Board of Directors

Dr Abdu Abubakar holds a BSc (Hons) in Quantity Surveying (first-class honours) and an MSc in Construction Management from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, as well as a PhD in Construction Economics & Management from Loughborough University of Technology, United Kingdom. He has 27 years' experience in industry, teaching, research, project management and administration in both the private and public sectors, covering varying aspects of construction business and practice.

He was, until his appointment to the Board, Deputy General Manager/Head of the General Services Division of the Bank, where he turned around the Bank's infrastructure base, fundamentally reformed the procurement process of the Bank in line with international best practices, and spearheaded the development and implementation of a technology-driven approach to Corporate Assets Management, in addition to being responsible for Bankwide support services.

Mrs Adesola holds a law degree from the University of Buckingham, UK. She was called to the Nigerian bar in 1985 and has attended numerous executive development courses in Nigeria and overseas. She is also an alumni of the Harvard Business School, having completed the Advanced Management Programme.

She spent nine years at Citibank Nigeria (NIB) and was part of the start-up team for Citibank Tanzania, where she served for two years as pioneer Treasurer. Before her current appointment she was Executive Director, Corporate Banking. A seasoned banker, Adesola was MD/CEO of Kakawa Discount House Limited. She is also a Director of FBN Capital Limited, First Trustees Limited and Seawolf Limited.

Mr Lawanson holds a BSc in Estate Management from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and an MBA in Finance from the University of Lagos. A chartered surveyor, Lawanson's experience spans over 19 years in banking, with executive management positions in investment and commercial banking in several banks. He was formerly Executive Director, Lagos & West.

Lawanson, a consummate professional, has attended various training programmes in top-rated business schools and prior to joining the Board of FirstBank, was Deputy General Manager/Group Head, National Corporates in the then Corporate Banking Directorate. He is a Director of First Registrars Nigeria Limited and FBN Capital Limited.

Mrs Odunlami holds a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Warwick, Coventry, England (1982) and is a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants (1995).

She was, until her appointment, Executive Director and Country Risk Manager at Citibank Nigeria Limited with responsibility for the Bank's risk portfolio and process. She had worked extensively in consulting and banking, and was the first Sub-Sahara African female and first Nigerian appointed to the level of Senior Credit Officer within Citigroup. She is a Director of FBN Capital Limited and Seawolf Limited.

Dr Otti graduated from the University of Port Harcourt with a first-class honours degree in Economics in 1988. He was the best graduating student in the faculty of Social Sciences and won the Dean's Prize, as well as the overall best graduating student for the year and the University valedictorian. He subsequently received an MBA from the University of Lagos in 1994.

Dr Otti sits on the board of several companies and establishments as follows: Director, Celtel Nigeria Limited (Zain); Director, First Pension Custodian Nig Limited; Director, Rainbow Town Development Limited; Member, Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt; Member, Board of Trustees, Babcock University; Chairman, Economics & Statistics Committee of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Member, Board of Trustees, Chike Okoli Foundation. He is also a recipient of the prestigious Ugwu Aro Award of Arochukwu Kingdom.

Mr Oyelola holds a BSc Accounting and an MSc specialising in Finance. He is an alumnus of several worldclass executive education business schools. Until his appointment as FirstBank's CFO, he was the Executive Director, North.

Oyelola had worked with Arthur Andersen before moving into banking, first with International Merchant Bank (IMB) and Diamond Bank Plc and subsequently with FirstBank. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation and an honorary member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria. He is also the Chairman of FBN Microfinance Bank Limited, a Director of FBN Mortgages Limited, First Pension Custodian Nigeria Limited and FBN Bureau de Change Limited.

Ms Ibiai Ajumogobia is a Human Resources Management and Training Consultant with over 18 years of core HR experience. With a background in Law and Interior Design, she began her career in the Rivers State Ministry of Justice. She also worked with the Federal Ministry of Justice, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited and Citibank Nigeria.

In 2004, she incorporated The Daisy Management Centre Limited, Lagos (a human capital development firm). Ms Ajumogobia recently joined the Team- Building Network in the UK, certified to use the Margerison-McCann Team Management Profile. She is also a Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) and recently completed the Management Development Accreditation Programme with the Centre for Management Development (CMD) in Lagos.

Lt-Gen Duba joined the Nigerian Army in 1962 and held various strategic positions including Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to Military Governor, Northern Region; Military Governor, Sokoto State (1986) and Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy (1992).

He is a farmer, businessman and one time Chairman, New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC) Limited.

Mr Hassan-Odukale attended the University of Houston, Texas, USA and holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in Business Administration (Finance).

He is a board member of various companies including Prestige Assurance Plc, Adswitch Plc and Globe Reinsurance Company Limited. He is the Managing Director, Leadway Assurance Company Limited.

Alhaji Mahey Rasheed attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Harvard University, USA where he obtained a BSc Economics and MPA Public Policy respectively, and is Edward Mason Fellow, Harvard University. He started his career at New Nigeria Development Company, Kaduna and was Principal Investment Executive before joining the Central Bank of Nigeria, where he started as Assistant Director and retired as a Deputy Governor.

Alhaji Rasheed has held several Federal Government appointments and is at present Chairman, Legacy Pension Managers Limited and Premium Securities Limited respectively, as well as Director, Global Bio Fuels Limited. He was conferred with the national honour of Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2004.