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WWOMENOMEN IINN TTHEHE BBOARDROOMOARDROOM The 50 Uncommon Women in Corporate Nigeria 2020 “Organisations with women in top leadership positions have almost dou- bled the number of Board seats held by women. This illustrates an import- ant trend—as the number of female CEOs and Board chairs climbs, it is likely to spur greater Board diversity. Yet, the percentage of women secur- ing top leadership roles remains very low, with women holding only 4 per- cent of CEO and Board chair positions globally.”

-Dan Konigsburg Senior Managing Director Deloitte Global Center for Corporate Governance

• Th e 2018 data from Corporate Women Directors International shows that women hold just 16.7% of public company Board seats globally. Northern and Western Europe are leading the way, with averages of 36.3% and 26.7% respectively, followed by the US and Canada with 20.9% and Central and Eastern Europe with 15.5%.

• African women are barely present even in Boardrooms within Africa, where 95% of CEOs are men. Ac- cording to data from the African Development Bank (AfDB), women hold only 12.7% of the Board seats in Africa’s top listed companies.

• New research from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) shows that countries ranked in the bottom 50% for gender equality globally – including large African economies like Ethiopia, Morocco, and Nigeria – could add a whopping 35% to their economies, on average, by bringing more women into the workplace. Mosun Belo-Olusoga

6 Business Journal January 2020 Mosun Belo-Olusoga Chairman, Access Bank Plc

rs. Mosun Belo-Olusoga, Credit Analysis and Credit Audit units as Nigeria. She currently sits on the board fondly called ‘Aunty Mo’ well as the bank’s Credit School. of Finance and Commercial Services is an outstanding leader She led the development of several prod- Limited, FCSL Asset Management, MTN in the Nigerian Finan- ucts across the bank as well as standardized Nigeria Foundation, Mainstream Energy cial Services industry; a the credit review and approval processes. Foundation and is the Pro Chancellor and Mthoroughbred Chartered Accountant and She served the bank in various senior Chairman of Council, Olabisi Onabanjo Banker with a professional career spanning roles including Group Head, Corporate University. over three and half decades. Bank; Group Head, Risk Management; She is the Founder of City of Knowledge She graduated from the University of Group Head, Transaction Services Group; Academy, a co-educational secondary Ibadan with a Second Class (Upper) Divi- Group Head, Commercial Bank; Group institution established to provide excellent sion in Economics in 1979 and qualifi ed as Head, Settlement (Operations); Divisional academic and leadership training for young a Chartered Accountant in 1983. Head, South-West Division and Executive minds in a safe and secure environment. She was the Institute of Chartered Ac- Director, Investment Banking Group. She Th e institution caters to the holistic devel- countants of Nigeria (ICAN) First Merit represented GTBank on the Board of the opment of the child. Winner for the Best Qualifying Accountant then Magnum Trust Bank and Asset & She has attended several executive courses and also the recipient of the Society of Resources Management Company Limited. in distinguished institutions including Th e Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN) She was also seconded by GTB as Acting University of Chicago Booth School of Award for the Best Qualifying Female Managing Director of the then Trust Bank Business, INSEAD Business School, Har- Accountant. She became a Fellow of the In- of Africa Limited where she was responsi- vard Business School, Columbia Business stitute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria ble for setting the overall policy direction School, IMD School of Management and (ICAN) in 1993 and is also an Honorary of the bank and was the pioneer Managing Kellogg Business School. Member of the Chartered Institute of Bank- Director of Guaranty Trust Bank, Ghana. ers of Nigeria. In 2006, in pursuit of her passion for Mosun commenced her professional learning and entrepreneurship, she career in the fi rm of Coopers and Lybrand established Th e KRC Limited - a human (now PricewaterhouseCoopers) in 1980 resources support company which provides where she provided audit and tax advisory training solutions for organizations in the She led the devel- services to companies in a variety of indus- fi nancial services sector. opment of several tries. She moved to Continental Merchant She joined the Board of Access Bank Bank Ltd in 1986 and worked in various Plc as a Non-Executive Director in 2008 products across the departments including Financial Control, and served on various Committees until bank as well as stan- Corporate Finance, Loan Syndications, as her appointment as the Bank’s Chairman well as Credit and Marketing Department. in 2015. Th e Bank, during her tenure as dardized the credit Due to her outstanding performance, she Chairman, recorded unprecedented growth review and approval was selected to join a special team in devel- in key parameters which has seen it emerge oping the bank’s strategic road map. as Nigeria’s number one bank in several key processes. In 1990, Aunty Mo joined Guaranty Trust performance indices and Africa’s largest Bank (GTBank) where she distinguished bank by customer size. herself and rose from Manager to Executive Mrs. Belo-Olusoga has served on several Management position in 2002. At GTBank, other prestigious boards including Pre- she established key units including Textiles, mium Pensions Limited and Action Aid Business Journal February2020 7 Susan Giwa-Osagie Deputy Managing Director NEM Insurance Plc

8 Business Journal February 2020 Owen Omogiato Managing Director/CEO Transcorp Hotels Plc

wen Omogiafo is the MD/CEO as the HR Advisor to the of Transcorp Hotels Plc where GMD/CEO, who at the she is responsible for driving pos- time was Mr. Elumelu. She itive transformation in Transcorp has also functioned as his OHilton, Abuja and Transcorp Hotels, Calabar. Chief of Staff , with respon- Prior to joining Transcorp Hotels Plc, Owen sibility for his Executive Of- was the Executive Director, Corporate Ser- fi ce and overall effi ciency. vices at Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Before she joined UBA, Plc (Transcorp) where she drove operational Owen worked with Ac- effi ciency across the Transcorp Group. centure as an Organisation Owen Omogiafo was the Chief Operating and Human Performance Offi cer at the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Consultant, specializing where she oversaw the $100m Entrepreneur- in Change Management. ship Programme aimed at identifying, men- She is a certifi ed Change Business School (HBX), possessing a Cer- toring, funding and training 10,000 entrepre- Manager (Prosci Institute of Change Man- tifi cate in Disruptive Strategy with Clayton neurs over 10 years. agement, US) and a member of the Chartered Christensen. She has also been the Director of Resources Institute of Personnel and Development, UK. Owen was in 2019 recognised by Leading at Heirs Holdings, a family owned investment She holds a B.Sc. (double honours) in Sociol- Ladies Africa as one of the Leading Ladies in company committed to improving lives and ogy and Anthropology from the University of Corporate Nigeria, by Th e Guardian as one of transforming Africa. Benin and M.Sc. in Human Resources from Nigeria’s 100 most inspirational women and Prior to Heirs Holdings, Owen was a staff of the London School of Economics and Politi- has also been named in the YNaija! Power the United Bank for Africa, where she worked cal Science. She is also trained at the Harvard List for Corporate Nigeria. Funke Osibodu Managing Director/CEO Benin Electricity Distribution Company until her appointment as acting managing di- Mrs. Osibodu has held the position Man- rector of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, the MD/ aging Director/CEO in MBC Internation- CEO of Vigeo Capital Limited/Vigeo Group, al Bank Limited, Ecobank Nigeria Plc and a company jointly owned with her husband, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc. Victor Osibodu. She has over 20 years cumulative experi- Funke is a graduate of Economics from the ence working in the banking sector where she Obafemi Awolowo University (formerly Uni- started her career at NAL Merchant Bank as a versity of Ife) and has participated in several youth corps member, before moving to Con- local and overseas courses. tinental Merchant Bank. She is currently the Managing Director/CEO She is currently the Vice Chairperson of the of Benin Electricity Distribution Company Nigerian Economic Summit Group and was (BEDC).

Business Journal February2020 9 Olayemi Dawodu Managing Director/CEO Clina-Lancet Laboratories Limited

r. Olayemi O. Dawodu is a His- healthcare sector through dedicated delivery ria citizenry. She is involved in charity and sits topathologist who holds an of excellent Pathology services and leadership. as Board of Director of Clina-Lancet Laborato- M.B.B.S from the college of As an avid researcher, she has publications in ries, she is a Faculty member at the College of medicine, University of Lagos, local and international journals; and also re- Medicine, University of Lagos as lecturer. as well as fellowships in Pathol- views peer articles for the foremost National In her spare time, Dr. Olayemi Dawodu en- Dogy (Anatomic Pathology) and Laboratory Postgraduate of Nigeria pathology journal. joys visiting new places, reading a variety of medicine of the National Postgraduate Medi- She serves as a member of the Accreditation books which has helped her to remain focused cal College of Nigeria and West African Col- Advisory Committee for Nigerian National and dedicated. lege of Physicians respectively, which makes Accreditation System and works with a diverse She believes that in everything you do, always her eligible to practice in Nigeria and the West population in the healthcare sector providing a put your best foot forward, work with dedi- African region. global perceptive in the delivery of healthcare cation and commitment on daily routine also As the Chief resident in the Department of solutions both in clinical and administrative where necessary go the extra mile as you never Anatomic and Molecular Pathology at the roles. know who is taking notes and will recommend Lagos University Teaching Hospital, she ac- She is a member of various professional or- you for that life changing position. quired extensive rotation in other pathology ganisations namely; College of Nigerian Pa- sub-specialties which include Haematology, thologist WADIAP, British Division of Inter- Clinical chemistry and Microbiology by vir- national Academy of Pathology, United States tue of her comprehensive pathology training. and Canadian Academy of Pathology. She has She is a member of She also had training at the Department of also delivered presentations and posters at In- Pathology, Indianapolis University and Pur- ternational Pathology meetings. As a strong various professional due University, Indiana, USA. She practices team player, she believes that functionality and as Consultant Anatomic and Molecular Pa- achievement of an organisation’s goal and ob- organisations namely; thologist with special interests in Gynecologic jectives as a whole is necessitated by the contri- pathology, Endocrine pathology with empha- bution of individual eff ort. College of Nigerian sis on the thyroid gland and environmental Dr. Olayemi Dawodu has received nota- Pathologist WADIAP, pathology. ble awards such as ;“ Medical Personality Her career at Clina-Lancet Laboratories be- Leadership Prize Winner 2016” organised by British Division of gan in February 2015 as the country Histopa- the African Prize for Leadership excellence thologist of Nigeria; where she grew the num- Awards” in conjunction with the African International Academy ber of requests and revenue in Nigeria built Union and ECOWAS, ‘Best Female CEO in of Pathology, United the trust of fellow consultants and eff ectively the West African Region’ an Honorary Award managed the histopathology unit. at the 2017 ECOWAS Quality Awards organ- States and Canadian In 2016, she was promoted to the position of ised by ECOWAS, European Union and UNI- Managing Director/ CEO and Pathologist in- DO in recognition of the implementation and Academy of Pathology. charge at Clina-Lancet Laboratories. In this sustainability of a successful Quality Manage- She has also delivered new role, she was positioned at the forefront of ment System according to ISO9001 standards the business, where she provides strategic lead- in the organisation. presentations and ership, manages daily business operations and She fosters a team-based and capacity build- oversees the overall growth and development ing approach to achieving organizational goals. posters at International of the organisation. She is keen on the provision of excellent quality She is passionate about contributing to the pathology and diagnostic services to the Nige- Pathology meetings.

