TheNewsGuru

Tag: Directors

  • Institute of Directors: Seinye Lulu-Briggs among newly inducted fellows

    Institute of Directors: Seinye Lulu-Briggs among newly inducted fellows

    The Institute of Directors Nigeria (IoD Nigeria) has elevated Dr. Mrs. Seinye O. B. Lulu-Briggs from Member to the revered grade of Fellow of the prestigious Institute.

    Her promotion follows the recommendation of the IoD Nigeria’s Fellows & Award Committee in recognition of her diverse business and entrepreneurial accomplishments.

    IoD Nigeria is a professional leadership organization which promotes directors, develops corporate governance, represents its members to government and enhances the economy for business development. It is a not-for-profit, membership-based organization that collaborates with and enjoys the support of all the regulatory institutions in the country as well as international multilateral organizations.

    Dr. Mrs. Ije Jidenma, the President and Chairman, Governing Council of IoD Nigeria feted the new fellows in her speech. “While I heartily congratulate you and share in your joy at this epoch-making event and moment, I will not fail to remind you that this status you have attained today in our cherished institute comes with a lot of honour, respect, demands and of course, challenges. I am however confident that with your pedigrees and proven track records of excellent performance you will not let the Institute down in the daily conduct of your corporate and private lives,” she said.

    Dr. Lulu-Briggs thanked the leadership of IoD Nigeria for considering her worthy of the honour and promised to observe all her responsibilities to the Institute. According to her, “The world is a different from place from where we were, even last year. It demands of us fresh ideas and adoption of cutting-edge technology to meet and overcome the new challenges. Fortunately, we have the eminence grise of business and entrepreneurship in our country gathered to witness our investiture. I know we are already doing a lot to grow our economy and create jobs for our vibrant and teeming youth population. But I would like to implore us all to redouble our nation building efforts.”

    Dr. Lulu-Briggs, among others, is the Chairman of Moni Pulo Limited, a pioneer indigenous company in the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry; the Managing Director of La Sien Bottling Company, the premium water of choice across the South of Nigeria as well the Chairman of the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation, a leading Nigerian NGO with a mission to enhance the lives of the under-served in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    Other new inductees into the IoD Fellows rank include Prof. Enase Okonedo, former Dean of the Lagos Business School, Mallam Aliyu AbdulRahman Dikko, Chairman, Board of Directors of the Bank of Industry, Mr. Abubakar A. Bello, Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Import-Export Bank (NEXIMBank), Mr. Ibrahim Hassan, Founder and Executive Chairman of Summit Energy Limited and Mrs. Ayodele O. Jaiyesimi, Chief Executive Officer of the THESPIAN Family Theatre and Productions.

  • 21 directors fail assessments to become permanent secretaries

    21 directors fail assessments to become permanent secretaries

    Twenty-one directors on Salary Grade Level 17 in the Federal Civil Service who sat for a written examination as part of the process of appointing them as permanent secretaries failed the examination.

    TheNewsGuru recalls that the 21 directors were among 46 senior officers who took the examination in Abuja on Monday.

    The outstanding 25 of them, who passed the examination, are now qualified for the next stage, which is the Information Communication Technology proficiency test holding on Thursday (today).

    Although the Federal Government had in May announced the shortlisting of 47 directors for the examination among the 51 candidates who earlier faced a panel, results of only 46 directors were seen on the list of the result obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday.

    The document, titled ‘Re; Selection exercise for the appointment of permanent secretaries in the federal civil service,’ was dated June 1, 2021, and signed by Sunny Echocho on behalf of the examination committee.

    TheNewsGuru gathered that the 25 directors who passed the written examination and were invited for the next stage were those who scored 50 and above in the examination.

    The 21 directors who failed the examination were those who scored below 50. A candidate with 33.5 was the director with the lowest score in the examination.

    The director with 68.5 was the candidate with the highest score.

    Names of the officials were, however, not specified on the document.

    The candidates were identified by their service numbers.

    Those who pass the ICT test on Thursday will qualify for the last stage, which is an interactive session with a broad-based panel of experts and practitioners.

    The candidates are competing to fill the vacancies of retired permanent secretaries and those retiring this year in five states of the federation.

    The affected states are Ekiti, Katsina, Nasarawa, Enugu and Lagos.

     

  • NDLEA reshuffles directors, creates new directorate

    NDLEA reshuffles directors, creates new directorate

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA ) has reshuffled some of its directors and created a new directorate to enhance efficiency and strengthen its operations.

