•As City People Reveals Their Stories
Who are the Big Boys and Ladies who run the banks as MD/CEO? City People’s SEUN JOSEPH went in search of them and he got 25 of them.
Below is their exciting stories.
HERBERT WIGWE
Herbert Wigwe is the CEO and Group Managing Director of Access Bank Plc. He is a super banker and entrepreneur whose career in financial services has spanned more than 25 years.
Under his leadership, Access Bank plc has grown from a small commercial bank into one of Africa’s largest banks, with over 10 million account holders and 400 branches across Nigeria, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the UK. As one of Nigeria’s foremost corporate bankers, Herbert has helped develop some of Africa’s most successful companies in the construction, telecommunications, energy, oil, and gas sectors.
Herbert’s flair for sustainable banking has seen Access Bank receive numerous global accolades, positioning the bank as a leader in corporate social responsibility.
NNAMDI OKONKWO
Nnamdi Okonkwo runs Fidelity Bank. He has over 30 years banking experience, starting from entry-level upon graduation and rising to different positions within the banking industry and currently Managing Director/CEO of Fidelity Bank Plc. Mr. Okonkwo is the CEO of Fidelity Bank and representative of Fidelity Bank on the Board of Directors of Unified Payments.
He assumed duties as Managing Director/CEO of Fidelity Bank with effect from January 2014. Until his appointment as the MD/CEO, he was the Executive Director in charge of South Directorate of the bank. He holds a B.Sc in Agricultural Economics from the University of Benin and an MBA, Banking and Finance from Enugu State University.
ADAM NURU
Adam Nuru runs First City Monument Bank (FCMB). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a specialisation in Finance from the Ahmadu Bello University.
He has over 20 years experience covering Corporate Finance, Consumer Banking, Public Sector, Treasury, Commercial/Retail Banking and Human Resources Management. Mr. Nuru began his career at the Nigerian Agricultural & Cooperative Bank. He also worked at Oceanic Bank and FSB International Bank (Now Fidelity Bank), where he headed Public Sector, later Retail Banking (Lagos), and eventually Human Resources Management Group. He joined FCMB in 2005 as Head of Enterprise Management overseeing Human Resources, Administration & Logistics and Branch Development.
He joined FinBank Plc in 2009 as Executive Director, North Nigeria and rejoined FCMB as Executive Director Abuja & North Nigeria, following the merger of FCMB and FinBank in 2012.
SOLA KAZEEM ADEDUNTAN
Sola Kazeem Adeduntan (FCA) is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of First Bank of Nigeria Limited. Prior to this appointment, he was an Executive Director and the Bank’s Chief Financial Officer.
Before coming to FirstBank, Sola was a Director and the pioneer Chief Financial Officer/Business Manager of Africa Finance Corporation. He has served as a Senior Vice-President & Chief Financial Officer at Citibank Nigeria Limited, a Senior Manager in the Financial Services Group of KPMG Professional Services and a Manager at Arthur Andersen Nigeria. Sola also had a brief stint at the defunct Afribank Nigeria Plc (now Mainstreet Bank) as a graduate trainee where he worked mainly in banking operations.
Sola attended the University of Ibadan, where he obtained a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Cranfield University Business School, the United Kingdom which he attended as a distinguished “British Chevening Scholar.”
SEGUN AGBAJE
Segun Agbaje runs GT Bank. He began his promising career as an Auditor at Ernst & Young, San Francisco, USA. In 1991, he left the United States to Nigeria and joined Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) as a pioneer staff. Ever since then, he has worked his way up the ranks.
He was appointed Executive Director in 2000 and as Deputy Managing Director in 2002. In April 2011, Agbaje acted as the bank’s Managing Director when Tayo Aderinokun, then MD was on medical leave. Upon Aderinokun‘s demise in June 2011, Segun Agbaje was named the MD of GTBank. Agbaje has broken new grounds in the Nigerian banking industry, he helped in developing the Interbank Derivatives market among dealers and introduced the Balance Sheet Management Efficiency system.