10 Business Journal February 2020 Olayemi Dawodu

Business Journal February2020 11 From The PUBLISHER Publisher/CEO Prince Cookey 08023088874 07058919138 [email protected]

Lagos Bureau Abraham Adewole

Abuja Bureau Celebrating Women of Solomon Nwachukwu Honour & Achievement Port Harcourt Bureau Birebi Amucha n behalf of the and oil & gas, our selection Kaduna Bureau Management & committee tried as much as Haruna Mohammed Staff of Business possible to identify and select Journal, I wish the Class of 2019 for the Spe- Aba Bureau Oto say warm greetings to our cial Report. Larry Akunne esteemed stakeholders in the Th e stories of their rise and Head of Marketing/Advert month of February 2020. elevation as gleaned from Elvis Ebigwu Our February 2020 edi- the profi les--from the basics Digital Consultant tion is rightly classifi ed as a to the loft y heights they now Bamidele Owotoke. Special Edition honouring occupy is indeed, a testimony women achievers in Corpo- to their commitment, sagac- Designs Kelechi Okoro rate Nigeria. ity and uncommon drive to Th e Report: Women in the succeed and excel in an envi- Logistics Consultant Boardroom: Th e 50 Uncom- ronment largely described as Godspower Cookey mon Women in Corporate male-dominated. Secretary/Admin Nigeria 2019 is designed to Accordingly, I salute the se- Latifat Adedayo identify and honour excep- lect crop of Corporate Wom- Body of Analysts tional women in Corporate en that made the cut for the Haniel Ukpaukure Nigeria—from the public Report this year. Chris Okeke sector to the Organised For those that could not Ola Gam-Ikon Ademola Akinbola Private Sector (OPS) across make the cut this year, the Muideen Ibrahim various fi elds of human en- next edition of the Special deavour. Report (next year) would be From banking, pension, a great opportunity for them Board of Editorial Advisers tourism & tours to insurance to be part of the Report. Dr. Justus Uranta Engr. Titi Omo-Ett u Mr. Chike Mokwunye Mr. Chris Uwaje CONGRATULATIONS! Mr. Gbolahan Olutayo

12 Business Journal February 2020 Folorunso Alakija Vice-Chairman Famfa Oil Limited

Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija is a dynamic Nigerian businesswoman and philanthropist. She oversees several business endeavours such as: FAMFA Oil Limited, her family’s oil exploration and produc- tion business as the Vice Chairman, seeing to its strategic planning and day to day administration. She is the Vice Chairman of Dayspring Property Development Company Limited, a real estate company with investments in diff erent parts of the world. She is also the Vice Chairman of Digitalre- ality Print Ltd, a world-class printing company. She has served her country Nigeria, as a member of several committees. She is an acclaimed public speaker and the fi rst female to be appointed as Chancellor of a public university in Africa. She is a prolifi c writer and has authored several inspira- tional books, including her autobiography. She is a Board member of the Commonwealth Business Forum. She is a recipient of many awards in various capacities both locally and internationally. Business Journal February2020 13 Aishah N. Ahmad

14 Business Journal January 2020 Aishah N. Ahmad Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria

ishah Ahmad was appointed Deputy Governor at the Cen- tral Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on the 23rd March, 2018. Aishah’s passion for finance As Deputy Governor in charge of Financial System Sta- bility, she is responsible for leading the eff ort to promote fueled the attainment a sound fi nancial system in Nigeria; one of the principal of several academic and Aobjects of the Bank as specifi ed within the CBN Act. In this role, Aishah is a member of the Governing Board and Committee professional qualifications of Governors at the CBN and Chairman, Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC) - a not for profi t organisation off ering training, consulting over the years. She is a and research services for the fi nancial services sector. member of the Chartered Prior to her appointment at the CBN, Aishah was Executive Director, Retail Banking at Diamond Bank PLC, with over 22 years experience as Financial Analyst (CFA) a corporate executive and fi nance expert. Her banking and investment Association and Chartered career spans several fi nancial institutions including NAL Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc (a member of Standard Bank Group, Alternative Investment SA) amongst others. Analyst (CAIA) Association. Aishah’s passion for fi nance fueled the attainment of several academic and professional qualifi cations over the years. She is a member of the She also holds an M.Sc. in Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Association and Chartered Alterna- tive Investment Analyst (CAIA) Association. She also holds an M.Sc. in Finance and Management Finance and Management from the Cranfi eld School of Management, UK, from the Cranfield School and an MBA (Finance) from the University of Lagos, Nigeria. She obtained her B.Sc. in Accounting from the University of Abuja, Nigeria. of Management, UK, and Aishah Ahmad is a strong advocate for female and youth empowerment; an MBA (Finance) from the she volunteers at SOS Children’s Villages, Nigeria and was former Chair- person, Executive Council of Women in Management, Business & Public University of Lagos, Nigeria. Service, WIMBIZ; a leading women-focused NGO in Sub-Saharan Africa. She obtained her B.Sc. She is married and blessed with two sons. in Accounting from the University of Abuja, Nigeria.

Business Journal February2020 15 16 Business Journal February 2020 SStellatella OkoteteOkotete Executive Director Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM)

on. Stella Okotete possesses signifi cant experience in public policy design and implementation, public-private partnership manage- ment, international development and general administration. A graduate of the Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, from where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and HDiplomacy, Stella also holds a Diploma in Law from the Rivers State College of Arts and Sciences. Until her appointment as Executive Director, Business Development, Stella had a rich mix of professional experience in both the public and private sectors. In 2015, she founded and led a start-up company where she was responsible for providing local and international clients with expert advice, scalable industrial solutions, and opportunities to utilise turnkey solutions for various industrial needs and requirements. Between 2011 and 2015, she served as the Special Assistant and Adviser to the Executive Governor of Delta State on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) where she provided leadership in establishing and executing pro- grammes with agency groups to ensure that the goals as well as targets of the She was able to United Nations Millennium Declaration were met. In this regard, she championed the Review and eff ective management of the deploy this knowl- Micro-Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) business policy to tackle poverty edge to ensure that and create employment in line with MDGs mandate. She also supported the M&E team of the State’s CCT Scheme and Social Development Policy that aided the neglected commu- growth and expansion of business clusters in the state. nities in the state Prior to leading the Delta State MDGs, Stella had a brief stint in politics, having served as an elected Councillor in Ughelli North Local Government Area, a were positively position that helped sharpen her understanding of the socio-economic needs of impacted by the neglected communities. She was able to deploy this knowledge to ensure that neglected communities state’s MDGs stra- in the state were positively impacted by the state’s MDGs strategic intervention programmes. tegic intervention Stella is the Co Founder E’Girls Right Foundation and an alumnus of Harvard programmes. Kennedy School certifi cate program for Emerging Leaders as well as the Lagos Business School’s Enterprise Development Centre program in Entrepreneurial Management. She is keenly involved in volunteer work and has worked with Internally Dis- placed Persons at IDP Camps in Ughelli, Maiduguri and Abuja.

Business Journal February2020 17 18 Ronke Sokefun Ronke Sokefun Chairman Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC)

okefun is a consummate lawyer, In acknowledgement of her sterling pro- decision making body of the company. Chartered Secretary and Land fessional dedication to her duties, she was Despite her high position on the corporate Administrator. promoted a Senior Associate at Aluko and ladder of Oando Plc, she decided to take a She is a 1987 Law graduate from Oyebode in 1995 and became a Partner in break to serve her people by fi rst accepting the Ogun State University (now 2000. She was responsible for coordinating to serve as a member of the Oil and Gas OlabisiS Onabanjo University), She emerged the fi rm’s interface with government corpo- work Stream of the Ogun State Transition as one of the best in her graduating class as rations and institutions as well as develop- Committee in 2011. she won two prizes – Jurisprudence & Legal ing templates for the company’s legal and She was later appointed as the Special Th eory and Commercial Law. commercial transactions among others. Adviser and Director General of the Bureau Sokefun immediately proceeded to the She was with the legal fi rm until October of Lands and Survey by the State Governor, Nigeria Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos 2001 aft er which she briefl y worked (on Senator Ibikunle Amosun, CON, FCA and bagged her Barrister at Law (B.L) Hons. secondment) with the telecommunications before her elevation to the position of the Degree in 1988. She had her mandatory fi rm MTN from October 2001 till January Commissioner for Agriculture on Novem- National Youth Service in the old Oyo State 2002. ber 27 2012. from 1988 to 1989. In February 2002, she was appointed On October 29th 2015, she was re-ap- On completion of her National service, Head, Management Services, (Legal, pointed as the Honourable State Commis- Sokefun joined the law fi rm of M.P Ohwov- Human Resources and Administration) of sioner for Agriculture. oriole (SAN) & Co, as a Trainee Solicitor Ocean and Oil Services Limited. and Barrister in December 1989 and On the 1st of February 2005, she joined worked there till June 1990. In September Oando Group Plc as Head, Legal Services. 1990, she moved to Ighodalo and Associates Th rough dedication to duty, she was In acknowledgement Limited, a thriving audit fi rm as Company deservedly promoted to the position of Secretary where she was saddled with the Group Chief Legal Offi cer on the 1st of of her sterling profes- responsibility of running the Company’s March 2007 where she was responsible for sional dedication to secretarial arm and acted as Company Sec- setting the strategy direction and allocat- retary to a number of its audit clients. ing resource for managing the Legal and her duties, she was In pursuit of professional excellence, she regulatory requirements of all entities and promoted a Senior joined Messrs Aluko and Oyebode, Barris- businesses that make up the Oando Group ters, Solicitors and Trademark Agents in which are geographically spread across the Associate at Aluko October 1993 as an Associate. And in 1995 country with subsidiaries in Ghana, Togo, and Oyebode in 1995 she moved a step further in her career as Sierra-Leone, the United Kingdom, Canada she qualifi ed as a Graduate of the Institute and Bermuda. and became a Partner of Chartered Secretaries and Administra- Sokefun in this position, was a member of tors of Nigeria and that of London-ACIS. the Group Leadership Council – the highest in 2000.

