Jobs/Appointments
UBA Appoints Former First Lady, Three Others to Board
By Dipo Olowookere
Pan-African financial institution, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has announced the appointment of four prominent personalities to its board.
One of them is the former First Lady of Ekiti State, Mrs Angela Adebayo.
A statement issued by the lender said the appointment of Mrs Adebayo as well as Ms Angela Aneke, Mr Abdulqadir Jeli Bello and Mr Isaac Olukayode Fasola are subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
It was disclosed that the appointments follow the retirement of Mrs Rose Okwechime, Mr Adekunle Olumide, Mr Ja’afaru Paki and Mr Yahaya Zekeri, with effect from August 30, 2018.
Group Chairman of UBA Plc, Mr Tony Elumelu, while commenting on the appointments, disclosed that, “I am pleased to welcome Erelu Adebayo, Angela Aneke, Abdulqadir Bello and Kayode Fasola to the Group Board.
“These men and women bring a wealth of experience in their fields and will be tremendous assets, as we deliver on our mission to become the leading Pan-African financial institution in all our countries of operation.”
Mr Elumelu said further that, “I am particularly pleased that two of the newly appointed Non-Executive Directors are women, bringing the total number of women to four, a further demonstration of our commitment to ensuring equality for both men and women.”
Mr Elumelu thanked the retiring directors for their contribution, hard work and commitment to UBA, saying, “I would like to express my appreciation to our retiring Directors for their leadership and dedication to UBA and for their contribution to an already impressive 2018. I wish them the very best in their future endeavours.”
Business Post reports that this announcement comes on the heels of the bank’s strong H1 2018 performance with a PBT of N58.1 billion.
With the successful expansion of its retail operations, UBA now operates in 20 countries in Africa, following its recent acquisition of a licence in Mali and the United Kingdom. The bank also has offices in New York City and in Paris.
Erelu Angela Adebayo, who graduated with an M.Phil in Land Economy from Cambridge University, is the former First Lady of Ekiti State in Nigeria.
Mrs Adebayo previously served on the boards of several organisations, including the Dangote Foundation, DN Meyer Plc, Wemabod Estates. Mrs. Adebayo is a council member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and has worked extensively on real estate development and she is the Chairman of the Erelu Adebayo Foundation for the underprivileged.
On her part, Ms Angela Aneke is a board advisor, banker and a 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.
Ms Aneke has held executive management and board positions in several international and regional institutions, including Ecobank Transnational Incorporated and the UBA.
For Mr Isaac Olukayode Fasola, he is a consummate professional with over 30 years’ cognate experience obtained from Management and Board positions covering banking operations, risk management, credit analysis, insurance, asset management, business strategy/development, performance management and corporate governance.
Mr Fasola previously served as an Executive Director of a commercial Bank in Nigeria and holds two MBAs and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Business Administration.
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.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
British-born Nigerian journalist, Ms Adefemi Akinsanya, has been hired by CNN International to host its new multiplatform feature series known as Africa Inc, sponsored by Dangote Industries Limited.
Ms Akinsanya joins CNN from Arise News, where she is an International Correspondent and Anchor based in Lagos. She has previously worked at Al Jazeera, Reuters, Sky News, and TRT World.
Africa Inc will showcase how African companies are competing and thriving on the global stage, from technology and hospitality to manufacturing and entertainment.
The series positions the continent not as an emerging player, but as a growing force shaping global commerce, innovation, and consumer trends.
The half-hour show will premiere in August, with four more episodes throughout 2026 and into 2027.
Bespoke Africa Inc segments will also run bi-monthly across CNN International, with digital and social content across CNN.com.
“I’m thrilled to be joining CNN to launch Africa Inc at such an exciting time for Africa’s international story. Across the continent, we’re seeing innovation, resilience, and ambition transforming industries and creating opportunities with global impact. I’m looking forward to bringing these stories to CNN’s audience,” Ms Akinsanya commented.
