By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Mr Usman Bello has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO Aviance).
A statement signed by management of the firm disclosed that Mr Bello effectively takes over from the Vice Chairman, Mr Dennis Hasdenteufel, who had been acting in that position since October last year.
According to the statement, Mr Bello emerged Chairman of the foremost aviation handling firm after a meeting of the board held on January 12, 2016.
The statement pointed out that the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) had been duly notified of the appointment as required by listing rules.
Before his appointment, Mr Bello was the Chairman of NAHCO Free Trade Zone (NFZ), a subsidiary of NAHCO Aviance.
A widely-travelled property expert, Mr Bello is also an administrator of repute. His directional managerial responsibilities cover the consultancy consortium Ericon Bello & Associates and its subsidiary, Arabi Bello & Associates, where he is principal partner.
Mr Bello is also an avid sports enthusiast, keen golf player and was captain of Kaduna Golf Club from 2011 to 2014. He is also a two-time winner of best individual sports sponsor award winner from Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN).
He sits on the boards of quite a number of companies including HNB Security and Protection Company Limited as Chairman; Bello Group of Companies and Zycom Surveillance Inc.
Mr Bello’s professional career in Architecture and other related fields has been purposeful and productive.
A long standing member of the Nigeria Institute of Architects and Architects Registration Council of Nigeria, Mr Bello has brought his own signature approach to the design and execution of buildings to enrich the built environment. His works are legion in parts of Nigeria notably Kaduna, Yola, Lagos and Abuja.
Mr Bello is widely expected to give focused guidance to the executive management of NAHCO.
His appointment followed the resignation of the former Chairman, Mallam Suleiman Yahyah, in October last year on health grounds.
Also appointed to the board of the company as a non-executive Director is Mr Femi Olubanwo.
Mr Olubanwo holds a law degree from the University of Lagos, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Law School.
His core practice areas are in Intellectual Property, Company and Commercial Law, Investment and Divestment Transactions, Banking and Corporate Finance.
He is a member of various law and business related professional bodies including: Nigerian Bar Association, Nigerian Maritime Law Association, World Trade Centre of Nigeria and International Trademark Association.
He is also a member of the Solid Minerals Sector Steering Committee of BPE, member, Presidential Technical Committee on Development of Coal and Chairman, Committee to Create Code of Governance/Ethics for Capital Markets Regulators.
Mr Olubanwo co-founded the law firm, Banwo & Ighodalo, as a partnership. He is a director of many companies operating in diverse sectors of the Nigerian economy as well as several not-for-profit organizations, particularly in the area of education.
He has taken a special interest in the growth and development of law firms in Nigeria and has spoken at different for a on diverse topics relating to the running of law firms as a business.
Mr Olubanwo is a consummate teacher and adviser and is passionate about seeing young Nigerians grow and become agents of change in Nigeria.
Adedapo Adesanya