Jobs/Appointments
Palton Morgan Sponsors Economic Strategy Course for Senior Civil Servants at LBS
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Some senior civil servants from Lagos and Ogun States recently took a course on economic capacity development and competitiveness strategy at the Lagos Business School (LBS) Pan-Atlantic University campus, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos.
The course, which was held from March 16 to 18 and themed Enhancing Economic Competitiveness, was sponsored by a leading Nigerian real estate group Palton Morgan with the intention to boost the effectiveness of public sector stakeholders.
The beneficiaries were exposed to global best practices on institutional collaborations, Public-Private Partnership (PPP) dynamics, sustainable competitive advantages and cluster participation mechanisms for inclusive national growth.
The well-attended course had senior government officials and public sector stakeholders in the built sector of the economy, special assistants to governors, permanent secretaries and directors at ministries and heads of MDAs relevant to the real estate sectors of both States as participants.
Chairman of Palton Morgan Holdings, Mr Femi Olubanwo, stated that “although LBS usually has the course curriculum attended by corporate executives across sectors for capacity and economic development, we decided to sponsor this course to enrich those who regulate our sector with current knowledge of economic strategies and the power of synergies so that they also can have a contemporary understanding of where the people they regulate are coming from.”
On the choice of Lagos and Ogun, Mr Olubanwo said both are contiguous but work in silos and that it would be beneficial bringing them together.
“If this initiative goes as we hope, we will find Lagos and Ogun states working together on projects, planning, and development, which will benefit our society and sector. We are delighted to be at the vanguard of making that happen,” he said.
Also commenting on the company’s facilitation of the training, the Non-Executive Director at Palton Morgan, Delphine Misan-Arenyeka, said it was part of its social responsibility to the states it operates in.
“We are building the capacity of senior public servants. Hopefully, it will translate to their subordinates and ultimately result in greater success in policy and regulations.
“We looked at the business of Palton Morgan and the value chain and felt that we can bridge the gap between our stakeholders in the public sector and us. We wanted to stimulate a synergy such that they will understand our language when we go to them for approvals and permits that will enhance development in the sector,” Misan-Arenyeka explained.
On his part, the Group Chief Operating Officer at Palton Morgan, Nidal Turjman, stressed that the real estate giant’s contributions to socio-economic development are extensive.
“We have contributions covering the real estate value chain. It could be from property management, construction, logistics, investment advisory, sales and marketing, etc. These are the first course participants, and at Palton Morgan, we are looking to more contributions from stakeholders in this sector so that we can all contribute to growing the economy of Nigeria,” he stated.
The course beneficiaries, on their part, expressed gratitude for the opportunity provided by Palton Morgan to improve their knowledge and progress in their careers with dynamic and relatable industry resources and comparative trends from across the globe.
They all affirmed the importance of collaboration for both states to maximize their economic strengths whilst integrating their competitiveness. They encouraged Palton Morgan to engage in more partnerships to consolidate on growing the potential of the two states.
Some of the beneficiaries were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical and Urban Planning, Lagos State, Abiola Kosegbe, her counterpart at the Lagos State Ministry of Housing, Wasiu Akewusola, Director of ICT and Business Development, Ogun State Housing Corporation, Olufunmilayo Sorunke, and Director, Administration and Personnel, Ogun State Property and Investment Company, Taiwo Ogunyoowo.
Speaking, Kosegbe said, “The fact that you have been able to select people from the built environment to be here is saying that Palton Morgan is interested in developing the sector.”
Sorunke said, “I have learned to develop new business strategies and not business as usual.”
It was gathered that the course facilitators were faculty heads in Business, Strategy, and Economic Planning, including Dr Nkemdilim Iheanachor, member of the Strategy Group at LBS; Dr Dolapo Tukumi, Course Organizer; Dr Frank Ojadi, Member, Faculty of Operations Management at LBS and Lead Facilitator & Manager at LBS, Oreva Atanya.
Others were John Uwajumogu, Partner at Ernst & Young Nigeria; George Agu, Founder/CEO, ActiveEdge Technologies Limited and Ife Adedoyin, Senior Executive, Deloitte.
Palton Morgan Holdings is the parent company of PropertyMart Real Estate Investment Company, Grenadines Homes, The Oceanna, and Paltonloitte. The economic capacity development and competitive strategy course is one of its corporate responsibility initiatives and interventions to impact the sector and society.
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.
