Leadership

Tony O. Elumelu is a visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist. Born, raised and educated in Africa, Mr. Elumelu has been responsible for creating businesses across the continent, in sectors critical to Africa’s economic development.

In 2010, he founded Heirs Holdings, an African investment holding company, with investments in Financial Services, Power Generation, Oil and Gas, Agribusiness, Real Estate and Hospitality. In the same year, he established the Tony Elumelu Foundation, an Africa-based and African-funded philanthropy, dedicated to catalysing entrepreneurship across Africa. He is Chairman of Heirs Holdings as well as UBA Group Plc and Transcorp Plc, which is Nigeria’s largest listed conglomerate.

In his early career, Mr. Elumelu turned the financially distressed Standard Trust Bank (STB) into a top-five financial services player in Nigeria. In 2005, he led the largest merger in the banking sector in sub-Saharan Africa between STB and United Bank for Africa (UBA). Today, UBA operates in 20 African countries, as well as New York, London, Paris and Dubai.

Mr. Elumelu is the author and leading proponent of “Africapitalism,” an economic philosophy that advocates for the private sector’s commitment to Africa’s development through long-term investment in strategic sectors of the economy, that drive economic prosperity and social wealth. In 2003, the Federal Government of Nigeria conferred the honour of Member of the Federal Republic on Mr. Elumelu. In 2012 he was awarded Commander of the Order of the Niger for his service in promoting private enterprise. In 2013, Mr. Elumelu received the Leadership Award in Business and Philanthropy from the Africa-America Institute Awards. He was also named African Business Icon at the 2013 African Business Awards. He was conferred the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) by the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2022.

Mr. Elumelu presently serves as a member of the Global Advisory Board of the United Nations Sustainable Energy for All Initiative (SE4ALL) and USAID’s Private Capital Group for Africa Partners Forum. He sits on the Nigerian President’s Agricultural Transformation Implementation Council and serves as co-chair of the Aspen Institute Dialogue Series on Global Food Security. He played a leading role in the formation of the National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria and now serves as its vice chairman. He chairs the Ministerial Committee to establish world-class hospitals and diagnostic centres across Nigeria, at the invitation of the Federal Government.

Oliver, a seasoned banking professional, comes on board with a broad range of strategic and well-grounded experience in Corporate and Institutional Banking, Consumer Banking, Public Sector, Retail and Commercial Banking, Project Management, Corporate Governance, and overall bank management.

Oliver has acquired 25 years of work experience in the banking industry after his short foray into academia. He joined the former Standard Trust Bank (STB) as a pioneer staff in 1997. Over the years, he has demonstrated a strong passion for excellence and result-oriented leadership capabilities.

Prior to his current appointment as the Group Managing Director/CEO of UBA Group, Oliver was at various times country CEO and Regional CEO in the Rest of Africa, Executive Director, East Bank (Nigeria) and later Group Deputy Managing Director/CEO, covering Nigeria and other 19 subsidiaries in the Rest of Africa. He also worked in another bank and rose to the position of Executive Director.

Oliver is an effective and self-motivated professional. He possesses B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Food Science and Technology and an MBA in Banking and Finance. He is an alumnus of the AMP and SEP programmes of the prestigious INSEAD Business School, France and London Business School respectively. He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).

Muyiwa is the Deputy Managing Director of United Bank for Africa (UBA). He oversees the Bank’s business in Rest of Nigeria (excluding North Bank and East Bank). Prior to this, Akinyemi who joined UBA in 2005, drove the bank’s Energy Bank business and was General Manager, Corporate and Commercial Banking. He also headed the Wholesale Banking arm between 2013 and 2015, where he was responsible for the Bank’s business activities in various geographies where UBA was present at the time.

Muyiwa headed UBA Kenya as the CEO/MD between 2010 and 2011. Before joining UBA, Muyiwa worked in Standard Trust Bank between 1998 and 2005, where he led in various capacities including Head of Investment Banking, Head, Energy & Telecoms Division and Structured Finance Groups. He had previously worked in Diamond Bank between 1994 and 1998.

