THE BOARD

Professor Musa Gella Yakubu, Chairman 

He holds a Masters Degree in Law and a Doctorate Degree in Property Law from Boston University, USA. A former Dean of the Faculty of Law at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1981-88), Professor Yakubu was once a member of the Senate Committee on Finance and Governing Board of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies of the University of Lagos. He was also a former Director of the Central Bank of Nigeria. He joined the Board of Union Bank in 2002.

Mrs. Olunfunke Iyabo Osibodu, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive

Mrs. Funke Osibodu studied Economics at the University of Ife. She is also an Alumnus of the prestigious Harvard Business School. She was the CEO of Vigeo Capital Limited and the head of the Financial and Investment services arm of the Vigeo Group, a conglomerate involved in various sectors of the Nigerian economy (oil & gas, shipping, power, financial services). With over 27 years of banking experience, Mrs oshibodu was the Managing Director of two banks, MBC and Ecobank Nigeria Plc, before becoming a Director in the parent holding company of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, a position she left in August 2006.

Mrs. Osibodu has served in various government - appointed committees and held various positions of prominence in the business community. She was, at various times, Director of ValuCard; Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS); Consolidated Discount House Limited; First Securities Discount House Limited; MBC Securities Limited; ESL Securities Limited; Enterprises for Development International - a Non-Governmental Organisation; and The Centre for Law and Business – a private law university. She was a member of the Vision 2010 and Vice - Chairman of The Nigeria Economic Summit Group. She became the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of the bank on 14th August, 2009.

Adekunle M. Adeosun, Executive Director

Mr Adekunle Adeosun holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Public Accounting from Baruch College, New York and a Master of Business Administration from Pace University, New York. He also attended the prestigious Ivy League school, Columbia University in New York, where he studied Software Development.

Mr Adeosun is an international professional banker with over 21 years cognate experience. He was a Director, Group Treasury Sales with United Bank for Africa PLC (UBA). He was, at various times, Divisional Head, Corporate Banking, UBA (2007-2009) and Regional Director, Lagos (2006-2007). He had responsibility for business development in Manufacturing, Telecommunications and Retail Banking between 2003 and 2005. Hitherto, Mr Adeosun garnered considerable experience working for Ecobank Nigeria Ltd as Divisional Head, Commercial Banking Group, Branch Coordination and Wholesale Banking Group.

Mr. Adeosun played a top management restructuring role in the then National Bank of Nigeria as General Manager, Performance Management, Information Technology and Operations; Group Head, Commercial / Consumer and Private Banking (2000-2003). Prior to joining National Bank, he had banking exposure in the United States of America (USA) working for Bankers Trust Company, New York as Vice President, Global Assets (1994-1999); Assistant Treasurer (1990-1994) and Supervisor, Asset-Based Lending (1988-1990).

Mr Adeosun is in charge of Commercial and Retail Banking-South and Consumer Banking.

Philip Ikeazor, Executive Director

Mr Philip Ikeazor is a Chartered Accountant and graduate of Economics, University of Buckingham, England. He has attended a series of relevant overseas courses and served on various management committees of banks. Mr Ikeazor is a professional banker with over 22 years cognate experience (largely in corporate and investment banking). He was a Director, Wholesale Banking with United Bank for Africa (UBA). He started his banking career in 1990 working for Nigerian American Merchant Bank, then affiliated to Bank of Boston, MA, USA where he trained as a loan officer (1990-1996) and also worked at Merchant Banking Corporation (MBC), then affiliated to Bank Paribas (1996-2003).

Mr. Ikeazor had handled commercial and offshore banking assignments in Ecobank Nig. Ltd. He was the pioneer Managing Director/Chief Executive of Ecobank Kenya Limited, a medium- sized commercial bank in Kenya affiliated to the Ecobank Group, between may 2008 and February 2009.

Mr Ikeazor is in charge of Corporate and International/Investment Banking and Treasury.

Ibrahim Abubakar Kwargana, Executive Director

Mr Ibrahim Abubakar Kwargana holds Master Degree in Corporate Governance, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds and Second Class Upper Division, Political Sciences, Bayero University, Kano. He has attended various local and international banking courses in Oxford, Hong Kong, Cambridge and Warsaw.

He is a consummate banker with over 28 years working experience out of which 23 years are in banking. His areas of expertise include personnel administration and industrial relations, internal audit, banking operations, marketing and consumer relationship management. He has been Deputy General Manager and the Chief Auditor, (2006-2007), all at First Bank of Nigeria PLC and later, General Manager, Operations and Resources, FBN (Merchant Bankers) Limited, (2004-2005). He also worked for Nigerian International Bank Limited, a subsidiary of Citigroup between 1993 and 2004, holding strategic positions including Deputy General Manager and Head, Branch Operations.

He has responsibility for the Bank’s Commercial and Retail Banking – North and Public Sector Business.

Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi, Executive Director

Mr Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi, a holder of double masters in Business Administration and Mechanical Engineering, University of Lagos is a resourceful Information Technology-driven banker with over 19 years experience. He was a Director, Information Technology and Corporate Services with Renaissance Securities Nigeria limited, with responsibility for the group’s IT infrastructure in Africa.

