Jobs/Appointments
Zedcrest Capital Charts New Growth Strategy, Appoints Directors
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Leading capital management firm in Nigeria, Zedcrest Capital Group, has announced the appointments of Mr Babatunde Sanda and Ms Stella Duru to its Board of Directors, with immediate effect as part of its corporate governance strategy and business expansion drive.
According to the company’s Group Managing Director, Mr Adedayo Amzat, the organisation is charting a new growth strategy targeted primarily at the retail opportunities in the market with the aim of creating more wealth for its clients.
“After operating in the market for over five years, the time has come to deepen our market penetration. Our Fixed Income and Currencies (FICC) operations have been primarily driven by a focus on wholesale dealing and brokerage to foreign portfolio investors, local pension fund administrators, asset managers and banks.
“We have identified High Net-worth Individuals (HNIs) and the retail space as new areas of focus and expansion for our business.
“To this end, we will be unveiling bespoke fixed income and wealth management solutions for the HNIs and retail markets through our newly licensed Asset Management subsidiary (Zedcrest Investment Managers) while we continue to serve our wholesale customers through ZedCap Partners, our SEC licensed inter-dealer brokerage business,” said Mr Amzat.
“With the newly crafted growth strategy, we are strengthening our board with successful professionals with diverse competencies who will guide the company through the next chapter of its growth trajectory,” added Mr Amzat.
Since its establishment in 2013, Zedcrest Capital has steadily grown to become one of the most sought-after securities dealing and proprietary investment firms in Nigeria.
Also commenting on the appointments, the pioneer and out-going Chairman of the company, Mr Abiola Aderounmu, commended the management of Zedcrest Capital Group for its well acclaimed achievements in the financial markets.
Mr Babatunde Sanda has over 36 years cognate experience with over 18 years experience in Auditing and Consulting, spanning three of the biggest international professional firms namely Coopers & Lybrand, Ernst & Whinney and PriceWaterHouse where he rose to the position of Senior Consultant in 1990. He retired as a Senior Partner of EY in December 2016. He is now into Economic, business and financial consulting.
His banking career started in 1991 and he rose to the position of Executive Director, Finance in 1998 at Wema Bank Plc and was Managing Director in 2000 of Banque International du Benin, Cotonou -a universal bank in Cotonou, Benin Republic. He was appointed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 2006 to serve as Director of Societe General Bank of Nigeria Ltd (while in holding action).
Mr Sanda holds an honours degree in Business Administration from the University of Benin and is an alumnus of the Advanced Management Program of Stanford University, California, USA. He has attended various management and development courses in major international institutes across the globe. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and an Associate of the Chartered Taxation Institute of Nigeria.
On her part, Ms Stella Duru is the only female Partner in Banwo & Ighodalo’s Energy and Natural Resources Practice Group. Her core areas of practice are Energy & Natural Resources, Project Finance and Corporate Finance. She is renowned for her extensive experience in the power sector and authors articles in leading law publications. Ms Duru has deep experience in oil, gas and power projects in Nigeria and has been involved in World Bank sponsored work streams advising on the power sector reforms in Nigeria.
She was involved in the privatization and sale of government assets in the hitherto vertically integrated government owned power utility as well as in the new business units that were spun off this utility.
She is currently leading the initiative on renewable energy transactions in her firm and in this regard, is advising several investors who are developing renewable projects in Nigeria. Ms Duru to advise on transactions along the entire value chain of generation, transmission and distribution; as well as on deals pertaining to IPPs, off-grid and on-grid solutions to the power deficit in Nigeria. She is very passionate about monetizing and utilizing Nigeria’s natural gas resources in order to get Nigeria powered up.
She obtained a law degree from the University of Lagos, Nigeria; and was admitted into the Nigerian Bar in January 2001. Ms Duru is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, International Bar Association (Section on Energy and Natural Resources Law) and Association of International Petroleum Negotiators. She is also an Associate of the Nigeria Leadership Initiative (a leadership development not-for-profit, affiliated with the Aspen Institute) as well as an Associate WimBiz (an association of Women in Management, Business & Public Service).
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The conclusion of the 2025 Performance Appraisal Exercise of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has resulted in the promotion and step increments of about 1,126 employees of the organisation.
The reward for performance involved the promotion of 547 employees and 579 step increments, reaffirming the company’s unwavering commitment to recognising excellence, rewarding performance and building one of Africa’s most admired workplaces.
AEDC disclosed that these actions reflect its deliberate investment in its people as the energy firm accelerates its transformation into a customer-centric, high-performing electricity distribution company with global standards and Pan-African aspirations.
The promotions and step increments, approved by the management, recognise employees who have demonstrated exceptional commitment, professionalism and outstanding performance in advancing AEDC’s strategic objectives.
However, employees who were not successful in the current appraisal cycle have been urged to remain committed, emphasising that the performance management process is designed to support continuous growth, capability development and future advancement opportunities.
“Our people remain our greatest asset and the foundation upon which AEDC’s future will be built. Today’s announcement is more than a reward for performance; it is a reaffirmation of our belief that excellence should always be recognised, talent should be nurtured and hard work should create opportunities for growth.
“As we continue our transformation journey, we are building an organisation where our employees can develop rewarding careers, realise their full potential and proudly contribute to creating one of Africa’s leading electricity distribution companies,” the chief executive of AEDC, Mr Chijioke Okwuokenye, stated.