Muyiwa, a Chartered Accountant graduated with a B.Sc. Accounting from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He is also a member of several professional bodies including the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, etc.

He holds a B.Sc degree in Accountancy and an MBA from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and an honorary member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria. He has more than two decades of experience spanning Banking Operations, Finance, Technology, Audit, and Strategy.

Ms. Aisha Hassan Baba, OON is the founding and Managing Partner of EBO, HASSAN BABA & CO. Aisha was admitted to practice law in Nigeria in 1981 and in the ensuing 35 years thereafter, served in very senior and sensitive positions in both federal and state public service of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, notably as Deputy Director Public Prosecution, Director, Legal Services under the Federal Ministry of Justice, Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Federal Legal Aid Council (now Commission), Executive Secretary, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, and as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Anambra State.

Aisha is a trained Legal Draftsman and Contract Negotiator and has worked as co-chair of the Committee on High Profile Federal Bills, notably the production of the final draft copy of the National Competition and Consumer Protection Bill and the National Competition and Consumer Protection Policy in 2014/15. She chaired the Committee that drafted the Nigerian Local Content in the non-oil Sector Policy 2014 and led the team that designed a model Investment Protection Agreement for the Nigerian Government that was approved by the Federal Attorney General and Minister of Justice in 2014. In 2013/2014, she led the team that developed a model draft Automotive Bill for the Nigerian Automotive Council (as it then was), steered the Federal Government’s Inter-Ministerial Committee that worked with the Business Recovery and Insolvency Practitioners Association of Nigeria (BRIPAN) in 2013 to finalise the draft Nigerian Insolvency Bill and advised on the legal documentation for the setting up of the Investment and Technology Promotion Office (ITPO), working with UNIDO.

Aisha co-chaired the Committee that developed the Nigerian Industrial Development Plan (NIRP) draft Bill 2014, advised on the legal Documentation of the Cotton, Textile and Garment Agreement between the Federal Government and Vlisco Group. She was the lead negotiator for the Federal Government of Nigeria in the negotiation of the IPPA between the FGN and the Kingdom of Qatar, Canada and Brazil from 2012 to 2014 as well as served as the lead delegate of the Nigerian Preparatory Committee on Trade Facilitation to the legal review of the draft Trade Facilitation Agreement to the WTO Headquarters in Geneva 2014, and chaired the Inter-Ministerial Committee set up by the Federal Government to review the Pioneer Status Administration 2014 under the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC).

In recognition of her diligence, passion and contribution to the public service of the Federation, Aisha was conferred with the National Productivity Order of Merit Award in 2001 and the National Honours, Officer of the Order of the Niger, (OON) in 2005.

Aisha is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, Commonwealth Bar Association, Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators UK. She currently serves on the Board Audit Committee, the Board Governance Committee and the Finance & General Purpose Committee of the Board.

Ms. Angela Aneke is a board advisor, banker and strategic thinker with over 30 years’ experience in financial services, in the areas of Financial Control, Strategy, Transaction Banking, Corporate Banking, Retail Banking, and Governance.

Angela has held executive management and board positions in several international and regional institutions, including Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, Citigroup and the United Bank for Africa. Angela holds a Bachelor of Science degree from The American University, Washington DC, USA and became an International Associate of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants in 1985. She also holds a Master of Business Administration from Warwick Business School, University of Warwick, UK. She has attended several courses in banking and governance including Harvard Business School’s “Making Corporate Boards More Effective.”

Mr. Abdulqadir J. Bello, a Chartered Accountant, has over 30 years’ corporate experience in the banking sector, during which period he held several senior management positions in various banks. He also previously served as the Group Chief Credit Officer of UBA and thereafter as the Executive Director in charge of Risk Management for UBA Group.

Emmanuel N. Nnorom has over 40 years work experience in financial services and audit, including significant board experience with listed companies. Mr. Nnorom is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and an honorary member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN). He is an alumnus of Templeton College, Oxford.