Business Journal February2020 19 Tinuade Awe Executive Director Nigerian Stock Exchange

s. Tinuade Awe is the Exec- National Corporate Governance Code. She Exchange Commission in the United States. utive Director, Regulation at is also a member of the Finance and General During parts of 2007 and 2008, Ms. Awe Th e Nigerian Stock Exchange. Purpose Committee of the FRC Board. took time off from the law to indulge her Prior to attaining the position Ms. Awe has a wealth of experience and a passion for education as Anglophone West Mof Executive Director at Th e Exchange, she solid track record across organizations on Africa Associate Director of Admissions was the General Counsel and Head of the three continents, including with the United for the African Leadership Academy in Legal and Regulation Division, overseeing Nations International Criminal Tribunal Johannesburg, South Africa, a two-year the activities of fi ve Departments. for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), in Th e educational institution established to She is responsible for providing eff ective Hague, the Netherlands; the United Nations develop young African leaders in all genres leadership to ensure that Th e Exchange’s pol- Compensation Commission in Geneva, of human endeavor. At the Academy, she icies, business operations, and its relation- Switzerland; and top tier law fi rms in Nige- assisted with the design and implementation ships with regulators, its members, issuers, ria and New York. of the Academy’s student recruitment and and other stakeholders are in compliance At the ICTY, Ms. Awe served as Law Clerk public awareness strategy for Anglophone with all applicable laws and regulations. to His Excellency, Th e Honorable Justice West Africa. Moreover, she has responsibility for the Adolphus Godwin Karibi-Whyte. Ms. Awe Ms. Awe has over twenty-four (24) years of regulation of the two primary stakeholder has been involved in major regulatory professional experience. She has an LL.B De- groups of Th e Exchange, i.e., the Dealing initiatives, including as Project Director of gree from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Members that trade on Th e Exchange and the CBN-SEC Joint Task Force on the Inter- graduating as the Best Female Student in the issuers that have listed securities on Th e vened Banks from April to August 2010 and Faculty of Law. She fi nished at the Nigerian Exchange. Additionally, she served as Sec- as a key player in Th e Exchange’s interface Law School with First Class Honors, gradu- retary to the Council of Th e Exchange from with the investigators that conducted the ating as Best Overall Student. January 2011 to October 2015. During this forensic investigation of Th e Exchange in She also holds LL.M Degrees from Harvard period, she played a key role in building the 2010. For seven (7) years, she was an attor- Law School, where she was a Landon H. governance structure of Th e Exchange. ney with the New York offi ce of Simpson Gammon Fellow, as well as Th e London She currently serves as a Trustee of the Th acher & Bartlett, a leading law fi rm with School of Economics and Political Science Investors’ Protection Fund of Th e Exchange global presence. (LSE), where she graduated with Merit. At and was re-appointed to the Board of the Fi- At Simpson Th acher, her clients included the LSE, she was a British Council Scholar. nancial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC) global fi nancial institutions and capital mar- She is admitted to both the Nigerian and for a second time. Currently, Ms. Awe chairs kets players. She also represented regulated New York Bars. the Corporate Governance Committee of entities in their dealings with their regu- Her interests include education, travelling, the FRC Board which has the responsibility lators, including the Offi ce of the Comp- African art, and gender and development. to review and implement the suspended troller of Currency and the Securities and

20 Business Journal February 2020 n innovative the annuity product range of Afri- and transfor- can Alliance Plc to become a top-3 mational lead- market player in the industry. er, ‘Funmilayo She was credited for championing Omo brings the design of the life administra- over 25 years tion application and supervising of experience the transition of African Alliance and a proven track record of success Plc from semi-automated appli- intoA her role as the Managing Di- cation usage to fully automated rector of African Alliance Insurance management; a change that saved Plc. the company countless man-hours, She began her professional career thereby improving effi ciency and in 1991 at African Alliance, before it turnaround time. was listed on the Nigerian Stock Ex- As an innovative leader with a change, as the Head of Department, keen insight into the insurance mar- Individual Business. Her drive and ket terrain, Funmilayo pioneered penchant for excellence led to her the design, modelling and market- promotion to the position, Head of ing of Takaful in African Alliance Technical, Insurance Operations, Plc as the pioneer family Takaful where she successfully led the retail Offi ce in Nigeria. She also devel- marketing team to expand the busi- oped and successfully launched mi- ness volume by over 1000%. cro insurance as a Strategic Business Following that performance, she Unit in African Alliance Plc. rose to the position of the Chief Op- In addition to her BSc. (Hons.) erating Offi cer in 2006, where she degree in Insurance from the was solely responsible for providing University of Lagos, Funmilayo strategic direction for the company’s is an Associate Member of the business operations. prestigious Chartered Institute of In 2012, Funmilayo resumed in Insurance, London; an Associate the position of Executive Director, Member of the Nigerian Institute Operations at African Alliance Plc, of Management and an Associate Funmi Omo overseeing an 80-staff team com- Member of the Certifi ed Pensions prising of three departments. Th ere, Institute of Nigeria. She is an alum- she doubled the gross premium nus of the Lagos Business School Managing Director/CEO income of the company within 3 and the China Europe International African Alliance Insurance Plc years. Business School (CEIBS). During that period, she pioneered Funmilayo served on the Board of Trustees, Ajaokuta Steel As an innovative leader with a keen insight into the insur- Complex, Axiom Air and Na- ance market terrain, Funmilayo pioneered the design, mod- tional Iron Ore elling and marketing of Takaful in African Alliance Plc as the Mining Compa- ny (NIOMCO) pioneer family Takaful Office in Nigeria. She also developed until 2016. She currently serves and successfully launched micro insurance as a Strategic on the board of Business Unit in African Alliance Plc. Frenchies Food, as well as on the Board of PAL the design of the annuity products Pensions Alliance, an associate of of the company, thereby boosting African Alliance Plc.

Business Journal February2020 21

Ibukun A. Awosika Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria Limited

Ibukun Awosika is the Chairman, Board of Directors, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s premier and most valuable banking brand. She is also the founder and Chief Executive Offi cer of Th e Chair Centre Group. Th e companies within the group include: Th e Chair Centre Limited, Sokoa Chair With high interest in Centre Limited, Furniture Manufacturers Mart, TCC Security Systems and Cubes and Boxes Limited. Th ese companies are involved in manufacturing, retail and bank-way social issues, including security systems services. women, Ibukun is Ibukun chairs a number of corporate and not-for-profi t boards amongst which are: House of Tara International and Aft erschool Graduate Development Centre (AGDC), a co-founder and a facility which she promoted to help address youth employability and enterprise issues in Nigeria. past chairperson of She sits on the boards of Digital Jewel Limited, Cadbury Nigeria Plc., Convention on Women in Business, Business Integrity (CBI) and the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority. She was Chairman, FBN Life Assurance Limited, FBN Capital Limited and Kakawa Discount Management and House Limited. Public Service Ibukun is a graduate of Chemistry from University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Nigeria; an alumna of the Chief Executive Programme of Lagos Business (WIMBIZ). An ordained School; the Global Executive MBA of IESE Business School, Barcelona-Spain; and Pastor and founder Global CEO Programme of Wharton, IESE and China European International Busi- ness School (CEIBS). of the Christian With high interest in social issues, including women, Ibukun is a co-founder and past chairperson of Women in Business, Management and Public Service (WIMBIZ). An Missionary Fund, ordained Pastor and founder of the Christian Missionary Fund, Ibukun, through this Ibukun, through faith-based organisation works with hundreds of missionaries spread across Nigeria to change lives with the provision of medical, educational, and other supplies. this faith-based As a fellow of the African Leadership Initiative, Aspen Global Leadership Network, organisation works Institute of Directors and Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria, Ibukun, through her projects aspires to use her opportunities in life to further the greatness of her dear with hundreds of country by raising entrepreneurs to create jobs for the large unemployed youthful population. missionaries spread She is a member of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), served on Na- across Nigeria to tional Job Creation Committee (NJCC), and sits on the International Advisory Board of IESE Business School, Barcelona-Spain. change lives with the Ibukun is a multiple award-winning entrepreneur and the fi rst Nigerian recipient of provision of medical, the prestigious International Women Entrepreneurial Challenge (IWEC) Award as a nominee of the US Department of State in 2008. She loves to watch investigative and educational, and other legal series in her leisure time. supplies. She is happily married to Abiodun Awosika and they are blessed with three wonderful sons.

