Jobs/Appointments
NAHCO Appoints Shobayo, Alabi to Board
By Dipo Olowookere
The duo of Mr Tajudeen Moyosola Shobayo and Engr. Solagbade Olukayode Alabi have been appointed to the board of directors of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc.
The two are joining the board as non-executive directors with effect from January 29, 2019 to replace Mr Solomon Adeusi and Mrs Olatokunbo Fagbemi, who is now the Acting Group Managing Director/CEO of NAHCO Aviance.
A statement issued by the firm also said the board has appointed Mr Olumuyiwa Augustus Olumekun as an Executive Director with effect from February 11, 2019.
Mr Tajudeen Moyosola Shobayo is an alumnus of the University of Liverpool, UK and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). He has attended several professional courses on Economics and Valuation, Opportunity / Project Management, Contract Management, Capital Budgeting, Fraud and Risk Management, Strategic Cost Leadership, Advanced Negotiations, Risk and Decision Analysis, Deal Implementation, Relationship Management, Non-operated ventures management, Health/Safety/Security/Environment and Leadership in Nigeria, Netherlands, France, United Kingdom and United States of America.
He is a results-driven, efficiency-conscious, finance cum commercial professional with extensive experience in corporate finance, decision analysis, strategy and planning, opportunity identification and maturation, negotiations and stakeholder management With demonstrated capacity to add value towards corporate objectives.
His 38 years work experience spans public and private sectors in energy (Oil and Gas), education, real estate, and agriculture at management and Board levels. Over this period, he has left footprint of sustainable value creation and has demonstrated passion for human capital development towards organisational goal attainment. He is married with children and enjoys reading and football.
On his part, Engr. Solagbade Olukayode Alabi holds a B.Sc. Mechanical Engineering and is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers with robust experience. He is an alumnus of the University of Lagos and attended various professional courses on business transformation, effective management/leadership, petroleum economics, project controls and management and project financing, amongst others, at various international institutes, including WHARTON, INSEAD and HARVARD.
He has made a lot of impact in public and private sector in energy (Oil and Gas) and education at management and Board levels. He is 66 years old with 43 years of work experience. He held, among various positions, the MD/CEO of Port Harcourt Refinery Co. Ltd in 2007 and Group General Manager at NNPC in 2009. He is presently the Chairman of Batel Litwin Global Services Ltd and XPLOIL Nigeria Ltd; and is a Non-Executive Director of AIMADEN Nigeria Ltd.
Mr Olumuyiwa Augustus Olumekun (Executive Director) is a graduate of University of Ibadan and an alumnus of the Lagos Business School, having attended the Chief Executive Program and the Advanced Management program at different times. He also attended courses in IESE Business School (Spain) and Harvard. He is a Member of the Institute of Directors.
He was Executive Director at Red Star Express (FedEx) who provided support to the C.E.O as well as directed sales, marketing, operations, strategy, business development, customer service and information technology at different times. He also served as Acting Managing Director and was a member of the board for 10 years.
In addition, he managed clients, which included major banks, FMCG’s, oil and gas, aviation, logistics and the public sector. For more than 25 years, while holding several positions, he mentored, coached and advised executives and managers as they focused on building the business and career development, while horning their leadership skills. He was also a startup staff of Red Star Express and was responsible for setting up key subsidiaries for Red Star, which included freight, logistics and support services.
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.
