Sola POPOOLA
The erstwhile Head Of Trade Marketing at Nigerian Breweries Plc, Funso Ayeni has bagged doctoral degree in programme at Walden University,United States of America( USA.)
In 2002 ,Ayeni bagged Higher National Diploma at the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti and a Post graduate Diploma Applied Geophysics at the Federal University of Technology, Akure in 2005
Shortly after securing a mouth watering job with the Nigerian Breweries, he proceeded to Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomosho, where he added Masters in Business Administration in 2010.
In 2018,Ayeni enrolled at the University of Salford, UK for another Master of Science and in 2023 he bagged Master of Philosophy at the Walden University, USA which paved the way for the doctoral programme which he just concluded.
Ayeni, the Ekiti North People’s Democratic Party(PDP) senatorial candidate in the 2023 General election had put in over 17years in building profitable brands,creating and selling their stories through-the- line in relevant ways
Reacting to his new academic feat Ayeni said, “Sincerely, I didn’t see anything unusual in my academic journey; it’s part of the dream I have set for myself. Yes, management because I want to become a scholar practitioner to advance a greater good, become a better thinker and be able to shape experience to impact knowledge,”
Ayeni recently bowed out gloriously from Nigerian Breweries and set tongues wagging on what would be his next move. Pundits had concluded that Ayeni must have definitely secured a prime place in another multinational company but he did the unexpected.
He renowned for his philanthropic gesture through his Funso Ayeni Foundation.It is on record that, over 30 communities in Ekiti North Senatorial district had benefited from his largesse. It was this singular selfless act that spurred his people to drag him into politics.
The peak of this was his winning the primary election which enabled him to stand for his party -the Peoples Democratic Party in the last year senatorial contest for Ekiti North.
In the midst of all the political struggle, Funso didn’t get distracted as he was still pursuing his academic target to get to the pinnacle of academic excellence.
Shortly before he left Nigerian Breweries, he gained admission into Walden University, USA to pursue a doctoral programme. While working towards winning election in Ekiti, he was simultaneously dedicating a reasonable time to his research work. The big one is that a few weeks ago, Ayeni successfully defended his thesis and earned Phd in management, specializing in leadership and organizational strategy.