See the Eight Female MDs/CEOs Leading Nigerian Banks
The Nigerian banking sector is currently witnessing an increase in the number of female Managing Directors/Chief Executive Officers appointed to major institutions in the country. We bring the eight remarkable women leading some Nigerian banks as MD/CEO. Through dedication, hard work and consistency, these outstanding women are changing the narrative of their industry. More about them below:
Miriam Chidiebele Olusanya, GTBank
On the 14th of July 2021, Miriam Olusanya topped the list when she emerged as the first female Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc following a restructuring that made the lender a subsidiary. Miriam has over 20 years of banking experience which cuts across Transactional Services, Treasury, Assets and Liability Management, Corporate Finance, Wholesale Banking and Investor Relations.
Miriam joined the bank as an Executive Trainee in 1998, rising to the position of General Manager where she handled the bank’s Naira and Foreign Currency Balance Sheet, Asset and Liability Position, Money Market, Foreign Currency and Bond Trading. Until her appointment, she was an Executive Director at the bank.
Miriam holds a bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from the University of Ibadan and a master’s degree in Finance and Accounting from the University of Liverpool.
Read Also: Miriam Olusanya Appointed First Female MD of GTBank
Yemisi Edun, FCMB
Earlier in July, Yemisi Edun was appointed as the Managing Director of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited by its Board of Directors. Yemisi’s background includes 35 years of leadership experience across major industries. She began her career as an Auditor with Akintola Williams & Co (member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu) in 1987, rising to the position of Senior Manager before joining FCMB as Divisional Head of Internal Audit and Control in the year 2000. At FCMB, she served in the capacity of Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer and Acting Managing director before becoming MD.
Yemisi completed a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Ife (Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife and a master’s degree in International Accounting and Finance from the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Yemisi is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and a Certified Financial Analyst, CFA Charter holder. She is also an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, a member of Information Systems Audit and Control, USA and a Certified Information Systems Auditor.
Read Also: Yemisi Edun is the New Managing Director of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited
Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, Fidelity Bank Plc
On the 1st of January 2021, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe assumed the well-deserved office of the MD/CEO of Fidelity Bank Plc, having served as an integral part of the transformation team at the bank in the last six years. She was formerly Executive Director, Lagos and South West, managing the bank’s business in the six states that make up the South West region of the bank.
Onyeali-Ikpe is a professional with over 30 years of experience across various banks including Zenith Bank Plc, Chartered Bank Plc and Citizens International Bank Limited, where she held several management positions in Legal, Treasury, Investment Banking, Corporate Banking, and Retail/Commercial Banking.
Onyeali-Ikpe obtained Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Master of Laws (LLM) degrees from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Kings College, London respectively. Additionally, she has attended executive training programs at Harvard Business School, The Wharton School University of Pennsylvania, INSEAD School of Business, Chicago Booth School of Business, London Business School and IMD amongst others. She is an Honorary Senior Member (HCIB) of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).
Halima Buba, SunTrust Bank
Halima Buba is a career professional with over 20 years of experience working in Zenith Bank, Allstates Trust Bank, Inland Bank Plc, Oceanic Bank and Ecobank Nigeria Limited.
Halima completed a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Maiduguri and an MBA also from the university. She is an alumna of the Lagos Business School Senior Management programme. Halima is a senior Honourary Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants.
Halima sits on the Board of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) as a Non-Executive Director and Anchoria Asset Management Company Limited.
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Ireti Samuel-Ogbu, CitiBank
Ireti Samuel-Ogbu became Citibank’s first female Country Officer for Nigeria (MD/CEO) in August 2020. Before then, she served as Managing Director of Payments and Receivables, Treasury and Trade Solutions for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Citigroup’s office in London. Ireti is on the Board of Citibank Nigeria Limited as a Non-Executive Director.
Ireti’s 32 years of experience spans various roles across Citi’s businesses in the UK, Nigeria and South Africa. Previous roles have included Relationship Management with Global Subsidiaries Group and the Public Sector Banking Team as well as TTS Sales, Corporate Finance and leading Citi’s TTS business in two of Africa’s largest markets.
Ireti holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance from Middlesex University, UK and an MBA from the University of Bradford, UK.
Tomi Somefun, Unity Bank Plc
Tomi Somefun assumed office as MD/CEO of Unity Bank Plc in August 2015. Before then, she served as Executive Director overseeing the Lagos and South-West Business Directorates, the Financial Institution Division and the Treasury Department of the Bank. She is a member of the Board Finance and General Purpose Committee, Board Risk Management Committee and Board Credit Committee.
Tomi’s background includes 35 years’ post qualification experience with over 26 in the banking sector spanning key segments such as Treasury, Investment Banking, Corporate Banking, Retail, and Commercial Banking Operations. Before Unity Bank, Tomi had a distinguished career with UBA Group where she led two major subsidiaries of the group as MD/CEO including a startup company, UBA Pensions Custodian where she also served as MD.
Tomi obtained a Bachelor of Education degree in English Language from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and a Certificate of Management Excellence from Harvard Business School. She is an alumna of the Columbia Business School, USA and INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France. She holds membership of various bodies including the Institute of Directors (IOD), Bank Directors Association of Nigeria (BDAN) and Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).
Kafilat Araoye, Lotus Bank
Kafilat Araoye is the Managing Director of Lotus Bank, a financial institution that received a non-interest banking license from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in June 2021. With over 30 years of experience in banking, Kafilat has expertise in virtually all areas of core banking, with emphasis on International and Domestic Operations, Payments, General Management, Business Development, and Risk Management, Human Resources and Strategy. Before Lotus Bank, Kafilat had a successful career at GTBank, where she held several roles including being General Manager and Group Head – Human Resources Group.
Kafilat holds a bachelor’s degree in History from Obafemi Awolowo University and a master’s degree in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management from the University of Lagos.
Bukola Smith, First Securities Discount House Limited (FSDH) Merchant Bank
Bukola Smith was appointed as Managing Director of FSDH Merchant Bank in April 2021. With over 28 years of experience in the banking industry, Bukola boasts of an impressive profile including fellowship and membership of reputable institutions.
Before FSDH, she served in different capacities at FCMB as the Group Head of Treasury and Financial Institutions, Division Head for Investment Banking and Finance Markets, Director of Project and Structured Finance, Divisional Head for Group Internal Audit, Head of Lagos Region and Executive Director for Business Development.
Bukola holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Lagos and an MBA from Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester.