Jobs/Appointments
Ex-JumiaPay MD Austin Okpagu Now Leads VertoFX in Nigeria
By Adedapo Adesanya
VertoFX, a global financial technology firm delivering enterprise-grade cross-border payments, foreign exchange (FX) and banking solutions across emerging markets, has announced the appointment of Mr Austin Okpagu as its first Country Manager for Nigeria.
His appointment is part of the company’s long-term commitment to the nation and the broader West African region.
Mr Okpagu recently served as the Managing Director at JumiaPay. He is expected to bring his extensive experience to the firm from several of Nigeria’s most prominent fintech platforms, including OPay and Pagatech, where he drove partnership and business development efforts in both respective companies.
According to a statement shared with Business Post, in his new role at VertoFX, Mr Okpagu will spearhead VertoFX’s newly opened offices in Victoria Island, Lagos, to achieve on-ground business growth targets, foster strong relationships with local stakeholders and implement tailored solutions to Nigerian customers’ needs and requirements.
Speaking on Mr Okpagu’s appointment and VertoFX’s new physical presence in Nigeria, the co-founder and CEO of VertoFX, Mr Ola Oyetayo, said, “We are delighted to welcome Austin as our first Country Manager for Nigeria. Austin’s proven expertise in the payments sector and deep understanding of the local economic market make him the ideal candidate to take charge of our operations in West Africa.”
“With our on-the-ground presence in Nigeria, we are strongly positioned to better serve our customers, support local businesses, and contribute to the economic development of the region; moving in line with our vision to become the leading provider of B2B cross-border payment solutions in Africa,” he added.
VertoFX’s cutting-edge technology enables businesses of all sizes to make secure and seamless cross-border payments, convert between 50 currencies at competitive exchange rates and instantly send and receive money in over 200 countries.
Since launching operations in Nigeria in 2017, the company has built an impressive portfolio of clients, including some of the largest enterprises doing business in Africa, who rely on the company’s innovative and reliable financial services for their local and international business needs.
Commenting on his new role as Country Manager at VertoFX Nigeria, Mr Okpagu stated, “It’s an honour to be joining the VertoFX team in their mission to become the go-to financial services partner for businesses operating in Nigeria and on the global scale.”
“During recent and especially complex macroeconomic conditions, VertoFX has stood out with its ability to provide urgently needed financial solutions to Nigerian enterprises, helping them stay resilient in the face of adversity.
“I look forward to working closely with key public and private stakeholders in the Nigerian financial sector to further enhance our offerings, targeting a deep and lasting positive impact for local founders and business owners,” he added.
Over the past year, VertoFX has facilitated over $2.7 billion in cross-border transactions for Nigerian corporations. During the same time, the company experienced a staggering 75 per cent increase in some Nigerian enterprises using its platform for their international payment needs.
At a time when the Nigerian market is affected by currency restrictions and local exchange controls necessitated by tough global economic conditions, currency devaluations and inflation, these figures reinforce VertoFX’s focus on providing reliable solutions for its customers
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company PLC (NAHCO Aviance) has announced the appointment of Mr Olumuyiwa Olumekun as its new chief executive, with effect from January 1, 2025, following the retirement of Mr Indranil Gupta.
Mr Gupta concluded his tenure as the company’s CEO on December 31, 2024, marking the end of an era that saw growth under his leadership.
The company’s announcement, delivered via a notice to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, confirmed the board’s approval of Mr Olumekun’s appointment.
He brings over three decades of leadership experience, which will help steer NAHCO through its next phase of growth. His career at the company includes key roles such as Group Executive Director of Corporate Services, where he played an instrumental part in driving the company’s 2019–2023 strategic plan.
This plan resulted in a 300 per cent increase in profitability. He brings his experience in business development and commercial strategy to bear.
His previous tenure as Acting Managing Director and Executive Director of Corporate Services contributed to the development of NAHCO’s operational success and long-term strategic direction.
Mr Olumekun also led the company’s efforts in driving new business opportunities during his leadership of the Commercial and Business Development sectors in 2019.
Since retiring from his active role at NAHCO in 2022, he has continued his involvement in the company as a non-executive director on the boards of its subsidiaries, helping guide their growth.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
No fewer than 49 young graduates have been employed in the oil and gas sector after completing an internship programme, which began in 2022.
A graduation ceremony was held for them recently in Port Harcourt, Rivers State after finishing the NCDMB/PETAN/SPDC JV Graduate Internship programme, which has benefitted about 170 young graduates.
The initiative was created by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) Joint Venture in collaboration with the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
During the internship, the fresh graduates are attached to indigenous technical oilfield service companies in the upstream and downstream sectors for hands-on experience.
The scheme, which was established in 2014, has been lauded as a key human capital development initiative which is central to the promotion of Nigerian content in the oil and gas industry.
At the graduation ceremony this month, the chairman of PETAN, Mr Wole Ogunsanya, commended Shell for supporting the programme which is helping to build local manpower for a critical sector of the economy.
The General Manager for Nigerian Content at SPDC, Mr ‘Lanre Olawuyi, said: “The internship is more than a learning opportunity. It provides fresh graduates with technical expertise, equipping them with the practical skills needed to excel in their careers.
“It aligns with SPDC’s broader educational initiatives, contributing significantly to the actualisation of the UNESCO Education for All agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta.
“We owe the success of the programme to the untiring support of our JV partners, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC,) TotalEnergies and Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited for which we’re grateful.”
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Mr Robert Dalziel has been picked to be the new Managing Director of Interocean Marine Services, as part of the strategies of the company to drive its growth in the Middle East and Asia Pacific (APAC) region.
A statement disclosed that Mr Dalziel was chosen for the task because of his in-depth understanding of Interocean’s operations and strategic objectives.
It was stated that his leadership would ensure a seamless transition into this new role, reinforcing the company’s commitment to delivering an integrated technology-led, asset support service.
He joined the organisation in December 2024. He had been the chief executive of Rigmar Group, which recently merged with Interocean, a specialist provider of marine services to the global energy industry.
He comes with nearly 30 years of engineering and business development expertise within the energy sector.
His extensive technical knowledge, coupled with a proven track record in commercial strategy, will be pivotal in driving Interocean’s ambitious growth plans across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Asia Pacific (APAC) regions.
“We are thrilled to welcome Robert to the team. His exceptional leadership and proven success in driving business growth will be invaluable as we enhance our market presence, and continue to deliver exceptional service to our clients across the region,” the chief operating officer of Interocean, Mr Alex Clark, commented.
The appointee, while speaking, said, “I am absolutely delighted to be rejoining Interocean during this exciting period of growth.
“After nearly 10 years, it was a fantastic opportunity to be involved in the next evolution of the business. The company’s commitment to innovation and its client-centric approach is inspiring.
“I look forward to working with the talented team to drive continued growth and strengthen our position internationally.”
In line with its international expansion, Interocean is growing its MENA & APAC business, with plans to increase its regional presence in five new regions.
This investment demonstrates the company’s dedication to supporting both current and future projects while strengthening its regional capabilities.
Looking ahead to 2025, the company will continue to deliver a comprehensive range of project solutions that encompasses everything from planning, design, and installation to operational maintenance and decommissioning.
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