By Adedapo Adesanya

First Holdco Plc, formerly FBN Holdings Plc, has announced new board appointments across its non-commercial banking subsidiaries as it commits to building stronger businesses across board.

The move, following regulatory approvals from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), is part of efforts to deepen governance, strengthen oversight and position the business for sustainable growth.

FBN Holdings Plc rebranded to First HoldCo Plc in February 2025 to reflect its broader financial services focus beyond just banking.

Its services includes commercial banking (First Bank of Nigeria), merchant banking, asset management (FBNQuest), insurance brokerage, and trusteeship. It operates across Africa and has global offices in London, Paris, and Beijing, serving individuals, small businesses, and corporations.

At First Asset Management Limited, Mrs Ebikabo Williams has been appointed chairman of the board, bringing her extensive industry knowledge spanning banking, capital markets, and consulting. She will be supported by equally experienced board members like Mr Usman Dantata Jr., Mrs Binta Max Gbinije, and Mrs Alero Mobola Adollo.

At FirstCap Limited, its investment management firm, Mrs Yewande Amusan has been appointed chairman. She is an accomplished finance professional with experience cutting across both public and private sectors. Mr Ahmed Indimi and Mrs Irene Akpofure were appointed along with Mrs Adenike Kuti and Mr Zeal Akaraiwe.

First Securities Brokers Limited, which recently emerged as the top performer in the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Brokers Performance Report in terms of both trading volume and transaction value, has named Mr John Akpeki as chairman. He is expected to leverage his vast experience in global marketing and networking. He is joined by Mrs Omolara Adeyemi, ,Mrs Susan Younis and Mrs Kemi Andu-Alausa.

Similarly, First Trustees Limited, one of the Group’s long-standing subsidiaries in trust and estate management, has strengthened its governance structure with the appointment of Mr John Lee as its chairman. He has over 40 years’ experience in global financial services, specialising in Corporate & Institutional Banking and Wealth Management across Africa. The other members of the board who are bringing their combined rich wealth of experience are Mrs Abiola Alabi, Mrs Adebisi Sola-Adeyemi, and Mrs Ugochukwu Obi-Chukwu.

For its insurance business, First Insurance Brokers, the firm has appointed Mr Akinola Phillips as Chairman. He is joined by Mrs Ije Onejeme, Mrs Folukemi Akinmeji and Mrs Mojisola Cardozo.

First Holdco said these appointments are expected to further consolidate the firm’s position as a dominant player in the asset and wealth management space in Nigeria.

The chairman of First Holdco, Mr Femi Otedola, while commenting on the appointments, said, “We are delighted to welcome these distinguished professionals to the boards of our non-commercial banking subsidiaries. Their proven expertise, impeccable track records, and leadership will play a critical role in shaping the next phase of our growth, enhancing stakeholder value, and reinforcing our position as a trusted African leader delivering innovative solutions across diverse sectors.”

“These appointments reaffirm our commitment to building resilient businesses that contribute meaningfully to economic development in the broader ecosystem in which we operate,” he added.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The appointment of Mrs Olugbemisola Titilayo Odusote as the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School (NLS) has been approved by President Bola Tinubu.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, on Monday disclosed that the appointment of the new DG “takes effect on January 10, 2026, for a four-year term.”

She will become the first woman to lead the institution since its establishment in 1962. She will succeed the current occupier of the office, Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma, whose tenure expires on January 9, 2026, after eight years of service.

As the head of the NLS, Mrs Odusote will be responsible for the institution’s overall academic leadership, administrative management, and strategic direction across all campuses. She will also serve as the primary liaison between the school, the Council of Legal Education, the Body of Benchers, and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

The 57-year-old legal practitioner is currently the Deputy Director-General and Head of the Lagos Campus of the organisation.

Mrs Odusote obtained her LL.B. degree from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, Osun State, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988. She holds an LL.M from the same university, specialising in company and commercial law.

She later obtained a PhD in Law from the University of Surrey, in the United Kingdom, with research interests in Public Law and the administration of justice.

