A wave of executive appointments reshaped Nigeria’s corporate landscape in the second quarter of 2026, marked by 21 high-profile board and C-suite changes across financial services, energy, FMCG, manufacturing, and public enterprise sectors.
This strategic realignment reflects a concerted push by corporations and state agencies to strengthen institutional governance, accelerate digital and operational transformation, and drive sustainable growth amid shifting macroeconomic realities.
Below are the 21 executives appointed to key leadership roles:
Modupe Femi-Okunbanjo – Executive Director, Unilever Nigeria
Appointed effective June 30, 2026, following the resignation of Ibrahim Sodipe, Modupe Femi-Okunbanjo joins Unilever Nigeria’s board while continuing her role as financial controller for Nigeria and regional controls lead for West Africa.
A fellow of ICAN and member of CIMA, she brings over 17 years of experience in financial governance, enterprise risk management, and strategic growth across the FMCG and telecommunications sectors.
Ogochukwu Onyelucheya – Acting CEO, Ikeja Electric
Appointed Acting CEO on July 1, 2026, succeeding Folake Soetan, Onyelucheya brings over 20 years of banking and energy leadership to Nigeria’s largest electricity distribution firm.
A Harvard Business School alumna, she will focus on accelerating digitization, curbing operational revenue leaks, and improving customer service metrics across the network.
Dr. Muiz Adeyemi Banire, SAN, OON – Non-Executive Director, Julius Berger
Appointed to the board effective July 1, 2026, Dr. Muiz Adeyemi Banire brings extensive legal and regulatory expertise to the construction giant.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, principal partner at M. A. Banire and Associates, and former chairman of AMCON, he currently serves as pro-chancellor of the University of Uyo, strengthening Julius Berger’s corporate governance and strategic legal oversight.
Uyi Akpata – Non-Executive Director, Savannah Energy
Appointed effective July 1, 2026, Uyi Akpata joins the board of Savannah Energy and is slated to chair its audit and risk committee.
The former senior partner at PwC West Africa brings over 40 years of chartered accounting experience to the British energy firm. He currently serves as founder of Rusa Advisory, Chairman of emPLE Life Insurance, and Chairman of Unified Payments Limited.
Deji Olanrewaju – Chairman, Board of Directors, Zedvance
Appointed Board Chairman effective July 1, 2026, Prof. Olanrewaju brings over 40 years of banking, legal, and financial expertise to Zedvance.
The immediate past president of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and professor of banking law at Babcock University, he will lead strategic oversight and corporate governance for the retail lender’s next expansion phase.
Ronke Sokefun – Chairman, Board of Directors, Comercio Partners
Appointed as Comercio Partners’ first female Board Chairman, Sokefun brings nearly 40 years of legal, corporate governance, and public sector experience to the investment firm.
A Templars partner and former group chief legal officer at Oando Plc, she previously served as a two-term Ogun State cabinet commissioner and was the first female Board Chairman of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).
Dr. Abdulrazaq Isa, OFR – Chairman of the Board, World Energy Council Nigeria
Following Nigeria’s formal admission as a national member committee of the World Energy Council in August 2026, Dr. Isa assumes the Chairmanship of the newly formed board.
The co-founder and Chairman of Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited will work alongside CEO Bala Wunti to drive regional energy security, expand power access, mobilize private investment, and amplify Africa’s voice in global energy transition policy.
Pastor Jerry Eze – Independent Non-Executive Director, Heirs Life Assurance
Appointed to the board effective August 10, 2026, Pastor Jerry Eze brings a unique combination of corporate communications, international development, and massive public engagement experience to Heirs Life Assurance.
Before founding faith-based, Streams of Joy International and the global NSPPD platform, he served as a communications specialist with the World Bank HIV/AIDS project and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
His appointment is strategically positioned to leverage his widespread grassroots trust and influence to drive retail insurance adoption and deepen financial inclusion across Nigeria.
Heather Ibrahim-Leathers – Non-Executive Director, Lekoil
Ibrahim-Leathers serves as a Non-Executive Director on the board of Lekoil Limited, an upstream oil and gas company focused on Nigeria. A veteran of global finance with over 30 years of experience in capital markets, corporate finance, and strategic transactions, she has held senior leadership roles at major institutions including J.P. Morgan, Credit Suisse, and Merrill Lynch.
Beyond her corporate career, she leverages her financial background as the founder and Chairwoman of the Global Fund for Widows, an organization driving economic empowerment and financial inclusion. She holds a B.Sc. in Economics from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
‘Boye Olusanya – Board Chairman, Beta Glass
Olusanya assumed office as the Chairman of the board of directors at Beta Glass Plc on July 30, 2026, succeeding Dr. Vitus Ezinwa following an official announcement to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) on August 5, 2026. Currently serving as the group chief executive officer of Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN), he brings nearly three decades of executive leadership across manufacturing, FMCG, telecommunications, and agribusiness. His background includes senior positions at VMobile (Econet Wireless), 9mobile, Dangote Industries, and Helios Investment Partners.
Obeahon Ohiwerei – Managing Director/CEO, Coronation Merchant Bank
Ohiwerei was appointed as the managing director and chief executive officer of Coronation Merchant Bank following approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria, succeeding Paul Abiagam in July 2026. A veteran with over 30 years of experience across the Nigerian and African financial services sectors, his career includes leadership roles as group managing director/CEO of Keystone Bank, group executive director at Access Bank, and pioneer MD/CEO of UBA Ghana. In his new role, he will focus on driving institutional restructuring, digital transformation, and disciplined corporate growth.
Eyitope Kola-Oyeneyin – Board Chair, NIPC
Kola-Oyeneyin serves as the Board Chairperson of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), following her appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in July 2026.
