Leadership

We are led by exceptional professionals and visionaries with invaluable industry knowledge and local market insights, combined with proven expertise in global financial markets, they are charting the course for Coronation Merchant Bank.

Our Board of Directors

Executive management

Chairman
Babatunde Folawiyo
B.Sc Economics and LLB; LLM

Mr. Folawiyo is the Managing Director of the Yinka Folawiyo Group – an organisation with interests in energy, agriculture, shipping, real estate and engineering – as well as a Director at MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd.

Over the course of his career, he has been actively involved in petroleum exploration activities under the indigenous programme of the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, and was instrumental in pioneering developmental activities in the Benin Embayment. Since 1996, he has served as Vice President of the Nigeria Association of Indigenous Petroleum Explorers and Productions (NAIPEC), an umbrella body for Indigenous Operators in the nation’s upstream sector. During the 2005 recapitalisation/consolidation of the banking industry, he led Marina International Bank Ltd into a successful merger with Access Bank Plc, and served on the board of the Bank until February 2016. He was also a Director at Unic Insurance Plc.

His achievements include an appointment as Honorary Consul of Barbados in Lagos, Nigeria, a position he holds to this day, and the receipt of the African Business Leadership Award in 2010. He is a member of the Bar Association of England and Wales, and the Nigerian Bar Association.

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Evelyn Oputu
B.Sc Business Administration

Ms. Oputu currently sits on the boards of several companies in a diverse range of sectors, including insurance, mining, medical services, manufacturing and oil and gas.

In 1982, she was headhunted to found the Treasury & Financial Services Division at International Merchant Bank, before she progressed to Senior Manager & Deputy Head of the Corporate Finance Division. Subsequently, she was made Chairman and Chief Executive at KES Products Ltd. She also served as Executive Director at First Bank Nigeria Plc, where she was responsible for the Corporate Development Division and the Corporate Finance & International Division. From 2005 to 2014, she was the MD/CEO of Bank of Industry Ltd. (BOI).

Her achievements include an appointment as a member of the National Directorate of Employment in 1987 and appointment as Chairman of the Committee of the Financial Management of Aviation Parastatals in 2000.

Board member
Adamu Mahmoud Atta
BA. International Relations/International Economics; MA. Development Economics; Masters Political Science

Mr. Atta founded and heads the consultancy, Matad Group Nigeria Limited (“Matad”), and through this, he has gained over twenty years’ experience consulting for various businesses in areas such as socio-economic and feasibility studies, analysis and diagnostic reviews. Under his leadership, Matad continues to evolve, having provided consulting services funded by the World Bank, African Development Bank, Department for International Developments, and the United Nations Development Programme, amongst others.
 
Mr. Atta has experience serving on the boards of various companies, including WAPIC Insurance Plc, Access Investment & Securities Limited, Inter Foods Limited, Workwell Engineering & Tractor Nigeria Limited and Supertex, amongst others. He has also been appointed onto various committees by the Federal Government of Nigeria to help coordinate systems for monitoring Oil & Gas supplies to industries and to instil transparency in the sector.

Mr. Atta has been appointed to various committees in the oil, gas and textile industries by the Federal Government, and to the Nigerian Business Forum by the President. He also played a role in the work of the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (N-EITI) and was involved in the creation of the accounting model which tracks development in oil and gas industries.

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Olubunmi Fayokun
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)

Admitted to the Nigerian Bar – 1985, Ms. Fayokun is a Senior Partner in the law firm of Aluko & Oyebode and heads the firm’s Capital Markets’ and M&A practice groups. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Fayokun was the Legal Adviser/Company Secretary of Denham Management Limited.

Ms. Fayokun’s career spans over three decades during which she has represented a highly diversified clientele of top-tier indigenous, international and multinational companies in various sectors including: banking, oil and gas, FMCG, power, aviation and insurance.

Ms. Fayokun is recognised in Who’s Who Legal as one of the world’s leading lawyers in M&A, Capital Markets and Energy & Natural Resources and has consistently been ranked a Leading Lawyer in IFLR1000 – The Guide to the World’s leading Financial Law Firms. Ms. Fayokun has served on various committees established by the Securities and Exchange Commission for the purpose of promoting the development of the Nigerian capital market, including the CMC Rules and Compliance Sub-committee and the CMC Market Infrastructure Sub-committee.