Mrs. Henrietta (Hetty) Ugboh is a board advisor, financial literacy and risk management trainer, mentor and banker with over 30 years of experience in financial services, in the areas of corporate and commercial banking, credit and risk management, private banking and governance. Mrs. Ugboh has held senior management and board positions in several institutions, including Citibank Nigeria Limited, Investment One Financial Services, Harvard Business School Association of Nigeria (HBSAN) and Ziphii Technologies.

Hetty holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Statistics from the University of Benin, Benin -City and a Masters of Business Administration from Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT) Business School. She is an alumna of the prestigious Harvard Business School, Boston and attended several courses in banking, leadership and governance including Citibank Country Manager’s Forum (New York), Citigroup Risk and Compliance trainings, John Maxwell leadership Certification Program (Florida), Institute of Directors – Company Direction Course (Lagos) and African Angel Academy training.

She is an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Member, Institute of Directors and Fellow of the Institute of Credit Administration (FICA)

Hetty Ugboh is married with children and a grandchild.

Abiola Bawuah is the first ever female CEO of UBA Africa. Previously, she was the Regional CEO, West Africa, supervising our operations in nine subsidiaries including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. In 2013, she left Zenith Bank Ghana; where she was the Executive Director; having previously held the positions of the General Manager, Marketing and Group Head, Retail Banking; and joined UBA Ghana as Deputy Managing Director the same year. Mrs. Bawuah also worked with Standard Chartered Bank as the Head of Sales; with CAL Bank as Relationship Manager; Strategic African Securities as an authorized dealing broker and with the then Bentsi-Enchi and Letsa; now Bentsi-Enchil, Letsa and Ankomah law firm as an investment officer.

Bawuah holds a BSc in Actuarial Science from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, an LLB from the University of London, a diploma in Marketing from GIMPA and EMBA (Finance) from the University of Ghana. She also has numerous leadership qualifications from Harvard Business School, Columbia, University of New York, INSEAD and Institut Villa Pierrefeu in Switzerland.

Alex Alozie, UBA’s Executive Director/North bank, joined the bank in 2019. He was charged with the responsibility of driving the bank’s digital transformation and operational efficiency. Just before he joined UBA, Alozie was the Head of Operations in Diamond Bank and Head of Digital and Head Office Operations in Access bank, where he successfully carried out various digital renovations that boosted the institutions. As a result, Alozie has been recognised by several regulators and has received numerous awards which include; CBN’s commendation for contributions to the introduction of the cashless initiative, SEC’s commendation for his role in implementing E-Dividend, CBN/NIBSS Award as a member of the BVN Implementation Committee amongst others.

Alex is a Fellow of the following Institutions; Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Nigerian Institute of Management, Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria, Chartered Institute of Strategic Managers & Leaders, Association of Human Resources of Nigeria, and is also a committee member of the CBN Committee on the introduction of the cashless policy in Nigeria, CBN/NIBSS Committee on Implementation of BVN, CBN/SEC Committee on E-Dividend Mandate and CBN Committee on Shared Services.

Sola Yomi-Ajayi is a highly experienced banker with over 28 years of banking experience, managing Corporate and Institutional relationships with significant experience managing International Banking, Regulatory Engagement, Structured funding, Risk management, Financial inclusion, Transaction banking, Correspondent banking, Treasury, and Operations.

As the Executive Director for International Banking and the CEO of UBA America, Sola Yomi-Ajayi is responsible for strategy formulation as well as oversight for UBA Group’s International business operations in America, Grand Cayman Islands, UK, France, and Dubai-DIFC. She is also responsible for the strategic oversight of the Group’s Diplomatic, Multilateral, and Development Organization portfolios and she leads the respective teams in the execution of the corporate strategy and delivery of unique best-in-class financial solutions to UBA’s customers across four continents.

Sola has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, and an MBA from the Aberdeen Business School, UK. Additionally, she has undertaken Executive Leadership education at Harvard Business School and Judge Business School, University of Cambridge.

