By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A former executive director at Polaris Bank Limited, Mr Segun Opeke, has joined the board of Wema Bank Plc as an executive director.
He is joining the mid-level lender alongside a former chief executive of Galaxy Backbone Limited, Mr Yusuf Kazaure, who was appointed as a non-executive director in a bid to significantly enhance the wealth of knowledge within the bank’s board.
Mr Opeke, who has worked in the banking sector for over 35 years, studied Banking and Finance at the University of Lagos and obtained an MBA from the same school in 1999.
He started his career at Chartered Bank Limited and played diverse strategic roles in various banking institutions including leading the consumer banking team in FSB International Bank before proceeding to Prudent Bank as an Area Manager.
Following the consolidation of Skye Bank in 2006, Mr Opeke worked as the bank’s Treasurer, and Regional Director and later became the Group Head of Corporate Banking, Aviation and Maritime group.
Upon Polaris Bank taking over the defunct Skye Bank in 2018, he was appointed an executive director in charge of Lagos Business and Corporate Banking directorates until June 2023 when he retired from the financial institution.
As for Mr Kazaure, he is a seasoned professional with 35 years of cumulative multi-sector working experience spanning Architecture, Construction, Banking, as well as Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
He obtained a BSc and MSc in Architecture from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and is currently pursuing a PhD in Cybersecurity at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi.
Mr Kazaure started his career in public service in 1987 as an Architect in the Kano State Ministry of Works and Housing before moving into the banking sector where he worked for 10 years.
He served as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and that of Urban & Regional Planning in Jigawa State and later became a Director General in charge of International and Governmental Affairs in the Governor’s Office of Jigawa State between 1999 and 2002.
