My Nigeria…

Suzanne Olufunke Iroche

Suzanne Iroche has several years experience in the banking industry. She commenced her banking career with First Bank in 1981 after which she moved to International Merchant Bank,in 1982 where she worked in various areas. In 1986, she proceeded to The J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois, USA to pursue a Masters degree in Management where she did a summer internship in The Philippines for the Department of Economic Development, City of Chicago on a research project to assist 5 medium sized Chicago companies on business venture development programme.

In 1988 she joined Chartered Bank Ltd as a Manager to set up the Treasury Division from inception, planning and recruitment to structuring and implementation. Suzanne was promoted to Assistant General Manager to head the Corporate Banking Department where she handled a diversified portfolio of companies.

In 1995, Suzanne joined UBA where she managed the Foreign Exchange trading function and offshore investment portfolio for the bank. In 1998, Suzanne moved to the Corporate Banking Sector as Head of Division and was subsequently assigned the responsibility of growing the International business of the bank and marketing International organizations to build the Multilateral/NGO business of the bank.

In 2003, Suzanne was transferred to Head the Treasury and Financial Institutions (FI) Sector with responsibility for managing FX and domestic money market. She was a member of the Asset and Liability Committee (ALCO) and presented the ALCO report. Suzanne was promoted to General Manager in 2005 and acted for Executive Director Investment Bank reporting to the CEO. She was a member of Executive Committee (EXCO).

Suzanne became Executive Director (ED) on the board of UBA in 2005. Her initial position was as ED Wealth Management. She also sat on the board of many UBA subsidiary companies. She successfully led the UBA Pensions Custodian management team to set up the company from conceptual stage to take-off. Suzanne also assisted to strategically reposition the Asset Management and Trustee business for full benefit to the bank. Under her leadership, UBA Asset Management floated 4 Mutual Funds simultaneously in the market. This was the first time multiple funds had been introduced simultaneously in the Nigerian Financial markets.

In June 2006, Suzanne took on the responsibility as ED Global Bank with responsibility for supervision and expansion of the UBA’s banking franchise outside Nigeria. She was a member of Board of Directors of UBA Board, Finance & General Purposes Committee, EXCO and ALCO & Chairman of Leadership Committee.

Suzanne attended secondary school at Queens College Yaba, Lagos and received her B Sc. Economics (Honours) from the University of Lagos and her Masters from the J. L Kellog Graduate School of Management. She has attended several courses as follows: Leadership Programme, Accenture Illinois USA, April 2007, Operations & IT seminar, Mckinsey & Co, Barcelona Spain, May 2005, Oil & Gas Seminar, Euromoney Lagos 2000, Advanced Management Programme (AMP) Insead, France February 2000, Achieving Outstanding Performance Insead France, April 1999, American Express NY, Correspondent Banking Course August 1989, Citibank Bourse Game, Lagos, First National Bank of Chicago Credit Training Programme, Chicago Four-month credit-training programme 1985, Selling Skills Course, Sales Development Association LTD Illinois USA 1984, International Merchant Bank Credit Training Programme 1983.

Suzanne has held the position of Treasurer Victoria Fellowship Church and is married and has 3 children.

Nebolisa O. Arah
Has been appointed acting Managing Director of Afribank Plc Until recently, he was Chief Executive of Agate Tower Limited, an investment and financial advisory firm.  Having been Managing Director of Fidelity Bank before the consolidation programme, he bring a wealth of experience spanning over two decades in the banking and financial service industry. Arah has sat of several board, including those of Universal Trust Bank Plc, Allstates Trust Bank Plc, Financial Derivatives Limited and Fidelity Union Securities. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economic which he obtained from the University of Ibadan in 1976; a Master of Science also in the same discipline and an MBA both from the Ohio State University Graduate School, Ohio, USA.
He has attended extensive training programmes in Nigeria and abroad.

Funke Osibodu
Mrs Osibodu is the first female to hold the position of Managing Director /CEO of a bank in the country. She even has the distinction of occupying the position twice in MBC International Bank Limited and Ecobank Nigeria Plc, pre-consolidation. She has over 20 years cumulative experience working in the banking sector where she started her career at NAL Merchant Bank as a youth corps member, before moving to Continental Merchant Bank.
She is currently the Vice Chairperson of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and was until her appointment as acting managing director of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, the MD/CEO of Vigeo Capital Limited/Vigeo Group, a company jointly owned with her husband, Victor Osibodu.
Funke is a graduate of Economics from the Obafemi Awolowo University (formerly University of Ife) and has participated in several local and overseas courses.

John Aboh
Mr. John Aboh, a former Executive Director (Banking Operations & Services) of First Bank of Nigeria Plc was appointed acting Managing Director/Chief Executive of Oceanic International Bank Plc
He was born on July 18, 1956. He holds a B.Sc. degree in Finance and MBA in Finance & Accounts. He has over the years acquired special skills in structured international trade transactions, computer literacy and people management.
Aboh began his banking career in 1981 in First Bank of Nigeria Plc. He worked as a Credit Analyst, Assistant General Manager and as Deputy General Manager & Chief Inspector in Nigeria Merchant Bank Limited, Nigeria International Bank (Citibank) and UBA Plc respectively.
Notable special projects executed by Aboh include the reorganisation of international operations system at Nigeria International Bank (Citibank) and the implementation of the UBA MoneyGram Money Transfer Service.

Lai Alabi

Mr. Alabi was born on 10th October, 1950 and had his secondary school education at Aggrey secondary school and Mfantsipim School both in Cape coast, Ghana between 1964 and 1971.
He graduated from the University of Lagos in 1975 with a Bsc degree in Economics with First Class Honours, coming out as the best graduating student of the university in that year and winning five (5) academic prizes. He had his Masters degree in Economics from Yale University, U.S.A. in 1979.

He lectured economics at the University of Lagos between 1979 and 1982. He joined NAL Merchant Bank as a Deputy Manager in 1982 and left in 1985 as a Senior Manager in charge of Strategy and Planning.

He joined First Bank of Nigeria Plc in 1989 as the Assistant General Manager, Corporate Development and was appointed Deputy General Manager, Finance & Planning in 1992.

In 1995, he was seconded as the pioneer Managing Director of Kakawa Discount House Limited. He became the pioneer Managing Director of Kakawa Discount House Limited in 1995, a position he occupied before joining Union bank of Nigeria Plc in 1999 as an Executive Director in charge of Commercial Banking and later of Corporate and International Banking. He retired from the services of Union Bank in March 2006.

He has served on the board of various companies including Kwara Industrial Trust Fund Limited, First Trustees Nigeria Limited, Union Merchant Bank Limited, Union Trustees Limited, Union-Homes Savings and Loans Plc and Union bank (U.K) Plc.

He was Secretary, UNILAG Economics Students Society and the founding Editor of ULECONS, the annual publication of UNILAG Economics Students Association. He served as Assistant Secretary of UNILAG ALUMNI Association and also as Assistant Secretary of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) UNILAG chapter.

He was an Executive member of West African Bankers Association (WABA) and Member, Committee on Utilization of Kwara State Industrial Development Fund, Oyun Local Government. He was General Secretary Nigerian-Belgian Chamber of Commerce and Treasurer, Nigerian-European Association and was the pioneer Chairman Nigerian Discount Market Association. He is a member of Ikoyi Club, 1932 and President of Igbotele Development Association. He is also the Asiwaju of the Community in the Oyun Local Government in Kwara-State.