Business Journal February2020 23 Oyeyimika Adeboye Managing Director/CEO Cadbury Nigeria Plc

rs. Adeboye is the fi rst woman to be appointed Managing Director since the establishment of Cadbury Nigeria over fi ve decades ago. MMrs. Adeboye, a chartered accountant, joined the Board of the Company in November 2008, as Finance and Strategy Director, West Africa. Mrs. Adeboye’s appointment attests to the Company’s commitment to promoting gender equality, diversity and inclusion. Prior to joining Cadbury Nigeria, Mrs. Adeboye was the Director of Finance and Chief Financial Offi cer of Nigerian Bottling Company Plc. She previously worked for the erstwhile Accounting and Tax Practice of Arthur Andersen & Co as well as the United King- dom Accounting practice of Midgley Snelling & Co., Chartered Accountants. Mrs. Adeboye has an impressive track record in fi nance, strategy and business administration both in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. She is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Nigeria. Mrs Adeboye has a Bachelor of Science honours degree in Economics and Social Studies from the University College Cardiff , Wales and executive man- agement education certifi cation from the Institute of Management Development (IMD), Lausanne, Switzerland. 24 Business Journal February 2020 Cecilia Osipitan Managing Director/CEO Great Nigeria Insurance Plc

ecilia Osipitan is a seasoned Valley University, London (School of underwriter, marketer and Management Studies) and Lagos Business an administrator with proven School (CEP 16). management capacities, vast Osipitan started her career in Insurance academicC background and profound with Royal Exchange Assurance of Nigeria experience. She is also a renowned and (REAN) and rose to the position of an respected Insurance professional with Executive Director on the Board of REAN, over 20 years of cognate experience in She also held various positions such as Insurance. Head (personal line Department), Head Cecilia graduated from the University of (Commercial Property Department), Ibadan with a Bachelor of Science Degree Assistant General Manager (Underwrit- in Medical Sciences and Physiotherapy ing, Claims, & Risk Management), Deputy with a Second Class Upper Division. She General Manager (Operations) until her Osipitan started her also holds a Master Degree in Public appointment as Managing Director/CEO Administration from University of Lagos. of UNIC in January 2006. career in Insurance She also has a Bachelor of Law Degree She was later appointed the Managing with Royal Exchange from the same University. Director/CEO of Insurance PHB. She She is an Associate member of both joined Great Nigeria Insurance Plc in Assurance of Nigeria the Chartered Insurance Institute of both December 2009 as the Managing Director/ (REAN) and rose to the London and Nigeria respectively; she is CEO. also a member of Professional Insurance She has attended several technical and position of an Exec- Ladies Association (PILA), a member of management courses both within and the governing council of NIA and Risk & outside the country in the course of her utive Director on the Insurance Management Society of Nigeria career. Board of REAN (RIMSON), and an alumnus of Th ames

Business Journal February2020 25 Mary Uduk Acting Director-general Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)

ary Uduk, the acting Direc- Market Operators, articulating rules for tor-General of the Securities bonds and equities; Mergers, acquisitions and Exchange Commission and Takeovers, and managing the banking (SEC) joined the commis- and insurance industry consolidations sionM in 1986 as an assistant fi nancial ana- between 2005-2007. lyst.Her career as a regulator has spanned Uduk served as the pioneer Head of the many functions and departments in the Operations Division in the Lagos Zon- Commission, from corporate fi nance, al Offi ce, and has headed the following administration, to providing structural, Departments in the Commission: Internal policy and due diligence for capital market Control, Investment Management, Finan- transactions. cial Standards and Corporate Governance She has also been responsible for manag- and Securities, and Investment Services ing several landmark capital market proj- Department, among others. ects, including the registration of Capital

Ukachi Orji Managing Director/CEO KBL Insurance Limited

her appointment at Central Insurance Ukachi has a Law degree from the Company Limited as an underwriter and University of Buckingham in Th e United rose to the position of Head of Special Kingdom. Aft er graduating from the Risks Underwriting. University of Buckingham, she studied at Orji joined KBL Insurance (then Guard- the College of Insurance, Sevenoaks, Kent ian Trust Insurance) in July 2002 and set England and was then called to the Ni- up the claims unit. She later became the gerian Bar. Before joining the insurance kachi Orji is a seasoned head of Underwriting and Claims and industry she had worked with one of the insurer whose experience in was in 2009 appointed Head Technical, a most reputable Law fi rms in Nigeria. the industry spans over 15 position she held till she was appointed She is an associate of the Chartered years. the Managing Director/Chief Executive Insurance Institute of London, as well as UShe began working in the industry with Offi cer of the company. Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria.

26 Business Journal February 2020 Patience Oniha Director-General Debt Management Office (DMO)

s. Oniha began her career public and private sectors can access long Barclays Capital Emerging Markets – Local at Icon Limited Merchant term funds to fi nance Nigeria’s growth and Currency Government Bond Index (EM – Bankers in 1986, where development. LCBI) in March 2013. she rose to the position For sustainable development of the debt While still at the DMO, Ms. Oniha was of a Manager, before capital market, she actively engaged with appointed as the Head of the Effi ciency Mjoining First Securities Discount House local and foreign investors, regulators and Unit at the Federal Ministry of Finance. To Limited (now FSDH Merchant Bank Lim- other stakeholders to develop a large and execute the mandate of the Unit which was ited) in 1992. She rose to the position of diversifi ed investor base for FGN Securities to moderate the Government’s Overhead General Manager/Director before joining and Bonds issued by other borrowers. Expenditure and generate savings from the Ecobank Nigeria Limited in 2000. Between Ms Oniha managed the successful issu- procurement process, Ms. Oniha intro- 2004 – 2008, Ms. Oniha was in Standard ance of Nigeria’s debut USD500 million duced a number of initiatives. Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited as a Gen- Eurobond in January 2011. Th e debut Eu- Amongst them were the issuance of 7 eral Manager. robond opened a new source of funding for Circulars to control expenditure on specifi c Aft er a fulfi lling career in the banking the Federal Government and Corporates. Overhead items and the negotiation of sector spanning over 22 years, Ms. Oniha In 2013, she also managed the issuance of discounts with airlines. Th ese delivered made a career move to the public sector the dual-tranche USD1 billion Eurobond savings estimated at N17 billion to the when she joined the DMO in 2008 as which was subscribed to the tune of about Government. She was working on the Director, Market Development Depart- 400%. introduction of new processes for payment ment. In this capacity, Ms. Oniha brought A number of Nigerian banks also tapped and procurements when she was appointed her banking experience to bear on various into this funding window by issuing Eu- Director-General of DMO with eff ect from aspects of the DMO’s activities. robonds. She was also responsible for the July 1, 2017. A major achievement of hers during her inclusion of FGN Bonds in the J.P. Morgan Ms. Oniha obtained a B.Sc. Economics, eight years at the DMO was the introduc- Government Bond Index – Emerging Mar- First Class Honours from the University tion of Benchmark Bonds to develop the kets (GBI – EM) in October 2012 which of Benin in 1983 and went on to earn an domestic bond market in order to improve made Nigeria the second country in Africa, M.Sc. Finance from the University of Lagos liquidity and to create a sovereign yield aft er South Africa to have its local currency in 1985. curve which created opportunities for State sovereign bond included in the Index. She is also a member of the Institute of Governments, Multilaterals and Corporates Th e inclusion of FGN bonds in this Index Chartered Accountants of Nigeria in 1990 to raise long term funds. attracted foreign investors to the domestic and a Fellow in 2008. She is also an Asso- Th e purpose behind this drive was to bond market as a whole. Th is was followed ciate Member of the Chartered Institute of create a debt capital market where the by the inclusion of FGN Bonds in the Taxation of Nigeria. Business Journal February2020 27 bele joined NSIA Directors and a member of Insurance Limited in the Nigerian Chartered Insti- February 2018. tute of Management. Prior to her Her twenty-three year career Eappointment, Ebele was the started as a Health Insurance Managing Director/CEO of Underwriting Offi cer with Zenith General Insurance the International Standard Company Limited; the DGM, Insurers (ISI). Ebele served Retail and Channel Man- on the Board of Prudential agement of UBA Insurance Zenith Life Assurance and and the AGM, Marketing in Venus Medicare. Standard Alliance Insurance. She is an alumnus of She holds a Bachelor of Arts Columbia Business School. Degree from the University She has attended several lead- of Benin and an MBA from ership and strategy courses at the Enugu State University the London Business School, EEbelechukwubelechukwu of Science and Technology Alliance Manchester Business (ESUT) Business School, Ni- School and the Lagos Busi- NNwachukwuwachukwu geria and is a member of the ness School. Chartered Insurance Institute She enjoys music, family, Managing Director/CEO of Nigeria, and London; a meeting people, travelling NSIA Nigeria Insurance Limited member of the Institute of and counseling. Adaora Umeoji Deputy Managing Director, Zenith Bank Plc r. Adaora Umeoji is the Deputy Man- Dr. Adaora Umeoji has presented lead papers at aging Director of Zenith Bank Plc. major academic conferences and symposia. Re- With over 20 years cognate banking cently, she was a keynote speaker at the Zenith and broad executive management Global Economic Forum held in New York City, experience,D Dr Adaora Umeoji rose through the USA where she delivered a thought-provoking lec- ranks to her current position. ture on Financing Growth Drivers in the Nigerian She holds a Bachelor’s degree from University Economy. of Jos, an MBA from University of Calabar and a Dr. Adaora Umeoji has at diff erent times partici- Doctorate degree in Business Administration from pated in high-level Bankers’ meetings with impact- Apollos University, Great Falls, Montana, USA. ful contributions towards the advancement of the Her dissertation was on inspirational leadership banking industry and national economic growth Dr. Adaora Umeoji has won numerous awards for and her fi ndings have been recognized as a major and development. She has delivered several mo- excellence and creativity in management. Her con- contribution in leadership and people manage- tivational speeches at strategic sessions aimed at tribution towards improving humanity has been ment. mentoring youths and managers, especially bank- recognised by the Nigerian Red Cross, Catholic She was trained in strategic thinking and man- ing professionals. Women Organisation of Nigeria and the Institute agement at Wharton Business School, Pennsylva- Beyond banking, Dr. Adaora Umeoji supports of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators among nia, USA and also holds a Certifi cate in Manage- research and learning on inspirational leadership, other non-governmental organisations both with- ment from Harvard Business School, Boston, USA. mentorship, talent development, collaboration, in and outside the country. She is a member of notable professional bodies change and adaptability, strategic thinking, inno- As a result of her passion in promoting profes- including the Chartered Institute of Bankers of vation and creativity, amongst others. sionalism in the banking industry and improving Nigeria, Institute of Credit Administration, Nige- Dr Adaora Umeoji promotes the Pink Breath the well-being of the less privileged, Dr Adaora rian Institute of Management, Institute of Certi- Cancer Care Foundation which supports several Umeoji founded the Catholic Bankers Association fi ed Public Accountants of Nigeria and Institute of healthcare programs within the six geopolitical of Nigeria (CBAN), a platform she uses to promote Chartered Mediators and Conciliators. zones of Nigeria. ethical banking and service to humanity. 28 Business Journal February 2020 Lawrencia Ndupu ChiefChi f Operating O ti Officer, Offi NiNigerian i National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)

