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Skye Bank Appoints Abiru As New GMD/CEO, Releases Profiles Of New Board And Senior Management Members.

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Tokunbo Abiru Skye Bank CEO

The Central Bank of Nigeria has approved the reconstitution of the Board of Skye Bank Plc.

By the reconstitution, Alhaji M.K. Ahmad has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Board, while Tokunbo Abiru has been appointed as the new Group Managing Director and CEO.

Other members of the reconstituted Board are Bayo Sanni, Idris Yakubu, Markie Idowu and Abimbola Izu, all of whom were serving in the capacity of Executive Director of the Bank prior to now.

The reconstitution of the Board followed the voluntary resignation of the former Chairman, Dr. Tunde Ayeni, and other Non-Executive Directors of the Bank, namely Victor Odozi, Babajide Agbabiaka, Dr. Jason Fadeyi, Kunle Aluko, Victor Adenigbagbe, Abdul Bello and Hajiya Amunna Lawan Ali.
In the same vein, Timothy Oguntayo had resigned his position as Group Managing Director/CEO, alongside Amaka Onwughalu, Dotun Adeniyi and Ibiye Ekong, who resigned their positions as DMD and Executive Directors.

All the resignations take immediate effect.

The former leadership of the Bank voluntarily resigned their positions in order to pave the way for a new team to further the new strategic direction of the Bank in the retail and commercial business space, having laid the foundations and set the necessary processes and structures.

In this wise, the challenge of accelerating growth in the new strategic direction becomes more urgent and compelling, given the economic challenges in the global and domestic operating environment, and the attendant challenges.

The Bank thanked the former Board, led by Ayeni, and the former management team, led by Oguntayo, for their service, sacrifice and dedication to the institution.

The new Chairman of the Bank, Ahmad, in a statement earlier on Monday, expressed optimism about the Bank, given its vast potentials and its strategic position in the economy.

He stated that the Bank is well positioned to deepen the retail and commercial banking services in the economy, having put in place the critical building blocks to win in this sector.

He stated that the immediate priorities of the Board and the new Management team is to quickly begin to leverage the huge investment in the enhanced branch network, technology and alternative channels to improve stakeholder value in a sustainable manner.

He assured the shareholders, customers and depositors of the Bank of his commitment to preserve their investments and deposits, while further assuring that the support and backing of the CBN and other relevant stakeholders have been obtained in this respect.

Ahmad has about 35 years distinguished experience leading and working in various public sector organizations and financial services institutions in Nigeria.

He was the pioneer Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Pension Commission and also a pioneer staff of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation and rose to become Director/Head of Department and member of the Interim Management Board.

Ahmad has served on the boards of various corporate and not-for-profit organisations as well as presidential committees.

He chaired the Technical Committee that produced the North East Transformation Strategy, a medium term Regional Development Strategy for the sustainable socio-economic transformation and reconstruction of the region and currently supervises its implementation.

Ahmad is also a member of the Presidential Committee for the North East Intervention. Prior to his appointment, he was a Director on the Board of FBN Holdings Plc, where he brought his rich experience in the financial services industry to bear on the institution.

He strongly promotes building institutions based on the highest corporate governance and ethical standards and would bring his extensive experience to bear on his role on the board of Skye Bank Plc as Chairman.

Ahmad has a Masters Diploma in Innovation and Strategy from University of Oxford and has also attended courses and programmes in various first-rate business and management schools, including Harvard Business School, IMD and INSEAD.

A co-author of the book: “The Extent and Effectiveness of Bank Supervision in Nigeria,” Ahmad is married with children.

The new MD/CEO, Abiru, is an alumnus of Harvard Business School (Advanced Management Programme) and Lagos Business School (Senior Management Programme).

He holds a B.Sc (Economics) from the Lagos State University and is a Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and an Honorary Senior Member of The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.

Abiru has had a distinguished career in banking spanning about 26 years, of which his early 10 years were spent in the formative years of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.

Thereafter, he spent about 14 years with the premier and most valuable banking brand in Nigeria, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, where he functioned as Executive Director, Corporate Banking between 2013 and 2016.

