Jobs/Appointments
SEC Okays CEOs of Nigerian Exchange Group, Others
By Dipo Olowookere
The appointments of the chief executive officers (CEOs) of the demutualised Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) have been approved by the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC).
Recently, the SEC, which is the highest regulatory body for the capital market in Nigeria, authorised the unbundling of the exchange after meeting all the requirements, including registering with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
This transformed the NSE into a non-operating holding company known as the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group) and three operating subsidiaries Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), the operating exchange; NGX Regulation Limited (NGX REGCO), the independent regulatory company; and NGX Real Estate Limited (NGX RELCO), the real estate company.
Mr Oscar Onyema, who had been the CEO of the NSE, was appointed as the Group CEO of the NGX Group, while Mr Temi Popoola was made the CEO of NGX and Ms Tinuade Awe chosen as the CEO of NGX RELCO.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the NGX Group, Mr Abimbola Ogunbanjo, stated that, “The confirmation of these appointments are an important step in the process of building a leading and resilient African exchange group following the completion of our demutualisation programme.
“I am delighted to continue working with Oscar Onyema, who has played a significant role in the reshaping of the exchange.
“As a proven business leader and strategic thinker, I am confident that he will elevate the NGX Group and its subsidiaries successfully into a new era of development.”
On his part, the Chairman of the NGX, Mr A.B Mahmoud, said: “The confirmation of the appointment of Temi Popoola as the first CEO of the Nigerian Exchange Limited comes at a pivotal moment for Nigerian capital markets as the Exchange enters a new phase of its history as a demutualised company, bringing to the exchange his track record of achievement local and global capital markets.
“He will focus on ensuring the exchange delivers an even higher level of service for all its participants and stakeholders, including investors, listed companies and brokers.
“I look forward to working with him and his team in the new dispensation as we move forward on implementing the group’s growth strategy.”
On the part of the Chairperson of NGX REGCO, Ms Catherine Echeozo, “The clear separation of the regulatory and business functions is an essential part of the group’s operations following demutualisation and the board was determined to ensure the selection of an experienced regulator for this task.
“I believe all the exchange’s stakeholders will welcome the announcement of Tinuade Awe as the first CEO NGX Regulation, given her prodigious experience and track record in capital markets regulation.
“Our stakeholders can continue to look forward to a robust and transparent regulatory regime under her leadership.”
Who they are
Oscar Onyema
Mr Oscar Onyema until his new appointment served as the CEO and member of the National Council of the exchange from 2011 – 2021.
In this role, he was responsible for supervising the general work of the exchange. He serves as the Chairman, Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS), the clearing, settlement and depository for the Nigerian capital markets; and Chairman, NG Clearing, which is in the process of developing a Central Counterparty Clearing House (CCP).
In addition, Mr Onyema is a board member of the National Pension Commission of Nigeria (PENCOM) and sits on several advisory boards including the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) Africa Advisory Group (LAAG).
Prior to relocating to Nigeria, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at American Stock Exchange (Amex). He also ran the NYSE Amex equity business following the merger of NYSE Euronext and Amex in 2008.
His remarkable achievements have earned him awards such as the Special Recognition Award for transformational leadership in the Nigerian Capital Markets at Business Day Top 25 CEOs Award 2018.
In 2015 Forbes Magazine named him among the Top 10 Most Powerful Men in Africa. In the preceding year, he received the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) from the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Mr Onyema is an alumnus of Harvard Business School, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and INSEAD International Directors Programme. He got his MBA from Baruch College, New York; and BSc degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors (IoD) Nigeria, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), Associate of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) in the UK, and holds FINRA Series 7, 24, 63 qualifications in the United States.
Temi Popoola
Mr Temi Popoola is a successful C-suite leader whose unique blend of business acumen, financial expertise, global market growth and operational insight has earned him a reputation built on verifiable career achievements.
A Wall Street trained investment banker, Mr Popoola joins NGX Ltd from Renaissance Capital (Rencap) where he was Managing Director and CEO for West Africa.
He supported the continuous growth, profitability and success of the organisation by providing strategic market insight and leadership. He led the transformation of Rencap in West Africa by diversifying the company’s revenue streams into fixed income, derivatives, structured products, debt financing and wealth management.
In addition to influencing change across the organisation, he was responsible for overseeing a global workforce, expanding foreign investor capital opportunities into West Africa and introducing enduring business processes and strategic initiatives.
