By Aduragbemi Omiyale

Mr Ayo Adeonipekun has been appointed as the new Registrar and chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS).

He is taking over the position from Mr Josiah Akerewusi, who retired after a decade of meritorious service, according to a statement.

“This is a critical role that requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of the capital market.

“Adeonipekun possesses these qualities, and we believe he will transform the institute into a world-class certification entity,” the chairman of the Council at CIS, Mr Oluropo Dada, said.

Mr Adeonipekun is expected to guide the organisation to higher heights with his over 25 years of extensive multidisciplinary experience in leadership, finance, people and performance management, as well as corporate planning and administration.

Before now, he has served in various top management positions in leading organisations, including Marina International Bank (now Access Bank), Crossword Securities Limited, Sterling Bank, First City Monument Bank Plc, Susu Microfinance Bank, and MBL Financial Services, among others.

He was once the chief executive of a funds/portfolio manager licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Reliance Capital Limited.

A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Mr Adeonipekun qualified as a Chartered Stockbroker in March 2006 while working at Crossword Securities Limited.

He also became a Chartered Accountant in May 1997 and was admitted as a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) in 2013.

Additionally, he is a Certified Microfinance Banker (CIBN-MCP), an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), a trading license holder with the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, and a Registered Capital Market Operator/Sponsored Individual with the SEC.

The CIS chief boasts a Higher National Diploma in Accountancy from Yaba College of Technology, a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master’s in Finance, both from Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, and currently a doctoral candidate (PhD Finance) at the same institution.

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.”