Equally during his banking career, he was at various times between 2013 and 2016 a Non-Executive Director in the following companies: Airtel Mobile Networks Limited, FBN Capital Limited (now FBN Merchant Bank Limited); and FBN Bank Sierra Leone Limited.

Abiru was the Commissioner of Finance for Lagos State Government (2011-2013), the economic capital of Nigeria, during the dynamic and transformational leadership of Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN).

BIG STORY

JUST IN: After 23 Months Of Suspending Operations In Nigeria, Emirate Airlines To Resume In October

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Emirates Airlines has stated that it is prepared to resume direct flight service from its base in Dubai to Nigeria twenty-three months after it halted operations there.

The airline made this announcement on Thursday through its official X account.

The service will be operated using a Boeing 777-300ER. EK783 will depart Dubai at 0945hrs, arriving in Lagos at 1520hrs; the return flight EK784 will leave Lagos at 1730hrs and arrive in Dubai at 0510hrs the next day.

“We’re back, Nigeria! We’ll be resuming services to Lagos from 1 October 2024, and we can’t wait to offer unrivalled connectivity to Dubai and beyond to over 140 cities,” the tweet read.

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer said, “We are excited to resume our services to Nigeria. The Lagos-Dubai service has traditionally been popular with customers in Nigeria and we hope to reconnect leisure and business travellers to Dubai and onwards to our network of over 140 destinations. We thank the Nigerian government for their partnership and support in re-establishing this route and we look forward to welcoming passengers back onboard.

“With the resumption of operations to Nigeria, Emirates operates to 19 gateways in Africa with 157 flights per week from Dubai, with further reach to an additional 130 regional points in Africa through its codeshare and interline partnerships with South African Airways, Airlink, Royal Air Maroc, Tunis Air, among others.

“As a major economic hub in Africa, Nigeria and the UAE have built strong bilateral trade relations over the years, headlined by Lagos as the nation’s commercial centre. With the resumption of daily passenger flights, the airline’s cargo arm, Emirates SkyCargo, will further bolster the trade relationship by offering more than 300 tonnes of bellyhold cargo capacity, in and out of Lagos every week.”

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, hinted at the development earlier.

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BIG STORY

Adron Homes Throws Grand Party To Celebrate Customers [PHOTOS]

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In a momentous gesture of gratitude and recognition, the Adron Homes Management Team orchestrated a surprise celebration at the esteemed West Park & Gardens Estate, Paradise City, Ayegun Adron City, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, on the 12th of May 2024. This grand event, meticulously organized by the Directorate of Estate at Adron Homes, aimed to honor and appreciate the valued residents and homeowners of this prestigious estate.

Under the distinguished chairmanship of Aare Adetola EmmanuelKing, the Chairman/CEO of Adron Homes, the event unfolded with an air of elegance and prestige. Accompanied by many top senior directors including :

Mrs. Ajobo Adenike – Deputy MD, Southern Nigeria;Ms. Shola Orunmuyiwa – Group Director Legal Bureau ;Engr. Stephen Ogunbiyi – Technical Director;Engr Sola Okanlawon – CPC Southern Nigeria;Arch. Bolaji Mustapha – PD Upland World;Mr. Christopher Adeogun-Director Internal Control & Compliance;Engr Kole – Chief Director Power & Energy ;TP Rotimi Dipeolu -Director of Physical Planning and Development ;Ms. Omotola Alonge – Director of Construction & Building Materials,Mr. Michael Oyadele -Director of Public Affairs; Engr Festus Fatunbi-Deputy Project Director Upland World;Mr. Kunle Aliyu -Director of Estate Western World and other esteemed Partners and consultants ,the occasion was a true testament to the community’s significance and vitality.

