MR. FRANCIS E. IRUOBE
CHAIRMAN IPAN-SoTLAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MR. FRANCIS E. IRUOBE obtained a B. Sc. (Hons.) degree in Biochemistry and Nutrition (Agriculture) from University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, in 1971 and an M. Sc. degree in Food Technology – Quality Control from the University of Reading, England in 1976.
He started his career as a Marketing Trainee Executive at Nestle Nigeria Plc., a multinational food manufacturing company in 1972. Mr. Iruobe grew through the ranks in Nestle Nigeria Plc. – Head of Market Research (1972 – 1973), Commodities Advisor (1973 – 1980); Head of Quality Control and Assurance (1976 – 1980); and Head, Supply Chain Management (1980 – 1994). Through the course of his professional life, he received continuous training to stay abreast of developments in Management and Leadership at several institutions and through work attachments in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, United States, West Africa, East Africa and Germany.
His stint in the areas of produce market analysis in West Africa, research on finished culinary products, reach and distribution within Nigerian homes; product management; management of analytical food laboratory; preparation of West African countries produce reports (majorly on agricultural materials) for Nestle companies worldwide; finished products quality confirmation and assurance for over 20 years; catapulted him to the peak of his career in Nestle Nigeria Plc.
From 1995 to 1997, Mr. Iruobe was the Group Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of Food Business at Tropic General Investment, a Food Business Unit which is involved in the production, processing, packaging and export of fresh fruits; production, product management, marketing and sales of tetra packed fruit juices as well as export and sales of packaged frozen food products.
Since 1998, Mr. Iruobe has been the Chairman of GOLDMAT International Limited, a consulting and analytical services company which focuses on chemicals and food trading; laboratory safety; consumer product registration; and import-export. He is the Chairman- Business and Corporate Affairs Committee of Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN) and also a Resource Specialist to the Institute since 2005.
Mr. Iruobe is an accomplished professional; he has been an outstanding Mentor/trainer to Student members (Public Analysts Trainee) of IPAN since 2010. He is a Fellow -Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN); a Member of the following professional bodies – Society of Testing Laboratory Analysts of Nigeria (SoTLAN), Nigeria Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST), Institute of Food Science and Technology (United Kingdom), Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM); and also a Member of Rotary Club, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.
As part of his service to humanity and his community, Mr. Iruobe was the Vice Chairman, Hospitality Service Group of Winners Chapel and a recipient of many awards including Nestle Nigeria Plc. Long Service Award – 10 and 20 Year Milestone and Quality Leadership award from Winners Hospitality Service Group.