Between 1999 and 2007, he worked for and supervised the IT operational platforms of MBC International Limited as Deputy General Manager; First City Monument Bank Limited as Vice – President; and Ecobank Nigeria Limited as Executive Director. Mr. Shonubi had a professional stint with Citibank Nigeria Limited as Head, Treasury Operations (1990-1993) and has served on a number of sub-committees of the Bankers’ Committee including the Ethics and Professionalism sub-committee. Mr Shonubi's portfolio covers IT & Operations and Services.

 

Engr. (Dr.) Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir, Non-Executive Director

He holds the Bachelors (1979) and Masters (1984) degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Detroit ,USA. He was awarded the doctorate degree in Electrical Engineering specialising in Energy from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria. Engineer (Dr.) Ibrahim Gobir is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical Engineers UK and the Nigerian Society of Engineers. He was the former Managing Director /Chief Executive of Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc, Sokoto. He joined the Board of Union Bank in 2002.

 

Festus Boniface Oha Odimegwu, Non-Executive Director

He graduated with B.Sc Chemistry from  the University of Nigeria, Nnsuka and M.Sc  Brewing from Beriot Watt University, Edinburgh, UK. He is the immediate past Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc. He joined Union Bank Board in 2004.

Olusegun Olusanya, Non-Executive Director

A professional Accountant, Mr Olusegun Olusanya attended the London School of Economics where he obtained the Master of Science degree in Economics. He was Deputy General Manager, Finance and Strategic Planning in Savannah Bank Nigeria Plc, Executive Director at Afribank Nigeria Plc, and Executive Director, Union Bank between 1993 and 1999; he was also Chairman of former National Bank of Nigeria Ltd. He sits on the boards of many companies. Until his appointment to the board of the Bank, he was a non-executive director at the former Universal Trust Bank of Nigeria Plc.

Alhaji (Dr) Ahmadu Abubakar, Non-Executive Director

He attended the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (Intensive Modern Management Course) and the Intensive course in Banking and Finance in the United states of America organised by World Bank and City Bank of America. He also attended a course in Finance, Policy and Project planning and Analysis in India which was organised and co sponsored by the World Bank and Industrial Development bank of India.He was appointed to the Board of the Bank as a Non-Executive Director in October 2007.

Dr. Cosmas Paul Udofot, Non-Executive Director

He holds a B.Sc. (Hons) degree in Sociology from the University of Ibadan, a Masters degree in Industrial Relations from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Master of Philosophy degree (M.Phil) and Doctor of Philosophy degree (Ph.D) in Sociology from the University of Kansas, U.S.A.He also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Project Appraisal, Management & Evaluation from the University of Strathclyde Graduate Business School, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom. He lectured at the University of Jos, Nigeria. He joined the Government and was the Federal Director of DFRRI (Directorate of Food, Roads, and Rural Infrastructure) in Rivers/Bayelsa State. He later became the Chairman, UNDP, Akwa Ibom State, and Permanent Secretary, Akwa Ibom State Government.

He was appointed to the Board of the Bank as a Non-Executive Director in October 2007.

Chief Dr. (Mrs.) Akande (OON) , Non-Executive Director

Chief Dr. (Mrs.) Akande (OON), attended Queen's School, Ede from 1958 to 1962 for her secondary education. She was at the University Tutorial College London, where she completed her 'A' level in 1964 and subsequently attended University of North London (formerly North Western Polytechnic London) from 1965 to 1968 where she studied Accountancy. She completed her postgraduate programme at the prestigious Harvard Business School, Boston, USA. Chief Mrs. Akande also attended management courses at both Oxford University, United Kingdom, and Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland.

She was the first woman honourable minister of industry in the Federal Government of Nigeria in December, 1997. At various times, Chief Mrs. Akande was a director of both the National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria, (NICON), and Nigeria Industrial Development Bank (NIDB),now Nigeria Bank of Industry. In 2003, the prestigious national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) was bestowed on her in recognition of her outstanding virtues and services to the country. 

Chief ((Mrs.) Akande is an accomplished Management and Business Consultant as well as a successful industrialist and seasoned administrator and Accountant by training. She was appointed to the Board of Union Bank in April, 2008.   

Onojite Okoloko , Non-Executive Director

Mr. Okoloko attended Federal Government College Owerri for his secondary education. He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School, Boston, USA and University of Benin, where he studied Economic. He has a distinguished career in the oil and gas industry, spanning several years. He is the founding partner of Ocean and Oil Group, which is the core investor in Oando Plc and currently the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Notore Chemical Industries Limited.

Mr. Okoloko is an active member of the Nigerian Economic Summit (Policy Formulation) Group and served on the Presidential Committee on Oil and Gas in 2004, as the sole representative of the Private Sector. The Committee was instrumental to the development of the new Oil and Gas Policy in Nigeria.  

He joined the Board of Union Bank April 2008.

    Engineer Mansur Ahmed , Non-Executive Director

He holds a first degree in Mechanical Engineering from Nottigham University and a Masters degree in Industrial Engineering and Administration from Cranfield University. He also holds a postgraduate certificate in Investment Appraisal and Management of the Harvard Institute of International Development.

He started his working career as a Research Assistant with Epsom Research Laboratories, UK and later returned to Nigeria where he joined the Ahmadu Bello University as an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He has worked in the Manufacturing industry in companies such as Dunlop Nigeria Industries Limited, Bgauda and Kaduna Textiles Limited. He is currently the Director General of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG). He joined the Board of the Bank as Non- Executive Director in October 2007.

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