The Institute

Dr. Uche Messiah Olowu, FCIB (President/Chairman of Council) Uche Olowu, is a seasoned professional banker and astute scholar with over 30 years’ cognate experience. He has traversed between banking Operations, Credit and Marketing –Retail, Commercial and Corporate Banking. He is presently actively plying his trade as Head, Corporate Banking Desk of Union Bank of Nigeria with special bias in Energy, Oil and Gas Financing. He has his current relationships spreading across Multinational exploration, production companies and oil service firms.

Dr. Olowu who is a Fellow of the Institute and has a Masters’ degree in Business Administration (MBA) in Management from River State University of Science & Technology (RSUT), Port Harcourt, where he additionally capped it with a Doctorate of Philosophy degree (Ph.D) in Management-Organizational Behaviour. His research interest focuses on Managerial Leadership Effectiveness leveraging on Emotional Intelligence Consciousness.

His flourishing career started from 1985 in United Bank for Africa Plc, where he rose to become the Manager, Corporate Banking (Energy South) in 1999. He joined Equatorial Trust Bank Ltd in 2000 as Senior Relationship Manager before crossing over to Fountain Trust Bank Plc for the post of Senior Relationship Manager and was promoted Assistant General Manager, (South) in 2005, a position he held until he pitched his tent once again with UBA Plc in 2006 as Head Energy, Corporate & Energy Desk, (South Bank). In 2008, he left the service of UBA for Union Bank of Nigeria Plc.

Uche led the Council Delegation for the Reactivation of Umuahia, Owerri, Yenagoa and Eket Branches and Coordinated the University of Port Harcourt Linkage Programme. He was a Lecturer at the then CIBN PortHarcourt Branch Tuition Centre

Dr. Olowu also served on the Governing Council of Rivers State University of Science & Technology, Port Harcourt. He has also attended several top leadership and management courses both within and outside the country. Dr. Olowu is happily married with children.

Contributions to the Institute/Banking and Finance Industry/Economy: CIBN First Vice President (2016 – 2018), Chairman, Board of Fellows and Practice Licence (2016 – 2018), Second Vice President (2014 – 2016), Chairman, Ad-hoc Committee of Annual Bankers Dinner (2014 & 2015). Chairman, Disciplinary Tribunal (2014 – 2016). Chairman, Selection Committee for Registrar of CIBN (2015). National Treasurer (2010 – 2014) Chairman, Finance, Human Resources and General Purposes Committee (2010-2014) Chairman, Board of CIBN Press Member, Membership and Branch Development Committee (2002 – 2004) Member, Education Committee (2004 – 2006), National Treasurer (2010 – 2014). Member, 50th Anniversary Sub-Committee on Finance and Publicity (2013). Chairman, Finance & General-Purpose Committee (2010 – 2014). Member, Staff Restructuring Committee (2011). Chairman, Board of Directors, CIBN Press (2012 – 2014). Member, 50th Anniversary Planning Committee (2013). Lecturer, Port Harcourt Examination Centre. Vice Chairman, Local Organizing Committee on Bankers Conference (1999). Chairman, Rivers State Branch (2000 – 2008). Led Council Delegation for the Reactivation of Umuahia, Owerri, Yenagoa and Eket Branches Member, Council Ad – hoc Committee on AGM/Elections (2002) Member, Governing Council (2002 – 2004).Vice Chairman, Rivers State Branch (1988).

Others Member, Governing Council, River State University of Science and Technology (2012 – 2015), Chairman Honorary Awards Committee, River State University of Science and Technology, Chairman Audit Committee, River State University of Science and Technology Coordinated University of Port Harcourt Linkage Programme. Initiated the establishment of 3 Education Centres for members in Port Harcourt which enhanced rapid qualification of Associates

Mr. Bayo Williams Olugbemi was elected to the post of a 2nd Vice President at the Institute’s Annual General Meeting held on May 14, 2016.

