Unity Bank Plc | UnityBank Profile...


			Professor Akin L. Mabogunje - CON, NNOM (Chairman - Board of Directors)

			Professor Mabogunje is a highly regarded scholar and Administrator who has distinguished himself in various positions of authority within and outside Nigeria. A 1990 Visiting Research Fellow to the World Bank, Prof. Mabogunje was the Executive Chairman of the National Board for Community Banks between 1991 and 1994. His track record of visionary leadership includes Chairmanship of the Board of the defunct First Interstate Bank (one of the Legacy banks that made up UnityBank) from 1995 to 2005. Prior to that, he was President, Governing Council, Pan-African Institute for Development, Doula, Cameroun (1978 to 1984) and Executive Chairman, Development Policy Centre, Ibadan (1996 ï¿½ 2000). In addition to serving in other positions of authority, he was Chairman, Technical Board, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria from 2002 to 2008 and the current Chancellor, Bells University of Technology, Otta, Ogun State. Prof. Mabogunje was educated at University College, Ibadan (1949 to 1953) and University College, London (1954 to 1958). He was a Visiting Professor at Northwesternï¿½ University, Evanston, Illinois, USA (1963/64; 1967/68); Universities of London, Oxford, Cambridge and Durham (1971) University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1975) and Stockholm School of Economics, Sweden (1976) among others. In addition to several National and International awards, Prof. Mabogunje is a recipient of the National Honours of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), and Nigeria National Order of Merit (NNOM). He joined the Board of UnityBank Plc in 2006.


			Falalu Bello - OFR, FCRB (Group Managing Director/Chief Executive)
			Falalu Bello has managed four different banks in a space of twelve years. He was the MD/CEO of the then Habib Bank, Intercity Bank Plc, Nigerian Agricultural Cooperative & Rural Development Bank (NACRD) and he has been at the helm of affairs of Unity Bank Plc from January 2006 till date. His leadership exposure has spanned the private and public sector including a stint as the Kaduna State Commissioner for Trade and Industry in 1983 at the age of 28. He began his working career in the Kaduna State judiciary in 1980. He was at different times, Senior Legal Executive/Ag. Company Secretary of New Nigerian Investment Limited (NNIL), Company Secretary/Legal Adviser of National Freight Company Limited between 1980 -1983. He joined the banking industry in 1984 as a Senior Manager in the then Habib Bank Nigeria Limited and rose to become its Managing Director/CEO in 1994. Bello was educated at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he obtained a Bachelor of Law Degree in 1978, and was called to the bar in 1979. Besides attending several professional courses, he is also an alumnus of the Harvard Business School, Boston, a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and a fellow of the Charted Institute of Bankers. He is the Chairman of UnityKapital Assurance Plc (a member of the UnityBank Group) as well as director of several corporate organizations such as British American Tobacco Nigeria Limited, Jaiz International Plc and Kakawa Discount House Limited amongst others.


			Dr Ado Yakubu Wanka ( Group Exec. Director, Risk Mgt & Controls)

			Alhaji Wanka attended Government Secondary School, Bauchi (1966-1970), Federal School of Science, Lagos (Sept. 1971-June 1973), holds a B.Sc in Chemical Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (Sept. 1973 ï¿½ June 1977) and an MBA from the same institution (Sept. 1982 ï¿½ June 1984). He is also an alumnus of the Harvard Business School and Switzerlandï¿½s Institute of Management Development, Lausanne. Alhaji Ado Wanka began his banking career in 1988 with the then Nigerian International Bank (Citibank Nigeria) as a Deputy Manager before moving to the then FSB International Bank Plc (1991-1997)where he rose to become an Executive Director. He assumed duty as the MD/CEO of the then Gamji Bank Limited in 1997, moved to First Bank of Nigeria Plc in 1998 as an Executive Director where he spent eight (8) years. With experience in International Investment, Regulatory Function Management, he served in various capacities in several organizations, most notably as Executive Director, Finance and Administration and later on, Chairman of the Board of the Nigeria and Sao Tome joint Development Authority (an Agency which oversees the Commercial exploration of mineral resources in the Joint Development Zone covering the overlapping maritime boundary between Nigeria and Sao Tome & Principe). Alhaji Wanka is currently the Chairman, Newdevco Investments and Securities Company Limted (a member of the UnityBank Group). In addition to other professional bodies, he is a member of the Institute of Directors (IoD) and the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM). Alhaji Wanka joined UnityBank in 2008.