A highlight of the celebration was the official inauguration of the New Executive Committee of the West Park & Gardens Estate Residents Association (WEPAGERA) by the esteemed Chairman/CEO, Aare Adetola EmmanuelKing himself. With Mr. Idris Adejumo leading as Chairman and a stellar team of executives by his side,which include :

-Elder Abayomi Olatunji – Vice Chairman;

-Mr. Akintunde Akinpelu – General Secretary;

-Mrs. Aderonke Adelakun – Assistant General Secretary;

-Mr. Musbau Yekini – Financial Secretary/Treasurer;

-Mr. Babatunde Adesesan – Assistant Treasurer;

-Mr. Sakiru Opeyemi Aliu – Publicity Secretary;

-Mr. David Akinbi – Assistant Publicity Secretary;

-Dr. Sola Popoola – Ex-Officio/Adviser;

-Dr. Ademola Adebayo – Ex-Officio/Adviser;

-Grandma Esther Adeyemi – Ex-Officio/Adviser;

-Alhaji Ismail Adeyemi – Security Coordinator;

-Mrs. Gbemisola Adelakun – Projects/Maintenance Coordinator;

-Rev’d Olufemi Tokede – Zone 1 Coordinator;

-Mr. Oyewumi Adelakun – Zone 2 Coordinator;

-Mrs. Elizabeth Olade – Zone 3 Coordinator

the committee embodies a vision of unity, progress, and excellence, promising to steer the community towards greater heights.

Residents, professionals, and top senior officials from Adron Homes alike were swept up in the joyous atmosphere of the event. Questions were entertained by the Adron Team, fostering an environment of open dialogue and camaraderie. Residents were encouraged to embrace a culture of inclusivity and neighborly love, transforming West Park And Gardens Estates into a beacon of hospitality and warmth, attracting potential landlords seeking solace in its tranquil surroundings.

The Adron Homes Management Team pledged their unwavering support to the newly inaugurated WEPAGERA committee, vowing to work hand in hand to make West Park & Gardens Estate the epitome of excellence in the entire southwest region. The residents, in turn, expressed their heartfelt appreciation for this initiative, applauding the management of Adron Homes for their commitment to their well-being and happiness.

As the celebration drew to a close, filled with laughter, music, and entertainment, it symbolized not just a moment of revelry, but a reaffirmation of the strong bonds that unite West Park & Gardens Estate. In this enclave of luxury and harmony, residents and management alike come together to create a thriving and prosperous community, setting a shining example for others to follow.

See photos below:

 

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BIG STORY

Interest Rates Would Stay High Until Inflation Is Curbed — CBN Governor Cardoso

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso has hinted interest rates would remain high until inflation rate subsides.

Cardoso, on Monday, in a Financial Times report also noted that orthodox policies would be implemented to tame inflation.

In March, Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to 33.20 percent, from 31.70 percent in February.

Consequently, CBN’s monetary policy committee (MPC) raised the interest rate by 200 basis points in March to 24.75 percent.

Cardoso said there is “every indication” that MPC would “do whatever is necessary” to rein inflation.

“They will continue to do what has to be done to ensure that inflation comes down,” Cardoso said.

“Let’s face it: for a long period of time, the CBN did not embrace orthodox monetary policies.

“We want to go back to using an orthodox method, and it will take us to where we want to go.”

Cardoso said the apex bank had been “reoriented” to focus on “price and monetary stability”.

He said the official window of the foreign exchange (FX) market has been stabilised.

According to the governor, investors previously had a “tendency to head for the window” in response to currency fluctuations, however, there has been a “fundamental shift”.

“They’re getting more comfortable with the market,” Cardoso said.

The naira fell to its lowest level of N1,627.40/$ in the official FX window on March 8 but rallied to N1,154.08/$ on April 18, after which the local currency began to lose its gains.

As of May 10, the official FX rate stood at N1,466.31/$.

Also, Cardoso maintained that raising interest rates has been crucial.

He hoped that high interest rates would not linger for too long and act as a disincentive to investment and production.

“Hiking interest rates obviously has had a dampening effect on the foreign exchange market, so that has begun to moderate. It’s not a zero-sum game. You lose on one side, you get on the other,” he said.

He said inflation was higher than he had hoped, blaming “distortions” mainly due to high food prices.

Cardoso said it is not directly within CBN’s control.

Food inflation rose to 40.01 percent in March, compared to the 24.45 percent rate recorded in the same month last year.

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