Prior to his election, he had served the Institute as the National Treasurer, 2014-2016, and at the public and private sectors in various capacities. For instance, he was a Member, CIBN Corporate & Public Affairs Committee, 2000 -2005; Member, SEC Capital Markets Committee, 1996 to date; 1st Vice President, Institute of Capital Market Registrars, 2000 – 2011; Member, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Administrative Proceedings Committee, 2000 – 2003 & 2012-Date, Examiner, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Annual National Essay Competition, 2002 -2009;Member, NSE Investigation and Disciplinary Committee, 2004-2007; 2nd Vice Chairman, CIBN Lagos State Branch, 2004 – 2006; 1st Vice Chairman, CIBN Lagos State Branch, 2006-2008; Chairman, CIBN Lagos State Branch, 2008-2012; Member, Institute of Directors (IOD), Finance & General Purpose Committee, 2004 – 2007; Member, Governing Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, 2007 – date; Chairman, Membership Services Committee, CIBN, 2008-May 2014; Deputy Chairman, SEC Technical Committee on Registrars Infrastructure & Operations, 2008 – 2009; Member, SEC/CMC Rules & Compliance Committee, 2006-Date; Vice Chairman, SEC Committee on Dematerialization, 2008-Date; Chairman, Committee of MD/CEOs of Capital Market Registrars, 2005-Date; Council Member, Lagos Chamber Of Commerce & Industry, April 2014-Date. President, Jericho Businessmen Club, Ibadan, April 2014-Date. National General Secretary, Eyinni High School, Ibadan Old Students Association, 2000-Date.

Mr. Olugbemi who is at present, the Managing Director/CEO of First Registrars & Investors Services Limited and President/Chairman of Council of Institute of Capital Market Registrars, has put in about 32 years in active banking and financial services, professional knowledge and skills. He is currently on the Board of Directors of Central Securities Clearing Systems Plc, CIBN Press Ltd, Attwool Schools Limited and Redemption Gate International School.

He holds Masters degree in Corporate Governance and Ethics (M. Sc) from Leeds Metropolitan University, UK; Masters in International Business Management (MBA) from Lagos State University, Ojo-Lagos; and B. Sc. Accounting from The University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos. He is an Alumnus of many prestigious Business Schools such as Harvard Business School (AMP 179); Wharton Business School, USA; Stanford Business School, USA; Institute of Management Development, Switzerland; INSEAD, Singapore, Euro Money Capital Market Training and Lagos Business School (CEP 11) among others. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and many other professional bodies.

Mr. Bayo Olugbemi is a seasoned Speaker at conferences on Banking, Investment, Capital Formation, Risk Management, Leadership, Corporate Governance & Ethics. He is an Inspirational and Motivational speaker of repute. He is also a Senior Pastor of The Redeemed Christian Church of God (Assistant Pastor In Charge Of Province- CSR) and happily married with children.

Dr. Ken Opara, has over 27 years’ experience in SME, Retail and Commercial banking. He is the General Manager in Charge of Ikeja Regional Bank of Fidelity Bank Plc. Prior to Fidelity Bank, he has acquired over 7 years’ experience with some leading banks in Nigeria. Ken’s extensive experiences over the last 24 years in key positions include Branch Banking/Regional Management, Customer Banking, Electronic banking, Retail Banking and SME banking. He is a transformational leader known to have developed and nurtured new Business set ups from scratch to enviable height. He has attended several local and International programs including Insead, Kellog, Wharton, Euro Money Programs etc. As National Treasurer, Ken led the Institute to achieve its 2016 and 2017 full year budget with IGR coverage of recurrent expenditure by 130% for the first time. He also positioned CIBN Press (subsidiary of CIBN) to a profit-making venture from a loss-making position. Under his leadership as Chairman, CIBN Fidelity Bank Chapter, the bank won several awards among are: most supportive bank in 2014; best supportive bank by CIBN Lagos Branch 2014 and others.

He has a B.Sc. Finance, Second Class Upper and the best graduating student in the department of Finance and MBA in Banking & Finance, all from University of Nigeria. Ken is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and Associate, Institute of Certified Pension of Nigeria as well as Chartered Institute of Credit Administration. He served as a member of the CBN Committee that developed the current N220 billion MSMS funds. He is a team player and impeccable character, a devout Christian and happily married with four (4) children.