			Alhaji Lamis Shehu Dikko (Group Exec. Director, Central)
			Alhaji Lamis Dikko attended College of Advanced Studies, Zaria from 1976 to 1978, he was at the Queen Mary College, University of London between 1981 to 1984 where he obtained a B.SC in Economics. He is also an alumnus of the Harvard Business School (August- November 2000). Alhaji Dikko began his working career in 1980 as a News and Current Affairs Producer with the Kaduna State Radio in 1984, he later on moved to the Nigerian Standard Newspaper, Jos as ï¿½a Sub-Editor. He returned to Zaria in 1985 as an Assistant Lecturer with the College of Advanced Studies. In 1986, Alhaji Dikko joined Habib Bank Nigeria Limited where he served for twelve years and left as an Assistant General Manager. He moved to Intercity Bank Plc in 1998 as a General Manager and was appointed the Bankï¿½s MD/CEO in 2001, a position he held until Intercity Bank Plc merged with eight other banks to form Unity Bank Plc in 2005. Alhaji Dikko is a director of several organizations like, Legacy Pension Limited as well as Chairman, Katsina State Investment and Property Company Limited, UnityCapital & Trust Limited (a subsidiary company of UnityBank Plc) and LSD Associates. He is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), the Charted Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and other professional Associations. Alhaji Dikko joined UnityBank in 2006.


			Dr. Evans Woherem (Group Exec. Director - Operation and IT)
			Dr. Woherem is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School (2004), he holds a B.Sc degree in Behavioral Science from the University of Laverne, California - USA (1983) an MA in Economics and Social Studies from the University of Manchester - UK (1987). He worked with the Lloydï¿½s Register in 1989 before moving to ABSA Bank (South Africa) in 1994 as a Senior Consultant. He returned to Nigeria in 1996 to join FSB International Bank as a General Manager. He moved to First Bank of Nigeria in 2001 to become an Executive Director. Dr. Woherem is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Credit Administration, Member, International Professional Associations of Repute, Member, Chattered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Member, Institute of Directors (IoD) and South Africa Computer Society. He is the author of two highly acclaimed books on ICT & Development as well as the Chairman, Caranda Management Services Limited (a member of the UnityBank Group). Dr. Woherem joined UnityBank in 2006.



			Alhaji Umar Shehu Ndanusa - OON, FNISM (Director)
			Alhaji Umaru Shehu Ndanusaï¿½s diverse and rich business experience spans across Engineering, Oil Explorations, Banking & Insurance, Manufacturing, Agro-Allied, Mining, Fishing and Computer Services. He is a notable entrepreneur who has been involved in the founding and co-founding of several companies. He was a Director in the defunct First Interstate Bank Plc, one of the Legacy banks that made up UnityBank. He also had extensive exposure in the Public Sector where he served/chaired Boards of various institutions such as National Truck Manufacturing Company, Peugeot Nigeria Ltd, National Council on Privatization and National Electric Power Authority now (Power Holding Company of Nigeria). He was a member of the Federal Governmentï¿½s delegations to the Far East on Economic Diplomacy from 1988 to1990 and a member of the Presidential Committee on Urban Development and Housing. Alhaji Ndanusa is currently the Chairman, NigerNorth Nigeria Limited. He holds an M.Sc degree in Business Administration from LaSalle University of Louisiana, USA and is a recipient of the National Honours of the Order of the Niger (OON). Alhaji Ndanusa has been on the Board of UnityBank Plc since 2006.


			Senator Samaila Mamman (Director)
			Senator Samaila Mamman has had an accomplished Public Sector career traversing the public sector as a career civil servant. He was Commissioner for Finance in the old Kaduna State, Minister of Trade in 1986 and Minister of Agriculture in 1990. In between these years, he also served as a Director in the Federal Civil Service and eventually disengaged as a Permanent Secretary. He was Managing Director of Kaduna Investments Company Ltd and served on the Board of several companies such as defunct New Africa Merchant Bank Ltd, Bank of the North Ltd, the Nigeria Stock Exchange, Kaduna branch, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Ltd and Katsina Oil Mills Ltd. Senator Mamman attended Government Secondary School, Funtua (1962-1966) (WASC), Government College, Kaduna (1968-1969) (HSC), graduated from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1972 with a B.Sc. Economics and obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Development Economics from University of Ife in 1973. Senator Mamman is a life member of Nigeria Economic Society. He joined the Board of UnityBank Plc in 2006.


			Hajiya Bola Muinat Shagaya (Director)
			Hajiya Bola Shagaya is a successful and consummate business woman. A first rate Entrepreneur and founder of five companies cutting across Oil & Gas, Cocoa Export, Real Estate and Fast moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) distribution. She also owns and manages several other companies and was a onetime Director, defunct Intercity Bank Plc. Hajiya Bola Shagaya attended Queen Elizabeth School, Ilorin (1972-1977), holds two degrees in Accountancy and Economics from Armstrong College, Oakland, California (1981-1983) and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria (1977-1980) respectively. Her career started some 26 years ago with the Audit Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria from where she moved on to establish her own private business. She has attended several courses on Corporate Governance, Anti-money laundering and strategy training organized by KPMG and Euromoney. Hajiya Shagaya has been on the Board of UnityBank Plc since 2006 and is married with children.


