Sharafadeen Muhammed joined First Bank of Nigeria Limited in March 2026 as Group Executive/Chief Financial Officer. He brings to the Executive Management of FirstBank over 25 years of senior global financial services experience, spanning Nigeria, USA, UK and South Africa, with deep expertise in financial management, transformation and strategic planning.
In this role, Sharafadeen provides strategic leadership and direction over the Bank’s financial management, capital optimisation and financial performance management, driving financial transformation, ensuring regulatory compliance and aligning financial strategies with the Bank’s business objectives.
He joined FirstBank from Polaris Bank Nigeria Limited, where he served as an Executive Director, providing executive leadership for Operations, Technology, Enterprise Risk Management, Compliance and Customer Experience. In this capacity, he led enterprise wide initiatives focused on driving operational efficiency, strengthening internal controls and improving overall organisational performance.
Prior to joining Polaris Bank, Sharafadeen worked within Citigroup, where he progressed through leadership roles across multiple geographies. He served as Chief Financial Officer and Director for Citibank Sub-Saharan Africa, covering 11 countries, with responsibility for business performance, capital optimisation and regulatory engagements. At various times, he held senior leadership roles at Citibank Nigeria, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney New York, as well as Citigroup New York and London.
Throughout his career, Sharafadeen has played significant roles in strategy development, financial management and regulatory compliance, leading cross functional teams and driving sustainable growth in complex environments. He has maintained strong engagement with regulatory authorities and contributed to industry wide initiatives. He is committed to strong financial governance, disciplined execution and enabling sustainable value creation across the Bank.
Sharafadeen holds a BSc in Accounting (First Class Honours) from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and an MBA from New York University Stern School of Business, USA. He is a CFA Charterholder, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), a Member of the Chartered Institute of Directors of Nigeria, an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and an alumnus of INSEAD Business School, among other affiliations.
He is married with children and loves tennis and wildlife.
