Lagos, serving as an administrative Manager until 1982. He later served for 13 years as Managing Director of Capital Presentative Limited between 1982 and 1995. He has been President/ Chief Executive Officer of, the African Citizens Development Foundation since 1995.
He has been a member of the Nigeria Institute of Management (MNIM) since 1984 and of the Institute of Directors (MIoD) London since 2006. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Management Accountants (ICMA) and a fellow of the certified Institute of Cost Management of Nigeria (CICM).
Otunba Ajayi-Smith has won several awards and recognitions, some of which are the African International Business Leadership Award, 1990 Paris, France; African International Award of Merit, 2001; The Otunba Agbeluga of Ijebu-Imusin, 2001; Achievers’ Platinum Award for Global Excellence, 2002; Leadership in Nigeria Education, Gold Award, 2005; Grand Patron, Nigeria Union of Teachers, (NUT) Epe, Lagos State Branch, 2004; Distinguished Nation-Builders Merit Award, 2006; Leader of September 2006 award from the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO) in the United Kingdom; Great Legend in Africa Gold Award, 2008; and Standard Performance Award, 2009.