			Alhaji Muhammad Babangida (Director)
			Alhaji Muhammad Babangida has over ten years experience in business, with particular interest in Banking, Oil & Gas, Real Estate and Security Services. He is the Executive Chairman, Profile Group of companies comprising Profile International Limited, Profile Technologies Limited, Profile Security Services Limited and Profile Properties Limited. He is a Director of El-Amin Nigeria Limited, a privately owned company with interests in Education and Agriculture. Between 1998 and 2006, he served as Director on the Board of Intercity Bank Plc, one of the Legacy banks of Unity Bank Plc. In addition to attending several courses within and outside Nigeria, Alhaji Babangida holds a BA in Business (1993) and an MA in Public Relations and Business Communications from the European University Monteux, Switzerland (1993). Alhaji Babangida has been on the Board of UnityBank Plc since 2006.


			Dr. Tajuddeen Adedeji Adeleke (Director)
			Dr. Adeleke is a reputable business man, holding investment portfolios in diverse companies. He is the founder and Chairman of the Boards of; Pacific Group of companies, Pacific Drilling Company, Pacific Farms Limited, Pacific Holdings Limited, Pacific Freightliners Limited and Pacific Gas Company Limited. He was also Chairman of the defunct Pacific Bank Limited, one of the Legacy banks in Unity Bank Plc. Dr. Adeleke attended Adventist High School Ede, Osun State from 1971 to 1975, had his first degree in the United States at Western Kentucky University, Bowline Green, Kentucky (1976 -1979) where he earned a B.Sc in Finance. He earned a Masters degree in Business Administration from the same school in 1981 before proceeding to Columbia Pacific University, Mills Valley, California, where he earned a Ph.D in International Business. Dr. Adeleke has been on the Board of UnityBank Plc since 2006.


			Alhaji Abubakar Sadauki (Director)
			Alhaji Abubakar Sadauki is an accomplished Banker, an experienced technocrat and Public Servant. He was a onetime Executive Director, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, a top Management staff of Union Bank Plc, Secretary to the Kano State Government and a Permanent Secretary, Kano State Ministry of Education. He was also a Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Commissioner. Alhaji Sadauki served on the Boards of Kano Bendel Timber Company, Institute of Administration, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna Polytechnic, NNDC and defunct Bank of the North Ltd, where he was Chairman. He joined the Board of UnityBank Plc in 2007. Alhaji Sadauki acquired extensive training in Planning and Economic Management both in Nigeria and abroad. He attended Kano Provincial Secondary School (1955-1960), Kings College, Lagos (1961-1962) (HSC), the University of Ibadan (1963-1966) and Williams College Massachusetts, United States (1969 ï¿½ 70) where he obtained a B.Sc. degree in Economics and an M.A. in Economic Development. He has been on the Board of UnityBank Plc since 2007.



			Engr. Ahmed Ibrahim (Director)

			Engr. Ahmed Ibrahim is a Chemical Engineer who transited from his engineering background into the financial sector and has served in several organizations with varied business interests. He is a Director on the Board of Ashaka Cement Plc and the Managing Director of Alpha ï¿½Praxis (Nig.) Ltd. Engr. Ibrahim also served as Managing Director of Drake & Scull Nig. Ltd (a subsidiary of NNDC Ltd) between 2004 and 2005. Prior to that, he was Managing Director of NNIL Commercial Co. Ltd from 1999 to 2004. He was also the Managing Director of defunct Bank of the North Limited from November 2005 to March 2006. He started his education at the Teachersï¿½ College, Damaturu, Yobe State (1978-1979), Government Science Secondary School, Bama, Borno State (1979-1983), School of Basic Studies, Zaria (1983-1984), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he earned a B.Eng. in Chemical Engineering (1983-1984) and an MBA in Finance(1991-1998), Harvard Business School, USA, Certificate on ï¿½Achieving Breakthrough Service leveraging Employee & Customer Satisfaction for Profit & Growthï¿½ 2006. Engr. Ibrahim is a member of several professional bodies like the Nigeria Institute of Management, the Nigeria Society of Chemical Engineers and the Nigeria society of Engineers. He has been on the Board of UnityBank Plc since 2007.