Ms. Fayokun is a Council Member of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law, was a Director of the Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria, a former Treasurer of the Capital Markets Solicitors’ Association and played a key role in the establishment of the Nigerian Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) OTC market. Ms. Fayokun was appointed to the board of Coronation Merchant Bank on 30 May, 2017 and her appointment was approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria on 1 November, 2017.

Non-Executive Director
Idaere Gogo Ogan
B.Sc. (Hons) Economics, MBA International Finance

Mr Ogan has more than 28 years’ experience across key areas of Banking, Insurance and Oil and Gas. He is the Group Chairman of Calvary Group which includes BECCA Petroleum and Gas Limited, Cordero Engineering Services Limited and Calvary Travels and Logistics Limited, a position he has held for twenty (20) years. In this role, he has gained expansive experience in Oil and Gas management, Engineering services, and Logistics.

Prior to his appointment as Chairman of the Calvary Group, he was the Head, Corporate Bank Pharmaceutical Group at Guaranty Trust Bank PLC.

Mr. Ogan sits on the Board of several companies as Director and Chairman. Currently, he is the Chairman, Board of Directors of United Securities Limited (USL); Director in Marina Securities Limited and Eastern Bulkcem Company Limited (Eagle Cement) and a ranking member of Access Bank Plc Shareholders’ Audit Committee,

He is a member, Institute of Directors of Nigeria which is an affiliate of Institute of Directors United Kingdom.

Mr. Ogan was appointed to the board of Coronation Merchant Bank on 21 July, 2017 and his appointment was approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria on 1 November 201John Does

Board member
Larry Ettah
B.Sc Industrial Chemistry; MBA, GSB

Mr. Ettah is the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of UAC of Nigeria Plc. (UACN) and is Chairman of the following publicly quoted companies: UAC Property Development Company Plc (UPDC), Chemical & Allied Products Plc (CAP), Portland Paints & Products Nigeria Plc and Livestock Feeds Plc.

He began his career as a Management Trainee at UACN in 1988 and was promoted to the board of UACN in 2004. Prior to this promotion, he held several senior management positions within the company, including Executive Director, and Human Resources and Divisional Managing Director of the Mr Bigg’s Division of UAC.

Some of his numerous achievements include an appointment as the first Vice President of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), as well as Vice President (Multinationals) of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN). In addition, he is a Council Member of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI).

Non-Executive Director
Kayode Akindele
BA Hons Degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics

Kayode graduated with a BA Hons Degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the University of Oxford in 2001. He worked first at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in London as an Audit & Assurance Associate in the Banking & Capital Markets division and then at Lloyds Banking Group as a Manager/Associate Director in the Risk Solutions Team within the Financial Markets Division.

In 2006, he assumed the role of Vice President/Assistant General Manager in UBA Global Markets (now United Capital) in Lagos initially to head the Sales & Structuring Team then heading the Capital Markets, M&A and Structuring teams. As a Co-Founder and Partner in TIA Capital, a pan-African focused investment firm, a credit fund was successfully raised and invested under the UK FCA regulated 46 Parallels brand which was a joint venture with a UK based family office. Since 2015 TIA Capital has invested over $500m in the Sub-Saharan African region as a sub-advisor to a large global multi-strategy fund as well as advising other clients on their investments in the region. From May to June 2015, he served as a Technical Assistant/Subject Matter Expert in Economy & Finance Sub- Committee of President Muhammadu Buhari’s for the Presidential Transition Committee.

Non-Executive Director
Olayinka Tiamiyu

Mr. Olayinka Tiamiyu graduated with a B.Sc Hons Degree in Petroleum Engineering and an M.Sc in Industrial Engineering both from University of Ibadan in 1986 and 1990 respectively. In year 2000, he obtained an MBA from the University of Lagos. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (“ICAN”), a senior honorary member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and an associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.

Mr. Tiamiyu started his illustrious career, which spanned a period of 32 years, with Arthur Andersen in 1990 as an Audit Assistant. He left Arthur Andersen in 1994 as an Audit Senior to join First Marina Trust Bank Ltd in 1994 and subsequently Access Bank Plc in 1999. He spent a total of about 22 years in Access Bank Plc and headed several functions including Financial Control, Strategy, Systems and Controls, Credit Risk Management, and Internal Audit. Mr. Tiamiyu retired from Access Bank Plc in September 2022 as the General Manager in charge of Group Internal Audit.

He attended management development courses at Harvard, INSEAD, IMD and Wharton Business Schools and was the Chairman of the Association of Chief Audit Executives of Nigeria between 2018 and 2022.

