By Adedapo Adesanya

The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has appointed Mrs Ireti Samuel-Ogbu as the Chairman of its board of Directors, succeeding Mr Emeka Emuwa, who completed his 12 years of service to the financer.

She brings over three decades of experience in the banking and financial services industry across Nigeria, Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

Mrs Samuel-Ogbu has extensive boardroom experience, including Citibank Nigeria, where she was a Non-Executive Director for six years and Chair of the Risk Committee prior to becoming the Managing Director.

She also served on the board of CHAPS Clearing UK, the high-value payment system now operated by the Bank of England and a UK-based charity, Opportunity International.

Her extensive experience and unwavering dedication to the advancement of Africa make her an asset to AFC at a time when the corporation is more committed than ever to accelerating Africa’s transformation through bold investments, innovative financing models and catalytic partnerships.

Her international career within Citibank included senior leadership roles across over 50 countries in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region, during which time she worked in the United Kingdom, Nigeria, and South Africa.

Speaking on the appointment, Mr Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of AFC, said, “We are delighted to welcome Mrs Ireti Samuel-Ogbu as Chair of the Board. Her wealth of experience, visionary leadership and deep understanding of Africa’s financial landscape will be invaluable as we navigate our next phase of growth- expanding our impact, mobilising urgently needed capital and delivering transformative projects that enable inclusive and sustainable prosperity across the continent.”

Mrs Ireti Samuel-Ogbu commented: “I am honoured to take on the role of Chair at AFC, an institution that serves as a trusted bridge between international capital and Africa’s dynamic growth opportunities.

“I look forward to working closely with the board, management, and all stakeholders to advance the Corporation’s mission and strengthen its role as the leading provider of strategic, investment-driven solutions that unlock Africa’s full economic potential.”

Established in 2007, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), is the continent’s leading instrumental infrastructure solutions provider, supporting significant infrastructural and sectoral projects that can enhance the productivity and competitiveness of African economies. It achieved a total increase of $1.1 billion in its 2024 financial year performance, a 22.8 per cent increase from the previous financial year.

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

A new Corporate Affairs Director has been appointed by Nigerian Breweries Plc and he is Mr Uzodinma Odenigbo, who succeeds Ms Sade Morgan, elevated to a global role as Heineken’s Corporate Affairs Director for Africa and the Middle East.

A statement from the leading brewer disclosed that Mr Odenigbo would assume the new role from Thursday, May 1, 2025.

The new image-maker of Nigerian Breweries boasts an MBA and a PhD in Mass Communications with a passion for building emotional connections, discovering new frontiers and leading an active lifestyle.

Since joining the firm in 2017, Mr Odenigbo has been responsible for Public, External and Government Affairs, first as Public Affairs Manager for the South of Nigeria. He has subsequently led the critical public affairs agenda pan-Nigeria while also providing strategic direction for the Regional Corporate Affairs Managers.

Significantly, he delivered a comprehensive stakeholder engagement and communications framework as part of the project team for implementation of the 2024 Nigerian Breweries business recovery plan, achieving zero business disruption and negative media coverage amongst other critical outcomes.

As part of his personal development plan, he was in July 2024 selected for an important Short Term Assignment (STA) as Corporate Affairs Director, Brarudi, where he joined the local Management Team.

Between July 2024 and March 2025, he successfully led the Corporate Affairs agenda for Brarudi, driving the launch of a reputation campaign anchored on sustainability, elevated internal communications with positive impact on climate scores, championed the Optimal Business Climate agenda with concrete results on export, local sourcing and the ongoing advocacy to avoid negative excise impacts from tax harmonization in the EAC region.

Over the period in Burundi, he further enhanced the CA team capabilities and operationalized the 2025 CA playbook to position the team to meet critical deliverables even after his return to Nigeria.

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

MTN Nigeria now has a new Chief Broadband Officer (CBBO) and he is Mr Egerton Idehen, who joined the organisation in 2002 as a Call Centre Agent.

The leading technology company disclosed in a statement that the appointment of Mr Idehen is effective April 2025.

The appointee holds an MBA from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Business Administration from the University of Leicester, UK. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) in Spain.

His executive training includes advanced programs at UC Berkeley, Wharton School, and Georgetown University, which have equipped him with cutting-edge insights in leadership, finance, and public policy.

Commenting on the development, the chief executive of MTN Nigeria, Mr Karl Toriola, said, “Our vision at MTN is to always prioritize our customers.

“Egerton has been instrumental in our customer-centric approach to service delivery. He is exceptionally qualified for the role as we aim to expand our fibre penetration in Nigeria, ensuring superior connectivity for our customers.

“I am confident that MTN will benefit immensely from his extensive experience, his proven track record in developing successful strategies, and his ability to drive business growth and create value.”

After joining the firm in 2002, Mr Idehen quickly advanced to Call Centre Manager. He has held various pivotal roles, including Customer Relationship Manager for the High Value Segment, Regional Head and Senior Manager of Customer Care, Senior Manager of Consumer Billing, Credit, and Digital Support, and General Manager of Customer Operations.

Through his foresight and expertise in scaling operational efficiency, Mr Idehen expanded MTN’s service agent workforce from 1,000 to over 10,000 in just two years. This expansion ensured seamless support for over 70 million customers through the pioneering Service Everywhere initiative.

During his tenure as High Value Segment Manager, he increased MTN’s premium customer portfolio by 3 per cent, reduced churn by 5 per cent, and met call centre performance targets with 80 per cent service levels and 90 per cent answer rates, all while keeping agent attrition below 4 per cent.

His innovative approach also led to a 50 per cent improvement in service levels and a 15 per cent reduction in operational costs by strategically outsourcing 1,500 call centre seats and 5,000 agents.

Mr Idehen has been a pioneer in digital transformation within the Customer Relations and Experience function, increasing digital customer interactions from under 5 per cent to 64 per cent and launching Africa’s first fully digital telco retail store.

He also spearheaded the design and launch of MTN’s flagship airport lounge, widely regarded as Nigeria’s finest, significantly enhancing the brand experience for high-value customers and reinforcing MTN’s premium positioning. He has received several accolades, including the Best Team Manager Award and recognition for Customer Service Excellence.