			Mr. Adekunle Abdulrazaq Oyinloye (Group Exec. Director - Lagos & West)
			Mr. Oyinloye holds a B.SC. in Economics from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1988), an M.SC in Banking & Finance from University of Ibadan (1997) as well as an M.SC in Economics from the University of Lagos (1999). He began his working career with the National Centre for Economic Management and Administration (NCEMA), Ibadan, in 1983. He later joined the services of Societe Generale Bank Limited in 1990. In 1993, he became the Principal Consultant and Chief Operating Officer of Prime Plus Consulting Limited Lagos. Mr. Oyinloye moved to Access Bank in 2000 before going to Global Bank plc. He later joined the re-engineering Team of Pacific Bank Plc in 2003 as pioneer Head, Commercial Banking Group. He rose to become a General Manager before the consolidation exercise that led Pacific Bank to become one of the nine legacy banks of Unity Bank Plc. Mr. Oyinloye is the Chairman, UnityBank Bureau de Change Limited, Director, UnityKapital Assurance Plc (subsidiary companies of UnityBank Plc) amongst others. He is a Member of several Professional Associations like the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, as well as Fellow of the Institute of Direct Marketing of Nigeria and the Institute of Credit Administration. He joined UnityBank in 2006.

Alhaji Rislanudeen Muhammad (Group Exec. Director - North West)

Alhaji Rislanudeen is an alumnus of three prestigious Business Schools (Harvard, London and Lagos Business School). He holds a Bachelors degree in Economics from the Bayero University, Kano (1982-1985) and an M.SC degree in the same discipline from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1988-1990).

After a stint in the Budget & Economic Planning Directorate of the Kano State Government, he joined the banking industry in 1993, starting as an Assistant Manager with CentrepointBank Plc, one of the nine legacy banks of Unity Bank Plc.

He moved to Tropical Commercial Bank Limited (another legacy bank of Unity Bank Plc) in 1995 where he served for a decade before rising to become its MD/CEO in 2005. Alhaji Rislanudeen attended many noteworthy courses within and outside the country and is a member of a number of Professional Associations like the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Nigerian Institute of Management Consultants and the Nigerian Economic Society where he is a life Member.

Alhaji Rislanudeen is a Director on the Boards of UnityBank Bureau de Change Limited and UnityCapital & Trust Limited (subsidiary companies of UnityBank Plc). He joined UnityBank in 2006.


			Mr. Felix Ohiwerei, OFR ( Director)

			Mr. Felix Ohiwerei, OFR, is one of Nigeriaï¿½s foremost Business Leaders and Strategist. He was the longest serving Managing Director of Nigeria Breweries Plc and is currently the Chairman, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Virgin Nigeria Airways Limited and Bankers Warehouse Limited amongst others. He is a Director of other associated business organizations like Shell Nigeria Closed Pension Fund Administrator Limited, Unilever African Advisory Council and Heineken African Advisory Council. He was Chairman of defunct NNB International Bank, one of the Legacy banks that made up Unity Bank Plc and is currently a Director on the Board of the Bank. Mr. Ohiwerei is a Fellow of Nigeria Marketing Association, Geography Society of Nigeria, Institute of Directors, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria and Member, Nigerian Economic Summit Board of Directors, Member of the Lagos Business School Council and Chairman, Board of Friendship Bible Fellowship Ministry. He was honoured with Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree (LL.D) by the University of Ibadan. Mr. Ohiwerei is also a recipient of the National Honours of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR). He attended Government Secondary School, Owerri (1947-1950), Nigerian College of Arts, Science & Technology (1958-1961) and graduated from the University of Ibadan in 1961 with a B.A. in Geography. Mr. Ohiwerei joined the Board of UnityBank Plc in 2007. .


			Mrs. Aisha Azumi Abraham ( Group Company Secretary)

			Mrs. Aisha Abraham attended Saint Louis College, Jos (1973 -1977), School of Basic Studies, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1978-1979). She obtained an LL.B degree from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1979-1982) and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1983. She was a Senior Partner in Baiyee, Abubakar & Co where she was involved in the setting up of Small Scale Industries and Small Scale Businesses. She was a Graduate Assistant in the Faculty of Law, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 1985 to 1986. She worked in the Legal and Company Secretariat Department of NAL Merchant Bank Plc between 1986 and 1988, Credit & Marketing Department of Ivory Merchant Bank (1990), Company Secretary/Legal Adviser of Shelter Savings & Loans Limited (1992-1994). Mrs. Abraham was also one of the Pioneer Directors of Urban Development Bank of Nigeria in 1992 and was Company Secretary/Legal Adviser of First Interstate Bank Plc (February 2002 ï¿½ January 2006) one of the nine legacy banks that made up Unity Bank Plc. She was very active during the merger process as the project Secretary and the Secretary to the Steering Committee and Committee of Directors of the Banks in-consolidation. She is currently the Group Company Secretary of Unity Bank Plc and a Director in Unity Registrars, Limited (a subsidiary company of the Bank). Mrs. Abraham joined UnityBank in 2006. .