Non-Executive Director
Adetola Owolabi

Adetola Owolabi earned a B.Sc. in Business Administration from the University of Lagos in 1997 and an MBA from the University of Liverpool in 2009. She spent 17 years in relationship management at Guaranty Trust Bank PLC, specializing in structuring complex commercial credit transactions and international trade finance. Throughout her tenure, she excelled in various roles, managing portfolios across multiple business districts and achieving significant growth in profitability. She eventually served as the Group Head of the Commercial Banking Group, overseeing major commercial banking clients in the Lagos area. Her last position at the bank was Assistant General Manager and Group Head of the Maritime Group.

Mrs. Owolabi has participated in several management courses both in Nigeria and abroad, including at Harvard Business School (Boston, USA, 2005), Columbia University Graduate School of Business (USA, 2008), IMD (Switzerland, 2011), NYU Stern (2016), and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management (2022). She was appointed a Non-Executive Director of Black Pelican Limited (IL Bagno) until June 2012, when she transitioned to an executive role as Executive Director. Her outstanding performance has earned her numerous accolades, and she is recognized for her excellent teamwork, mentoring skills, and high performance. She is passionate about optimizing an organization’s resources to create value for its stakeholders.

Currently, Mrs. Owolabi serves as the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of Black Pelican Limited (IL Bagno) with responsibilities that include Finance, Operations, Business Strategy Management, Human Resources, Administration, Internal Control, Procurement, Warehouse, and Inventory.

In 2010, she was inducted as an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and became a Fellow of the Institute of Credit Administration in 2015.

In October 2024, Mrs. Owolabi was appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Coronation Merchant Bank, where she is a member of the following Board Committees:

  • Board Audit Committee
  • Board Governance and Nominations Committee
  • Board Credit and Investment Committee
aG. Managing Director
Paul Abiagam
B.Sc. Botany, MBA. Management

Mr. Paul Abiagam, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Coronation Merchant Bank, brings over 27 years of distinguished experience in the financial services industry. With a strong foundation in finance and accounting, he began his career at the former Diamond Bank Plc, where he advanced through various roles, gaining extensive expertise in commercial and corporate banking.

In 2005, he joined Guaranty Trust Bank, where he held several key leadership positions, including General Manager, Divisional Head of Commercial Banking, and Corporate Banking respectively. He also served as a Non-Executive Director at Guaranty Trust Bank, Côte d’Ivoire, further demonstrating his strategic acumen and business market expertise. In 2022, he was appointed Managing Director and CEO of Guaranty Trust Pension Managers.

He is a Fellow of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA – UK), and an Honorary Senior member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (HCIBN). As an alumnus of the Lagos Business School and the Nanyang Business School, Singapore respectively, he combines critical insights with local expertise in the financial services market.

His career spans banking, pensions and fund management, strategy, investment banking, and risk management. Paul’s deep understanding of the Nigerian and West African financial markets positions him as a transformative leader driving innovation and sustainable growth in the financial services sector.

Chief Operation Officer
Irenosen Ohiwerei
Divisional Head, Corporate & Investment Banking
Ademola Adekoya
B.Sc. Estate Management

Mr. Adekoya is an experienced banker whose core banking experience has covered financial and business advisory, wealth management, corporate finance, and credit and marketing. As the Group Head of Corporate Banking at Coronation Merchant Bank, he is responsible for the development of marketing and sales strategies, as well as products and services for the Division; originating and managing the bank’s relationships within the corporate market.

Mr. Adekoya began his banking career in August 2002 at Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTB) as an Executive Trainee in the Energy Unit of the Credit and Marketing Group. Prior to joining GTB, he worked as Head of Property Management at Leke Sanni & Associates. In May 2003, Mr. Adekoya joined Access Bank Plc as Senior Banking Officer, Global Financial Markets. He joined Coronation Merchant Bank in August 2015 as Assistant General Manager of Corporate Banking.

His achievements include participating in quasi-equity for Access Bank via long term convertible debenture, which is the first of such investment in a Nigerian Bank by a development finance institution. He also participated in promoting Gender Empowerment at Access Bank, by raising funds from the International Finance Corporation.

Chief Risk Officer
Saheed Alamutu
BSc. Chemistry MSc. Financial Services, Risk & Operation

The Chief Risk Officer (CRO), Saheed Alamutu is a thoroughbred governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) professional with over two decades of strategic insight, experience, and excellence in the establishment and management of enterprise risk to optimize opportunities in pursuit of organization objective. In his role as the CRO, he oversees the risk management function in Coronation Merchant Bank, ensuring that material risk exposures of the organization are managed within the Board approved risk appetite.

