Nigeria: Introducing the Newly Appointed Deputy Governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu has given his approval for the nomination of four new Deputy Governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), pending confirmation by the Senate. These appointments are for a term of five years, and the appointees will collaborate with the newly appointed head of the Apex Bank, Yemi Cardoso.

Let’s take a closer look at the profiles of these distinguished individuals who will serve as CBN deputy governors:

1. Mrs. Emem Nnan Usoro

   • An alumna of Harvard Business School and Lagos Business School.
   • Mrs. Usoro has a banking career spanning over two decades, with experience in Operations, Credit and Marketing, Branch Management, Relationship Management, Corporate and Commercial Banking.
   • She previously held the position of Group General Manager and the Strategic Business Group (SBG) Head in Abuja.
   • Mrs. Usoro also served as the Regional Head for Lagos Bank 2 and has received multiple awards at the annual UBA CEO Awards.

2. Mr. Philip Ikeazor

   • With over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry.
   • Holds a BSc. in Economics from the University of Buckingham, UK.
   • An alumnus of the Wharton-CEIBS-IESE Business School Global CEO Programme and has attended executive programs at Harvard Business School and Wharton School of Business.
   • Mr. Ikeazor has held various board positions, including CEO of Keystone Bank Limited and CEO of Ecobank Kenya Limited.
   • He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Fellow Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.

3. Dr. Bala Bello

   • A native of Taraba State, Dr. Bala Mohammed Bello has a diverse career spanning Banking, Capital Markets, and Pension Fund Management.
   • Dr. Bello is well-known for his excellence and has consistently surpassed competition in his field.
   • He was appointed as the Executive Director of Corporate Services at the Nigerian Export-Import Bank in April 2017.

4. Muhammad Sani Abdullahi

   • An international development expert with a rich background.
   • Served as a policy adviser at the Executive Office of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon in New York.
   • Previously held the position of Commissioner for Budget and Planning in Kaduna State.
   • He holds a Master’s degree in Development Economics and Policy from the University of Manchester and a second Master’s from Ahmadu Bello University in International Affairs and Diplomacy.
   • Abdullahi has obtained certificates in Public Finance from the London School of Economics, Sustainable Development from Columbia University, and Advanced Project Management from Oxford University.

These accomplished individuals bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their roles as Deputy Governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and their contributions are expected to be instrumental in shaping the country’s financial landscape.