She is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, UK, and a Member, Board of Trustees for the US-based Institute of International Banking.

Ugochukwu has a B.Sc. from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and holds M.Sc. degrees in Risk Management from Stern School of Business, New York, and Finance and Management from Cranfield University, England. He is a seasoned Financial Analyst with nearly 3 decades of experience cutting across Banking, Consulting; Audit/Business Assurance and related service industries with a proven track record of accomplishments in client/relationship management, transaction banking, deal origination and provision of customised solutions to customers.

Prior to his current position as Executive Director, Finance and Risk Management, he served in different capacities at different times in the bank as General Manager, Chief Financial Officer, Group Financial Controller, Group Chief Compliance Officer, and Head, Performance Management.

 He is a member of, the Institute of Directors of Nigeria; Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments, UK; Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers of Nigeria; Practice Advisory Board for MSc Finance programmes of Cranfield University and an Honorary Senior Member, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, and an associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN).

Before joining UBA in 2004, he had a decade’s experience with the renowned firms of Deloitte and PricewaterhouseCoopers in Nigeria and Kenya.

Oliver, a seasoned banking professional, comes on board with a broad range of strategic and well-grounded experience in Corporate and Institutional Banking, Consumer Banking, Public Sector, Retail and Commercial Banking, Project Management, Corporate Governance, and overall bank management.

Oliver has acquired 25 years of work experience in the banking industry after his short foray into academia. He joined the former Standard Trust Bank (STB) as a pioneer staff in 1997. Over the years, he has demonstrated a strong passion for excellence and result-oriented leadership capabilities.

Prior to his current appointment as the Group Managing Director/CEO of UBA Group, Oliver was at various times country CEO and Regional CEO in the Rest of Africa, Executive Director, East Bank (Nigeria) and later Group Deputy Managing Director/CEO, covering Nigeria and other 19 subsidiaries in the Rest of Africa. He also worked in another bank and rose to the position of Executive Director.

Oliver is an effective and self-motivated professional. He possesses B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Food Science and Technology and an MBA in Banking and Finance. He is an alumnus of the AMP and SEP programmes of the prestigious INSEAD Business School, France and London Business School respectively. He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).

Muyiwa is the Deputy Managing Director of United Bank for Africa (UBA). He oversees the Bank’s business in Rest of Nigeria (excluding North Bank and East Bank). Prior to this, Akinyemi who joined UBA in 2005, drove the bank’s Energy Bank business and was General Manager, Corporate and Commercial Banking. He also headed the Wholesale Banking arm between 2013 and 2015, where he was responsible for the Bank’s business activities in various geographies where UBA was present at the time.

Muyiwa headed UBA Kenya as the CEO/MD between 2010 and 2011. Before joining UBA, Muyiwa worked in Standard Trust Bank between 1998 and 2005, where he led in various capacities including Head of Investment Banking, Head, Energy & Telecoms Division and Structured Finance Groups. He had previously worked in Diamond Bank between 1994 and 1998.

Muyiwa, a Chartered Accountant graduated with a B.Sc. Accounting from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He is also a member of several professional bodies including the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, etc.

He holds a B.Sc degree in Accountancy and an MBA from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and an honorary member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria. He has more than two decades of experience spanning Banking Operations, Finance, Technology, Audit, and Strategy.

Abiola Bawuah is the first ever female CEO of UBA Africa. Previously, she was the Regional CEO, West Africa, supervising our operations in nine subsidiaries including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. In 2013, she left Zenith Bank Ghana; where she was the Executive Director; having previously held the positions of the General Manager, Marketing and Group Head, Retail Banking; and joined UBA Ghana as Deputy Managing Director the same year. Mrs. Bawuah also worked with Standard Chartered Bank as the Head of Sales; with CAL Bank as Relationship Manager; Strategic African Securities as an authorized dealing broker and with the then Bentsi-Enchi and Letsa; now Bentsi-Enchil, Letsa and Ankomah law firm as an investment officer.