He is certified by professional institutions across Africa, Europe, and the Americas – a Fellow of the Chartered Bankers Institute in Nigeria, Chartered Banker (Scotland), Member of Chartered Securities and Investment (MCSI), and Professional Member, Institute of Operational Risk (PIOR) in the United Kingdom and a Certified Information Security Manager, CISM (ISACA). He holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Chemistry from the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, and a master’s degree in Financial Services, Risk & Operation from Glasgow, United Kingdom.

In his previous roles, he has been able to promote risk management and control culture from a mere compliance function to a strategic enabler of organizational goals. Before joining Coronation Merchant Bank in 2023, he was appointed the Chief Risk Officer of Parallex Bank Limited where he set up the risk management structure and developed an effective risk management framework and policies. He has attended several local and international trainings and conferences.

Divisional Head, Global Market, Treasury, and Financial Institutions
Ronald Nwaezeapu
B.Sc., Actuarial Science University of Lagos MBA Lagos Business School, FCA, HCIB

Ronald Nwaezeapu is a seasoned financial professional with over 23 years of experience in the banking industry. A proven leader with a strong track record of success, he is skilled at optimizing net asset returns and driving excellence within the industry. Ronald served as Head of Treasury/Asset & Liability Management for Guaranty Trust Bank Limited and its African subsidiaries where he spearheaded the implementation of cutting-edge Treasury & Trading practices across the ten African countries.

Ronald has consistently delivered exceptional results. He has a talent for exceeding expectations, consistently achieving over 100% of annual income budgets and efficiency metrics. He is a champion in the sustainable use of statistical models, big data analytics, and the automation of processes.

Ronald holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Actuarial Science from the University of Lagos and an MBA from Lagos Business School. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Accountants (FCA) and an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (HCIB). Additionally, amongst numerous professional certifications, he has completed extensive training in data science and machine learning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; further solidifying his ability to leverage data-driven insights for strategic decision-making.

Chief Financial Officer
Arini Awotunde
MBA. Finance, MSc. Finance

Arini is an experienced financial controller with about two decades of professional experience in Corporate and Investment Banking. He has both local and international banking experience. He is an alumnus of Citibank, a leading global bank. As the Chief Financial Officer at Coronation Merchant Bank, his responsibilities include directing the fiscal functions of the Bank; overseeing the preparation of its budget and implementation; anticipating and controlling financial risks; and ensuring the development and implementation of accounting policies and procedures, by leading practices and standards.

He started his career in the trade operations of Citi before joining the Finance department of the bank. His Finance experience in Citibank covered CBN regulatory reporting, balance sheet management and control, expense management reporting, and rendition of all the monthly corporate reports to the U.S office of Citibank in line with the American’s generally accepted accounting principle. He was also the control lead for Sub-Saharan Africa, Citi U.S Corporate and Regulatory Reporting, and Sheet Management and Control. He rose to the rank of Financial Controller and also Deputized as Chief Finance Officer. In this role, he was responsible for initiating, monitoring, and reporting on Citibank Nigeria’s finance control process. In November 2023, he joined Coronation Merchant Bank as the Chief Financial Officer.

Arini is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, and an associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria. He is skilled in Banking, Accounting and Finance, International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS), U.S Corporate reporting, and the American Financial Accounting Standards, Equities and Capital Markets. He holds both an MBA and M.Sc in Finance. Arini also has a lot of certifications and international training to his credit.

Chief Compliance Officer (CCO)
Isaiah Ailenmoagbon
M.SC, MBA, CFE, FCCA, CA

Isaiah Ailenmoagbon is a distinguished Compliance professional with over 27 years of experience in internal audit, compliance, governance, risk management, internal control, and banking operations. He served as Head of Financial Crimes Compliance of Access Bank Plc (Nigeria), Chief Conduct and Compliance Officer/AMLRO (Access Bank (Ghana) Plc, and Regional Chief Conduct and Compliance Officer (Access Bank – West Africa). Isaiah also served as Chief Operating Officer/ Executive Director (COO/ED), Operations and Technology in banking subsidiaries in East and West Africa respectively. In these capacities, he oversaw the implementation of anti-money laundering, countering terrorist and proliferation financing (AML/CFT/CPF) programs as well as multi-years business strategies.