Since his return to Nigeria in 2009, Mr Popoola has also worked with United Bank of Africa (UBA) as Head of Structured Products for Global markets and with CSL Stockbrokers Ltd as Head of Sales and Trading. In both of these positions, he guided growth and advancement for investors across global markets, including South Africa, the UK, the Middle East and the US.
Mr Popoola began his career in London as a portfolio manager focused on African energy markets and worked for several years as a senior equity derivatives trader with Bank of America Securities in New York where he drove firm profitability by providing derivative solutions to US corporations and family offices.
He graduated with a First-Class degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Lagos and holds a Master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He is a Chartered financial analyst (CFA) and a Chartered stockbroker (CIS). He holds Series 7 and 63 licensures.
Tinuade Awe
Ms Tinuade Awe, prior to attaining her new position, was an Executive Director, Regulation at the exchange. She also served as the General Counsel and Head of the Legal and Regulation Division as well as Council Secretary before becoming an Executive Director.
Before joining the exchange, Ms Awe worked with the United Nations in The Hague and Geneva as well as the New York offices of the global law firm, Simpson Thacher & Barlett and Banwo & Ighodalo in Lagos, Nigeria.
As Executive Director, Regulation, she had responsibility for the regulation of the two primary stakeholder groups of the exchange, i.e., the dealing members that trade on the exchange and issuers that have securities listed on the bourse.
Her team was responsible for rulemaking and interpretation, monitoring, inspections, market surveillance, investigations, regulatory technology, and enforcement.
She is a non-executive director of the Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS) and also a member of the board of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC).
She chairs the FRC’s Board Corporate Governance Committee, which has board-level responsibility to monitor the implementation of the National Code of Corporate Governance (NCCG).
Among other professional pursuits, Ms Awe was a member of the Nigerian Senate’s Technical Advisory Committee to review the Bill for an Act to Amend the Companies and Allied Matters Act and the Bill for an Act to review the Investment and Securities Act.
Ms Awe has an LL.B Degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University, graduating as the Best Female Student in the Faculty of Law. She finished at the Nigerian Law School with First Class Honours, graduating as Best Overall Student. She also holds LL.M Degrees from Harvard Law School, where she was a Landon H. Gammon Fellow, as well as The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where she graduated with a Merit. At the LSE, she was a British Council Scholar. She is admitted to both the Nigerian and New York Bars.
Ms Awe is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the International Bar Association. She is an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) and the Institute of Capital Market Registrars (ICMR). She is a Life Member of the Institute of Directors. She is the recipient of The African Legal Awards 2018, General Counsel of the Year; Law Digest Africa Awards, General Counsel of the Year 2018, and Esq. Nigeria Legal Awards, General Counsel of the Year 2017.
By Adedapo Adesanya
MultiChoice Nigeria has announced a change in its leadership, with Ms Kemi Omotosho emerging as the new chief executive, taking over from Mr John Ugbe, who is set to retire.
The company said the transition, effective this month, follows a structured succession process designed to ensure continuity in leadership and operations.
Mr Ugbe is stepping down after nearly 15 years in the role, a period during which MultiChoice Nigeria navigated shifts in consumer behaviour, technology and regulation within the pay-TV and broader media industry.
Last year, French group Canal+ took over the operations of the South-African broadcasting group and effected some changes management- and content-wise across key markets.
During his tenure, Mr Ugbe oversaw efforts to strengthen the company’s operational framework and position the business to respond to changing market conditions. MultiChoice described his exit as a planned retirement rather than a sudden departure.
Ms Omotosho joins the role with more than two decades of leadership experience spanning media, telecommunications and digital services across Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African markets.
Within the MultiChoice Group, she has previously served as Executive Head of Customer Value Management in Nigeria and later as Group Executive Head of Customer Value Management for Rest of Africa, a role that involved oversight across more than 50 markets.
She most recently held the position of Regional Director for Southern Africa, where she had full profit and loss responsibility for operations covering seven countries. In her new role, Ms Omotosho will be responsible for overseeing MultiChoice Nigeria’s strategy, day-to-day operations and engagement with regulators, partners and other stakeholders.
Speaking on her appointment, Ms Omotosho said, “It is a privilege to be entrusted with the leadership of MultiChoice Nigeria at this important moment.
“Nigeria remains one of the Group’s most strategic and dynamic markets. I look forward to working with our teams and partners to deepen our relationship with consumers, champion local storytelling and the creative economy as well build a future-ready organisation that delivers sustainable value.”