As founder and managing partner at Augmentum Advisory, she brings over 25 years of executive experience across management consulting, banking, digital transformation, and public policy. Her past leadership roles include partner at McKinsey and Company, Independent Non-Executive Director at MTN Nigeria, and senior positions at FirstBank Nigeria and Central Bank of Nigeria public sector initiatives.
She holds an Msc in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University and a Bsc in Industrial Engineering from the University of Central Florida.
Muhammad Hadi Mutallab – Board Chair, NEPZA
Mutallab serves as the Board Chairman of the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), following his appointment by President Bola Tinubu on July 13, 2026.
A seasoned entrepreneur and founder of Dattaku Global Investment Limited and Farm to You Limited, he brings multi-sector expertise across maritime, logistics, real estate, finance, and agritech. His corporate governance record includes directorships at Jaiz Bank Plc and Equatorial Marine Oil and Gas. He holds a B.A. in Business Administration and Management and an MBA with Magna Cum Laude honors from the Canadian University Dubai.
Oreoluwa Atinmo – Managing Director, FanMilk Nigeria
Atinmo assumed the role of managing director at FanMilk Nigeria on April 1, 2026, as she succeeded Kayode Adebiyi. She brings extensive commercial and technical leadership to the role, having previously served as marketing director at GB Foods Nigeria, where she partnered with celebrity chef Hilda Baci to execute the Gino World Jollof Festival, driving double-digit revenue growth and securing Guinness World Records.
She began her career as the first female automation engineer at Nigerian Breweries (HEINEKEN). She holds degrees in electrical and electronic engineering from the University of Nottingham, a master’s in petroleum engineering from Imperial College London, and a Global Executive MBA from IE Business School.
Folake Soetan – Managing Director, Arahis
Folake Soetan assumed office as the managing director of Arahas Global Oilfield Services, a subsidiary of Sahara Group, effective July 1, 2026.
She brings over two decades of leadership experience across the power, oil and gas, midstream, downstream, and aviation industries. Prior to this role, she served as CEO of Ikeja Electric, where she spearheaded operational transformation, grew customer metering to 86 percent, and significantly reduced aggregate technical, commercial, and collection (ATC and C) losses.
In tandem with her executive post at Arahas, she serves as a non-executive director (distribution) at the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) and is an alumnus of Harvard Business School’s Executive Education program.
Malolan Sampath – Managing Director, Champion Breweries
Malolan Sampath formally assumed office as the managing director and chief executive officer of Champion Breweries Plc on September 1, 2026, following his appointment by the board in June and a brief interim transition led by executive director of finance Rasheed Adebiyi.
He brings over 26 years of global leadership experience across the beverage, FMCG, and manufacturing sectors. His executive career includes roles as managing director of Unique Beverages in Angola, sales and marketing director for a PepsiCo franchise, managing director and CMO at Indorama Eleme Fertilisers in Nigeria, and CEO of Global Industries Limited in Zambia. He holds a BBA from the University of Chennai and an MBA from the Symbiosis Centre for Management and HRD, Pune.
Fola Fagbule – Director and Head, AFC Nairobi Regional Office
Fagbule serves as the pioneer director and head of the Nairobi Regional Office for the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC). In this role, he leads AFC’s operations across East and Central Africa. Having joined AFC in 2009, he previously headed its financial advisory services from 2017, executing more than $12 billion in transactions across the power, transport, mining, and telecommunications sectors. He holds a BSc. in Physics and an MBA, supplemented by executive training from Harvard and Stanford.
Wolemi Esan, SAN – Non-Executive Director, NAHCO Plc
Esan was appointed as a non-executive director on the board of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO), effective July 1, 2026. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and commercial lawyer with over two decades of experience, he specializes in high-stakes litigation, commercial disputes, capital markets, and corporate governance. He brings deep expertise in energy, transport, and infrastructure transactions, including airport, port, and rail concessions, strengthening NAHCO’s board legal and regulatory oversight following recent leadership retirements.
Habila Malgwi – Head of West Africa, SFTY.AI
Malgwi serves as the Head of West Africa for SFTY.AI. In his role, he oversees the deployment of RegTech and SupTech solutions focused on anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorist financing (CFT) compliance, and digital asset supervision for financial institutions and regulators.
An international investment banker and financial analyst, his past executive leadership includes roles as executive director for Nigeria and Kenya at MobiBank, head of Africa for the Global Citizen Forum, and regional director for East and West Africa at Arton Capital. He has been recognized on the Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) under 40 list.
Ifedayo Olaniyi Orimoloye – Executive Director, Risk Management, Access Bank Plc
Orimoloye assumed office as executive director, Risk Management at Access Bank Plc on September 21, 2026, following Central Bank of Nigeria approval. As former group chief risk officer at the African Development Bank (AfDB), he brings over 25 years of global risk management experience across Africa, Europe, and the U.S. His executive career spans major financial institutions including Wells Fargo, HSBC, Citigroup, Ecobank, and Sterling Bank. He holds dual bachelor’s degrees in economics and finance as well as an MBA in finance from California State University, Hayward.
Euphemia Annor Rwigema – General Counsel and Company Secretary, PZ Cussons
Rwigema was appointed group general counsel and company secretary of PZ Cussons, joining the company’s executive committee with effect from November 9, 2026. Prior to this role, she served as General Counsel for Northern Europe at The Kraft Heinz Company, where she led legal, compliance, and government affairs across the UK, Ireland, and the Nordics. With over 16 years of legal and corporate leadership experience spanning the UK, Europe, and Africa, her background also includes nearly eight years in senior global and regional legal positions at Reckitt.