Jobs/Appointments
Experts Brainstorm on Future Work Template at Stanbic IBTC Bank Forum
By Olubori Oduntan
In a rapidly changing world, more so in the digital space, finding the right models to anchor human capital development will remain a paramount determinant of corporate success. This thinking underscores the Workplace Banking Seminar’ organized by Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC, a member of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, in Lagos, recently.
The seminar, with the theme, ‘The Future of Work and the Role of Human Capital’, attracted participants from both the public and private sectors, including Human Resources Managers , Financial Service Institutions, Insurers, Fintechs, Government Agencies, Regulators, Private Equity and Venture Capital firms, amongst other players from diverse fields.
In his opening comments, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC, Dr. Demola Sogunle, said by settling for a theme that seeks to unravel the future of work, the organization aims to prepare and equip its clientele for future success. Employee experience, just like customer experience, is imperative to drive corporate success. Therefore, workers must be sufficiently motivated, engaged and empowered, he stated.
This objective underlines the numerous stakeholder engagements organized by the Stanbic IBTC Group to provide a platform to connect with clients and avail them with information to make informed decisions. As an institution designed to meet the financial needs of customers at every phase in life, Dr. Sogunle said the group would continuously offer value propositions to move people and businesses forward.
Guest speaker, Mr Boye Ademola, noted that the whole essence of digital application is to create intrinsic value. Any technology that does not generate value is worthless. Besides, value cannot be created without commensurate talent.
Mr Ademola, who is Partner & Lead for Digital Transformation Technology at KPMG, stated that the future of work has three crucial dimensions: workforce, workspace and work culture. These three elements are critical to attract the millennials, who would constitute the bulk of the future workforce. Nigeria for instance, has over 90 million of its population under 30 years of age and as the population increases, they would naturally trigger change. Already, the average age of millennial CEOs is in the 30s. In meeting the demands of the future, there is the need for a paradigm shift from today’s work structure. Critical factors to drive this change include focus on value creation, agility, co-creation, co-option of millennials and appropriate operating models.
The session also had a panel discussion that featured Usen Udoh, Group Chief, Human Resources, Dangote Group; Alero Onosode, General Manager, Human Resources, Seplat Petroleum Plc; Abudullahi Jubril Saba, Human Resources Director, IHS Towers; Country Head, Human Capital, Stanbic IBTC, Olufunke Amobi; and Boye Ademola. They highlighted other factors pivotal to the future of work as education, mining ecosystems, life-long learning, breaking of hierarchies and silos, challenging leadership and unrelenting value creation.
Another highlight of the event was the question and answer session which was very interactive and engaging. Major talking points included creating an engaged workforce by fusing learning and talent management, using technology to leapfrog, ensuring inclusion, participation in activities and initiatives as well as using meritocracy as a yardstick for appraisal.
The ‘Workplace Banking Seminar’, now in its fourth edition, comes on the heels of the Bank’s hugely successful financial planning sessions for Enterprises. The seminar hosts HR Heads drawn from various sectors and focuses on topical HR issues with a view to equipping the audience with vital skills and knowledge aimed at impacting Employee/Business efficiency, productivity, profitability, continuity, growth and sustainability.
Head, Personal Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC, Nkolika Okoli, said the Bank is constantly trying to add value, which goes beyond providing banking services to its customers. By looking at the whole spectrum of financial literacy drawn from the Stanbic IBTC Group expertise, Ms. Okoli stated that Stanbic IBTC Personal Banking business aims to equip Individuals with the knowledge required to attain financial freedom before retirement.
