City People Reveals What Makes The Bank Unique
Not many people know that there is a bank called OPTIMUS Bank in Nigeria. There is. Lets tell you a little about this bank that many people are talking about right now.
Built with a bold ambition of offering optimum banking experiences to millions of customers globally, Optimus Bank is a digital-driven financial services platform for your specific personal, corporate, and business financial needs.
Optimus Bank is registered under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and licensed as a national bank by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). It also complies with other statutes and regulations generally applicable to Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) operating in Nigeria.
As a financial services platform that recognises, the core needs of its diverse customer base, it has built intuitive products that showcase simple features and practical solutions. Customers can conveniently open accounts and conduct transactions without a physical branch visit, through our range of digital channels including the website, *930# USSD, Optiverse mobile app and internet banking platforms.
It offers Premium Banking
With a Vision to unlock new opportunities for its stakeholders and communities, it has created a preferred platform that delivers Value through sustainable and scalable solutions for individuals and businesses. Optimus Bank is driven by some of the brightest minds in the world, from Technology to financial services, all working towards one goal: making banking easier and accessible.
It has digital platforms, “Optiverse” mobile and internet banking, and *930# USSD platforms provide exceptional experiences for our customers’ demands in addition to a variety of personalized financial solutions.
Who are those behind OPTIMUS Bank?
Mr. AKPATA, OGHOGHO.
Chairman
Oghogho Akpata is the Managing Partner at Templars, a firm he founded in 1995. Oghogho possesses over 30 years of experience in the transactional and dispute-resolution aspects of the Nigerian oil and gas sector. He advises a broad range of clients including international oil companies, oil service contractors, and a number of multinationals operating in Nigeria.
Oghogho is listed and ranked as a leading Project Finance and Oil & Gas lawyer by the three main global guides to the legal profession, including Chambers, Legal 500, and Who’s Who Legal.
Some of Oghogho’s recent transactions include – Chinese National Oil Corporation on its $15.1 billion acquisition of Nexen Inc., Sinopec on its S$7.2 billion acquisition of Addax Petroleum Corporation, the Bureau of Public Enterprises on the restructuring of the now defunct state-owned electricity monopoly, National Electric Power Authority, etc.
A man with a large heart, Oghogho has been a longtime advocate of gender, cultural and religious diversity, and social change who inspires people, mobilizes action and resources, and as a result, has ensured that Templars’ commitment to pro bono legal service is deep and longstanding by encouraging his lawyers to participate in pro bono activities.
DR OLASEHINDE, OLUSOLA PIUS.
Independent Non-Executive Director
Olusola Olasehinde is currently the Chief Executive Officer of IBY Business Associates Inc. in Toronto, Canada. He has over 35 years of professional experience as a Senior Bank Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief Audit Executive (CAE), Chief Risk Officer (CRO), and Chief Compliance Officer (CCO). His experience cuts across several industries, including Banking, Asset Management, Commercial Aviation, Oil & Gas, Maritime Security, Electricity Distribution, Transportation, Professional Accounting Practice, and Academia.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (FCIB). He holds additional designations in the United States of America, including Certified Public Accountant (CPA, State of Michigan), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Project Management Professional (PMP), and Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA).
He bagged a Doctorate Degree in Business Administration, California Coast University, Santa Ana, USA, a Master’s Degree in Finance, University of Lagos, Nigeria, a Bachelor’s Degree in Law, University of Lagos, Nigeria, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Accountancy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
He has also attended Executive Leadership Programs at the Schulich School of Business, York University, Toronto, Canada and the Senior Management Program of the Lagos Business School, Nigeria.
Olusola is an .54/Development Scholar and a Recipient of the Delta Epsilon Tau International Honors in the United States of America by election of the Gamma of California. He is a strong advocate for continuous improvement, increasing organizational effectiveness, and delivering value adds to business partners.
MRS AGU, VIVIAN IFEYINWA.
Independent Non-Executive Director
Mrs. Vivian Ifeyinwa Agu retired from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as the Bank’s Director of the Internal Audit Department in 2020. She brings vast experience and leadership of over two decades, as a Bank Supervisor and Bank Examiner in two frontlines CBN Departments that oversaw the critical era of expansion and consolidation in Nigeria’s banking sector. She witnessed many of the structural changes and operational challenges in the nation’s banking and financial industry at that time; and, she earned an enviable reputation for hard work, integrity, firmness, and fairness in promoting rule-based conduct, regulatory compliance, and sound controls in banking and financial institutions.
As Director of the Internal Audit Department, in her last 8 years in the CBN, she demonstrated expertise and sound judgment; and, in the process, strengthened the role of the Internal Audit function for adroit oversight of organizational vision and mission, evaluating the aspirations and initiatives of the Bank’s leadership, monitoring the capacities and constraints of the system; measuring progress as well as shortfalls in policy, administrative and operational issues; and also, in enforcing internal controls.
