Jobs/Appointments
CBN Authorises Two Directors to Join Zenith Bank Board
By Dipo Olowookere
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved the appointments of Mr Henry Oroh and Mr Al-Mujtaba Abubakar to the board of Zenith Bank Plc.
A statement from the financial institution disclosed that while Mr Oroh will serve on the board as an executive director, Mr Abubakar is joining as an independent non-executive director.
According to Zenith Bank, their appointments were also approved by the board of directors of the bank and were in consistent with lender’s tradition and succession strategy of grooming leaders from within.
They are expected to resume their new roles from Sunday, September 1, 2019.
Mr Oroh, who comes to the board of Zenith Bank with strong competencies in Credit & Marketing, Operations, Information Technology, Treasury and impressive Leadership skills, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the University of Benin, Benin City and an MBA from the Lagos State University as well as LLB Degree from the University of London. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and an honorary member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Nigeria.
He has over two decades of banking industry experience, beginning his banking career in 1992 at Citibank where he served for seven years in Operations, Treasury and Marketing.
Mr Oroh joined Zenith Bank in February 1999 and has worked in various Groups and Departments within the Zenith Group Office. His expertise spans Operations, IT, Treasury, Marketing, including the Manufacturing, Food and Beverages, Pharmaceuticals, Oil and Gas, Public Sector, Consumer as well as Corporate Banking and Business Development.
In April 2012, he was seconded to Zenith Bank Ghana Limited as an Executive Director and became the Managing Director/Chief Executive in February 2016 where he successfully spearheaded the phenomenal growth of the Zenith Brand both within the Ghana market and the West African Sub region.
Mr Oroh has attended several leadership programmes and executive management courses at the Harvard Business School, Columbia Business School New York, University of Chicago, USA, University of Pennsylvania, HEC Paris, JP Morgan Chase UK and the Lagos Business School.
On his part, Mr Abubakar is currently the Managing Director of Apt Pensions Funds Managers Limited. He is a graduate of the Leeds Polytechnic UK and a renowned Chartered Accountant and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.
Mr Abubakar has extensive and tremendous experience in the Financial Services Industry, Audit and Consulting. He had worked with the firm of Akintola Williams Deloitte between January 2000 and November 2008 and rose to become the Partner and Board Member of West Africa Sub region. Prior to this, he had served on the Board of several Financial Institutions in Nigeria.
He has attended several management and leadership training programmes and conferences both within and outside the country.
He brings to the board of the bank tremendous track record in Risk Management, Credit & Marketing, Auditing and very outstanding Leadership skills.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
In line with the 12-year tenure prescribed for non-executive directors of banks by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Tony Elumelu will on August 21, 2026, cease to be chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc.
The board of the financial institution at its meeting on July 6, 2026, has elected Mr Emmanuel Nnorom as the new chairman.
In a notice to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, the lender said Mr Elumelu’s successor, a non-executive director of the company, will assume the new role on August 21, 2026.
Mr Nnorom is a chartered accountant with over 40 years of experience in banking, finance and audit. He brings to the role extensive leadership experience and deep institutional knowledge of UBA.
“I am honoured by the trust the Board has placed in me and deeply conscious of the legacy I inherit.
“I look forward to working with my colleagues on the board, management and our staff across all our markets to sustain UBA’s momentum and continue delivering long-term value to our shareholders, customers and stakeholders,” Mr Nnorom stated.
Commenting on his retirement, Mr Elumelu said, “Serving United Bank for Africa has been one of the great privileges of my career.
“UBA has a unique competitive position, across Africa and globally, and I leave the Board with great confidence in UBA’s future.
“Emmanuel Nnorom is a leader of integrity, experience and sound judgement, and I am confident that the Bank will continue to thrive under his leadership.”
The board thanked him for his visionary leadership and exceptional contribution to the growth, transformation and institutional strength of the UBA Group.
By Adedapo Adesanya
WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria has announced the appointment of Mr Courage Obadagbonyi as Managing Director, effective July 1, 2026, succeeding Mr Jeethu Jose and becoming the first Nigerian to hold the post.
The appointment reflects the organisation’s continued focus on developing strong leadership from within its global talent pool while ensuring sustained growth and operational excellence.
