By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The appointment of Mr Ernest Ebi as a Non-Executive Director and Chairman-designate of the Board of Directors of Fidelity Bank Plc has been announced.
Also announced by the bank is the appointment of Mr Charles Chidebe Umolu and Mr Kings C. Akuma as its Non-Executive Directors.
The appointment of Mr Ebi follows the retirement of Mr Christopher Ezeh as the Chairman of the bank.
Mr Ezeh retired after spending over 11 years of meritorious service to Fidelity Bank and also attaining the retirement age for non-executive Directors in line with the bank’s policy.
However, these appointments, according to the bank, are subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Mr Ebi is a former Deputy Governor, Policy and Corporate Services of CBN. He occupied the position for 10 years, from 1999 to 2009.
He is expected to bring to the Board a solid wealth of corporate experience.
Prior to CBN, Mr Ebi’s sterling career saw him rising to top position of Deputy Managing Director/Chief Operating Officer of Diamond Bank plc in 1998 having also served as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of New Nigeria Bank plc.
Also a former Executive Director, African Continental Bank, earlier Executive Management positions held by Mr Ebi included various departments of International Merchant Bank, Nigeria between 1981 to 1993.
A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Mr Ebi has participated in several Management Development Courses both locally and overseas in the areas of Strategic Planning, Financial and Risk Management amongst others.
Some of the notable leading institutions where he received Executive education include IMD Switzerland, Harvard, Oxford-Said Business School, amongst others. He started his working career in the United States of America (USA) as an Accounts Technician with the National Association of Counties, Washington DC in 1976 and subsequently worked at the Federal Savings & Loans Association Washington DC where he served as the Assistant Vice-President Community Federal Savings & loans Association.
In a very distinguished career within the financial services industry, Mr Ebi went on to serve in leadership positions in various notable banking sector organizations where he acquired mastery of executive leadership, financial goals delivery, business management, human resources capacity building, and general business performance management. He served as the Chairman of Deputies of the Group of G24 countries and as Director of Afromedia PLC until July 28, 2015.
He serves as the Member of the Governing Board of Venture Garden Nigeria and has been an Independent Non-Executive Director of Dangote Cement Plc since January 30, 2014.
Apart from the corporate world, he has served extensively on many for profit as well as not-for profit Organisations. He supports Worldvision and is also involved in various other humanitarian causes, especially in fundraising to promote its programs across the nation.
Mr Ebi attended Holy Ghost College Owerri from 1970 and Howard University, Washington DC, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Business degree in Marketing in 1978 and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration in 1979.
He holds the National Award; MFR and married with children.
Modupe Gbadeyanka 
Aduragbemi Omiyale