EMEKA EMUWA
Emeka Emuwa is the CEO of Union Bank. He was appointed to the Board of Union Bank as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in November 2012. Prior to joining Union Bank, he had spent 25 years at Citibank where he rose through the ranks from Management Associate in 1986 to Managing Director, Citibank Nigeria Ltd, and Citi Country Officer, Nigeria. While at Citibank, he served as Citi Country Officer in Cameroon, Tanzania, Gabon, Congo, Ghana and Niger and also worked in various positions within Nigeria. In 2005, he became the first Nigerian to be appointed as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Citibank Nigeria Limited.
He has extensive experience in credit risk management, strategy, negotiating, leadership and people management in addition to the treasury, corporate finance and cash management product training.
Mr. Emuwa holds a BSc. in Finance from the University of Lagos and an MSc. in Management from the Krannert School of Management, Purdue University, USA.
KENNEDY UZOKA
Kennedy Uzoka is the CEO of UBA. He has over 2 decades experience covering core banking, corporate marketing, strategic business advisory services and resources management. He is responsible for leading the development and execution of UBA Group’s long term strategy.
Prior to his current role, he was CEO UBA Africa managing the Group’s country subsidiaries across 18 countries in Africa as well as supervising 3 key strategic support areas in Digital Banking, Information Technology and Personal Banking.
As Deputy Managing Director, he was the Executive in charge of the Group’s businesses in New York and London. He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School(AMP) in Boston USA, the International Institute of Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland and the London Business School, United Kingdom.
EBENEZER ONYEAGWU
Ebenezer Onyeagwu runs Zenith Bank. He is a vastly experienced banker and financial expert, trained in reputable institutions of learning in Nigeria, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
Onyeagwu is a graduate of Accounting from Auchi Polytechnic where he obtained the Ordinary National diploma in 1984 and Higher National Diploma in 1987. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1989 while he was still undergoing the compulsory National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) post graduation and was named a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) in 2003. He is an alumnus of the prestigious University of Oxford, England, from where he obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Strategy and a certificate in Macroeconomics.
He has nearly 30 years’ experience in the banking industry in Nigeria. He joined Zenith Bank Plc in 2002 as a Senior Manager, in the Internal Control and Audit Group of the bank. His professionalism, competence, integrity and commitment to the set objectives of the bank saw him rise swiftly between 2003 and 2005, first, as Assistant General Manager, then Deputy General Manager, and eventually as General Manager of the bank. In these capacities, he handled strategies for new business and branch development, management of risk assets portfolios, treasury functions, strategic top-level corporate, multinationals and public institutional relationships, among others.
PATRICK AKINWUNTAN
Patrick Akinwuntan runs Ecobank. He served as the Head of Commercial Bank for 3 years. Following that, in 1999, he became the Group Chief Finance Officer (CFO). As he advanced, he became the Executive Director of Retail Banking, Ecobank Nigeria, in 2001.
He has kept climbing Ecobank’s organisational ladder non-stop. Next, in 2011, he became the Group Executive Director for domestic banking. As the Executive Director, he had the responsibility of managing the bank’s consumer and commercial business.
He functioned in this capacity until 2015 when he became the Group Executive for Consumer Banking of Ecobank. As the bank’s group executive, he was responsible for the bank’s consumer banking business across its global network, which consists of 40 countries. So, in July 2018, Patrick Akinwuntan was appointed the Managing Director and Regional Executive of Ecobank Nigeria.
IFIE SEKIBO
Ifie Sekibo runs Heritage Bank. He currently sits as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Bank Plc., a Nigerian Commercial bank,
Primarily, Ifie has over 2 decades of professional work experience in the banking, insurance and energy sector. Also, he has a track record in organisational leadership and management. In 2002, Sekibo became a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. Also, he is an alumnus of Harvard Business School OPM Class (2006-2009).