Bawuah holds a BSc in Actuarial Science from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, an LLB from the University of London, a diploma in Marketing from GIMPA and EMBA (Finance) from the University of Ghana. She also has numerous leadership qualifications from Harvard Business School, Columbia, University of New York, INSEAD and Institut Villa Pierrefeu in Switzerland.

Alex Alozie, UBA’s Executive Director/North bank, joined the bank in 2019. He was charged with the responsibility of driving the bank’s digital transformation and operational efficiency. Just before he joined UBA, Alozie was the Head of Operations in Diamond Bank and Head of Digital and Head Office Operations in Access bank, where he successfully carried out various digital renovations that boosted the institutions. As a result, Alozie has been recognised by several regulators and has received numerous awards which include; CBN’s commendation for contributions to the introduction of the cashless initiative, SEC’s commendation for his role in implementing E-Dividend, CBN/NIBSS Award as a member of the BVN Implementation Committee amongst others.

Alex is a Fellow of the following Institutions; Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Nigerian Institute of Management, Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria, Chartered Institute of Strategic Managers & Leaders, Association of Human Resources of Nigeria, and is also a committee member of the CBN Committee on the introduction of the cashless policy in Nigeria, CBN/NIBSS Committee on Implementation of BVN, CBN/SEC Committee on E-Dividend Mandate and CBN Committee on Shared Services.

Sola Yomi-Ajayi is a highly experienced banker with over 28 years of banking experience, managing Corporate and Institutional relationships with significant experience managing International Banking, Regulatory Engagement, Structured funding, Risk management, Financial inclusion, Transaction banking, Correspondent banking, Treasury, and Operations.

As the Executive Director for International Banking and the CEO of UBA America, Sola Yomi-Ajayi is responsible for strategy formulation as well as oversight for UBA Group’s International business operations in America, Grand Cayman Islands, UK, France, and Dubai-DIFC. She is also responsible for the strategic oversight of the Group’s Diplomatic, Multilateral, and Development Organization portfolios and she leads the respective teams in the execution of the corporate strategy and delivery of unique best-in-class financial solutions to UBA’s customers across four continents.

Sola has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, and an MBA from the Aberdeen Business School, UK. Additionally, she has undertaken Executive Leadership education at Harvard Business School and Judge Business School, University of Cambridge.

She is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, UK, and a Member, Board of Trustees for the US-based Institute of International Banking.

Ugochukwu has a B.Sc. from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and holds M.Sc. degrees in Risk Management from Stern School of Business, New York, and Finance and Management from Cranfield University, England. He is a seasoned Financial Analyst with nearly 3 decades of experience cutting across Banking, Consulting; Audit/Business Assurance and related service industries with a proven track record of accomplishments in client/relationship management, transaction banking, deal origination and provision of customised solutions to customers.

Prior to his current position as Executive Director, Finance and Risk Management, he served in different capacities at different times in the bank as General Manager, Chief Financial Officer, Group Financial Controller, Group Chief Compliance Officer, and Head, Performance Management.

 He is a member of, the Institute of Directors of Nigeria; Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments, UK; Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers of Nigeria; Practice Advisory Board for MSc Finance programmes of Cranfield University and an Honorary Senior Member, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, and an associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN).

Before joining UBA in 2004, he had a decade’s experience with the renowned firms of Deloitte and PricewaterhouseCoopers in Nigeria and Kenya.

Chioma is a seasoned banker with almost 3 decades of combined experience at top management and executive levels in banking spanning Treasury & Corporate Finance, Operations, Retail Banking, Corporate Banking, Business development, risk management, and a broad spectrum of executive management functions.

Noted for her visionary leadership with a global perspective in a very outstanding career in the UBA Group, Chioma worked in various Senior Management roles in Nigeria including the last position as the Regional Director, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The marketing strategist and disruptive thinker was appointed Regional Head/East Bank of UBA Liberia in 2011 to reposition the subsidiary business for improved performance which she did remarkably in her five and a half years. Beyond managing the subsidiary and establishing the bank as a Systemically Important Bank, Mrs Mang during her tenure as MD/CEO of UBA Liberia also held the position of Vice President of the Liberian Bankers Association and was instrumental in redefining the banking sector.

