Jobs/Appointments
Critics Question Aisha Ahmad’s Qualification for New CBN Job
By Dipo Olowookere
Since Thursday, October 5, 2017, when President Muhammadu Buhari announced Mrs Aishah Ahmad, as the new Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), there have been controversies trailing the young woman.
Mrs Ahmad was appointed to replace Mrs Serah Alade, who retired in March 2017 as the Deputy Governor of the CBN in charge of Economic Policy.
She is expected to assume duty as CBN deputy governor immediately after her confirmation by the Senate.
A report by Premium Times has said Mrs Ahmad was ‘controversially’ promoted to the position of an Executive Director of Diamond Bank Plc few hours to her announcement for the new CBN job.
But the lender, when contacted by the newspaper, gave a dodgy response to this issue.
Rather than make a categorical comment on when Mrs Ahmad was raised from her position as deputy general manager to executive director, Mr Mike Omeife, Head of Media Relations at the bank, merely said she had been executive director at the bank “for a while”.
He maintained that based on her wealth of experience, she is qualified to be appointed to the new position.
Until her appointment, Mrs Ahmad, a holder of Master of Science, M.Sc degree in Finance & Management from the Cranfield School of Management, United Kingdom (2006-2007) and a Master of Business Administration, MBA in Finance, University of Lagos (1999-2001), was the executive director (Retail Banking) at Diamond Bank Plc.
She is the chairperson, executive council of Women in Management, Business and Public Service, WIMBIZ, a Nigerian non-profit organization focused on issues affecting the interest of women professionals in business, particularly those promoting leadership development and capacity building to engender growth.
Since her appointment, there had been controversies, especially on social media, over her qualification for the CBN job.
SCANTY DETAILS
But in a chat with PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday, Mr Omeife said the new CBN deputy governor had been an executive director at Diamond Bank “for a while”.
When asked of the specific date, he explained that he might not immediately have the details but he was confident she had been appointed executive director “for a while”.
Our sources maintained Mr Omeife “was economical with the truth”.
Checks by PREMIUM TIMES revealed that details of the bank’s annual report showed that as at December 2016, Mrs Ahmad held the position of Head, Consumer and Privilege Banking. The two executive directors listed in the report are Chizoma Okoli, Executive Director Business Development, and Chiugo Ndubisi, Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer.
Similarly, in its quarterly reports for March and June 2017, the names of the two aforementioned officials remained as executive directors.
Meanwhile, checks on the disclosure platform of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, for possible announcement of Mrs Ahmad’s elevation also yielded no result as no such disclosure was made throughout 2017.
When contacted on the telephone on Monday, the media officer of the NSE, Joseph Kadiri, could not immediately give response to the request.
He, however, told PREMIUM TIMES to forward the request to him via email and promised to send to appropriate quarters for reply. More than 24 hours after the request was sent with reminders, PREMIUM TIMES has not gotten any response.
But Mr Omeife, Tuesday, suggested that disclosure of Mrs Ahmad’s appointment as ED may not necessarily be made to the Nigerian bourse.
“From the financial services perspective, the CBN handles issues involving people from ED (position) up (wards),” he said.
When asked about the alleged double promotion the new CBN official reportedly enjoyed on the day she was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr Omeife said he knew nothing about such development.
“I don’t know about that; all I am meant to understand is that the president appointed her as CBN deputy governor and sent her name to the Senate for approval. I don’t know about that (issue of double promotion).
“But I know she is eminently qualified to be the CBN deputy governor and I am expecting young Nigerians to applaud her,” he said, in reference to Mrs Ahmad’s academic and professional antecedents.
He, however, said further enquiries should be directed to the CBN.
But PREMIUM TIMES’ efforts to reach the CBN were futile. Isaac Okorafor, the apex bank’s spokesperson, did not answer or return calls to his known number. He also did not reply to a text message sent to him.
PRIVILEGE BANKING VS ECONOMIC POLICY
Many commentators alleged that her promotion to the position of executive director at Diamond Bank Plc was ‘fast-tracked’, a few hours to the announcement of her name by the Nigerian government.
Insiders at the bank told PREMIUM TIMES she was promoted executive director hours to the announcement of her appointment to the CBN position. There was a company-wide announcement to that effect, our sources said.
However, the CBN Act does not require that an appointee to that position must be an executive director of a bank, and it is not clear why she had to be controversially upgraded.
Section 8 sub-section 1 of the CBN Act 2007 states, among others, that: “The Governor and Deputy Governors “shall be persons of recognised financial experience and shall be appointed by the President subject to the confirmation of the Senate.”
Some commentators argue that Mrs Ahmad’s expertise may not be the kind of skills needed at the CBN. She is better known for overseeing privilege banking, securing accounts from high net-worth individuals, and providing private client services to wealthy customers. Her understanding of economic policies remained unclear.
Abdul Mahmud, an Abuja-based attorney, said of the appointment, “That she replaces Sarah Alade as Deputy Governor of CBN in charge of economic policy- monetary policy, financial market, etc, before her retirement, makes her catapult curious.