He is the former Executive Vice Chairman of International Energy Insurance (IEI). In 2003, together with his team, they acquired the Global Assurance Company Limited from the National Insurance Commission.
OBEAHON OHIWEREI
A graduate of Mathematics and an MBA holder, Mr. Ohiwerei has had a rich career in banking and other financial services spanning over 26 years, having served at various times as Group Executive Director in Access Bank Plc.; and as pioneer MD/CEO of UBA (Ghana) Limited as well as Pacific Bank Limited. He was also non-executive Director Access Bank (Ghana) Ltd., Access Bank (Gambia) Limited and Access Bank (Sierra Leone) Limited.
Mr. Ohiwerei has attended several top management courses in Harvard Business School, Boston; Institute of Management Development (IMD) Switzerland; Accenture, Chicago; and Manchester Business School in the United Kingdom.
ADETOKUNBO MUKHAIL ABIRU
Adetokunbo Mukhail Abiru has about 3 decades of professional banking and financial services experience covering both private and public sectors of the economy.
He rose to the position of Executive Director at First Bank Nigeria Ltd (2013-16), and was also the Honourable Commissioner of Finance, Lagos State, between 2011-13 under the dynamic and transformational leadership of Babatunde R. Fashola (SAN) as Governor.
He was appointed in July 2016 by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as Group Managing Director to lead the turnaround of the regulator-induced takeover of the then troubled Skye Bank, in a bid to preserve the stability of the overall Nigerian Financial System. The successful completion of the assignment gave birth to today’s Polaris Bank Limited.
Tokunbo has also served in various reputable boards including: Airtel Mobile Networks Limited; FBN Capital Limited (now FBN Quest Merchant Bank Limited); FBN Bank Sierra –Leone Limited; and Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS). He holds a B.Sc. Economics from Lagos State University.
DEMOLA SOGUNLE
Dr. Demola Sogunle runs Stanbic IBTC. He served as Deputy Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Bank; Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers and as the Head of Treasury amongst other roles in the Stanbic IBTC group.
Demola holds a First Class Honours degree in Agricultural Science and a Ph.D. in Land Resource Evaluation and Management, both from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He also holds an MBA in Banking and Finance from ESUT Business School, Nigeria and a Treasury Dealership Certificate from the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN). He is a member of the Global Association of Risk Professionals.
LAMIN MANJANG
Lamin Manjang is the Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited, where he supports the execution of the banks strategic intent in Nigeria. He represents the bank on various boards in Africa; as well as leading as a Senior Banker on key relationships.
Lamin joined Standard Chartered Group in 1999 and has over the past 20 years in the Bank, built up extensive experience providing strategic direction in various capacities including CEO for Kenya and East Africa and CEO in Oman, Uganda and Sierra Leone.
His deep knowledge of the African market, strong client and regulatory relationships, and broad banking experience drives the continued strengthening of the Bank’s franchise in the region.
Prior to joining the bank, he was the Managing Director of Gambia International Airlines where he drove record business performance.
Lamin Manjang has over 30 years professional experience and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (BBA), a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA).
ABUBAKAR SULEIMAN
Abubakar, fondly called Abu, is the Chief Executive Officer at Sterling Bank Plc and has carved a niche for himself in the fiercely competitive financial services landscape by providing innovative responses and solutions to complex problems.
He started his career at MBC International Bank (now consolidated into First Bank Plc) before joining Citibank Nigeria two years later. Abu joined the turnaround team of Trust Bank of Africa Limited, which later consolidated into Sterling Bank Plc.
Abu holds a B.Sc. in Economics from the University of Abuja and an M.Sc. in Major Programmes Management from the University of Oxford. He is also an alumnus of Arthur Andersen (KPMG Nigeria), Wharton School and INSEAD Business School in addition to executive education from Harvard and Saïd Business Schools.