    The agency made this known in a statement in Abuja, signed and made available to newsmen by the Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, on Tuesday.

    He said that the exercise was announced by the NDLEA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), retired Brig.- Gen. Buba Marwa, at a meeting with directors at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday.

    The statement quoted Marwa as saying that the new movement was to propel the agency to greater achievements.

    “In the new changes which take effect from May 11, the former Director of Administration and Establishment, Mr Ezekiel Epeso, moves to Technical Services as Director in charge.

    “The former Head of Internal Affairs, Mr Ibrahim Sani, becomes the new Director of Administration and Establishment; while Mr Pius Gamde, an Assistant Director, Legal Services, is now the Director of Internal Affairs and Provost Marshal of the agency.

    “The former Director of Technical Services, Mr Ahmed Ninigi has now been moved to a newly created directorate as Commander, Strike Force and Director, Special Duties,”the statement read.

    The NDLEA boss, according to the statement, said the various tactical and Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) teams across the commands had been merged and renamed Strike Force, which will now function under the new directorate headed by Ninigi.

    “NDLEA is now repositioned to effectively take on the drug cartels and syndicates operating in any part of the country.

    “We have to target the cartels and not only the traffickers; we have to put more bite,” Marwa is quoted as saying.

  • Fidelity Bank appoints two new directors

    Fidelity Bank appoints two new directors

    The Board of Directors of Fidelity Bank Plc has announced the appointment of Engr. Henry Ikem Obih as an Independent Non-Executive Director with effect from September 21, 2020 and Dr. Kenneth Onyewuchi Opara as an Executive Director. The appointments have been approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    Dr. Opara will assume office as the Executive Director in charge of the Lagos & South West Directorate on January 1, 2021, taking over leadership of the Directorate from Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe who was recently appointed Managing Director/CEO – Designate.

    Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe will succeed Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo who retires as Managing Director/CEO on December 31, 2020, upon the completion of his contract tenure in line with the internal policies of the Bank.

    “Both appointments are in furtherance of our positioning for the next growth phase. We welcome Henry and Ken to the Board and believe they will make significant contributions that will sustain the performance trajectory of the Bank in line with our strategic intent” said Mr. Mustafa Chike-Obi, Chairman, Board of Directors, Fidelity Bank Plc.

    Engr. Obih was the Group Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer (GED/COO), Downstream, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) until his retirement in 2019 and was subsequently appointed to the Board of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) in July 2020.

    He joins the Board of Fidelity Bank Plc with significant cross-functional work experience and exposure spanning over three (3) decades, across different climes including Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas. He has extensive experience in project and performance management, manufacturing and operations management, sales and marketing, strategy and business planning/analysis, business development/re-engineering, general management, corporate governance and risk management.

    Prior to joining NNPC as GED/COO in 2016, Engr. Obih had a stellar 22-year career at Mobil Oil Nigeria (ExxonMobil Nigeria Downstream) and held several high-profile positions in the company including being Executive Director, Retail and Executive Director, Operations, Customer Service and Logistics.

    His recent leadership roles include board positions at Nigeria Gas Marketing Company Limited, Pipelines and Products Marketing Company Limited, NNPC Retail Limited, NIDAS Marine Limited (a subsidiary of NNPC in joint venture with Daewoo Industries South Korea), NIKORMA Limited (a subsidiary of NNPC in joint venture with Hyundai Heavy Industries South Korea) and Duke Oil Company Inc.

    Engr. Obih holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and an MBA in Financial Management from the University of Bradford, Yorkshire, England.

    His professional affiliations include membership of the Institute of Directors, Society for Corporate Governance and Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN); Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers; Institute of Credit Administration and Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.

    He has attended executive programs in leadership, strategy, finance, corporate governance, and business management at some of the world’s leading institutions including Columbia Business School, New York, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), IMD Lausanne, Switzerland, London Business School and Lagos Business School, Nigeria.

    Dr. Opara who currently serves as General Manager/Regional Bank Head, Ikeja Region, has over 29 years’ experience in banking and worked at various financial institutions including legacy Omega Bank Plc, Equatorial Trust Bank Plc and Manny Bank Plc, before joining Fidelity Bank Plc in 2006, following its merger with Manny Bank Plc.