Contributions to the Institute/Banking and Finance Industry/Economy: CIBN National Treasurer, (2016 - 2018), Chairman, Finance, Human Resources & General Purposes Committee, F&GPC (2016- 2018), Chairman, CIBN Fidelity Bank Chapter (2010 – 2016). Led the Fidelity Bank Chapter to win Best Participating Institution (Operators) and Best Supportive Financial Institution at 4th & 5th Banking & Finance Conference (2010 & 2011). Member, CIBN Lagos Branch Bankers Nite Organizing Committee (2012). Member, Consultative Committee Annual Banking & Finance Conference (2012 - 2013). Member, Executive Committee, Lagos State Branch (2012 – to date) Member, Governing Council (2012 – 2016). Vice Chairman, Annual Bankers Dinner (2014). Vice Chairman, Membership Development and Services Committee (2014 – 2016). Member, Audit Committee (2015). Member, Investigating Panel (2015). Vice Chairman, Annual Bankers Dinner (2015). Member, Sub-Committee on Linkage Programme (2015). Lecturer, Law, Ethics & Corporate Governance (1999 – 2011). Instrumental to having the highest number of staff that attended CIBN training programmes from Fidelity Bank Plc (2014). Facilitated more than 30 Senior Management Staff registration as HCIBs. Enhanced Fidelity Bank Plc approval of automatic second level position for fresh ACIB holders. Mobilized Members in Fidelity Bank Plc to attend Institute’s Programmes. Others Member, Central Bank of Nigeria Mobile Collateral Registry Committee (2014 – to date). Member, Central Bank of Nigeria N220 billion MSME Development Fund Review Committee (2014). Member, Sub-Committee on Capacity Building for SMEs by National Council on MSME (2015 – to date). Represents CIBN at the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) meetings (2015 – to date). Chairman, Finance Sub-Committee, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (2015 - to date).

LLB, (HONS), LL.M, PhD, BL, BA, M.SC, FCIB, FIMA, FCMR, APNM, AMNIM, FERP,

Prof. Olanrewaju is a thorough bred professional and seasoned academic. He belongs to many professional bodies among which is the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN). He is a fellow of (CIBN), a fellow of Institute of Capital Market Registrars, a fellow of Institute of Management and Administrative Technology and a fellow of the Enterprise Risk Management Professionals.   He is currently a Council member of CIBN and Chairman of Capacity Building and Certification of the Institute with over 25 years of continuous service to our great Institute. He Co-Authored several books and Articles in Learned Journals.

His career had transversed the economy for the past 30 (thirty) years from banking, legal consultancy, management and academic. He is well nurtured in Banking and Commercial Law. Prof. Olanrewaju is a professor of banking Law in Babcock University. He is currently the Provost/Dean of Law in the School of Law and Security Studies, Babcock University, Ilisan.

The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has appointed Mr. Oluseye David Awojobi, FCIB, as the substantive Registrar/Chief Executive. The appointment is part of the strategic efforts to sustain the transformation initiatives of the Institute. Mr. Awojobi whose appointment was confirmed by the Governing Council of the Institute at its meeting held on Thursday, March 12, 2015, has been on Acting capacity since June 2014. With the appointment he replaces Dr. ’Uju M. Ogubunka, FCIB, who retired as the Registrar/Chief Executive of the Institute in September 2014.

Prior to his new appointment, Mr. Awojobi has occupied other key strategic positions in the Institute such as Deputy Director/Group Head, Ethics and Professionalism, 2014; Assistant Director/Group Head, Ethics and Professionalism, 2012 - 2014; Principal Manager/Head, Directorate of Education, 2009 - 2012; Principal Manager/Head, Directorate of Consultancy, Training and Research, 2008 - 2009; Senior Manager, Consultancy, 2007; Senior Manager/Zonal Coordinator(North) 2006- 2007; Manager/Zonal Coordinator (North), 2004 - 2005; Deputy Manager, Consultancy Department, 2000 – 2004 and Assistant Manager, Training Department, 2000. Before joining the Institute in the year 2000, he was the Admin Manager, CIBN Lagos Branch, 1996- 1999; Assistant Manager/Head, Banking Operation, Greenfield Mortgage Finance Co. Ltd., 1993 – 1995 and Manager, Peoples Emergency Deposit Scheme (PEDS), Peoples Bank of Nigeria, 1992.

Mr. ’Seye Awojobi, a seasoned professional banker and an astute scholar holds a Masters’ degree in Business Administration (MBA) and B.Sc. in Banking and Finance (2nd Class Upper) from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State. He is not only a Fellow of the Institute but also an Associate member, Institute of Chartered Mediators & Conciliators; and that of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered). Mr. Awojobi is currently pursuing Ph.D. in Entrepreneurship, at Babcock University, Ilishan, Ogun State. He was a member of the Human Capital Development and Information Communication Technology Consultancy Committee of the FSS 2O2O project of the Central Bank of Nigeria. As a certified consultant, he has consulted for several organisations including the FGN/EU State Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (SEEDS) assessment. Mr. Seye Awojobi, who has garnered international exposures in the management of professional Banking Institutes from various countries including India, Scotland, Ghana, Malaysia, Finland, The Gambia, is expected to bring his leadership qualities and professional skills and years of cognate experience to bear in the management of the Institute for better service delivery and value addition to all stakeholders. He is happily married with children.