Annabelle Degroot Managing Director/CEO international Breweries Limited

Hajia Aisha Dahir-Umar Acting Director-General National Pension Commission

Business Journal February2020 29 rior to her appointment as the Chief Executive’s Program at the Managing Director of Lead- Lagos Business School and IESE in way Pensure PFA in 2007, she Barcelona, Spain. was an Executive Director of Ronke Adedeji is also a fellow of the Aderonke PLeadway Pensure PFA. She was also Certifi ed Pension Institute of Nigeria an Executive Director of both MBC (CPIN) and the Association of Pension International Bank Limited and MBC Funds of Nigeria (APFN). Adedeji Securities Limited. Ronke is a Fellow of Th e Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria, Managing Director/CEO Chartered Institute of Taxation and Leadway Pensure PFA Limited a Fellow of Chartered Association of Accountants, UK. She was Head of Capital Issues Division of ICON Limited (Merchant Bankers) for 7 years from where she moved to MBC International Bank in 1993. She was appointed an Executive Director at MBC International Bank in 2001. Her experience covers Investment Banking, Retail Banking, Corporate Banking, Treasury, Corporate Services, Capital Markets and Securities. She has attended various courses internationally and locally including

Managing Director/CEO HHamdaamda AAmbahmbah FSDH Merchant Bank aving served eff ectively Before joining FSDH in 1993, Mrs. as an Executive Director Ambah was at Reuters Ltd, Nigeria from September 2009 to where she worked in the capacity of a January 2017, Mrs. Am- Senior Executive for about fi ve years. bah was appointed the While there, she was solely responsible Managing Director/CEO for the Nigerian sales accounts. of FSDH on Wednesday, February 1, 2017. H Prior to this, she worked at the Inter- While serving as the bank’s Executive national Merchant Bank Plc, Lagos, Director, she was in charge of the marketing Nigeria aft er joining the company in teams including; Corporates – Multinational, December 1982. Middle-tier Corporations, Telecommuni- She is a member of the Nigerian cations and the Energy Sector as well as the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers Port Harcourt and Abuja Regional Offi c- and was awarded the 1999 IBTC award es. She graduated from the University of for the best examination candidate in Lagos in 1980 aft er which she headed to the Corporate Finance. Imperial College of Science & Technology, London for her Postgraduate qualifi cations.

30 Business Journal February 2020 Yewande Sadiku Executive Secretary, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC)

providing fi nancial advice on a variety of ewande Sadiku has been Exec- assignments, while ensuring strict legal and utive Secretary/CEO of NIPC, regulatory compliance. Nigeria’s foremost investment She played an active role in the develop- promotion agency, since No- ment of the capital market by participating vemberY 2016. in industry committees and chairing the Until October 2016, she was the Execu- Rules and Compliance Sub-Committee, tive Director responsible for Stanbic IBTC which advised SEC on the rules that guide Group’s Corporate and Investment Bank- the operation of Nigeria’s Investments and ing business, ensuring the realisation of Securities Act for 12 years. She frequently business opportunities in Nigeria’s com- facilitated dialogue between corporate cli- plex operating environment. ents and regulators. She managed key relationships with reg- Ms Sadiku has an interest in bringing for- ulators, and several of Nigeria’s leading mal fi nancing to the Nigerian fi lm industry corporate and multinational clients. Ms and raised funding for Half of a Yellow Sun Sadiku was previously Chief Executive of (2014) a full feature fi lm. Stanbic IBTC’s investment banking busi- She was awarded the Eisenhower Fellow- ness. ship for International Leadership in May In a 23-year banking career, Ms Sadiku 2010 and was one of “35 International handled assignments for clients in virtu- Women Under 35” featured in the October ally every sector of the Nigerian economy, 2007 edition of World Business Magazine.

rs. Amaka Andy-Azike holds a B.Sc. degree in Sociology/An- thropology from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and an Amaka MBAM Degree from the Lagos State University. She has over 27 years work experience in the fi nancial Service Sector, working with estab- Andy- lishments like Modern Finance, First African Trust Bank, Magnum Trust Bank, Commer- cial Bank Credit Lyonnais and Fidelity Bank Plc. She joined Fidelity Pension Managers Azike Limited in 2007. Her work experience cuts across Treasury, Credit Administration, Corporate Banking, Managing Director/CEO Commercial Banking, Retail Banking, Pen- Fidelity Pension Managers sion Administration and Management. She is a member of various professional Limited Bodies and Associations. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (FCIB), and a Fellow of the Association of She is an alumna of the Harvard Business Investment Advisers and Portfolio Managers School, Boston Massachusetts, U.S.A, the (FIAPM). She is also a member of the Institute Wharton Business School of Pennsylvania, of Directors. U.S.A, the INSEAD Business School, France and the Lagos Business School. Business Journal February2020 31 SomefunS is a member ofo various professional bodies amongst which area the Institute of Direc- torst (IOD), Bank Direc- torst Association of Nige- ria (BDAN) and Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).

omi Somefun was appointed Executive Director on March 4, 2015 and later became MD/CEO in August, 2015. She is a Member, TBoard Finance & General Purpose Com- mittee, Board Risk Management Commit- Oluwatomi tee, Board Credit Committee, amongst others. Tomi Somefun has over 25 years cognate Somefun experience in the fi nancial service industry and has proved her mettle in leading and Managing Director/CEO developing highly eff ective teams as well as a demonstrable track record in leading Unity Bank Plc complex change programs. She is equipped with strong strategy defi nition and execution skills, analytical & UBA Pension Custodian Limited. INSEAD Fontainebleau, France. fi nancial management capabilities, business Somefun was also a Non-Executive Di- She is a Fellow of the Institute of Char- development & negotiating skills which rector on the Boards of UBA Foundations, tered Accountants, Nigeria and an alumnus she acquired through a combination of top UBA Trustees, UBA Nominees and UBA of the prestigious Harvard Business School class international trainings. Registrars. and University of Columbia Business She began her career with Arthur Ander- A graduate of University of Ife (now School, New York. sen (now KPMG). She worked at diff erent Obafemi Awolowo University,Ile –Ife), Somefun is a member of various profes- times with Ventures & Trusts Limited, Somefun holds a B.Ed in English Language. sional bodies amongst which are the Insti- Credite Bank Limited, UBA Trustee, UBA She has attended several local and foreign tute of Directors (IOD), Bank Directors As- Plc, UBA Capital & Trustee Limited and trainings including various industry-spe- sociation of Nigeria (BDAN) and Chartered was the Founding Managing Director/ CEO cifi c EuroMoney training programmes and Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).

32 Business Journal February 2020 Osaretin Demuren Chairman, GT Bank Plc

rs. Demuren holds the National Social Insurance Trust a Master of Science Fund (NSITF), Nigerian Investment Degree in Economics Promotion Commission (NIPC), and Statistics from Nigeria Export Processing Zone MMoscow Institute of Economics and Authority (NEPZA). Statistics, Moscow, and a Diploma in She was also the nominee of the Russian Language and Preliminary CBN on the Governing Council of Studies from Kiev State University, the Nigerian Investment Promotion Kiev. Commission, nominee of the CBN She is a member of many profes- on the Board of Nigerian Export sional associations including Society Processing Zone Authority, Chair- for Human Resource Management man International Technical Com- of America, Nigerian Statistical mittee on the Comprehensive Import Association, Chartered Institute of Supervision Scheme, Chairman Personnel Management of Nigeria Inter-ministerial Technical Commit- and Chartered Institute of Bankers tee on the Nigerian Export Supervi- of Nigeria. sion Scheme, Member Presidential Mrs. Demuren had a successful ca- committee on the Review of the reer with the Central Bank of Nigeria Pre-Shipment Inspection Scheme, which spanned over thirty-three (33) Member Presidential Committee on years, during which she served as Di- the investigation of illegal siphoning rector, Trade and Exchange Depart- of foreign exchange outside Nigeria, ment and was deployed to serve as Member Presidential Committee on the Director, Human Resource De- Trade Malpractices and the Co-co- partment, a position which she held ordinator on the implementation of until her retirement from the Central Travelers Cheques accessibility to the She has served on the Bank of Nigeria in December, 2009. Nigerian public. boards of several public She was the fi rst female Director of She is an alumnus of several local the Central Bank of Nigeria. and international training programs institutions including the Mrs. Demuren was at various times on Management, Banking, Finance, National Social Insurance a Member and Secretary to the Trade and Investment at institutions Public Enlightenment Committee on such as the Michigan Ross Business Trust Fund (NSITF), Nigerian Second-tier Foreign Exchange Mar- School, Detroit and Institut Europ- Investment Promotion ket, Representative of the Central een d' Administration des Aff aires Bank of Nigeria on Special Investiga- (INSEAD) Business School Fon- Commission (NIPC), Nigeria tion Panel on Trade Malpractices of tainebleau, France. the Federal Ministry of Commerce Mrs. Demuren joined the Board of Export Processing Zone and Tourism. Guaranty Trust Bank plc in April, Authority (NEPZA). She has served on the boards of 2013. several public institutions including