Executive Director, Personal & Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC, Mr. Babatunde Macaulay, who gave the vote of thanks, said as a member of the Standard Bank Group, Africa’s largest bank by assets and earnings, Stanbic IBTC will continue to leverage on the 155-year experience, expertise and strong financial clout of the mother brand to deliver superior sustainable shareholder value by meeting the needs of its clientele. “Our main goal is to continue to render best-in-class service to our customers who cut right across Nigeria’s socio-economic spectrum and play a leading role in supporting individuals, businesses and the Nigerian economy,”
Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, a member of Standard Bank Group, is a full service financial services group with a clear focus on three main business pillars – Corporate and Investment Banking, Personal and Business Banking and Wealth Management. Standard Bank Group is the largest African bank by assets and market capitalization. It is rooted in Africa with strategic representation in 20 countries on the African continent. Standard Bank has been in operation for over 155 years and is focused on building first-class, on-the-ground financial services institutions in chosen countries in Africa; and connecting selected emerging markets to Africa by applying sector expertise, particularly in natural resources, power and infrastructure.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The conclusion of the 2025 Performance Appraisal Exercise of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has resulted in the promotion and step increments of about 1,126 employees of the organisation.
The reward for performance involved the promotion of 547 employees and 579 step increments, reaffirming the company’s unwavering commitment to recognising excellence, rewarding performance and building one of Africa’s most admired workplaces.
AEDC disclosed that these actions reflect its deliberate investment in its people as the energy firm accelerates its transformation into a customer-centric, high-performing electricity distribution company with global standards and Pan-African aspirations.
The promotions and step increments, approved by the management, recognise employees who have demonstrated exceptional commitment, professionalism and outstanding performance in advancing AEDC’s strategic objectives.
However, employees who were not successful in the current appraisal cycle have been urged to remain committed, emphasising that the performance management process is designed to support continuous growth, capability development and future advancement opportunities.
“Our people remain our greatest asset and the foundation upon which AEDC’s future will be built. Today’s announcement is more than a reward for performance; it is a reaffirmation of our belief that excellence should always be recognised, talent should be nurtured and hard work should create opportunities for growth.
“As we continue our transformation journey, we are building an organisation where our employees can develop rewarding careers, realise their full potential and proudly contribute to creating one of Africa’s leading electricity distribution companies,” the chief executive of AEDC, Mr Chijioke Okwuokenye, stated.
He added that AEDC is intentionally creating a workplace where merit, continuous learning, innovation and collaboration drive career progression, while employee wellbeing remains central to its long-term strategy.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigerian international lawyer and anti-corruption specialist, Mr Ibrahim James Pam, has been appointed Acting Director-General of the World Bank Group’s Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO), a key independent accountability body within the institution.
The appointment, approved by the boards of the World Bank Group, will take effect on August 2, 2026.
Mr Pam, who currently serves as Chair of the World Bank Inspection Panel, will oversee the CAO on an interim basis pending the appointment of a substantive Director-General and Vice President of the World Bank Group Independent Accountability Mechanism.
The development was announced in a statement issued by the Head of Communications of the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman, Emily Horgan, who said the arrangement was designed to ensure continuity during the organisation’s leadership transition.
“In view of the forthcoming leadership transition at the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO), the World Bank Group Boards have designated Ibrahim Pam, Chair of the Inspection Panel, to concurrently serve as acting CAO Director General, effective August 2, 2026,” the statement said.
“Mr Pam will serve in this role until the new World Bank Group Independent Accountability Mechanism Director General/Vice President is appointed.”
The Compliance Advisor Ombudsman is the independent accountability mechanism for projects financed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), both members of the World Bank Group.
Created in 1999, the CAO reports directly to the boards of IFC and MIGA and handles complaints from individuals and communities affected by projects supported by the two institutions, while promoting environmental and social accountability.
Mr Pam, who is married with children and grandchildren, brings extensive experience in international law, anti-corruption, compliance, human rights and criminal investigations to the role.
He is the son of the late Lt. Col. James Pam, a former Adjutant General of the Nigerian Army, and Mrs Ngo Elizabeth Pam, a human rights advocate who served on the Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission, popularly known as the Oputa Panel, as well as the Plateau Peace Conference.