Also commenting, CNN International Group Senior Vice President and Global Head of Productions, Ellana Lee, said, “We are delighted to welcome Adefemi to CNN. As Africa continues to play an increasingly influential role in the global economy, Adefemi’s impactful storytelling will ensure that Africa Inc provides insightful coverage across CNN’s TV, digital, and social platforms.”
Ms Akinsanya is a 2023 Fellow at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University and holds a BA in International Politics from King’s College London.
She has reported from the frontline of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, covering the refugee crisis and the role of race in the early war evacuation effort. She has also reported on the #EndSARS anti-police brutality protests in Nigeria, the 2024 US Presidential election, and from the World Economic Forum in Davos and the 2026 G7 Summit in Évian-les-Bains.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Mr Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan has been appointed by President Bola Tinubu as the new Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, effective August 27, 2026.
A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday disclosed that Mr Enitan replaces Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who will retire soon from the Federal Civil Service upon attaining the statutory retirement age of 60.
Mr Tinubu thanked Mrs Walson-Jack for her distinguished service to the nation and for the reforms, impact and innovations witnessed in the civil service during her tenure.
He also wished her a fulfilling and successful life after service and conveyed the nation’s gratitude for her years of dedicated and impactful public service.
As for Mr Enitan, the President charged him to consolidate on the reforms and innovations already underway, deepen professionalism and efficiency across the service, and build a more effective and responsive civil service.
He further urged him to lead a civil service that is professional, merit-driven, accountable, innovative, and responsive to Nigerians’ needs and aspirations.
Mr Enitan, from Osun State, is the most senior Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service. He has served as Permanent Secretary for seven years and seven months, working at the Ministry of Police Affairs, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the Office of the Vice President. He is currently the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education.
He brings considerable institutional experience and a deep understanding of how the Federal Civil Service works to his new responsibility.
Mr Enitan was born on December 12, 1966. He had his secondary education at Ajibode Grammar School, Ibadan and the College of Arts and Science, Ile-Ife. He later attended the University of Lagos and graduated in 1988 with a BSc in Finance and Banking. In 2015, he obtained an MSc in Public Policy Analysis from Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The board of FTN Cocoa Processors Plc has appointed Mr Wale Jubril as its interim chairman following the death of the former occupier of the position, Mr S.O. Oguntimehin, in March 2026.
The appointment of Mr Jubril was decided at the company’s board meeting held in July 2026, a statement from the organisation disclosed.
He will pilot the affairs of the organisation pending the appointment of a substantive chairman, a part of the notice submitted to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited stated.
The interim chairman of FTN Cocoa is a seasoned banker, chartered stockbroker and corporate executive with over three decades of professional experience spanning banking, capital markets, finance and corporate governance.
The Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State-born financial expert holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Relations from the University of Lagos, obtained in 1988, and three Master’s Degrees from the same institution in Marketing (1993), International Law and Diplomacy (1998), and Economics (1999).
He qualified as an Authorised Dealing Clerk of the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 1992 and became a chartered stockbroker in the same year. He subsequently built a career in banking and the capital market before joining Paints and Coatings Manufacturers Nigeria Plc in 2009 as Executive Director, Finance. In that capacity, he provided leadership in financial planning, project appraisal, pricing and negotiations, particularly in relation to major oil and gas projects and engagements involving Chevron, NLNG, Total and other industry participants.
Mr Jubril also contributed to the development of the company’s financial sustainability through strategic planning, policy development, departmental restructuring and financial management, and served on the company’s Planning and Policy-Making Committee of the Board.
In 2021, he joined Float Securities Limited, where he currently serves as the chief executive. He has also served as a non-executive director of FTN Cocoa since 2015.
In recognition of his extensive experience in the private and public sectors, he was appointed an independent non-executive director of Gateway Mortgage Bank, a mortgage bank wholly owned by the Ogun State Government, in November 2022.
