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The News Round The Clock (NRTC) desk is writing this article to disclose how the inclusion of women in the finance industry has been nothing short of inspirational.
Specifically, the Nigerian banking industry has been a pacesetter in including women in its front line. This is not a surprise looking at the amazing portfolios of these women. Get to know the general details about these female financial virtuosos.
Without further ado, this is the second part of this series “Prominent Women in the Nigerian Banking Industry”. You can read the first part here.
1. Olusanya Miriam
The graduate of Pharmacy is the Managing Director of the Guaranty Trust Bank which has a customer base of 24 million. Following her appointment, the Managing Director has taken the operations of the financial institution forward with strategic operations.
Olusanya Miriam holds a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Liverpool. She succeeded Segun Agbaje as the Managing Director after his administration of 10 years. The financial veteran had spent 20 years in the industry gathering experience.
The Managing Director joined GTB in 1998 as an executive trainee. Before her appointment in 2021, she served as an Executive Director of, the Wholesale Banking Division.
2. Nneka Onyeali- Ikpe
The successful financial expert assumed the position of CEO OF Fidelity Bank on January 1, 2021. She contributed immensely towards the transformation of Fidelity Bank in the past six years. Under her watch, the financial institution has experienced a growth of 28% in PBT, Deposits, and Loans.
Mrs. Onyeali-Ikpe holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Master of Laws (LLM) degrees from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Kings College, London, respectively. Her portfolio records her attendance in 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.
The professional has acquired over 30 years of experience in Legal, Treasury, Investment, Banking, Retail and Commercial Banking, and Corporate Banking. She has served in various financial institutions like Standard Chartered Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, and Citizens’ International Bank Limited. She is an Honorary Senior Member (HICB) of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.
3. Bukola Smith
The graduate of Economics also holds an MBA from Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, United Kingdom. The Executive Director of Business Development at FCMB began her career with FSB International Bank (now part of Fidelity Bank). Bukola Smith has years of experience in Customer Service, Funds Transfer, International Trade, Institutional Banking, Private Banking, Treasury, Investment & Financial Markets, Project & Structured Finance, Audit, and Sales.
She became a Chartered Accountant in 1998 and is currently a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accounts of Nigeria (ICAN). She is an Associate Member of the Certified Institute of Pensions, Nigeria. The versatile banker is also a Committee member of the CIBN Annual Conference (Honorary Member of CIBN). In addition, she is a Mentor with Wiscar (Women in Success Careers).
4. Yetunde Oni
Yetunde Oni is the CEO of Unity Bank. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics. Her career started with her service with Prime Merchant Bank Treasury & Money Markets Group. She has been serving under the Standard Chartered Bank for more than fifteen years in various capacities.
The first female CEO of the Standard Chartered Bank in Sierra Leone obtained an MBA in Business administration from Bangor University in 2020. She has served in Ecobank Nigeria as a Relationship Manager in the Institutional Banking Group (1994- 2003). The admirable finance expert went through Executive Training at Oxford University in 2016.
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5. Halima Buba
The accomplished financial expert is the CEO of Sun Bank. She brings in experience from diverse financial institutions such as Allstates Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, Inland Bank Plc, Oceanic Bank Plc, and Ecobank Nigeria Limited. The business management graduate is an Alumnus of the Lagos Business School Senior management program.
She is a senior Honorary Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants. Her service as a Non-Executive Director at Anchoria Asset Management Company Limited is exemplary. She serves as a member of the Board of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
The experienced financial expert contributes immensely to youth and women empowerment. She is dedicated to the cause of girl child education where she makes philanthropic contributions. Concerning humanity,she serves as Patron of, the Community Project Management Committee, Michika.
6. Ireti Samuel Ogbu
She is the first female CEO Of Citi Bank, Nigeria and Ghana. Before her appointment in 2020, she was the Managing Director of Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) Head, Payments and Receivables, Treasury and Trade Solutions (TTS) under Citiās Institutional Clients Group (ICG) based in London, UK. She has also been a non-executive director on the Board of Citibank Nigeria Limited.
The prominent figure has over 36 years of experience in the finance industry. She has been serving in CitiBank for 30 years. Her experience in CitiBank has exposed her to taking up roles in countries like London, Nigeria, and South Africa in the fields of operations, relationships, and product management.
7. Kafilat Araoye
Kafilat Araoye was appointed the CEO of Lotus Bank in 2020, a position which she has held since then with so much diligence. The graduate of History holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Relations and Personal Management from the University of Lagos. Her career started in 1988 at National Oil and Chemicals Marketing Company Plc (now Conoil Nigeria Plc). She moved in 1990 to Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, as the pioneer head of Human Resources.
With over 25 years of experience, the financial expert has experience in the areas of banking. The business expert also has experience in International and Domestic Operations, Payments, General Management, Business Development, Risk Management, Human Resources, and Strategy.
The CEO has certifications in Islamic Finance certifications issued by the Ethical Institute of Islamic Finance, the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment/Bahrain Institute of Banking & Finance, as well as the Islamic Research & Training Institute. She is certified in various banking courses. Kafilat has attended various executive management courses at the Cranfield School of Management (UK), Lagos Business School, Institute of Management Development (Switzerland), and INSEAD (France). Ross Business School, University of Michigan(USA).
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