Jobs/Appointments
Florence Eshalomi Becomes UK Trade Envoy to Nigeria
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Labour (Co-op) Member of Parliament for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green, Ms Florence Eshalomi, has been appointed by the United Kingdom Government as the trade envoy to Nigeria.
She is part of a new global growth team of UK Trade Envoys appointed by the UK Trade Secretary, Mr Jonathan Reynolds, to drive UK exports and investment as the British government pulls every lever available to drive economic growth under its Plan for Change.
She takes over from Ms Helen Grant, who was the Trade Envoy to Nigeria from October 2020 to May 2024.
Ms Eshalomi is part of 32 parliamentarians drawn from across the political spectrum and tasked with identifying trade and investment opportunities for businesses and championing the UK as a destination of choice for investment in the assigned target markets across six continents.
Each market has been identified as presenting significant potential for growing UK trade and Trade Envoys are appointed on their ability, relevant skills and experience.
According to Mr Reynolds, “Trade and investment are key to delivering economic growth, the number one mission of this government and a key part of our Plan for Change.
“That’s why I’ve launched a new team of Trade Envoys, who will use their experience, expertise and knowledge to unlock new markets around the world for British businesses, drumming up investment into the UK and ultimately driving economic growth.”
Speaking on the appointment, the Country Director for the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) in Nigeria, Mr Mark Smithson, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Florence Eshalomi MP as the new UK Trade Envoy to Nigeria and look forward to working with her to deliver on the commitments made under the UK Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership and unlock growth and opportunities for our two nations”
Ms Eshalomi and the other 31 MPs will work closely with the DBT, bringing in their previous government-to-government experience, to bolster exports, attract investments, and remove trade barriers in their respective markets.
The announcement comes ahead of the new Trade Strategy in Spring, which will prioritise rebuilding the UK’s relationship with the EU and seizing opportunities to access new markets further afield.
Other appointments include: Mr Afzal Khan MP appointed to Türkiye, Mr Alex Sobel MP appointed to Ukraine, Mr Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP appointed to Ghana, Mr Ben Coleman MP appointed to Morocco & Francophone West Africa, Mr Calvin Bailey MP appointed to Southern Africa, Ms Carolyn Harris MP appointed to New Zealand, Mr Dan Carden MP appointed to Mexico, Mr David Pinto-Duschinsky MP appointed to Switzerland & Lichtenstein, Mr Fabian Hamilton MP appointed to Southern Cone, Mr George Freeman MP appointed to Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore & Brunei, Lord Iain McNicol of West Kilbride appointed to Jordan, Kuwait & the Palestine Territories, and Lord Ian Austin of Dudley appointed to Israel.
Baroness Jane Ramsey of Wall Heath appointed to Ethiopia, Ms Jess Morden MP appointed to Central America, Lord John Alderdice appointed to Azerbaijan & Central Asia, Lord John Hannett of Everton appointed to Sri Lanka, Lord John Speller of Smethwick appointed to Australia, Mr Josh MacAlister MP appointed to Brazil, Ms Kate Osamor MP appointed to East Africa, Mr Matt Western MP appointed to Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos, Mr Mohammad Yasin MP appointed to Pakistan, Mr Naz Shah MP appointed to Indonesia & ASEAN, Ms Paulette Hamilton MP appointed to Commonwealth Caribbean, Lord Richard Faulkner of Worcester appointed to Taiwan, Lord Roger Liddle appointed to Andean, Dr Rosena Allin-Khan appointed to South Africa, Baroness Rosie Winterton of Doncaster appointed to Bangladesh, Ms Sarah Olney MP appointed to North Africa, Ms Sharon Hodgson MP appointed to Japan, Lord Tom Watson of Wyre Forest appointed to Republic of Korea, and Ms Yasmin Qureshi MP appointment to Egypt.
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.