She cemented her reputation and credibility as the auditor that offers trusted advice to Board and Management for organizational change and improvements. Vivian is widely trained, with a B.Sc. in Accountancy and an M.Sc. in Finance, from the University of Nigeria and the University of Calabar. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria; and a past President and Chairman of the Board, of the Institute of Internal Auditors of Nigeria. She is also an alumnus of Harvard Kennedy School. Over the years she has undertaken numerous courses in advanced auditing, leadership with ethics and compliance; and, leading for organizational and global impact from reputable institutions like Berkley University California and Stanford Graduate School of Business, both in the USA.
ALHAJI ABDULLAHI, MOHAMMED SIRAJ.
Independent Non-Executive Director
Siraj Abdullahi studied Law at the University of Sokoto. He proceeded to the Nigeria Law School and was called to the Nigeria Bar in 1987. Siraj also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Sciences and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Bayero University in Kano. Siraj started a career in Banking at Continental Merchant Bank Plc in 1989. He attended many professional courses and Training workshops in credit analysis, Treasury Management, and Corporate Finance. He moved to Broad Bank of Nigeria as an Assistant Manager, worked for 2 years in the Credit and Marketing Department, and was the pioneer Branch Manager of one of the new branches of the Bank opened in Kano during that period.
He moved to Guaranty Trust Bank Plc in 1997. A well-trained Banker and experienced credit analyst Siraj worked in the Banking Industry up to 1999 when he was appointed the Special Assistant to the Honorable Minister of Commerce. He worked with the Minister of Commerce traveling extensively with the Minister during those years attending International meetings, seminars, and conferences. He represented Nigeria at several Bilateral and Multilateral trade negotiations. In September 2001 Siraj was appointed Deputy Director of the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria. Together with a New Management Team at the CAC worked tirelessly for the rebirth of a more efficient and customer-friendly CAC and the new online company registration for the Commission.
He returned to the Banking Industry and to Guaranty Trust Bank as Divisional Head of North West in April 2004. He was responsible for Marketing and General administration in his division. He became General Manager and member of Executive Management in 2008 a position he held until July 2013 when he voluntarily resigned to take up his current job as Executive Director in Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd, operators of Kainji and Jebba Hydro power plants and strong players in the emerging power sector in Nigeria.
- OLUMAKINDE AKINOLA SONAME
Non-Executive Director
Akinola Olumakinde Soname has had professional qualifications in both Banking and Accountancy since the 1970s. He has a Master’s Degree in International Management from the University of Liverpool and presently awaits the conferment of a Doctorate in Business Administration from the prestigious Cranfield University in the UK.
He had worked within the financial services and manufacturing sectors of the Nigerian economy. He gained quality experience by working at senior levels in both KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers as a Management Consultant. He had earlier held positions as Management Accountant, Chief Accountant and Financial Director at notable multinational companies some of which are quoted on the Stock Exchange. He is the Chairman of Financial Spectrum Limited, Finspect Bureau De Change Limited and Akinomics Limited. He brings to the Board a rich experience garnered over the years both as a line management team player and as consultant to companies including those in the Banking and financial services sector.
DR ODEYEMI, ADEMOLA AYODEJI
Managing Director
Dr. Ademola Odeyemi is the man at the drivers seat. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, a Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, and the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers of Nigeria. Ademola is an alumnus of Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, and had a First Class Honours in Social Studies. He also holds his Master’s Degree with a Distinction Average in Tests and Measurements and a Ph.D. from the same institution.
He has over two decades of professional banking experience in domestic and International banking and was the Executive Director at Guaranty Trust Bank, Plc, responsible for international expansion strategy formulation and implementation. His financial sector experience and expertise cover financial control, strategy, corporate planning, and international banking.
He served on the Board of all Guaranty Trust Bank’s subsidiaries and other companies. Ademola has sound public sector knowledge, especially in public sector financial planning and management. He has attended several strategies, entrepreneurial, and other advanced management programs.
MRS. IGE, YEWANDE OLUFUNKE
Executive Director
Mrs. Yewande Ige is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, an Honorary Member, of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants, Nigeria, and a Fellow of the Institute of Credit Administrators of Nigeria.
She is an alumnus of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and had a Second Class (Upper) Degree in Economics. She has over two decades of professional banking experience in credit and marketing, strategy formulation, and implementation, and was the Regional Head and Deputy General Manager at Guaranty Trust Bank, Nigeria Limited, responsible for the growth of the Retail, SME, Commercial, and Public Sector base of the bank across seven states in the Southwestern Region of Nigeria.
Her financial sector experience and expertise cover formulating and implementing financial inclusion initiatives, structuring, and managing credit exposures to customers, loan remediation and loan workouts, and strategy formulation, with proven leadership and interpersonal skills. She has attended several management and leadership training programs.