He added that AEDC is intentionally creating a workplace where merit, continuous learning, innovation and collaboration drive career progression, while employee wellbeing remains central to its long-term strategy.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigerian international lawyer and anti-corruption specialist, Mr Ibrahim James Pam, has been appointed Acting Director-General of the World Bank Group’s Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO), a key independent accountability body within the institution.
The appointment, approved by the boards of the World Bank Group, will take effect on August 2, 2026.
Mr Pam, who currently serves as Chair of the World Bank Inspection Panel, will oversee the CAO on an interim basis pending the appointment of a substantive Director-General and Vice President of the World Bank Group Independent Accountability Mechanism.
The development was announced in a statement issued by the Head of Communications of the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman, Emily Horgan, who said the arrangement was designed to ensure continuity during the organisation’s leadership transition.
“In view of the forthcoming leadership transition at the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO), the World Bank Group Boards have designated Ibrahim Pam, Chair of the Inspection Panel, to concurrently serve as acting CAO Director General, effective August 2, 2026,” the statement said.
“Mr Pam will serve in this role until the new World Bank Group Independent Accountability Mechanism Director General/Vice President is appointed.”
The Compliance Advisor Ombudsman is the independent accountability mechanism for projects financed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), both members of the World Bank Group.
Created in 1999, the CAO reports directly to the boards of IFC and MIGA and handles complaints from individuals and communities affected by projects supported by the two institutions, while promoting environmental and social accountability.
Mr Pam, who is married with children and grandchildren, brings extensive experience in international law, anti-corruption, compliance, human rights and criminal investigations to the role.
He is the son of the late Lt. Col. James Pam, a former Adjutant General of the Nigerian Army, and Mrs Ngo Elizabeth Pam, a human rights advocate who served on the Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission, popularly known as the Oputa Panel, as well as the Plateau Peace Conference.
Over the years, Mr Pam has built a distinguished international career investigating human rights violations, financial crimes, fraud, institutional misconduct and mass atrocities across several jurisdictions.
He has served as a member of the World Bank Inspection Panel since January 2023. Prior to that, he was Head ad interim of the Independent Redress Mechanism of the Green Climate Fund in Songdo, South Korea, between August 2022 and March 2023, after leading the Fund’s Independent Integrity Unit from November 2016 to November 2022.
His professional experience also includes roles with the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), where he served as Resident Investigator with the UN Mission in South Sudan, the African Development Bank’s Integrity and Anti-Corruption Department, and the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
Earlier in his career, he provided legal support to Nigeria’s Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission (Oputa Panel) between 2000 and 2002.
A graduate of the University of Jos, Mr Pam began his legal career at J.Y. Pam & Co. before working in private legal practice, the banking sector and later the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
While at the ICPC, he received the prestigious Chevening Scholarship, which enabled him to earn a Master’s degree in International Law and Justice Policy from the London School of Economics in 2005
His appointment is expected to strengthen the World Bank Group’s accountability and oversight framework, given his extensive background in governance, integrity, compliance and international justice.
Jobs/Appointments
UNIZIK Appoints Nicholas Okoye Visiting Senior Lecturer, to Strengthen Digital Assets Education
Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) has appointed veteran investment banker and capital markets expert, Nicholas “Nicky” Okoye, as a Visiting Senior Lecturer in a move aimed at strengthening its capital markets and digital assets curriculum amid the growing global adoption of virtual assets and blockchain-based finance.
The appointment, which takes immediate effect, is expected to deepen the university’s capacity to train enterprise executives, entrepreneurs and policymakers in emerging areas such as cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), tokenisation of real-world assets and other digital financial innovations.
UNIZIK, which hosts one of Africa’s few dedicated Capital Markets faculties, said the appointment aligns with its strategy of equipping students and professionals with the knowledge and practical skills required to navigate the rapidly evolving financial ecosystem.
The university, in its statement, described the appointment as a significant milestone for the institution.
“Securing someone of Nicky Okoye’s calibre is a game-changer. As global finance evolves, we must equip enterprise executives, entrepreneurs and policymakers with the technical knowledge required to build long-term capital formation strategies. His real-world experience is invaluable.”
Okoye brings decades of experience across global and Nigerian financial institutions. His career includes serving as a Financial Consultant at Merrill Lynch in the United States, Chief Strategy Officer at the Nigerian Exchange Group, and Founding Group Executive Director of Operations and Strategy at Transcorp Group Plc, where he led fundraising initiatives that collectively exceeded $1 billion.
He currently leads the Global Investment Advisory Community (GIAC), a coalition of local and international banks, asset managers and fintech firms working to develop a digital assets ecosystem across Africa and the Caribbean.
Beyond the private sector, Okoye has contributed to public policy, providing advisory support to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on capital market regulatory frameworks.
Stakeholders in the financial services sector have welcomed the appointment, expressing optimism that his academic engagement would help build capacity among investors and professionals as Nigeria expands its digital finance ecosystem.
Okoye also holds an honorary Doctor of Business Administration from Enugu State University of Technology, awarded in recognition of his contributions to enterprise development and business excellence.
He previously served on the Presidential Jobs Board and the National Council of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, where he provided strategic advice on economic development. Between 2014 and 2018, he advised the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Project Triple E, an initiative designed to strengthen indigenous participation in the upstream oil and gas value chain by integrating community-based contractors.
The appointment comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to establish a robust regulatory framework for digital assets. The Federal Government recently inaugurated a National Virtual Assets Council to coordinate the oversight and regulation of virtual and digital assets in the country.
The council is chaired by the Central Bank of Nigeria, with support from the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Nigeria Revenue Service, as part of broader efforts to promote innovation while ensuring investor protection and financial system stability.
