On Friday, President Bola Tinubu nominated four deputy governors for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to serve alongside Olayemi Cardoso, who was also nominated as the new governor of the apex bank. The nominees include Emem Nnana Usoro, Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Dattijo, Philip Ikeazor, and Bala M. Bello.
Emem Nnana Usoro: A Wealth of Banking Experience
Emem Nnana Usoro, one of the deputy governor nominees, boasts an impressive 20-year career in the banking industry. Her expertise spans retail and commercial banking, customer service, and corporate banking. Currently serving as the Executive Director at United Bank for Africa (UBA), Usoro joined UBA in 2010 as a regional bank head. She climbed the corporate ladder at UBA, previously spending six years at the defunct Bank PHB Plc. Her educational background is equally impressive, including management-related certificates from Harvard Business School and degrees from the University of Pretoria, University of Uyo, and Obafemi Awolowo University.
Should her nomination be approved by the senate, Emem Nnana Usoro is expected to bring her extensive experience to the role of deputy governor of the CBN.
Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Dattijo: A Diverse Background
Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Dattijo, another nominee, brings a diverse background to the CBN. He previously worked as a policy adviser at the executive office of Ban Ki-Moon, the former United Nations secretary-general. Dattijo also served as an economic adviser to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and as the budget and planning commissioner in the Kaduna state government.
His private sector experience includes roles at the Balera Micro-Finance Bank, Athal Consulting, Ecobank Nigeria, and the Dunning Africa Center. With educational achievements from Ahmadu Bello University and the London School of Economics and Political Science, Dattijo is well-equipped to contribute to the CBN.
Philip Ikeazor: A 30-Year Financial Sector Veteran
Philip Ikeazor boasts an impressive 30-year career in the financial sector, with stints at various banks, including serving as the Chief Executive at Keystone Bank Limited in Nigeria and Ecobank Kenya. He also held roles as an executive director at Union Bank Nigeria and director of Union Bank UK Plc before transitioning to the governing board of the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India.
Ikeazor’s qualifications include certificates from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, along with fellowships from the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.
Bala M. Bello: Over 20 Years in the Private Sector
Bala M. Bello, the final nominee, brings over 20 years of experience in the private sector to the CBN. His career path included roles at institutions such as the Nigerian Export-Import Bank, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Sigma Pensions Ltd, Marine Capital Limited, and Apricot Investments Limited.
He holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in accounting from Ahmadu Bello University and earned a leadership program certificate from Harvard Business School. Additionally, he pursued education abroad at institutions like the Wharton Business School, Richard Ivey School of Business, and the Portfolio Management Academy.
These nominees, with their extensive experience and diverse backgrounds, are poised to make significant contributions to the Central Bank of Nigeria if their nominations are approved.