    He has core-banking experience in diverse areas of banking including Credit, Treasury, Retail, Consumer and Commercial Banking, International Operations and Corporate Banking and has held senior management positions in the industry including Divisional Head, Managed SMEs, Multilateral Agencies & Trade Missions; Division Head, SMEs, Electronic & Consumer Banking; Head, Private & Consumer Banking, Head, Affinity Banking & Corporate Consumer Banking; and Head Consumer & Commercial Banking.

    “The appointment of Ken is well deserved and in line with our succession planning policy. He has made significant contributions to the growth of the Region as well as the various Divisions he has headed in the Bank” said Fidelity Bank’s MD/CEO, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo.

    Dr. Opara has attended executive management programs at Harvard Business School, Kellogg School of Management, Wharton, INSEAD and Lagos Business School amongst others. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and an active member of the Institute’s Governing Council, where he currently serves as 1st Vice President, having previously served as 2nd Vice President and National Treasurer of the Institute.

    He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Finance and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Ph.D. in Credit Management from International University of Panama.

  • FG redeploys 331 directors across ministries

    FG redeploys 331 directors across ministries

    The President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government has approved the redeployment of 331 civil servants on directorate level across ministries.

    The mass redeployment of the directors was contained in a circular dated September 3, 2020 and obtained by TheNewsGuru.com, TNG on Friday.

    The circular signed by the Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Mahmuda Mamman, on behalf of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, was titled “Approved posting of directorate level officers in GL 15-17 under the pool of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.”

    The circular directed that all handing and taking over processes by the officials should be completed on or before Friday, September 11, 2020.

    “Any disregard for this deployment shall be treated in accordance with the provisions of the Public Service Rule 030301 (b),” the circular read in part.

    The aspect of the rule referred to, which is under Section 3 that focuses on misconduct, identifies refusal to proceed on transfer or to accept posting as a form of misconduct.

    The section further defines misconduct as a specific act of wrongdoing or an improper behaviour which is inimical to the image of the service and which can be investigated and proved.

    According to the rule, such behaviours can lead to termination of appointment and retirement.

    A breakdown of the 331 affected officials showed that they include 311 administrative officers and 20 professional officers.

    In the case of administrative officers, 67 directors; 102 deputy directors; and 142 assistant directors were affected in the shakeup.

    For the professional officers, eight directors; five deputy directors and seven assistant directors were redeployed.

    The purposes of redeployment of the officials as indicated on the circular include filling vacancies, to understudying retiring officials and deputising for officials, and in some cases, based on requests.

    Recall that the Head of Service had eaelier in a circular dated August 28, 2020, announced the approval of President Buhari for the deployment of 12 new permanent secretaries and re-deployment of 13 permanent secretaries.

  • BREAKING: Buhari suspends NSITF MD, four directors indefinitely

    BREAKING: Buhari suspends NSITF MD, four directors indefinitely

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday slammed an indefinite suspension on the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Mr. Adebayo Somefun.

    Also suspended by the president were four directors of the Trust Fund.

    The directors are: Executive Director, Finance and Investment, Mr. Jasper Ikedi Azuatalam; Executive Director, Operations, Mrs. Olukemi Nelson and Executive Director, Administration, Alhaji Tijani Darazo Sulaiman.

    A statement issued by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Charles Akpan, announced their suspension in Abuja.

  • NDDC: Interim Mgt C’ttee orders all Directors, HODs to proceed on mandatory leave

    NDDC: Interim Mgt C’ttee orders all Directors, HODs to proceed on mandatory leave

    The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC Interim Management Committee has ordered all directors and departmental heads to proceed on mandatory leave to enable the Commission carry out a forensic audit.

    TheNewGuru.com, (TNG) reliably gathered that the Commission in a memo signe by the acting Executive Director, Finance and Admin Chief Bassey Ibanga Etang directed all the heads to immediately vacate office.

    But a source privy to this development said the essence of asking the directors to embark on the forced leave is to enable audit outfits singlehandedly picked by the Minister,Senator Godswill Akpabio to do a shoddy work.

    “Why is the Commission sending them on leave when their inputs is required to assist the audit firms.

    “It was the Minister who appointed and discuss the payment for their services so what do we expect from the firm’s,” the source wondered.

    “We equally have it on good authority that the minister went to the various offices of the directors and allegedly removed some vital files which he took to Abuja.

    “This whole exercise is a ploy to make the audit firms follow the dictates of the Niger Delta Affairs minister and this is an abnormality, he added.
    In the memo sent to the directors and departmental heads, the instruction is that they should immediately embark on a mandatory leave.

