Christopher Kolade was known for roles in media, diplomacy, education and corporate leadership.
Early life and education
Christopher Kolade was born on December 28, 1932, in Erin-Oke, Osun State and was the son of an Anglican missionary. He attended Government College, Ibadan and later studied at Fourah Bay College in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Broadcasting career
Kolade began his career in broadcasting and became director general of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), where he contributed to media development.
Corporate leadership
He served as chief executive and later chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, a multinational food company.
Diplomatic service
He was appointed as Nigeria’s high commissioner to the United Kingdom, representing the country in diplomatic affairs.
Academic engagement
After his diplomatic service, Kolade taught at Lagos Business School and the School of Media and Communication at Pan-Atlantic University, where he lectured on Corporate Governance, Human Resource Management, Leadership, and Conflict Management.
University leadership
He was pro-chancellor and chairman of the governing council at Pan-Atlantic University. He also served as chancellor of McPherson University in Ogun State.
Role in public sector reform
In 2012, former President Goodluck Jonathan appointed him chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), an initiative to manage savings from fuel subsidy reforms.
Professional affiliations
Kolade led several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Institute of Management, the Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, the International Institute for Communications, and the World Association for Christian Communication.
Work in ethics and governance
He chaired Integrity Organisation Ltd GTE and The Convention on Business Integrity Ltd GTE, two organisations involved in promoting transparency and accountability in business.
Recognition and death
He received honorary doctorate degrees from institutions such as the University of Sierra Leone in 1976 and McPherson University in 2016.
He died on October 8, 2025, at the age of 92.