TOMI SOMEFUN
Tomi Somefun is the CEO of Unity Bank. She was appointed Executive Director on March 4, 2015 and later became MD/CEO in August, 2015. She is a Member, Board Finance & General Purpose Committee, Board Risk Management Committee, Board Credit Committee, amongst others.
Tomi Somefun has over 25 years cognate experience in the financial service industry and has proved her mettle in leading and developing highly effective teams as well as a demonstrable track record in leading complex change programs. She is equipped with strong strategy definition and execution skills, analytical & financial management capabilities, business development & negotiating skills which she acquired through a combination of top class international trainings.
She began her career with Arthur Andersen (now KPMG). She worked at different times with Ventures & Trusts Ltd, Credite Bank Ltd, UBA Trustee, UBA Plc, UBA Capital & Trustee Ltd and was the Founding Managing Director/ CEO UBA Pension Custodian Ltd.
Somefun was also a Non-Executive Director on the Boards of UBA Foundations, UBA Trustees, UBA Nominees and UBA Registrars. A graduate of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile –Ife), Somefun holds a B.Ed in the English Language.
ADEMOLA ADEBISE
Ademola Adebise runs Wema Bank. He has been part of the Bank’s executive management team since 2009 and has played a pivotal role in the execution of the strategic turnaround plan of the Bank. He has over 28 years’ experience in the banking industry (inclusive of 4 years in management consulting), and has worked in various capacities in Information Technology, Financial Control & Strategic Planning, Treasury, Corporate Banking, Risk Management and Performance Management.
Before joining Wema Bank Plc. Mr. Adebise was the Head, Finance and Performance Management Practice at Accenture (Lagos Office), where he led multiple successful projects for banks in Business Process Re-engineering, Information Technology and Risk Management.
A member of the Board of Directors for AIICO Insurance Plc, AIICO Pensions, Nigerian Interbank settlement system NIBSS, and Wema Bank Plc., Adebise is an alumnus of the Advanced Management Program (AMP) of the Harvard Business School and a holder of a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Lagos. He also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Lagos Business School.
HALIMA BUBA
Halima Buba runs SunTrust Bank. She has acquired years of experience as a financial expert and a seasoned banker with over 20 years of experience in both the private and public sector with recognizable and impressive strides.
Buba, who hails from Adamawa is a cofounder of TAJ Consortium, a group of young dynamic technocrats, cum financial advisory experts, who specialise in trade finance, project and export development finance, syndication and specialised finance.
She is currently sitting on the board of Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) as a non-executive director and participates amongst other key stakeholders in making critical decisions to ensure that the nation’s wealth is being channelled to optimum use for the future generations of Nigerian. She rose to the rank of Deputy General Manager in Ecobank Nigeria, in charge of FCT and the North, where she demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities in building cross-functional teams and focused on business development and market expansion.
AKPANI WALTER
Akpani holds a master of science degree in finance from the University of Strathclyde, Scotland. Founded in 1796 as the Andersonian Institute, the school is Glasgow’s second-oldest university, receiving its royal charter in 1964 as the UK’s first technological university. It takes its name from the historic Kingdom of Strathclyde.
Akpani is a seasoned banker with over two decades experience. His career trajectory has been through Natwest Bank UK, ICON Merchant Bank/ICON Stockbrokers, Commercial Trust Bank, Standard Trust Bank Plc and Platinum Bank Limited. He has been actively involved in bank start-ups in Nigeria. He was a pioneer staff member with ICON Stockbrokers, restructuring team member at Commercial Trust Bank, pioneer staff at Standard Trust Bank Plc now United Bank for Africa, UBA and pioneer staff at Platinum Bank Ltd.
Akin Dawodu
Akin Dawodu runs Citibank. He joined Citi bank June 2000 as a foreign exchange dealer based in Lagos. He became Chief Dealer in 2003, before leaving the bank in 2005 to become the first Treasurer of MTN Nigeria.
