Jean-Michel ABIMBOLA, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Arts, Benin
Born June 16, 1966 in Porto-Novo, Babalola Jean-Michel Hervé ABIMBOLA, graduated from the Ecole Supérieure Libre des Sciences Commerciales Appliquées in Paris since 1991, defines himself as the emanation of two strong cultures, Beninese and French, combining with ease the skills of an economist,a manager and the stature of a wise politician that he has built up. He is a member of the National Executive Directorate of the Progressive Union Renewal (UPR), the largest political party in Benin.
Returning to Benin after a few years of managerial responsibilities in marketing in France, he was appointed General Director of the Sèmè Industrial Free Zone (ZFI) in 2004, following a call for applications launched under the government of President Kérékou. He was subsequently a successive member of the Council of Private Investors of Benin,a member of the Technical Committee of the Presidential Council for Investment (CPI) and a member of the Agency for Major development Works.
All these experiences have allowed Jean-Michel ABIMBOLA to have a better knowledge of development oriented issues, private investment, and a perfect mastery of the financing and management mechanisms of large projects.
Although he has been Deputy in the National Assembly for several years and a minister several times, he actually gives the best proof of his skills in the department in charge of culture. After having held the position for 4 years under President YAYI,he was called again by President TALON as Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, with the major challenge of revealing the Beninese cultural exception to make tourism, in conjunction with culture and the arts, an economic development sector that creates wealth and jobs, and a tool for promoting Benin throughout the world.
An outstanding manager and skillful negotiator, he methodically and rigorously leads most of the major projects entrusted to him at the head of this ministerial department.Among the major achievements led by President TALON, the process of restitution of the 26 royal treasures of Danxomè by the French Government is undoubtedly the most eloquent that he carried out brilliantly, alongside with his fellow colleagues members of the Government. He manages major reforms, rehabilitation and infrastructure construction projects in the ecosystem of the tourism, culture and arts sectors. Most of his close collaborators describe him as a rigorous and perfectionist person.
Knight of the French Legion of Honor and having received many honorary distinctions in the Order of Benin, Babalola Jean-Michel Hervé ABIMBOLA is married and father of two (02) children.