Isaiah has played pivotal roles in the turnaround of loss-making subsidiary, divestment from foreign bank subsidiaries, mergers, and acquisitions, and in the recovery of substantial financial assets. His experience straddles key functions like banking Operations and Technology, Risk Management, Trade Services, Loans & Advances, Governance, Compliance, Internal Control, and Internal Audit in both domestic and international banking environments.

His achievements include the development of Internal Control guides, Audit Procedure Manuals, Compliance Manuals, Policies and Charters, leading teams to reconcile and validate significant equity funds, and implementing policies to mitigate internal control weaknesses and improve the compliance environment.

GH LEGAL SERVICES & ADMINISTRATION
Stanley Ubani
LLB; BL; MBA

Mr. Stanley Ubani graduated with a Second-Class Upper in Law from Abia State University in 1996 and a Second-Class Upper from the Nigeria Law School in 1997. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1998. He is a Chartered Secretary and Administrator, a holder of a postgraduate Diploma in International Dispute Resolution and an LL.M Degree in International Commercial Law from the University of London. He is also an Alumni of Lagos Business School and a member of the Executive Committee of the Association of Banks Company Secretary and Legal Adviser (ABLACS).

 

Stanley has over 20 years of banking industry experience with core competencies in Legal Advisory, Dispute Management, Credit Documentation and Control, Insolvency Practice, Company Secretarial Services and Corporate Governance. He was the Head, Legal Services Division in Keystone Bank Limited for about seven years before his appointment as the Company Secretary/Legal Adviser of Coronation Merchant Bank Limited.

Group head investment banking
Taiwo Olatunji
B.Eng, M. Fin

Taiwo Olatunji is an investment banking professional with over 16 years of experience in business and financial advisory services. He has been instrumental to several successful financial transactions including the first and second triple tranche Eurobond offerings of US$2.87 Billion and US$4.00 Billion by the Federal Government of Nigeria, the bond issuance of N187.60 billion by Dangote Industries Limited and the N127.00 billion Series 1 & 2 commercial paper issuance by MTN Nigeria Communications Plc.

He also advised Access Holdings Plc on the acquisition of a majority equity stake in First Guarantee Pension Limited, the acquisition of an indirect equity stake in Sigma Pensions Limited, and the subsequent formation of Access Pensions Limited through the merger of both entities. He began his Investment Banking career with FSDH Merchant Bank Limited in 2015 as Head of Capital Markets and moved to FSDH Capital Limited as Head of Investment Banking in 2019. Prior to his time at FSDH, Taiwo was a consultant and Manager in the Financial Services Unit at Accenture Nigeria.

Taiwo holds a master’s in finance from the London Business School and a B.Eng. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Ilorin. He is also a CFA Charter holder and has passed the certified PPP Professional (CP3P) preparation exam.

Group Head, Private Banking and Wealth Management
Ifeyinwa Uwefoh

Ifeyinwa Uwefoh brings over 24 years of experience in financial services to Coronation Merchant Bank, boasting a successful track record in private banking, retail banking, and international trade operations. Her extensive expertise makes her perfectly suited to leading and growing the bank’s private banking business. 

Ms. Uwefoh’s leadership is exemplified by her ability to manage a niche segment of high-net-worth clients, ensuring they receive exceptional service and tailored financial solutions. Throughout her career, she has consistently achieved impressive results, leading teams across various locations and exceeding expectations in customer acquisition, relationship management, and revenue generation. This client-centric approach, coupled with her seasoned leadership, astute business acumen, and financial expertise, positions her for continued success. 

Ifeyinwa Uwefoh’s diverse experience and proven leadership will be instrumental in the continued growth and success of the bank’s private banking business. Her unwavering commitment to client satisfaction and her ability to navigate complex financial landscapes solidify her position as a key asset to the bank. 

Chief Technology Officer
Echezona Agubata
B.Eng. , MNSE, MBA (In View) Member, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria

Echezona Agubata is an accomplished IT leader with over 16 years of experience in IT leadership, strategy, and operations. Known for his ability to drive operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and compliance, Echezona has consistently delivered exceptional results throughout his career. 

In the Nigerian banking industry, Echezona has been instrumental to the success of pioneer products like the Instant Credit, USSD Banking, Cardless cash withdrawals, Instant card issuance, and central applications monitoring systems. He was also pivotal to the success and high efficiency level of the NIBSS Instant Payment (NIP) transfer system from inception to stability phases.

In his previous role as Head of IT Strategy and Governance at Union Bank of Nigeria, Echezona spearheaded the development and implementation of a comprehensive 3-year IT strategy and roadmap, ensuring alignment with the bank’s overarching business goals. 