Business Journal February2020 33 Toyin Sanni Group Chief Executive Officer Emerging Africa Capital Limited

oyin has served for over four Prior to her time at UBA Trustees, she years as Group Chief Executive was Managing Director of Cornerstone Offi cer of United Capital Plc Trustees Limited where she established and (formerly UBA Capital Plc), a supervised the Cornerstone group’s trusts, leadingT African Investment Banking group asset management equipment leasing busi- listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange com- nesses. She also served as Assistant General prising market leading business divisions in Manager – Trust Services at First Trustees, Investment Banking, Trust, Asset Manage- a part of the FBN Holdings Group, between ment and Securities Divisions. 1999 and 2003. Toyin chairs the Financial Literacy Tech- Her other past roles include Chairperson, nical Committee (FLTC) of the Nigerian Annual Capital Market Retreat and Con- Capital Market. She is also the President of ference (2012-2014), President, Association the Association of Investment Advisers and of Trustees, Chairman, Committee on Cus- Portfolio Managers (IAPM); and Founder/ tody of Securities and Member, National Chairperson of Women in Finance Nigeria Bond Steering Committee amongst others. (WIFng) – an advocacy and development Toyin sits on several Boards and has platform for women in the Nigerian fi nan- served on several industry and regional cial sector. committees. She was named the All African Business Toyin obtained her fi rst degree in Law She was named Woman of the Year 2017 by CNBC Africa; from the University of Ife, Nigeria in 1984, and Nigeria’s CEO of the Year by Pearl was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985 and the All African Awards becoming the fi rst female CEO to also obtained a Masters degree in Law from win the Award in its 22-year history. She the University of Lagos, Nigeria in 1998. Business Woman also led her company to win the Best Cor- She has participated in various executive of the Year 2017 by porate Governance, Highest Dividend Yield education programs such as the Chief and Sectoral Award categories, clinching Executive Program, Lagos Business School CNBC Africa; and the Best Overall Company Award. Toyin (2017); Global AMP-CEP, IESE Business Nigeria’s CEO of also won the BusinessDay Top 25 CEO on School (2017); Building and Sustaining a the NSE Award in 2014, 2015 and 2016, Successful Enterprise through Disruptive the Year by Pearl amongst many other awards. Innovation Strategy, Harvard Business Awards becoming Before her appointment as Group Chief School (2016); and Global Strategic Lead- Executive Offi cer of United Capital, Toyin ership Program, Wharton School of the the first female was Managing Director/Chief Executive University of Pennsylvania (2015). Offi cer of UBA Trustees & Global Investor Toyin is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute CEO to win the Services for 8 years during which she grew of Stockbrokers, Fellow, IAPM, Associate, Award in its 22- the Trust business from startup to a clear Institute of Directors and of the Institute market leader. She also established and of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators year history. grew UBA’s domestic custody business to (ICSA) UK. top 3 industry position.

34 Business Journal February 2020 Lady Isioma

ManagingChukwuma Director/CEO Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation

ady Isioma Chukwuma holds a She qualifi ed as an associate of the Bachelors of Arts degree from the Chartered Insurance Institute of London in University of Ibadan and a Master’s 1990. She is also a fellow of the Chartered degree in Public Administration Insurance Institute of Nigeria. Lfrom the University of Lagos. She has been an active member of her pro- Lady Chukwuma joined Nigeria Rein- fessional body, the Chartered Insurance In- surance Corporation in 1980 as a graduate stitute of Nigeria (CIIN) serving in various She was also a past president of the Profes- trainee and rose to become the Managing capacities until August 11th 2015, when she sional Insurance Ladies Association. Director/Chief Executive Offi cer in June became the 47th President/Chairman of 2009. the Council of the CIIN. Chizor Malize Managing Director/CEO Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC) eral institutions such as Valucard Nigeria Plc, She is a recipient of Marketing and Leader- Standard Trust Bank/United Bank for Africa ship awards. She won the award for Marketing and Access Bank Nigeria Plc. She launched Personality of the year 2016 and the African and managed several of these Nigerian fi nan- Leadership Excellence Award 2017. She was cial institutions in 8 African countries and the recently nominated by REBRAND™ USA, as United Kingdom. a Jury Board member on the REBRAND 100® Prior to assuming the role at FITC, Chizor Global Awards Board, the only member from was a Founding Partner and CEO at Brand- Africa, amongst the world’s top global Business zone Consulting LLC. She led the fi rm’s Con- Leaders, Business strategists and designers. hizor is the Managing Director/ sulting practice serving major international She sits on the Executive Council of Women Chief Executive Offi cer of Financial and indigenous organisations of repute while in Management, Business and Public Service Institutions Training Centre (FITC). creating thought leadership to advance busi- (WIMBIZ), a non-profi t organisation, that has She has over two decades of pro- nesses. She has been a mentor to a number of impacted over 100,000 women in business, Cfessional experience that cuts across market- new ventures and advisor to Executives. management and leadership in Nigeria. ing, business process re-engineering, market Chizor holds a Bachelor’s degree and a Mas- Chizor is a prolifi c and respected internation- growth strategy, reputation management and ter’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) al speaker. She has developed and facilitated business consulting. with specialisation in Marketing. She is a pro- several training courses in reputable institu- Chizor has led various strategic and transfor- fessional member of the Chartered Institute tions such as Lagos Business School, Finan- mational projects in the fi nancial services sec- of Marketing (CIM), London and Chartered cial Institutions Training Centre (FITC), and tor, local and international in strategy, product Institute of Marketing, Nigeria. She is an Exec- BrandPlatform Academy. marketing, electronic banking, retail, whole- utive Education Alumna of the London Busi- She is passionate about impact, enterprise and sale, private banking and brand repositioning. ness School, UK and the Columbia University, family. Her fi nancial services experience spans sev- New York, United States. Business Journal February2020 35 Chinyere Don-Okhuofu Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Interswitch Limited

• Divisional Head irca 16 years in Branch Banking and Electronic banking industry. Had Banking. Cnumerous functions • Joined Interswitch in including: January 2012 as the Chief ATM • Financial Control and Devices Offi cer and went • Branch Management on to become the Divisional as Branch Manager of various CEO, Industry Vertical Markets branches in April 2014. • Regional Business • Executive MBA from Executive the Lagos Business School. • Head Global Strategy • Attended Executive Retail Programs at INSEAD and • Divisional Head CEIBS. Electronic Banking, and

Moji Adeyeye Director-General, NAFDAC rofessor Mojisola Christianah Pharmacy. Adeyeye was appointed on She earned her B.Pharm degree the 3rd of November 2017 from University of Nigeria, Nsuk- by the President of Federal ka, Nigeria and MS and PhD from PRepublic of Nigeria as the Direc- University of Georgia, Athens, GA, tor-General of National Agency for USA. Her research interests include Food and Drug Administration and pre-formulation, early phase devel- Control (NAFDAC). opment of solid, semisolid and liquid Prof. Adeyeye, before her present dosage forms, and IND-based and appointment, was the founding Chair intellectual property-driven late phase of Biopharmaceutical Sciences and drug product development. Professor of Pharmaceutics and Drug She has mentored over 15 PhD and Product Evaluation at the College of M.S candidates. She has 5 patents, Pharmacy, Roosevelt University in over 60 peer-reviewed manuscripts, Schaumburg, Illinois, where she spent book chapters and books, and more 7 years. than 150 scientifi c presentations. She She was Professor of Pharmaceutics is the founder of a socially conscious and Manufacturing for 21 years at start-up company – Elim Pediatric Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pharmaceuticals. PA , USA. She is Senior Fulbright She used her university lab for the Scholar and Specialist and 2008 early phase R&D and partners with AAPS Fellow. Professor Adeyeye contract manufacturing organisa- is Fellow of Nigerian Academy of tions for the clinical and registration Science and Nigeria Academy of batches.

36 Business Journal February 2020 Bennedikter Director Molokwu Falcon Corporation Limited

ennedikter attended University of Ni- of Bankers, Nigeria. papers on Legal, Boardroom, Entrepreneur- geria and was called to the Nigerian Bennedikter served meritoriouslyy as Pres- ship,p Finance, Management,g Leadership BBar in 1976. ident of the Institutestitute of DirectorsDirectors,, and Corporate GovernanceGovernanc issues. She holds a Masters Degree and banking Nigeria (IoD) aandnd activelyactively pro- She is a recipient of ththee prestigious and management certifi cates from Co- motes capacity building,building, thethe Kwame NkrumahNkrumah Leadership lumbia University, New York; Manchester understanding and imple- Award, NiNigeriangerian Bar Asso- Business School; Citibank, New York; IMD, mentation of lawsws rerelatinglating cciationiation WomenWom Forum’s Lausanne; and Wharton School, University to directors, companies,mpanies, DDistinguishedistinguish Trail of Pennsylvania. good corporate ggover-over- BlBlazerazer AwardAw and is She has worked in various capacities with nance and best prac- llistedisted in the Interna- notable organizations, with a wealth of ex- tices under the aaegisegis ttionalional WWho is Who perience spanning law, compliance, risk of the IoD Centrentre of PrProfessionals.o management, strategic planning, fi nancial for Corporate GGov-ov- services, administration and public aff airs. ernance. Ms Molokwu is on the Boards of several She is a muchh notable organizations operating across vari- sought aft err ous sectors of the economy, a member of the speaker who Nigerian Bar Association, International Bar has written, pre-- Association, International Federal of Wom- sented and pub-b- en Lawyers (FIDA) and Chartered Institute lished several