Following consistent accomplishment in maximizing corporate performance in Liberia, She was redeployed as Managing Director/CEO of UBA Gabon in 2016 again to position the subsidiary for a critical turnaround. Chioma significantly grew the Balance sheet and profitability of the subsidiary to an enviable standpoint and established the bank as the best Digital Bank in Gabon thus winning back-to-back the coveted “Banker of the Year” Award of the Banker’s Magazine (Financial Times, London) three times, from 2016 to 2019.

Against these background achievements, she was appointed the ED/East Bank and has resumed in that capacity.

The rated banker is expected to deploy her wealth of experience and innovative approach in managing and growing the business of this UBA Group subsidiary while playing a critical role in the development of the industry in Uganda.

Chioma had her university education in the United Kingdom where she graduated with Honors in Law (LLB) from the University of Reading, England and holds a Master’s Degree in Commercial & Corporate Law(LL.M) from the prestigious University College London (UCL). She was successfully called to the Nigerian Bar. Chioma has attended various Executive Management Programs and Courses in her career journey.

She is a Performance-driven and insightful leader with a proven ability to achieve and exceed set goals/targets in a high-pressure environment. Her cosmopolitan dexterity facilities consulting with diverse persons and organization both in private and government sectors to delineate and analyse both financial and exogenous situations aimed at developing strategic solutions to achieve itemized goals. An innovative and creative leader adept in proffering solutions to arduous situations, Chioma is distinguished by an entrepreneurial drive to business. She successfully maintained the bank’s operations during the high business challenge occasioned by Ebola crisis in Liberia, collaborating with the Government and International NGOs to ensure uninterruptible services to the public in addition to the security of customers and staff.

She is an experienced and tested team-builder with strong People skills using uncommon panache to drive corporate excellence and growth through a culturally diverse disposition.

She is an acclaimed mentor having groomed astute professionals in the course of her brilliant career, and a passionate philanthropist. She is happiest when she has impacted positively on her environment and is driven by the desire to bring out the best in everyone she is privileged to meet.

Chioma joined the services of the United Bank for Africa in 1999 and today holds the enviable record in UBA Group as the only MD/CEO with a footprint in the three financial zones in West, Central, and East Africa.

Bili holds an LLB (Hons) degree from Edo State University, Ekpoma, Nigeria and was enrolled as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1990. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (United Kingdom), the Nigerian Bar Association and the International Bar Association. He is an alumnus of the Lagos Business School (Chief Executive Programme 18) and the New York Institute of Finance.

He has held high-level strategic positions in top financial service institutions in Nigeria, with responsibilities that encompass Asset Management, Structured Finance, Legal Advisory, Corporate Governance, Human Resources Management, Administration, Knowledge Management and Business Communication.

Tomiwa is the Directorate Head of Resources overseeing Human Resources, Corporate Services and the Marketing & Corporate Communications functions at UBA.

A consummate Financial Services professional and an astute problem-solver with over two decades of work experience spanning the entire spectrum of value creation – from strategy development, to full organizational value realization, Tomiwa was the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Group Chairman prior to this role. He was also the Group Head, Strategy and Group Head, Retail Banking across the banking group at various times.

Before joining UBA, Tomiwa was a Manager in the Strategy Service Line of the Financial Services division of Accenture, the global management consulting firm, where he was responsible for the development and delivery of solutions to clients’ strategic business issues utilizing the strategic levers of technology, process and people.

He is a certified member of the Chief of Staff Association and an alumnus of the University of Ilorin with certificates from Harvard Business School and the Cambridge Judge Business School.