At Guaranty Trust Asset and Pension Management, Echezona served as Chief Technology Officer, where he successfully developed and initiated a 3-year IT strategy and roadmap. He oversaw the seamless migration of IT infrastructure and managed IT operations for both new and existing customers, enhancing the organization’s technological capabilities. 

During his tenure at Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Echezona held several key positions, including Head of IT Infrastructure & DevOps Coach, Head of Digital Applications Management, and Head of IT Relationship Management and Applications Management. In these roles, he implemented strategies for data center redundancy, desktop virtualization, Azure DevOps, and hybrid data centers. Additionally, he led the development of innovative solutions such as Quick Credit, USSD Banking, and fingerprint authentication on ATMs, significantly improving customer experience and operational efficiency. 

Echezona is known for fostering a culture of high performance and continuous improvement within his teams. His exceptional communication and collaboration skills have enabled him to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Group Head, Affluent Banking
Oludotun Akinde
B.sc Metallurgical & Material Engineering

Oludotun leverages over 16 years of financial expertise to lead Coronation Merchant Bank’s Affluent Banking team. As Group Head, He seamlessly blends strategic planning with relationship building to deliver exceptional value to affluent clients. 

Oludotun fosters strong relationships with senior management and decision-makers of key clients, transforming transactional interactions into long-term, value-added partnerships. As a trusted advisor, he proactively anticipates client needs and offers strategic counsel, seamlessly integrating product and industry expertise to deliver optimal solutions. 

With his overall Banking experience in Product development, e-commerce and understanding client risk profiles, Oludotun excels at maximizing the “risk-reward” balance through customized product mixes. He cultivates strong collaborations with Corporate and Investment Banking teams, to craft customized solutions for Affluent clients ensuring a holistic customer experience thereby driving growth within the Affluent Banking segment.

Oludotun is also a skilled leader, guiding team members on best practices to deliver exceptional service to Affluent clients. Additionally, he champions a data-driven approach, leading the creation of customer-centric metrics and integrating quantitative and qualitative data to gain valuable consumer insights.

Head, Public Sector
Bala Umaru
MBA (In View), PGD in Business Administration, B.Sc. in Geology and Mineral Science

Bala Umana is a seasoned banker with over two decades of professional experience in the banking and financial services industry. His expertise spans corporate and commercial banking, retail and consumer banking, credit risk management, and business development. Bala previously served as the Ag. Regional Bank Head at Fidelity Bank PLC, where he was responsible for driving business growth, overseeing financial operations, and ensuring exceptional customer service across multiple branches. 

Bala’s career began in commercial and retail banking at Access Bank Plc, where he gained valuable experience in financial institution marketing, international trade financing, and risk assets evaluation. He subsequently held key roles at First City Monument Bank and Equitorial Trust Bank now Sterling Bank, where he was responsible for new business development, cross-selling financial products, and customer relationship management. 

In his tenure at Fidelity Bank, Bala has held several leadership positions, including Branch Leader for multiple branches and Head of Consumer Sales/Affinity Banking. He has consistently demonstrated his ability to drive results, mentor and develop staff, and implement strategic initiatives to achieve business objectives. 

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Board member
Babatunde Dabiri
B.Sc Economics; MBA

Mr. Dabiri is a retired Banking CEO who is now a member of numerous boards – he is a Director at Academy Press Plc and Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, and Chairman at Lawson Thomas and Colleagues Ltd. He sits on the board of the University of Lagos Holding Company Ltd and on the Advancement Board of the University of Ibadan. He is also a Board Member of LEAP Africa, an organisation committed to developing dynamic, innovative and principled youth leaders.
 
Mr. Dabiri’s career spanned over three decades, during which he worked at various financial institutions such as Prime Merchant Bank, Continental Merchant Bank, and Fountain Trust Merchant Bank Ltd. He served in various leadership positions over the course of his career, and eventually became the first GMD/CEO of Sterling Bank from January 2006 to February 2008, until he retired from banking. Since retirement, he has been involved in several businesses in various economic sectors.
 
Some of his achievements include being the founding Chairman of Lagos State Pensions Commission (LASPEC), a position he held for 6 years. Between 2003 and 2005, he was the Alumni President of the Lagos Business School, and from 2004 to 2007, National President of the Igbobi College Old Boys Association (ICOBA). He served on the Governing Council of the Lagos State University for 8 years and has been on the Corona Schools Trust Council for 20 years.