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The board of Presco Plc has appointed Mr Adewale Arikawe as a non-executive director, replacing Mr Felix Nwabuko, retired from the position.
A statement from the organisation disclosed that the appointment of Arikawa took effect from Friday, January 2, 2026, until the next Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Also, he is now the chief executive of all SIAT subsidiaries, including Presco Plc, SIAT Nigeria Limited, and Ghana Oil Palm Development Company Limited.
In this capacity, Mr Arikawe will work alongside the existing leadership teams to strengthen execution, accelerate strategic growth, and foster a high-performance culture across the Group.
He is committed to empowering teams, enhancing leadership capability, and creating an enabling environment for continuous improvement and sustainable results.
Mr Arikawe brings over 26 years of leadership experience spanning across general management, commercial strategy, sales, customer development, and brand management. He has held senior leadership roles at Royal FrieslandCampina, overseeing operations across Sub-Saharan Africa, and at FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria.
His career also includes senior leadership positions at Nestlé Nigeria Plc, where he managed multi-channel sales operations and contributed to key strategic growth initiatives.
He holds an MBA in Business Administration and Management from the University of Chichester and has completed executive education programmes at London Business School and IMD (International Institute for Management Development), Lausanne, Switzerland, with a focus on leadership, execution excellence, and business impact.
The board, in the statement, welcomed Mr Arikawe with open arms, looking “forward to his valuable contributions to the company and the wider SIAT Group.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
First Holdco Plc, formerly FBN Holdings Plc, has announced new board appointments across its non-commercial banking subsidiaries as it commits to building stronger businesses across board.
The move, following regulatory approvals from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), is part of efforts to deepen governance, strengthen oversight and position the business for sustainable growth.
FBN Holdings Plc rebranded to First HoldCo Plc in February 2025 to reflect its broader financial services focus beyond just banking.
Its services includes commercial banking (First Bank of Nigeria), merchant banking, asset management (FBNQuest), insurance brokerage, and trusteeship. It operates across Africa and has global offices in London, Paris, and Beijing, serving individuals, small businesses, and corporations.
At First Asset Management Limited, Mrs Ebikabo Williams has been appointed chairman of the board, bringing her extensive industry knowledge spanning banking, capital markets, and consulting. She will be supported by equally experienced board members like Mr Usman Dantata Jr., Mrs Binta Max Gbinije, and Mrs Alero Mobola Adollo.
At FirstCap Limited, its investment management firm, Mrs Yewande Amusan has been appointed chairman. She is an accomplished finance professional with experience cutting across both public and private sectors. Mr Ahmed Indimi and Mrs Irene Akpofure were appointed along with Mrs Adenike Kuti and Mr Zeal Akaraiwe.
First Securities Brokers Limited, which recently emerged as the top performer in the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Brokers Performance Report in terms of both trading volume and transaction value, has named Mr John Akpeki as chairman. He is expected to leverage his vast experience in global marketing and networking. He is joined by Mrs Omolara Adeyemi, ,Mrs Susan Younis and Mrs Kemi Andu-Alausa.
Similarly, First Trustees Limited, one of the Group’s long-standing subsidiaries in trust and estate management, has strengthened its governance structure with the appointment of Mr John Lee as its chairman. He has over 40 years’ experience in global financial services, specialising in Corporate & Institutional Banking and Wealth Management across Africa. The other members of the board who are bringing their combined rich wealth of experience are Mrs Abiola Alabi, Mrs Adebisi Sola-Adeyemi, and Mrs Ugochukwu Obi-Chukwu.
For its insurance business, First Insurance Brokers, the firm has appointed Mr Akinola Phillips as Chairman. He is joined by Mrs Ije Onejeme, Mrs Folukemi Akinmeji and Mrs Mojisola Cardozo.
First Holdco said these appointments are expected to further consolidate the firm’s position as a dominant player in the asset and wealth management space in Nigeria.
The chairman of First Holdco, Mr Femi Otedola, while commenting on the appointments, said, “We are delighted to welcome these distinguished professionals to the boards of our non-commercial banking subsidiaries. Their proven expertise, impeccable track records, and leadership will play a critical role in shaping the next phase of our growth, enhancing stakeholder value, and reinforcing our position as a trusted African leader delivering innovative solutions across diverse sectors.”
“These appointments reaffirm our commitment to building resilient businesses that contribute meaningfully to economic development in the broader ecosystem in which we operate,” he added.
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