“With a background in accounting and professional training in consumer banking, you would ask: what was her appointor thinking? She is not a monetarist, there is nothing in her CV that shows that she is nuanced in monetary economics.
“Well, with another misfit, Emefiele, at the helm of CBN, who has been accused of doing wash wash -printing more naira notes- an Emefiele-esque Quantitative Easing (QE) -to address liquidity problem and creating the more serious problem of inflationary pressure- a process of policy catalyzation really- you will understand why the oracle has consistently argued that the government projection of the Economic and Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP) to reduce the inflation rate from 19% to 0% by 2020 is a pipe dream.
“Brace up for harder, perilous, and more difficult economic times.”
Source: Premium Times
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has reaffirmed the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) as the only legally recognised regulatory body for Human Resource (HR) practice in the country.
This follows the release of a new directive aimed at professionalising HR functions across the Federal Public Service.
The directive, contained in a circular issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), mandates officers occupying HR positions in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to obtain approved professional certifications.
The circular, referenced HCSF/3065/Vol.1/230 and dated May 14, 2026, was signed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack.
According to the circular, the policy is part of ongoing reforms targeted at strengthening professionalism, ethical standards, competence and service delivery within the Federal Civil Service.
The government specifically recognised certifications issued by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), alongside a few globally recognised HR professional bodies, further reinforcing the Institute’s statutory role in regulating and advancing HR practice in Nigeria.
Under the new policy, officers deployed to HR functions within the Federal Public Service are required to possess approved HR certifications within a 12-month grace period.
It was also granted to affected officers to regularise their certification status, after which only certified professionals will be eligible for deployment into designated HR roles.
Reacting to the development, the President and Chairman of the Governing Council of CIPM, Mr Ahmed Ladan Gobir, described the circular as a landmark step towards institutionalising professionalism in Nigeria’s public sector.
He said the directive aligns the nation’s civil service with global best practices in Human Resource Management while reinforcing the importance of professional competence and ethical compliance in workforce management.
Mr Gobir stressed that CIPM remains the only institute legally empowered to regulate HR practice in Nigeria, noting that the Institute’s enabling law grants it authority to set standards, certify practitioners and enforce discipline within the profession.
“While the circular recognises certain international certifications, it is important to reiterate that within Nigeria, CIPM remains the only Institute with the legal mandate to regulate the practice of Human Resource Management,” he stated.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Lagos Television (LTV 8), Alausa, Ikeja, has a new General Manager, and he is Mr Kayode Oyekanmi, replacing Mrs Sola Kosoko, who was ousted by the Lagos State government.
Mr Oyekanmi was presented with his letter of appointment on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, by the Lagos State Head of Service, Mr Bode Agoro, in a brief ceremony.
The new General Manager of the state-owned broadcast station was tasked with using his vast experience in the media space to take LTV 8 to greater heights.
Mr Agoro expressed confidence in Mr Oyekanmi’s capacity to reposition Lagos Television and wished him a successful and impactful tenure of office.
Prior to his appointment, Mr Oyekanmi served as the Director of Strategy Centre at the Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, a position he has held since 2022.
A seasoned brand communications practitioner, Mr Oyekanmi has over three decades of professional experience spanning both the private and public sectors, with expertise in Advertising, Public Relations, and global export services.
He commenced his public service career as a Public Affairs Practitioner on March 1, 2000, with the Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy.
The new LTV boss, a Lagos State indigene from Isale Eko, Lagos Island, has received several awards in recognition of his dedication, hard work, and commitment to the journalism profession.
He holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Lagos and a Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Education from Lagos State University.
He is an active Member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
In addition, he is a voracious reader and a passionate lawn tennis player, and currently serves as the Charter President of the Lagos State Ministry of Information Toastmasters Club.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A retired Major-General, Mr Adeyinka Famadewa, has been appointed as the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Homeland Security.
The appointee retired from the military after over three decades, with experience in national security strategy, intelligence fusion, counter-terrorism operations, and international security diplomacy.
His career reflects a rare blend of operational excellence, strategic foresight, and institutional leadership in safeguarding Nigeria’s territorial integrity and national interests, a circular signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr George Akume, said.
It was disclosed that Mr Famadewa was chosen for the position because of his exceptional record of service, strategic expertise, and outstanding contributions to Nigeria’s national security architecture.
The notice said the appointment underscores the commitment of the administration of Mr Tinubu to strengthening internal security coordination, enhancing intelligence-driven operations, and deepening inter-agency collaboration in addressing emerging security threats across the country.
The President expressed confidence that Mr Famadewa’s appointment will further enhance the government’s efforts toward achieving a safer and more secure Nigeria through improved coordination of homeland security initiatives, intelligence integration, and proactive risk management.
He also urged him to deploy his wealth of experience, professionalism, and strategic insight in advancing national security objectives and supporting the administration’s agenda.
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