Dr. Benjamin C. Dike is a distinguished education advocate, leadership development expert, and certified management consultant whose work over the past three decades has significantly shaped enterprise growth, leadership capacity and the pursuit of quality education in Nigeria. With several years of cross-sector experience spanning banking, business advisory, governance, and human capital development, he is widely regarded as a leader of leaders, institution builder and mentor who is committed to national transformation.

Driven by a deep conviction that education and leadership are the bedrock of sustainable development, Dr. Dike is the Founder of Darice and Oaks International School, a values-driven learning institution dedicated to raising a new generation of leaders from the cradle. The school is built on a holistic educational philosophy that integrates academic excellence with character formation, leadership development, and ethical grounding – equipping young people to thrive in a complex and evolving global landscape.

Extending his impact beyond the formal education sector, Dr. Dike is the initiator and  Project Director of the Joshua Leadership Project (JLP), a flagship leadership development initiative that, for over two decades, has equipped thousands of emerging leaders across Nigeria and Africa. Through structured training programmes, mentorship, and strategic institutional partnerships, the Project continues to raise competent, ethical, and purpose-driven leaders across diverse sectors of society.

Complementing this leadership mandate, JLP also provides targeted educational support to indigent students in public secondary schools through the sponsorship of school fees, Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) fees, and JAMB fees, alongside financial assistance for economically disadvantaged undergraduates to enable them complete their education. In doing so, the Project not only expands access to quality education but also helps to break cycles of poverty and reduce inequality advancing globally shared priorities of inclusive opportunity, social equity, and sustainable human progress.

As part of his commitment to early leadership formation, Dr Dike recently spearheaded a leadership development initiative targeted at students in public secondary schools, LeadUp. The programme is designed to ignite leadership consciousness, instill strong values, and equip young people with practical life and leadership skills to become responsible citizens and change agents. Complementing this is the Young Oaks Leadership Network (YOLN), a premier leadership development platform for young people aged 9 to 17 which provide a structured pathway for personal growth, character development, and leadership excellence.

In the corporate space, Dr. Dike serves as the Managing Partner of Cedars and Coleman Limited, a business development and advisory firm focused on enterprise growth, financial structuring, leadership development and trade facilitation with offices in Lagos and Shanghai, China. Through this platform, he has supported organizations in strengthening governance frameworks, unlocking financing opportunities, and expanding market access, particularly within the Africa-Asia trade corridor.

Prior to this, Dr. Dike built a distinguished 25-year career in banking, including 14 years with Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria, where he held several senior leadership positions, reflecting a legacy of excellence in financial services, SME development, and strategic growth leadership.

He has also collaborated with leading global and regional institutions, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Institute of Export Operations and Management, WEConnect International and the Commonwealth Education Trust in contributing to initiatives that promote enterprise development, inclusive economic participation, sustainable business growth and quality innovative education delivery.

Dr. Dike holds a PhD in Credit Management and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Leicester, United Kingdom. He is a Fellow of several professional bodies and serves on the boards of multiple organizations, where he provides strategic oversight in governance, risk management, and long-term value creation. He is also an accomplished author and a respected voice in leadership, business and education discourse.

Through his enduring work across education, leadership development, and enterprise advisory, Dr. Benjamin C. Dike continues to play a pivotal role in shaping a generation of principled leaders and strengthening the institutions that will define Nigeria’s future. His life and work reflect a steadfast commitment to ethical leadership, human capital growth, and overall national development.

It is in recognition of his Sterling Accomplishments in the Development, Management and Delivery of Quality Education in Nigeria that Dr. Benjamin Dike is deemed worthy to be conferred with the Nigerian Achievement Award.