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Although she was born into affluence and royalty, being a descendant of the Olumegbon family of Isale-Eko on Lagos Island, and the daughter of an international businessman, Ambassador Antonio Deinde Fernandez, who was popularly known as His Imperial Highness, due to his fame, and Princess Ibilola Lipede of the Lipede Ruling House of Abeokuta in Ogun State, Chief Mrs. Maria Olateju Phillips is a modest person who has worked hard to impact society.
She came well prepared for her success story in business and politics, having attended some of the most reputable institutions of higher learning in the world, including Aston College of Commerce now Aston University; Huddersfield College, England and Wales; Columbia Business School and Harvard Business School in the United States of America, among others.
In the course of her Articleship as a young graduate of Accounting, she maintained a high standard, working with globally renowned firms of accountants like Peat Marwick Casselton & Co.; as well as Ani, Ogunde & Co. This experience paved the way for her professional career in accounting.
At UAC Nigeria Plc. where she worked as a young accountant, she distinguished herself through the ranks and rose to the position of Divisional Commercial Manager of the Property Division of the company. At different times, she served as Managing Director of Alma Beach Estate Limited, a subsidiary of Rims Merchant Bank; and Managing Director, Maridot Ventures Limited, where she also showed the stuff she is made of.
Married to Olanrewaju Afolabi Phillips, a notable engineer and member of the MUSON Board of Trustees, who sadly passed on in 2024, Chief Mrs. Maria Olateju Phillips is a devoted Christian who has dedicated time and resources to works of faith, impacting humanity.
Across the corporate world, she served on the boards of several public and private institutions including Keystone Bank and Lagos State Lottery Board. She was also appointed as Chairman, Federal College of Agriculture Ibadan; and Chairman, Organising Committee of the Institute of Directors (IoD) Nigeria, among others.
Chief Mrs. Maria Olateju Philips became Chairman, Board of Directors of LASACO Assurance Plc in 2020. By the time she completed her tenure in the company, she left with the testimonial of a corporate titan with a professional track record of excellence in public and private sectors, and one with a strong commitment to due process and corporate governance. Credible stakeholders in the company attest to the fact that she left a legacy of integrity that makes her one of the most respected business leaders in Nigeria.
Over the years, she has contributed extensively towards public policy and administration, financial management, as well as corporate governance within and outside Nigeria, being a renowned management and financial consultant to many companies. She established herself as a quintessential technocrat with a wealth of boardroom experience and exposure in private and public sectors.
Her passion and dedication across sectors earned her enviable positions in politics at state and federal levels. She served at the Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Tourism as Commissioner and gave a good account of herself. She also proved her worth as Commissioner at the Ministry of Special Duties & Inter-Governmental Relations in Lagos State, raising the bar in specific areas including the welfare of serving members of the National Youth Service Corps in Lagos State.
In politics, she played key roles in the emergence of some past and present leaders. In 1999 and 2003, she was appointed Chairman, Inaugural Ball Committee for Senator Bola Tinubu as Governor of Lagos State. In 2007, she became Chairman of the Campaign Fundraising Committee and Chairman, Inaugural Ball Committee for Governor Babatunde Fashola. Again, in 2011, she became a member of the Remi Tinubu Campaign Organisation; and in 2015, she was appointed to serve in the Presidential Campaign Fundraising Committee for Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, among several other roles.
For all her good works in private and public service and for her enduring achievements, Chief Mrs. Olateju Phillips is winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award 2026.