Folashade Joseph Managing Director/CEO Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation ling leadership qualities imbued with dedi- She has held many leadership positions cation, discipline and charisma. and received several awards including being Her unique managerial skills saw her a fellow of the Institute of Public Diplomacy through diff erent positions in many depart- and Management. ments of the Exxon Mobil Plc at diff erent Her vision for the Corporation is that of times. a highly professional customer-focused in- olasade M. Joseph is a graduate of the Due to the need to hone her experience stitution that deploys innovation, drive and prestigious Ahmadu Bello University along her dynamic schedules in Exxon integrity to provide unique services on Agro F(ABU), Zaria where she obtained her Mobil and aft erwards, she attended many and General Insurance that would give cli- B.Sc. degree in Accounting in 1983. courses both at home and abroad, as a result ents value for their patronage, thereby earn- She was in the employment of Exxon Mo- of which she has built a repertoire of knowl- ing strong customer loyalty for current and bil Plc, where she served meritoriously for edge across several segments of the national future investments. seventeen years from 1985 to 2001, giving economy, including Telecommunications remarkable accounts of herself through ster- and Engineering. Business Journal February2020 37 Funke Opeke Managing Director/CEO MainOne Limited

s. Funke Opeke, is founder and MainOne also built West Africa’s largest Wholesale Division. Subsequent to MTN, CEO of MainOne, formerly Main Tier III Data Center, MDX-i’s Lekki Data Ms. Opeke advised Transcorp on the acqui- MOne Cable Company. Center, a $40 million investment with a sition of NITEL and briefl y served as the MainOne is West Africa’s leading commu- capacity for 600 racks. Ms. Opeke is an interim Chief Operating Offi cer, post-ac- nications services and network solutions experienced telecommunications executive quisition of NITEL. provider that built West Africa’s fi rst pri- who returned to Nigeria in 2005 as the She obtained a fi rst degree in Electrical vately owned, open access 7,000 kilometer Chief Technical Offi cer of MTN aft er a Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo Uni- undersea high capacity cable submarine, a twenty-year career in the United States. versity, Ile-Ife Nigeria and a Master’s degree $240-million-dollar project that was com- Prior to her return, she was the Execu- in Electrical Engineering from Columbia pleted in time and on budget in 2010. tive Director of Verizon Communications University, New York.

Patience Group Managing Director/CEO Dappa Masters Energy Group

Patience was appointed by the Delta State Metropolitan University, London, Government to review the Laws of the State in She is an Alumnus of the Lagos Business 2005, alongside other professional, an oppor- School, Queens School of Business Executive tunity that exposed her to the Constitutional Education, Canada and the Cambridge Uni- structure of the State. versity Judge Business School, United King- Patience is a Chartered Arbitrator, having dom. qualifi ed to be a member of the Chartered Patience has attended numerous Seminars atience Dappa has put in over 27 years Institute of Arbitrators (UK) (ACIArb), a across the globe, which includes Assessing into the legal profession, having started member of the International and Nigerian and Managing Risk in Oil and Gas Contract her career at the fi rm of Alegeh & Asso- P Bar Associations, who holds a Bachelors De- New York, LNG World Conference, Brisbane, ciates as an Attorney, with focus on Property, gree in Law from the University of Calabar, a Australia, Communication Skill and Advoca- Company Law and Litigation, from where she Masters Degree in Law, from the University of cy (Lagos Business School). moved to T & A Management Consultants as Lagos, a Masters Degree in Humanitarian and Mrs. Dappa is currently the Acting Group Company Secretary and Legal Adviser, aft er Refugee Studies from University of Lagos, and Managing Director/Chief Executive Offi cer at which she established Pat Dappa & Associ- a Masters Degree in Maritime Law from the Masters Energy Group. ates, a fi rm of Lawyers. 38 Business Journal February 2020 Stella Okoli Founder/Group Managing Director/CEO Emzor Pharmaceuticals Limited She founded Chike Okoli r. Stella Chinyelu Offi cer of the Order of the Niger, Foundation (COF) in 2006 in Okoli, OON, is the OON by the President and Com- Founder and Group mander-In-Chief of the Federal memory of her beloved son Managing Director Republic of Nigeria. Chike. The Foundation set up Dof Emzor Pharmaceutical Indus- She is a recipient of the 2014 tries Limited. CePATHonors Lifetime Achieve- a Centre for Entrepreneurial She attended All Saints Primary ment Award and the 2016 Ernst Studies at Nnamdi Azikiwe School Onitsha and Ogidi Girls’ and Young Lifetime Achieve- Secondary School Ogidi, both ment Award, as well as the 2016 University, Awka, and trains in Anambra State, obtaining her Institute of Directors Lifetime more than 250 students in West African School Certifi cate Achievement Award. in 1964. entrepreneurship every year. She later proceeded to the United Kingdom for her ter- tiary education and obtained a B.Pharm (Hons) and an MSc in Bio-pharmaceutics from Univer- sity of London, Chelsea College in 1971. She has attended Th e Harvard Business School Own- er–Manager Program; the Chief Executive Programme of Lagos Business School and I.E.S.E, Business School, Barcelona, Spain. She founded Chike Okoli Foun- dation (COF) in 2006 in mem- ory of her beloved son Chike. Th e Foundation set up a Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and trains more than 250 students in entrepreneurship every year. Th e Foundation has reached over 1,500,000 people across Ni- geria on lifestyle interventions. She bagged the Internation- al Entrepreneurial Challenge (IWEC) Award. She has been conferred with the Member of Order of Nigeria, MON and the

Business Journal February2020 39 Bimbo Ikumariegbe Deputy Managing Director/Chief Operating Officer VDT Communications Limited graduate of English Language from communications sector. Obafemi Awolowo University in An excellent team player and leader, she was Osun State, Abimbola also holds instrumental to the formation of the Sales & an MBA from Obafemi Awolowo Marketing Department of VDT Communica- UniversityA and has attended series of marketing tions and with her pacesetting managerial style, and managerial training programmes. led the growth of the company from a marginal She is an alumnus of the prestigious Lagos turnover to a fi rm now worth multiple billions Business School, Pan-Atlantic University. of naira. Ikumariegbe has certifi cation in ITIL & she Under her watch, VDT has also evolved a is an ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 20000-1:2011 strong positive brand image with an extensive knowledge resource. increase in brand visibility. Bimbo Ikumariegbe commenced her profes- sional career with Magic Soft ware. Aft er a stint at thecompany as a Sales Executive, she fur- Bimbo Ikumariegbe commenced her professional thered her journey in Bitcom Systems Nigeria Limited, which is now the parent company of career with Magic Software. After a stint at thecom- VDT Communications. pany as a Sales Executive, she furthered her journey She is a pioneer staff of VDT Communica- tions which she joined in 2001 as a Sales Exec- in Bitcom Systems Nigeria Limited, which is now the utive and rose through the ranks to her present parent company of VDT Communications. position. In all Ikumariegbe has garnered over 17years of cognate experience in the ICT/Tele- Adesimbo

ManagingUkiri Director/CEO Avon Healthcare Limited desimbo Ukiri is the MD/CEO of Avon Healthcare Limited. As CEO, she oversees all aspects of the company’s operations and, under her guidance and vision, Avon HMO has become one of Nigeria’s leading healthcare maintenance organisations. AA trained lawyer, Adesimbo holds an LLB from Obafemi Awolowo University and is a Sloan Fellow of London Business School, where she obtained an MSc in Man- agement. Adesimbo has over 20 years of professional experience within a number of sectors including fi nancial services, FMCG, telecommunications and healthcare. 40 Business Journal February 2020 Nkem Oni-Egboma Managing Director/CEO Zenith Pensions Custodian Limited

kem Oni-Egboma holds a Bache- keting and General Management. She has attended various off shore training lor's degree in Accounting, Second Prior to her appointment as the Managing programmes which includes Audit through NClass Upper (1989) from Ahmadu Director of Zenith Pensions Custodian Lim- the Computer in Financial Institutions and Bello University and a Masters in Banking ited, she had previously held the position of Trade Seminar – Citibank, New York, Th e and Finance – MBF (1998) from the Uni- Zonal Head, Zenith Bank Plc in charge of Leadership Edge:Strategies For Th e New versity of Lagos. Allen Zone (comprising Allen, Opebi, and Leader (Wharton Business School, Univer- She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Allen 2), supervising over 150 workforce. sity of Pennsylvania), Making Corporate Accountants of Nigeria (FCA). She brings Her major function was providing trans- Boards More Eff ective (Havard Business with her over twenty-eight (28) years ex- formational leadership as well as ensuring School),Finance Programmes for Senior perience in the Financial Services Industry an excellent and steady growth in the bal- Executives (Said Business School, Oxford (majorly Zenith Bank Plc) in Treasury Op- ance sheet size of the branches under her University) etc. erations, Internal Control and Audit, Mar- supervision. Catherine Nwosu Chief Operating Officer African Prudential Plc

She majors in Banking and Finance and also holds a degree in Man- agement Science from University of Education, Winneba, Ghana. She also holds a Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA Marketing & Management bias). Catherine is an investment banker of repute with over 19 years expe- rience in Share Register Administration. She is a tested member of professional bodies, which include among others, Associate, Institute of Capital Market Registrars (ACMR); Certifi ed Pension Institute of Nigeria (CPIN).