He returned to Citi in July 2007, and subsequently became Fixed Income Currency and commodities head and Country Treasurer in October 2007.
Akin became the Chief Operating Officer and Public Sector head for Citi Nigeria in January 2013. He has played a decisive role in general franchise management and developing our interface between Citi and the Nigerian public sector.
He attended Kings’ College Lagos and the University of Lagos. He also holds an MBA from Manchester Business School and became a holder of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, awarded by the CFA Institute in 2003. He is also the immediate past President of the Financial Market Dealers’ Association.
TUNDE LEMO
Mr Tunde Lemo runs Titan Trust Bank. He has over 30 years of significant leadership and top management experience in the public and private sector. He had a successful career at the Central Bank of Nigeria where he served as the Deputy Governor in charge of Operations and Deputy Governor in charge of Financial Systems Surveillance.
Mr Lemo’s contribution to public policy in the financial sector includes modernisation of the Nigerian payment system, rapid deployment of the electronic banking system, the implementation of the Banking Sector Consolidation, formulation, implementation and supervisory framework of the Microfinance policy—all under the supervision of the Governor. He also led the restructuring of the Abuja Security and Commodities Exchange and Nigeria Export Bank (NEXIM) as chairman of both institutions.
As MD/CEO of Wema Bank from 2000 to 2003, Lemo championed the transformation which led to a superlative performance that made the bank rank as one of the 10 most profitable banks in Nigeria in 2003.He currently sits on the board at GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc. He is the Director/Chairman board audit committee of Africa Finance Corporation and an officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (OFR).
HASSAN USMAN
Hassan Usman runs Jaiz Bank. He graduated with a first-class degree in Accounting in 1985 from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria and became an Associate Member of ICAN in 1989. He obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Management in 1995 from Maastricht School of Management. Mr. Hassan also attended the Oxford University Advanced Management Programme in 2002.
He worked as the Financial Controller of Nigerian Development Company Limited, Kaduna until he joined NAL Merchant Bank Plc. where he served as the Financial Controller and Treasurer respectively between 1996-2001. Mr. Hassan had a brief stint with Inland Bank where he served as General Manager, Banking Services before re-joining NAL Bank as Deputy General Manager and Head, Business and Financial Advisory Group.
Mr. Usman joined Jaiz International in 2005 as a pioneer staff and was a key member of the team that led the process leading to the licensing of Jaiz Bank Plc in 2011. He served as General Manager- Business Development from January 2012 till April 2013 and was Executive Director in charge of Operations and Information Technology prior to his appointment as the Managing Director/CEO in June 2016. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
ANYA DUROHA
Anya Duroha is the Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director of Nova Merchant Bank Limited. Preceding this appointment, he was the Executive Director, Wholesale Bank responsible for development and management of the Bank’s corporate banking relationships.
Anya has previously served as the Executive Director, Wholesale Banking, responsible for development and management of the Bank’s corporate banking relationships. He has also held senior executive positions at various banks in the industry.
He holds M.Sc. in Banking & Finance from the University of Benin and a B.Eng. in Civil Engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is an alumnus of Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania and Lagos Business School.
ADEGBAMI ADEGOKE
Mr. Adegbami Adegoke runs Mainstreet Bank. He holds an MBA in Financial Management from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho. He is an alumnus of Boulder Institute of Microfinance, Turin, Italy and School of African Microfinance, Mombasa, Kenya. He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School, Executive Education Program and Lagos Business School (Pan Atlantic University) Senior Management Program and has attended Risk Management Program of Boulder Institute of Microfinance, Washington DC, USA. He is a member of the Africa Board Fellowship Program in Governance Organized by Center for Financial Inclusion-CFI, Washington DC. A thorough banker with in-depth knowledge and experience in Corporate Governance, Financial Management, Performance Management, Internal Audit and Compliance, Financial Reporting and Management Accounting, Risk Management, Business Development and Strategy.