Over the years, Mr Pam has built a distinguished international career investigating human rights violations, financial crimes, fraud, institutional misconduct and mass atrocities across several jurisdictions.
He has served as a member of the World Bank Inspection Panel since January 2023. Prior to that, he was Head ad interim of the Independent Redress Mechanism of the Green Climate Fund in Songdo, South Korea, between August 2022 and March 2023, after leading the Fund’s Independent Integrity Unit from November 2016 to November 2022.
His professional experience also includes roles with the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), where he served as Resident Investigator with the UN Mission in South Sudan, the African Development Bank’s Integrity and Anti-Corruption Department, and the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
Earlier in his career, he provided legal support to Nigeria’s Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission (Oputa Panel) between 2000 and 2002.
A graduate of the University of Jos, Mr Pam began his legal career at J.Y. Pam & Co. before working in private legal practice, the banking sector and later the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
While at the ICPC, he received the prestigious Chevening Scholarship, which enabled him to earn a Master’s degree in International Law and Justice Policy from the London School of Economics in 2005
His appointment is expected to strengthen the World Bank Group’s accountability and oversight framework, given his extensive background in governance, integrity, compliance and international justice.
Jobs/Appointments
UNIZIK Appoints Nicholas Okoye Visiting Senior Lecturer, to Strengthen Digital Assets Education
Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) has appointed veteran investment banker and capital markets expert, Nicholas “Nicky” Okoye, as a Visiting Senior Lecturer in a move aimed at strengthening its capital markets and digital assets curriculum amid the growing global adoption of virtual assets and blockchain-based finance.
The appointment, which takes immediate effect, is expected to deepen the university’s capacity to train enterprise executives, entrepreneurs and policymakers in emerging areas such as cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), tokenisation of real-world assets and other digital financial innovations.
UNIZIK, which hosts one of Africa’s few dedicated Capital Markets faculties, said the appointment aligns with its strategy of equipping students and professionals with the knowledge and practical skills required to navigate the rapidly evolving financial ecosystem.
The university, in its statement, described the appointment as a significant milestone for the institution.
“Securing someone of Nicky Okoye’s calibre is a game-changer. As global finance evolves, we must equip enterprise executives, entrepreneurs and policymakers with the technical knowledge required to build long-term capital formation strategies. His real-world experience is invaluable.”
Okoye brings decades of experience across global and Nigerian financial institutions. His career includes serving as a Financial Consultant at Merrill Lynch in the United States, Chief Strategy Officer at the Nigerian Exchange Group, and Founding Group Executive Director of Operations and Strategy at Transcorp Group Plc, where he led fundraising initiatives that collectively exceeded $1 billion.
He currently leads the Global Investment Advisory Community (GIAC), a coalition of local and international banks, asset managers and fintech firms working to develop a digital assets ecosystem across Africa and the Caribbean.
Beyond the private sector, Okoye has contributed to public policy, providing advisory support to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on capital market regulatory frameworks.
Stakeholders in the financial services sector have welcomed the appointment, expressing optimism that his academic engagement would help build capacity among investors and professionals as Nigeria expands its digital finance ecosystem.
Okoye also holds an honorary Doctor of Business Administration from Enugu State University of Technology, awarded in recognition of his contributions to enterprise development and business excellence.
He previously served on the Presidential Jobs Board and the National Council of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, where he provided strategic advice on economic development. Between 2014 and 2018, he advised the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Project Triple E, an initiative designed to strengthen indigenous participation in the upstream oil and gas value chain by integrating community-based contractors.
The appointment comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to establish a robust regulatory framework for digital assets. The Federal Government recently inaugurated a National Virtual Assets Council to coordinate the oversight and regulation of virtual and digital assets in the country.
The council is chaired by the Central Bank of Nigeria, with support from the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Nigeria Revenue Service, as part of broader efforts to promote innovation while ensuring investor protection and financial system stability.