Business Journal February2020 41 Amy Jadesimi MiManaging Director/CEO,Di t /CEO LADOL LiLimited it d

r. Jadesimi received her fi rst Global Leader by the World Economic degree from Oxford University, Forum and a Rising Talent by the Wom- Dwhere she earned a BA in Physio- en’s Forum for Economy and Society; logical Sciences. in 2014, Forbes included her in Th e 20 She then attended Oxford University Youngest Power Women in Africa; and in Medical School, from which she graduat- July 2015, the Financial Times named her ed as a medical doctor (MD). Aft er Ox- one of top 25 Africans To Watch. ford, Dr. Jadesimi joined Goldman Sachs Amy is a founding member of the International in London as part of the Business and Sustainable Development Investment Banking Division, specializ- Commission, announced in January 2016 ing in corporate fi nance and mergers and at the World Economic Forum in Davos. acquisitions. She then attended Stanford Business School, from which she earned her MBA in Business Administration. While at Stanford, Amy While at Stanford, Amy completed an internship with Brait Private Equity in completed an intern- Johannesburg, South Africa where she ship with Brait Private worked as a transaction executive in Private Equity. Aft er graduating from Equity in Johannes- business school, Amy moved to Nigeria burg, South Africa where she set up a fi nancial consultancy fi rm before joining the Management UN Development Programme’s Africa where she worked as a Team of LiLe as Managing Director. Human Development Report”. In 2012, A contributor to Forbes, Dr Jadesimi is Dr Jadesimi was named an Archbishop transaction executive a member of the Advisory Board for the Desmond Tutu Fellow; in 2013, a Young in Private Equity.

Yinka Adekoya Managing Director/CEO Wapic Insurance Plc

rs. Adekoya started her pro- ment Division at Cornerstone Insurance. fessional career with Lambert She was appointed Managing Director of MWillis & Associate (Insurance Wapic Insurance Plc on November 1, 2015. Brokers). She spent 23 years at Law Union Mrs. Adekoya has a Bachelor of Science and Rock where she rose through the and Masters of Business Administration ranks gathering experience in the technical both from the University of Lagos. She is a department. Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute Prior to joining Wapic, Mrs. Adekoya was of Nigeria and an Associate of the Char- the Head Institutional Business Develop- tered Insurance Institute, London.

42 Business Journal February 2020 Audrey Joe-Ezigbo Co-Founder/Executive Director Falcon Corporation Limited

udrey holds several Master’s able to bring her wealth of experience in degrees and certifi cations in business, fi nance and corporate strategy the areas of Finance, Business to the fore. Audrey is an active member of Administration, Marketing, several professional and volunteer service Aand Leadership from reputable institutions associations. of learning including the University of She is a mentor on the formal Mentoring Nigeria, and the prestigious Lagos Business programs of Lagos Business School, Pan School and Harvard Business School. Atlantic University; Women in Manage- She has principal accountabilities to the ment, Business & Public Service (WIM- Board in the areas of Strategy, Business De- BIZ); Apostles in the Market Place (AiMP), velopment and Finance. Audrey serves as and the Federal Government of Nigeria Chairperson and as Director on the Boards YouWin Women mentoring program, of several corporations where she is able to amongst others. Audrey is a Speaker and bring her wealth of experience in business, facilitator, readily sharing her experiences fi nance and corporate strategy to the fore. on various facets of management and en- She is a member of the Executive Council trepreneurship through various platforms of the Nigerian Gas Association which is the Nigerian Gas Association, the umbrella including the Fate Foundation and Lagos the umbrella association for professionals association for professionals and businesses Business School. She is a prolifi c writer, and businesses involved in the Nigerian involved in the Nigerian gas industry. blogger, and published author of two books gas industry. She served for several years Audrey also serves on the Boards of – ‘Double Impact’ and ’Uniquely Woman’ as a member of the Executive Council of several notable corporations where she is Nike Bajomo Executive Director Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited

rs. Olanike (Nike) Bajomo Development department and has since is currently the Executive led the department through several MDirector - Business Develop- transformational growth strategies. Prior ment (BD) Directorate of Stanbic IBTC to her joining the company in 2008, Pension Managers Limited (SIPML). she was Head of Sales and Marketing at Nike has over 20 years post-gradua- Pensions Alliance Limited. tion experience in diff erent industry Nike has an MBA from Durham Uni- sectors including Financial Services and versity, United Kingdom and a Bachelor’s Information Technology. Nike joined the Degree in Philosophy from the Universi- company in 2008 as the Head of Business ty of Ibadan.

Business Journal February2020 43 Ms. Adetola Adegbayi Executive Director Leadway Assurance Company Limited

Ms. Adetola Adegbayi is a legal practi- She is also an Associate of the Chartered tioner with extensive experience in legal Insurance Institute, London; Associate, research, corporate legal practice, insur- Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria ance and fi nancial services. (CIIN) and the Chartered Institute of She holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree Arbitrators, United Kingdom (UK). of the University of South Wales and a She holds an Advanced Management Master of Laws Degree of the University Certifi cate of the Harvard Business of Bristol, England—graduating with School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Distinction in Jurisprudence. Abimbola Alale Managing Director/CEO Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited (NigComSat) bimbola H. Alale is the current satellite operators and other stakeholders Managing Director and Chief within the industry and the media to create Executive Offi cer of the Nige- awareness, acceptance, and endorsement of rian Communication Satellite NIGCOMSAT vision and strategy for the ALimited (NIGCOMSAT), Abuja, Nigeria. space and telecommunications industry. She holds a postgraduate degree in Space Known for her strategic market savvy, she Studies and an MBA degree from the formulated a commercialisation strate- International Space University, Strasbourg, gy and execution plan that leveraged on France. She also is a Ph.D. degree holder existing infrastructure with the objective of of Peace, Security & Strategic Studies from increasing revenue and decreasing capital the Institute of Governance & Develop- expenditure. i.e. adopting the Public-Pri- ment Studies, Nasarawa State University, vate Partnership model in the NIGCOM- Keffi , Nigeria. Other Certifi cates were SAT Direct-To-Home project. obtained at the Massachuttes Institute of Today, Abimbola Alale stands tall Technology, USA and the Management amongst satellite professionals not only in School, London. Nigeria but the world as the visible woman For over seventeen years, she has pursued Abimbola Alale actively worked on some at the head of a communication satellite an active career in the Space Sector, a national priority projects such as the business around the globe. career that began at the National Space NigComSat-1, NigComSat-1R projects and She is a member of the American Institute Research and Development Agency the establishment of a National Direct-to- of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) (NASRDA) where, as the Assistant Project Home Digital Transmission Centre. She is federation. She is also a member of th-e Manager she was part of the team that presently driving the full commercialisa- International Space University Forum. championed the manufacture and launch tion of NIGCOMSAT Ltd. She was recently admitted as a Board of the fi rst sub-Saharan African communi- She has also been able to manage relation- Member of the Space Generation Advisory cation satellite, NigComSat-1 in May 2007. ship with the public sector, consultants, Council. 44 Business Journal February 2020 Titilayo Shogaolu Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Interswitch Limited

Over 14 years’ industry experience. Joined sion in 2014. Responsible for: Interswitch in 2004. Served the company in • Education; diff erent capacities with responsibilities in • Government; functions within: • Power, and • Operations; • Transport industry verticals/seg- • Product Management; ments. • Sales; • Divisional CEO, Interswitch Fi- • Key Account & Customer Value nancial Inclusion Services Limited in 2018. Management and • Masters’ degree in Business • Project Management Administration from Cardiff University of Wales. Chief Payment & VAS Offi cer in 2012. • First degree in Business Econom- Group Head Social Systems & Services ics from Cardiff University of Wales. within the Industry Vertical Markets Divi-

Mary Adeyanju Executive Director Consolidated Hallmark Insurance Plc

Mary Adeyanju is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN). She possesses a Master’s Degree in Business administration from the Lagos State University as well as a Bachelors Degree in Th eatre Arts and Diploma in Insurance from the University of Jos and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria respectively. Mary has over two decades of varied experience in the insur- ance industry. She is an alumnus of the Lagos Business School (LBS).

Business Journal February2020 45 Tokunbo Fagbemi Group Managing Director/CEO Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO Aviance) Plc

rs Olatokunbo A. Fagbemi is an Airports Council International M(ACI) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) certifi ed International Airport Professional (IAP). She is one of the few African women to have achieved the highly rigorous standards for expertise in the fi eld of airport manage- ment. In addition to the IAP Certifi cation, Mrs Olatokunbo A. Fagbemi holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from IESE (“Instituto de Estudios Superiores de la Empresa”) University of Nevara, Spain. She also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy from the University of Ibadan. Tokunbo also attended Maryhill Convent School Ibadan, Queens School Ibadan, Harvard University USA and Cranfi eld University UK. She holds Certifi cates in Air Transport Management, Airport Commercial Rev- enue Development, from the Cranfi eld University, UK. She holds a Certifi cate in Leaders in Development from Kennedy School of Government (KSG), Harvard University. She also holds a Certifi cate in Infrastruc- ture in a Market Economy from KSG, Harvard University. She is an IATA certifi ed Leasing Professional, an expert in Infra- structure Provision and Public-Private Part- nerships. She has facilitated several training Singapore, Murtala Muhammed Interna- (IATA), IATA Ground Handling Council programmes for Airport Council Interna- tional Airport Ikeja and Dallas Fort Worth (IGHC), Airports Council International tional (ACI), several Airlines, Ground Han- Airport amongst others. (ACI) courses and seminars. dling Companies and the Nigerian Civil Tokunbo has hands-on Consulting, She is an Executive Director in Spring- Aviation Authority (NCAA). Tokunbo is an Business Advisory and Financing expertise fountain Infrastructure Limited and the alumnus of the Lagos Business School. having worked with several Ground Han- Managing Director of the African Aircraft Tokunbo has had the privilege of working dling companies, Civil Aviation Authority Leasing Company (AALC). and training in various aspects of Airport in Nigeria, Gambia and Sierra Leone. Tokunbo is married with three children. Management, Passenger Handling, Ramp Tokunbo has attended several Interna- Her hobbies include; Reading, Aerobics, Handling and Cargo Handling at; Dubai tional Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), and Travelling. International Airport, Changi Airport International Air Transport Association

46 Business Journal February 2020 Business Journal February2020 47 48 Business Journal February 2020