    It was further stated in the statement that staff who have disciplinary proceedings already instituted against them or about to be instituted should proceed on mandatory leave pending the determination of such matters.

  • FIRS appoints new directors, retires others

    FIRS appoints new directors, retires others

    The Board of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has approved the appointment of four Coordinating Directors (CD) and two Group Leads (GL) in acting capacity and retired some directors.

    Mr Abdullahi Ismaila, Director, Communications and Liaison Department of the service, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Ismaila said the appointment was part of ongoing-internal reforms to reposition the Service towards achieving its N8.5 trillion tax target.

    He explained that the FIRS Board took the decision at its Emergency Meeting held on Friday during which it also approved the retirement of some directors.

    He said the board approved the retirement of all directors who had served for eight years and above as directors in the Service, in line with Para 10.1(a)(iii) of Human Resources Policy and Programmes (HRPP)” of the FIRS statute.

    According to him, the newly appointed Coordinating Directors are Dr Asheikh Maidugu who is now in charge of Executive Chairman’s Group, Mr Olufemi Oladeji Oluwaniyi, Tax Operations Group, Mr Innocent Chinyere Ohagwa, General Services Group and Mr Ezra Usman Zubairu, Enforcement Support Group.

    Those appointed as Group Leads are Mrs Faosat Ogunniyi, Compliance Support Group and Ms. Chiaka Okoye, Digital Support Group.

    Ismaila said the appointments took immediate effect and would subsist for six months.

    He added that the Board and Management congratulated the new appointees and enjoined them and other workforce of the service to continue to work hard and support Management towards meeting and surpassing the revenue targets.

    The director noted that the Board and Management also thanked the retired directors for their inestimable contributions to the FIRS and Nigeria while in Public Service, and wished them well in their future endeavours.

  • CBN announces appointment, redeployment of directors

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced the appointment and redeployment of some directors.

    A statement from the CBN on Thursday said Mr. Yusuf Philip Yila, a Director with the bank and the Managing Director, NIRSAL Microfinance Bank (NMFB), has been redeployed to the position of Director, Development Finance Department, with effect from today.

    Yila succeeds Dr. Mudashiru Olaitan, who retires on January 26, 2020.

    Other movements include the redeployment of Mr. Kofo Salam-Alada from the Consumer Protection Department to the Legal Services Department as well as the movement of Mr. Samuel Okojere from the Payment System Management to the Banking Services Department, to replace Mr. Dipo Fatokun, who retired last December.

    The CBN also okayed the appointment of Mr. Clement Buari as Director, Strategy Management Department; Haruna Mustafa, director, Consumer Protection; Bello Hassan, Director, Other Financial Institutions’ Supervision Department; Dr. Ozoemena Nnaji, Director, Trade and Exchange Department; and Mr. Musa Itopa Jimoh as Director, Payment System Management.

    Meanwhile, Mr. Abubakar Abdullahi Kure has been appointed Acting Managing Director of NIRSAL Microfinance Bank.

  • Fidelity Bank Orders Directors, Others to Stop Sale of Shares

    Directors, managers and other high-ranking members of staff of Fidelity Bank Plc as well as their related persons have been asked to stop the trading of the company’s equities on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) for now.

    These set of people have been prohibited by the financial institution to stop buying and selling of the stocks from Thursday, October 17, 2019 until the third quarter earnings of the bank are released to the NSE and the investing public.

    This is to prevent insider trading by these people because of the company’s vital information at their disposal, which they may use to affect the price of the stock at the exchange to the disadvantage of others.

    In a notice on Friday, Fidelity Bank said its board of directors was planning to have a meeting on Thursday, October 24, 2019 for the consideration and approval of its results for the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

    After the approval of the results by the board, the financial statements would be transmitted to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which would look into them and return to the bank before they are released to the public.

    “This is to inform the Nigerian Stock Exchange and the investing public that in line with Fidelity Bank Plc’s Insider Trading Policy and the extant Issuers’ Rules of the exchange, the board of directors of Fidelity Bank Plc shall meet on Thursday, October 24, 2019, to consider the Unaudited Financial Accounts for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019.

    “Consequently, all insiders and their connected persons are prohibited from trading (i.e buying, selling, transferring or otherwise dealing) in the bank’s shares from October 17, 2019 until the Unaudited Accounts for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 are released on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE),” the disclosure from the lender today said.

    Meanwhile, shares of Fidelity Bank appreciated on Friday by 2 kobo or 1.18 percent to close at N1.72 per share.