Jobs/Appointments
Chain Reactions Nigeria Rewards Loyal Staff, Offers Child Scholarship
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Popular American author and businessman, Mr Stephen Richards Covey, once said, “Always treat your employees exactly as you want them to treat your best customers.”
Also, the late American businessman and entrepreneur best known for founding the retailers, Walmart and Sam’s Club, Mr Samuel Moore Walton, once said, “Appreciate everything your associates do for the business. Nothing else can quite substitute for a few well-chosen, well-timed, sincere words of praise. They’re absolutely free and worth a fortune.”
With these key words in mind, Chain Reactions Nigeria, one of Nigeria’s leading Public Relations/Reputation Management and Integrated Communications Consulting Firms and the Exclusive Nigeria’s Affiliate and the Preferred West Africa’s Partner of Edelman, the world’s largest marketing communications firm, on Monday, March 12, 2018, celebrated its Senior Fleet Officer on his 40th birthday and 10th year work anniversary.
The Senior Fleet Officer, Mr Lanre Ogunshola, who turned 40 on Wednesday, March 7, was awarded a befitting plaque and commendation for long service and unwavering loyalty to the company at a birthday celebration in his honour.
The surprise moment of the day was the announcement by the Managing Director/Chief Strategist of Chain Reactions Nigeria, Mr Israel Jaiye Opayemi, of all-expense paid scholarship award covering primary to secondary school for Mr Ogunshola’s first child, Miss Oluwadarasimi Ogunshola.
The cheering news overwhelmed the celebrant, a father of two, as he betrayed emotions with tear-soaked eyes amidst the outpouring eulogies and even as he stepped forward to collect the plaque.
It was indeed a moment of honour for Mr Ogunshola as all friends and colleagues across the management, senior, middle and junior levels left their desks and converged on the CRN’s expansive Board Room at Chain Reactions Nigeria’s corporate office on 72A, Oduduwa Way, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos office to honour the double celebrant.
Chain Reactions’ MD, in his memorable speech, celebrated Mr Ogunshola with kind words amidst intermittent applause by all the team members present.
He said, “Lanre has been with Chain Reactions Nigeria through thick, thin, thunder, test, trial, trouble and temptations in the last 10 years.
“In the year 2009, Lanre and I were on the road at 2am in a thunder storm driving to the Lagos Marina where we had set up a Fan Park for the FIFA U-17 with very poor visibility that kept us moving at snail speed. Countless times, we got home from official assignments at 1am.
“Is he perfect? No. But we have travelled the same path together for 10 years now and in those 10 years I have come to realise what a blessing he is to the company.”
On the significance of the long service award, the MD/Chief Strategist stated that it spoke to the DNA of Chain Reactions Nigeria as a business with a soul, and a responsible institution that values the sacrifice of its employees. “We are a business with a soul. We are building a purposeful brand and we will continue to honour those who have contributed in building our business brand,” he affirmed.
Mr Opayemi added, “We are presenting this award and celebrating Lanre today because we believe he is a good ambassador of his family to Chain Reactions Nigeria.
“We deemed it fit to extend this appreciation to his lovely family that has stood by him all these years by offering his first child a scholarship up to the secondary school.
“This scholarship will not end even if Lanre decides to leave Chain Reactions Nigeria to work elsewhere because Chain Reactions is a corporate family.”
Another highpoint of the day was the atmosphere of jollity including handshakes and a photo session with the celebrant.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
In line with the 12-year tenure prescribed for non-executive directors of banks by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Tony Elumelu will on August 21, 2026, cease to be chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc.
The board of the financial institution at its meeting on July 6, 2026, has elected Mr Emmanuel Nnorom as the new chairman.
In a notice to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, the lender said Mr Elumelu’s successor, a non-executive director of the company, will assume the new role on August 21, 2026.
Mr Nnorom is a chartered accountant with over 40 years of experience in banking, finance and audit. He brings to the role extensive leadership experience and deep institutional knowledge of UBA.
“I am honoured by the trust the Board has placed in me and deeply conscious of the legacy I inherit.
“I look forward to working with my colleagues on the board, management and our staff across all our markets to sustain UBA’s momentum and continue delivering long-term value to our shareholders, customers and stakeholders,” Mr Nnorom stated.
Commenting on his retirement, Mr Elumelu said, “Serving United Bank for Africa has been one of the great privileges of my career.
“UBA has a unique competitive position, across Africa and globally, and I leave the Board with great confidence in UBA’s future.
“Emmanuel Nnorom is a leader of integrity, experience and sound judgement, and I am confident that the Bank will continue to thrive under his leadership.”
