Jobs/Appointments
Kasali Takes over as UACN Property Development Company Chairman
**As Aiyesimoju Resumes as CEO
By Dipo Olowookere
Mr Babatunde Kasali has been appointed as the new Chairman of UACN Property Development Company Plc.
This followed the resignation of Mr Larry Ettah as Chairman of the board of directors of the property firm listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).
Mr Ettah resigned from the board on July 23, 2018, which was accepted by his colleagues, who “expressed [their] deep appreciation for the leadership provided by Mr Ettah during his tenure.”
A statement signed by the Legal Adviser to the firm, Mrs Folake Kalaro, disclosed that apart from Mr Kasali, who was appointed as Chairman of the board, Mr Folasope Aiyesimoju now resumes as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Mrs Awuneba Ajumogobia as a Non-Executive Director. Also, Mrs Adeniun Taiwo assumes the role of the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the company.
All the appointments, according to the statement, take effect from August 6, 2018.
Mr Kasali graduated with B.Sc. (Hons) Economics degree from Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. His work experience include Audit Senior, Ernst & Young (Chartered Accountants) United Kingdom, Assistant Internal Auditor, Amex Bank Plc, United Kingdom, and Principal Manager, Ernst & Young (Chartered Accountants) Nigeria. He was also Chief Inspector, Regional Director, Divisional Director and Regional Bank Head, Consumer and Commercial Banking Group, United Bank for Africa Plc respectively. He was a Non-Executive Director of UACN Property Development Company Plc before joining the Board of UAC of Nigeria Plc in March 2013. He is the Non-Executive Chairman of Wema Bank Plc.
Mr Aiyesimoju is a finance professional with experience spanning corporate finance, principal investing and private equity. He holds a B.Sc (Hons) degree in Estate Management from the University of Lagos, where he was awarded a Certificate of Excellence in Real estate development and finance, and earned the right to use the CFA designation in 2006.
He is the founder of Themis Capital Management, an investment firm focused on concentrating capital and talent on high-potential opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to founding Themis, he worked with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, a leading global investment firm; Standard Bank Group, where he led mergers and acquisitions in Nigeria; Ocean and Oil Holdings Limited and ARM Investment Managers. He is a co-founder and Non-Executive Director of Foodpro Limited and a Non-Executive Director of UAC of Nigeria Plc.
Mrs Ajumogobia is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and graduated from the University of Ibadan with a B.Sc. (Hons) degree in Economics. She has acquired broad professional experience in audit, taxation and consultancy across several industries at the audit firms of Peat Marwick and Deloitte. She later joined Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) where she worked for thirteen years.
Mrs Ajumogobia currently serves as Executive Director of Multistream Energy Limited. She is on the Board of University of Ibadan Research Foundation, Finance Committee of Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON), chairs the Governing Council of Grange School, Lagos where she also sits on the Board of Directors and is an associate of WIMBIZ (Women in Management, Business and Public Service). Mrs. Ajumogobia joined the Board of UAC of Nigeria Plc in July 2009 and is the Chairman of the Board Risk Management Committee and a member of the Statutory Audit Committee of the Company.
Mrs Niun Taiwo is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. Prior to joining IJAC in 2012, she worked in KPMG Nigeria for 13 years where she rose to become a Senior Manager in Accounting Advisory function and Internal Audit, Risk and Compliance. Her experience cuts across Oil and Gas, Financial Services, Consumer Markets, Telecommunications and the Public sector.
Niun was appointed Head, Financial Services of UAC of Nigeria PLC in August 2012, Finance Director, UACN Property Development Company PLC in April 2016 and subsequently, Chief Financial Officer, UAC of Nigeria PLC in January 2018. She has been acting as the Managing Director of UPDC Plc since May 2018.
She has attended several trainings both in Nigeria and overseas including executive training programmes at Ashridge Business School and The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
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.
