Jobs/Appointments
Konga Plans to Employ 500,000 Nigerians by 2025
By Adedapo Adesanya
Konga, Nigeria’s leading composite e-commerce giant, is set to become one of the biggest employers of labour in Nigeria as it has unveiled plans to provide meaningful employment opportunities for over 500,000 Nigerians by 2025.
The company also noted that it will be adding another 500,000 in other African countries by the set period.
The development will see Konga not only on top of the employment charts in the private sector but will also see the company rival government and sub-national entities in terms of employment figures.
The firm expressed optimism that this move will also significantly contribute reduce unemployment in Nigeria and other Africans as it prepares for strategic African expansion.
The ambitious plan, feelers from within the e-commerce group have revealed, will go a long way in re-writing the narrative for many underemployed and unemployed youths in Nigeria.
Specifically, the management of Konga intends to channel its considerable resources in developing creative employment for hardworking and aspiring youths across Nigeria.
In addition to offering many a chance to join the Konga Group’s retail revolution through its existing and new subsidiaries being unrolled across verticals; other beneficiaries will also get opportunities to become members of Konga’s fast-growing affiliates which ultimately grants successful candidates life-long partnerships with the company.
The Konga Group currently provides direct and indirect employment for well over 250,000 Nigerians across its multiple entities, including its growing chain of over 35 retail stores scattered across Nigeria; the Konga Marketplace, a game-changing initiative which it pioneered in Africa; KongaPay, a Central Bank of Nigeria-licensed Fintech platform; Kxpress, an ambitious digital logistics company with huge delivery assets.
Others include Konga Travel, an award-winning IATA-certified revolutionary travel and tours company; the recently launched Konga Health, a digital health care distribution chain and the soon-to-be-launched Konga Food, among many others.
Speaking on this, Mr Nick Imudia, co-CEO, Konga Group, while chatting with new hires virtually, disclosed the motivation behind the massive job creation drive.
‘‘We are passionate about giving as many Nigerians and Africans who are qualified and ready to work the opportunity to find meaningful expression of their talents. An example is our partnership with the Edo Stae Government which shall not only employ thousands of youths but shall enhance and facilitate activities for SMEs in the state to become global corporate citizens.
‘‘This is because we believe, in line with the Konga mantra, that this will help them find happiness and live fuller, richer lives. But it doesn’t just end with the unemployed. Our research has shown that there are quite a number of under-employed Nigerians, many of who can make a difference across board if given a chance.
‘‘Therefore, as a strong corporate citizen and in line with the status of the Konga Group as a company built as a public trust, Management has set an ambitious target to employ over 500,000 Nigerians by the year 2025. This is no mean feat by any standards, but at Konga, we are known for never shying away from confronting challenges and surmounting them.
‘‘We will be rolling out these creative employment opportunities soon and we are confident that it will offer many Nigerians who are determined to achieve, a useful avenue to, not only find gainful employment but also create employment and wealth for others,’’ he stated.
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.