The board thanked him for his visionary leadership and exceptional contribution to the growth, transformation and institutional strength of the UBA Group.
By Adedapo Adesanya
WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria has announced the appointment of Mr Courage Obadagbonyi as Managing Director, effective July 1, 2026, succeeding Mr Jeethu Jose and becoming the first Nigerian to hold the post.
The appointment reflects the organisation’s continued focus on developing strong leadership from within its global talent pool while ensuring sustained growth and operational excellence.
A seasoned executive with more than two decades of international experience, Mr Obadagbonyi has held leadership roles across finance, operations and general management at leading global organisations, including APM Terminals, General Electric and Lafarge.
Prior to this appointment, he served as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the APM Terminals Nigeria cluster, with responsibility for financial strategy across Nigeria and San Pedro, Côte d’Ivoire.
He also served in an acting capacity as Managing Director of APM Terminals Apapa between 2025 and March 2026, further strengthening his operational leadership experience.
With experience spanning sectors such as oil and gas, power generation, logistics and healthcare, Mr Obadagbonyi brings deep expertise in financial management, risk optimisation and business performance.
Speaking on his appointment, he said, “I look forward to building on the strong foundation already in place at WACT. The terminal plays a critical role in connecting businesses in Eastern Nigeria to global markets, and we will continue to focus on safe, reliable and efficient operations.”
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of APM Terminals Nigeria, Mr Frederik Klinke, noted that the appointment reflects the company’s commitment to leadership development and long-term growth.
“Across APM Terminals globally, we see strong collaboration and talent development across our teams. This appointment reflects the depth of experience within our organisation and our continued focus on building capabilities that support sustainable growth. Nigerians have continued to distinguish themselves through exceptional performance and leadership. Colleagues from our Apapa and Onne terminals have contributed their expertise internationally while also bringing back valuable best practices to strengthen operations in Nigeria.”
He added that Mr Obadagbonyi’s experience would support the next phase of operational excellence and value delivery at WACT.
The outgoing MD, Mr Jose, said, “It has been a privilege to lead WACT-APM Terminals Nigeria during a period of meaningful progress. The team has built a strong platform for the future, and I am confident in the continued success of the organisation.”
West Africa Container Terminal (WACT)-APM Terminals in Onne, Rivers State, is one of Nigeria’s leading container terminals, having commenced commercial operations in 2006.
The company has continued to invest in capacity expansion and modernisation, including a $115 million terminal upgrade project launched in 2020. The upgrade also includes the deployment of reefer racks with a 600-plug capacity, as well as the expansion of the existing yard, a new workshop, a new terminal auto gate, modernised offices and state-of-the-art technology. These investments have enhanced efficiency, strengthened service delivery and reinforced WACT’s role as an important gateway for trade beyond Lagos.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A new member has joined the board of Unilever Nigeria Plc, and she is Mrs Modupe Femi-Okunbanjo, who was appointed as an executive director of the organisation.
Her appointment, according to a statement from the company, is effective June 30, 2026. It followed the resignation of Mr Ibrahim Sodipe as an executive director of the firm with effect from June 30, 2026.
Mr Sodipe was praised for his valuable service and significant contributions to the entity, particularly in driving improved turnover and profitability and supporting Unilever Nigeria’s continued progress towards sustainable and profitable growth.
Mrs Femi-Okunbanjo was described as an accomplished finance and governance leader who, for more than 15 years, has steered finance teams, shaped strategy, and strengthened risk management frameworks in the fast-moving consumer goods and telecommunications sectors.
She is currently the Financial Controller of Nigeria and Regional Controls Lead for West Africa at Unilever Nigeria, where she oversees financial governance, regulatory compliance, and enterprise risk management.
Her work has been pivotal in embedding ethical leadership and data-driven decision-making at board level, while ensuring organisations remain resilient in the face of shifting market dynamics.
The new board member has established a reputation for elevating financial reporting, advancing audit excellence, and strengthening governance frameworks, thereby positioning organisations for sustainable growth and long-term value creation.
In her previous roles, she has a consistent track record of delivering margin expansion, enhancing governance & control environments, and leading transformation in challenging macroeconomic conditions.
She is equally committed to developing future talent and advancing financial literacy among younger generations.
Prior to her joining Unilever Nigeria Plc in 2018, Mrs Femi-Okunbanjo held key roles at UAC of Nigeria Plc, Helios Towers Nigeria, and Makasa Sun Nigeria Limited, where she pioneered control frameworks from the ground up, eliminating revenue leakages, digitising operations and embedding financial discipline.
A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Lagos State University and an MBA with Specialisation in Strategy from the Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University, UK.