She joined the Law School in 2001 as a lecturer. Since then, she has served in various capacities, including as head of the academic department, director of academics, and head of campus.

During her career at the Law School, she was a visiting scholar at Nottingham Trent University in the UK for a short time.

Mrs Odusote has published extensively in reputable local and international law journals and has presented papers at numerous legal education conferences. She also served on committees of the Council of Legal Education and the NBA.

By Adedapo Adesanya

President Bola Tinubu has written two letters to the Senate, seeking confirmation of 21 nominees for the boards of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

In the first letter, President Tinubu nominated a former senator, Mr Magnus Abe, to serve as the NUPRC board chair. Mr Abe, who represented Rivers South East in the Senate for two terms, is a former board member of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and current chairman of the National Agency of the Great Green Wall.

Other nominees for the NUPRC board are Mr Paul Jezhi, a former Trade Union Congress chairman in Kaduna, and Mr Sunday Babalola, a former deputy director of the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), which was abolished by the PIA in 2021. Both men will serve as non-executive commissioners.

President Tinubu also nominated executive commissioners to the board, according to a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, on Monday.

These include Mr Muhammed Lamido, executive commissioner for finance; Mr Edu Inyang, executive commissioner for Exploration and Acreage; Mr Justin Ezeala, executive commissioner for economic regulation and strategic planning; and Mr Henry Oki, executive commissioner for Development and Production.

Others are Mr Indabawa Alka, executive commissioner for corporate services and administration; Mr Mahmood Tijani, executive commissioner for health, safety and environment; and Mrs Olayemi Adeboyejo, as secretary and legal adviser.

Former President Buhari appointed Mr Lamido and Mrs Adeboyejo in 2022, while President Tinubu appointed Mr Alka in 2023. However, Mr Inyang, Mr Ezeala, the former managing director of Nigerian Gas Marketing Limited, Mr Mahmood Tijani, Mr Babalola and Mr Jezhi are new appointees of President Tinubu.

In his second letter to the Senate, President Tinubu nominated Mr Adegbite Adeniji, a lawyer, as chairman of the NMDPRA board. Mr Adeniji has over 30 years of experience in energy and natural resources issues. He was a special technical adviser to the Minister of State for Petroleum on upstream and gas until 2018. He was a member of the Oil & Gas Policy team at the World Bank, which advised the Government of Nigeria on the reform and restructuring of the petroleum sector, including the development of the Strategic Gas Plan for Nigeria. He is currently the managing partner at ENR Advisory.

President Tinubu also nominated Mr Kenneth Kobani and Mr Asabe Ahmed as non-executive members. Mr Kobani was a minister of state for trade under former President Goodluck Jonathan and secretary to the government of Rivers State, under Mr Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

Also nominated for confirmation are Mr Abiodun Adeniji, executive director of finance; Mr Francis Ogaree, executive director of hydrocarbon; Mr Oluwole Adama, executive director of midstream and Downstream gas infrastructure; and Mr Mustapha Lamorde, executive director of Corporate Services and Administration. President Tinubu appointed Mr Adama in 2024, while late President Buhari appointed Mr Lamorde and Mr Adeniji in 2021 and Mr Ogaree in 2022

Other members of the NMDPRA board, as proposed by President Tinubu, are Mr Yahaya Yinusa, executive director, distribution systems; Adeyemi Aminu, executive director, corporate services; Mrs Modie Ogechukwu, executive director, economic regulation and strategic planning; and Mr Bolawale Dawodu, as board secretary and legal adviser. Mr Dawodu is an industry player and was, at a time, the Financial Reporting Manager at Exxon Nigerian subsidiaries.

The President urged the Senate to approve the nominees expeditiously.

The requests followed the recent appointment and confirmation of chief executive officers for the two regulatory agencies with Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan becoming the chief executive officer (CEO) of the NUPRC and Mr Saidu Mohammed taking over the CEO helm at NMDPRA.