SIR PASCHAL D.O. ISELE (KSJI)

CHAIRMAN, ACCIOBA BENIN BRANCH

When Pa A. A. Isele, a retired School Headmaster/devout Christian and Mrs. Victoria Isele gave birth to the younger of the two boys of their seven children, they gave him the name Omondia. At the local maternity home, where he was born, the mid-wife gave him the name Darlynton and on being baptized in the Catholic Church by his parents, he was given the Christian name, Paschal. Paschal, as he is fondly called, was born in February 28^th, over 36 years ago in a small village of Ebudin in Edo State.

Paschal started his Primary Education at St. Patrick (Catholic) Primary School, Ebudin, a little earlier than his age mates. As a son of a headmaster, he was privileged to follow his father to school even though he was not formally registered as a pupil. And as the son of a devoted Christian teacher, Paschal grew up in an environment where discipline and fear of God reign. After obtaining his First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) in 1973, Paschal went to the famous Annunciation Catholic College (ACC) Irrua; in Edo State for his Secondary Education and by 1979 he became a holder of the West Africa School Certificate (WASC). It must be mentioned that he was made the Senior Prefect of the School during his final year as a result of his outstanding neatness and academic standing.

Fired by the initial achievement, Paschal sought for a paid job and by 1980 he was a clerical officer with the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Benin, Edo State Branch. Paschal’s quest for more distinctive challenges made him leave for further studies in Auchi Polytechnic in 1982 to study for Diploma in Business Administration which he obtained in 1984. Because of his remarkable academic performance, it was not difficult for him to get to Union Bank of Nigeria Plc as an Industrial Trainee.

To widen his knowledge of the challenging world he was to operate in, Paschal went further to read for the Higher National Diploma (HND) in Marketing at the same Auchi Polytechnic between 1985 and 1987. He graduated in Marketing in 1987 and before leaving Auchi Polytechnic, he was made a “life member” of the Association of Business Administration Students of the School in recognition of his contributions to the department.

Since graduation, Paschal has held positions of responsibility in all the places he has worked. From his exemplary Youth Service (NYSC) days in Kwara Industries Ltd, Ilorin, Paschal has displayed and maintained a very high level of discipline and sincerity in all his transaction and dealings with people. It is little wonder therefore that he has climbed the ladder of success in such a short time.

In 1996, Paschal decided to pursue his Post Graduate Higher Degree at the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos, where he obtained a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in Financial Management. He was elected to the student Union Executive as the Director of Socials during his MBA studies.

Back to his working career, from the modest position of Marketing Manager Assistant at Horizon Fibres Nig ltd, a multinational firm, in 1990, he became the Marketing Manager of Dura Products Industries Ltd, from where he was snatched by Quality finance Ltd in early 1992 as an Assistant Manager, and took charge of their Credit and Marketing department. By March, 1993, Paschal was promoted an Acting Manager and made the Head of Treasury/Marketing and Corporate Finance, a position he held till end of December, 1995. He was again promoted in January 1996 to the position of Manager and made the Branch Manager of their Head Office branch in Lagos. At this time, the company has expanded their branch net-work to Abuja and Benin. Following his continued impressive performance, Paschal was promoted to the position of an Acting General Manager (AGM) in 1990, a position he held till 2001 when he voluntarily resigned and left for a more challenging banking job at the then NNB International Bank Plc. (now Unity Bank). Paschal worked in several departments in both Benin City and Lagos at NNB International Bank ranging from Head, Funds Transfer to Branch Manager and in 2002 Paschal was snatched by the then Equity Bank Of Nigeria PLC and made the Head Of Business development Unit (BDU) at their Akpakpava Benin City branch in November 2004 where he was till the consolidating exercise which saw the merger of Equity Bank with Intercontinental Bank Plc along with Global and Gateway banks. Paschal has managed a numbers of branches since joining Intercontinental bank including Textile Mill Road and Mission Road branches. Following the banks’ consolidation exercise by the Nigeria CBN, Intercontinental Bank Plc merged with Access Bank Plc in 2012 and this again saw Paschal take charge of the Public Sector business of the bank as Relationship Manager/Team Lead.

Paschal is an Associate Member of both the Nigerian Marketing Association (NIMARK) which he joined in 1989 and the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) which he joined in 1993.

It must be remembered here too, that Paschal, in his school days in Auchi Polytechnic, was the Director of Training of the Nigerian Jaycees, Auchi Local Organisation of Members (LOM), an affiliate of Jaycees International. He also belongs to other social clubs in Nigeria. He is a member of “Esan ’83 Club”of Nigeria where he is the Legal Adviser after holding the position of Club Secretary for two terms of four years and Vice President for two other terms of four years. He is the Pioneering General” Secretary of “Trust Group” social club where he today holds the position of Publicity Secretary.

Paschal has also held a number of positions since joining the “Rotary Club”of Ajuwon in 1995 Rotary year at both club and district levels. He was Director of Club Services during the Rotary Year 1996/97, Vice President 1997/98, Vice President 1998/99 and incoming President 1999/2000. He became the President of the Club for Rotary year 2000/2001. At the District level, he was a member of the Group Exchange Programme Committee 1999/2000 as well as member of the Fund Raising Committee of District 9110, Lagos, Nigeria, 1999/2000.

Worthy of mention here is that Paschal became a “knight” of the Order of St. John International on June 13^th 2009.

Paschal returned to Benin City in 2002 and did not hesitate to immediately identify with the Benin branch of ACCIOBA and has since been an active member till date. This has endeared him to most members of the association who then found him worthy to be elected the Chairman of the Association for the next two years.

He is happily married to Lady Dorothy Isele (ksj), a past President of the Inner Wheel Club of Ajuwon and past District Chairman Representative for 1999/2000 and she is the Managing Director/Chief Executive of Pasdora Catering Services Limited. Paschal and Dorothy are blessed with three children, two girls and one boy.

Paschal socialises and play mostly in-door games like scrabbles and monopoly.