Kayode Ishola is currently the Group Head, Information Technology of United Bank for Africa (UBA). He is a seasoned Information Technology specialist with more than two decades of unbroken experience in the banking industry. Prior to his current role, he served as the bank’s Chief Digital Officer with responsibilities for setting and executing the bank’s digital banking initiatives. He is execution-oriented and a problem solver with a deep background and experience in the fields of IT Project Management, IT Service Delivery, IT Risk Management, Core Banking Application Management, and Digital Banking Transformation.

He has successfully implemented key technology projects in UBA Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and the United States. He is a member of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) and an honorary senior member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN). He holds a BSc. Degree in Computer Science from the University of Ilorin. He is also an alumnus of the University of Liverpool where he obtained his postgraduate diploma in Information Technology.

Mike has had over two and half decades of career in the Banking and Finance industry cutting across Business Relationship Management, Treasury and International Banking, Finance, Credit Risk Management, and vast experience in Operations. Prior to his current role as the Group Head, Internal Control, he functioned as the Group Head, Business Assurance, Head, Global Shared Services, Group Head of Operations, and Group Head, Policy and Operational Risk Compliance.

Mike holds a B.Sc degree in Banking and Finance from Olabisi Onabanjo University. He is a Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants and Chartered Institute Banking of Nigeria, Institute of Credit Administrators and has an ACCA Diploma in IFRS. He is an alumnus of the International Institute of Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland, has attended other training and seminars within and outside the country, provided technical support to some committees set up by CBN and has also been enlisted by the Chartered Institute of Bankers to provide technical support in Banking Practice and Credit Management and serve as examiner for Banking Principles and Practices.

Alero Ladipo is the Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications at UBA Group. Prior to joining UBA Group, she was the Executive Head, Marketing and Customer Experience at Old Mutual, the Nigerian subsidiary of Old Mutual Limited, the pan-African insurance and financial services group with presence in 13 African countries.

With a background in Law, Alero has built her extensive career in Marketing and Communication with over 19 years of experience in Strategy Development, Customer & Product Portfolio Management, Public & Media Relations, and Integrated Marketing to mention but a few.

Alero has worked in some of Nigeria’s leading financial services providers, such as United Bank for Africa (UBA), Union Bank and Stanbic IBTC as well as Standard Bank in South Africa, leading marketing strategy for Pan-African Corporate, Commercial, Retail, and Wealth businesses.

Alero has been at the frontline of deepening marketing communications, stakeholder management, customer experience and market penetration for the brands in the African financial market, with specific focus of elevating new brands in markets as well as building the community of Marketing and corporate communications professionals.

Alero holds a Bachelor of Laws LLB) Degree from the University of Northumbria, Newcastle, and a Master of Laws (LLM) in International Trade from the University of Essex, Colchester, both from the United Kingdom as well as a certificate on Strategy from Harvard Business School.

Modupe Akindele is an accomplished Senior HR Director and Change Management Specialist, currently serving as the Group Head of Human Resources for United Bank for Africa. With her extensive experience, Modupe oversees human capital management in the Group and is responsible for the end-to-end delivery of the Human Resources strategy across 24 countries.

With a career spanning over two decades, Modupe began her journey in Human Resources in 1998 with Optima Sports International. Her dedication and expertise led her to Airtel Nigeria in 2002, where she held various key roles, including Consultant Human Resources Operations, HR Business Partner, Senior HR Business Partner, and Talent Sourcing Manager. Her outstanding contributions at Airtel earned her the prestigious Chief Executive Officer’s Award for Excellent Interventions & Good Customer Service before departing in 2012.

Modupe’s career continued to flourish as she assumed the position of Head of HR Operations at Coca-Cola Hellenic (NBC), and in 2014, she became the Senior HR Business Partner for Manufacturing and Supply Chain Services.

Prior to joining United Bank for Africa, Modupe served as the Group Human Resources Director at Heirs Holdings.

Modupe Akindele is a seasoned professional with a wealth of strategic, operational, risk management, and cross-cultural expertise. She is known for her ability to orchestrate transformative change management, development, and engagement programs across diverse industries. Throughout her career, she has consistently played a pivotal role in driving organizational growth and enhancing performance.