A seasoned executive with more than two decades of international experience, Mr Obadagbonyi has held leadership roles across finance, operations and general management at leading global organisations, including APM Terminals, General Electric and Lafarge.
Prior to this appointment, he served as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the APM Terminals Nigeria cluster, with responsibility for financial strategy across Nigeria and San Pedro, Côte d’Ivoire.
He also served in an acting capacity as Managing Director of APM Terminals Apapa between 2025 and March 2026, further strengthening his operational leadership experience.
With experience spanning sectors such as oil and gas, power generation, logistics and healthcare, Mr Obadagbonyi brings deep expertise in financial management, risk optimisation and business performance.
Speaking on his appointment, he said, “I look forward to building on the strong foundation already in place at WACT. The terminal plays a critical role in connecting businesses in Eastern Nigeria to global markets, and we will continue to focus on safe, reliable and efficient operations.”
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of APM Terminals Nigeria, Mr Frederik Klinke, noted that the appointment reflects the company’s commitment to leadership development and long-term growth.
“Across APM Terminals globally, we see strong collaboration and talent development across our teams. This appointment reflects the depth of experience within our organisation and our continued focus on building capabilities that support sustainable growth. Nigerians have continued to distinguish themselves through exceptional performance and leadership. Colleagues from our Apapa and Onne terminals have contributed their expertise internationally while also bringing back valuable best practices to strengthen operations in Nigeria.”
He added that Mr Obadagbonyi’s experience would support the next phase of operational excellence and value delivery at WACT.
The outgoing MD, Mr Jose, said, “It has been a privilege to lead WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria during a period of meaningful progress. The team has built a strong platform for the future, and I am confident in the continued success of the organisation.”
West Africa Container Terminal (WACT)-APM Terminals in Onne, Rivers State, is one of Nigeria’s leading container terminals, having commenced commercial operations in 2006.
The company has continued to invest in capacity expansion and modernisation, including a $115 million terminal upgrade project launched in 2020. The upgrade also includes the deployment of reefer racks with a 600-plug capacity, as well as the expansion of the existing yard, a new workshop, a new terminal auto gate, modernised offices and state-of-the-art technology. These investments have enhanced efficiency, strengthened service delivery and reinforced WACT’s role as an important gateway for trade beyond Lagos.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A new member has joined the board of Unilever Nigeria Plc, and she is Mrs Modupe Femi-Okunbanjo, who was appointed as an executive director of the organisation.
Her appointment, according to a statement from the company, is effective June 30, 2026. It followed the resignation of Mr Ibrahim Sodipe as an executive director of the firm with effect from June 30, 2026.
Mr Sodipe was praised for his valuable service and significant contributions to the entity, particularly in driving improved turnover and profitability and supporting Unilever Nigeria’s continued progress towards sustainable and profitable growth.
Mrs Femi-Okunbanjo was described as an accomplished finance and governance leader who, for more than 15 years, has steered finance teams, shaped strategy, and strengthened risk management frameworks in the fast-moving consumer goods and telecommunications sectors.
She is currently the Financial Controller of Nigeria and Regional Controls Lead for West Africa at Unilever Nigeria, where she oversees financial governance, regulatory compliance, and enterprise risk management.
Her work has been pivotal in embedding ethical leadership and data-driven decision-making at board level, while ensuring organisations remain resilient in the face of shifting market dynamics.
The new board member has established a reputation for elevating financial reporting, advancing audit excellence, and strengthening governance frameworks, thereby positioning organisations for sustainable growth and long-term value creation.
In her previous roles, she has a consistent track record of delivering margin expansion, enhancing governance & control environments, and leading transformation in challenging macroeconomic conditions.
She is equally committed to developing future talent and advancing financial literacy among younger generations.
Prior to her joining Unilever Nigeria Plc in 2018, Mrs Femi-Okunbanjo held key roles at UAC of Nigeria Plc, Helios Towers Nigeria, and Makasa Sun Nigeria Limited, where she pioneered control frameworks from the ground up, eliminating revenue leakages, digitising operations and embedding financial discipline.
A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Lagos State University and an MBA with Specialisation in Strategy from the Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University, UK.
