Nsukka's Pride: Celebrating Bank Executives from Nsukka in 2024

Nsukka has long been a hub of talent and ambition, producing remarkable individuals who make their mark across various industries. Among these are the distinguished bank executives hailing from Nsukka, who are shaping the financial sector both locally and internationally. These professionals bring not only expertise and innovation to their roles but also a deep sense of community and resilience rooted in their Nsukka heritage. In this blog, we celebrate these trailblazers, exploring their achievements and the values they carry as they lead the charge in the banking world.

Daniel Ugwuoke, [Executive Director, Renaissance Capital]

Daniel Ugwuoke serves as the Executive Director at Renaissance Capital, overseeing the Fixed Income, Commodity, and Currency business of the Investment Bank. He also holds the position of MD/CEO of RenCap Securities Ltd., the capital market arm of Renaissance Capital. With over 25 years of experience in the banking and finance industry, his expertise spans retail banking, commercial banking, private banking, treasury operations, corporate finance, investment banking, and capital market operations.

Daniel began his career in 1999 as a Graduate Trainee at First Bank of Nigeria. Rising through the ranks, he became Head of the Bank’s Bond Market Desk, where he played a key role in establishing the Bond Trading Unit. His contributions earned him the CEO’s Merit Prize in 2006.

In 2007, he joined Renaissance Capital, a leading investment bank specializing in emerging and frontier markets across 50+ countries, as Vice President of Equity Sales. He was instrumental in setting up the firm’s equity business in Nigeria and enhancing its brand acceptance. Currently, as Executive Director at Renaissance Capital, Daniel oversees client relationship management, business expansion, and major fixed-income, commodity, and currency transactions both locally and internationally.

Daniel has been at the forefront of numerous high-value financial transactions. He has been involved in Eurobonds for Nigerian banks and sovereigns across Africa, as well as Federal Government of Nigeria bonds, subnational bonds, and corporate commercial papers.

He has midwifed landmark Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) including the $500 million dual listing of Oil and Gas giants, Seplat Energy Ltd on the London Stock Exchange and the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 2014, the $197 million IPO of aviation services provider Carverton on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 2014, the IPO of MTN Nigeria on the Nigerian Stock Exchange valued at ₦111.75 billion in 2021, and the $375 million IPO of telecommunication infrastructure company IHS Towers on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021.

He was also involved in the merger of Oceanic Bank and Ecobank Transnational in 2011 and served as an Investment Advisor during the sale of E-commerce platform Konga to Leo Stan Ekeh’s Zinox Group in 2016.

Daniel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education (English Education) and an MBA from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (FCIS).

A devout Christian and Catholic, Daniel is a member of the Knights of St. Mulumba (KSM). In his leisure time, he enjoys cycling.

Sir Daniel Ugwuoke, KSM, FCIS, hails from Iheakpu-Awka in Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area of Enugu State.

 

𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐬 𝐎𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐚 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚

Callistus Obetta is the Group Executive responsible for Technology and Services at First Bank of Nigeria. In this role, he oversees the conceptualization, design, and delivery of technology and service programs across Nigeria, six African countries, and the United Kingdom subsidiaries of the nation’s oldest financial institution.

With over three decades of experience in technology, business strategy, transformation, and executive management, Callistus has built a stellar career. He began his professional journey in 1991 as a Graduate Trainee at the consulting firm Arthur Andersen (now KPMG). During his tenure, he consulted for numerous companies and served as an external auditor for several years. In 1999, he joined Standard Chartered Nigeria, where he spent 17 years, rising to the position of 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫 (𝐂𝐈𝐎) 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. In 2016, Callistus joined First Bank of Nigeria as Group Executive in charge of Technology and Operations of the tier-one lender.

He is recognized as a highly skilled technology operations specialist, renowned for leading large teams in delivering banking technology and operational services. His expertise and thought leadership in the field have seen him actively participate in various banking industry technical committees focused on technology, payments, and operations.

Callistus has spearheaded several major technology and operations projects within the banking sector and currently serves as the Chairman of the Central Bank of Nigeria IT Standards Council, where he advises the apex bank on the adoption of IT standards.

A graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he earned a 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭-𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, Callistus also holds an MBA from the Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, United Kingdom. He is an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and currently sits on the board of FBN Ghana Plc.

In his leisure time, Callistus enjoys teaching and mentoring youth and children.

𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐬 𝐎𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐈𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐠𝐛𝐨-𝐄𝐳𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐧𝐮𝐠𝐮 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞..

 

𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝𝐮 𝐍𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐎𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫/𝐂𝐄𝐎, 𝐔𝐁𝐀 𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐚

Chinedu Nobert Obeta is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of United Bank for Africa (UBA) in Zambia. With over two decades of banking experience, including nearly a decade in senior leadership roles, he has proven himself a seasoned professional with a track record of driving growth and operational excellence.

Chinedu began his leadership journey at UBA as Executive Director of Wholesale Banking in Sierra Leone from October 2013 to July 2017. During this period, he managed the Corporate Banking department, increasing the unit’s balance sheet by over 500% and moving the bank’s Profit Before Tax (PBT) ranking from 12th to 5th out of 14 banks in Sierra Leone.

In July 2017, he was appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of UBA Sierra Leone. Under his leadership, the bank expanded its retail services through digital innovations, new facilities, and an expanded consumer network, significantly improving access to financial services. During his tenure, the bank’s balance sheet grew by over 200%, and the PBT increased from an average of $250,000 per month in July 2017 to $1.2 million per month by July 2020. The bank’s PBT performance rose from 5th to 2nd place in Sierra Leone’s banking sector rankings. His exceptional contributions earned him the Sierra Leone Banker of the Year award. At the same time, UBA Sierra Leone was named Bank of the Year 2019 by The Banker Magazine, a London-based globally renowned financial publication.

In July 2020, Chinedu was appointed CEO of UBA Zambia. Under his leadership, the bank has grown tremendously. Some of his achievements so far include a 100% increase in its customer base within one year by 2021 and a record-breaking PBT of $17 million in 2021. The bank has consistently posted over $1 million in monthly PBT, increased its savings deposit liability portfolio by 100%, and grew its total deposit liabilities by 180% within one year. UBA Zambia also achieved the highest growth in the industry in 2020 and has significantly enhanced financial inclusion through state-of-the-art digital technologies such as the LEO AI chatbot, prepaid card products, and mobile and internet banking solutions. UBA Zambia was named Bank of the Year 2021 by The Banker Magazine.

Chinedu holds a Bachelor of Agriculture in Agricultural Economics (1994) and an MBA (1999), both from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝𝐮 𝐍𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐎𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐈𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞-𝐄𝐧𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐮 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐧𝐮𝐠𝐮 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞.

 

Professor Kevin Chika Urama [Chief Economist and Vice President, African Development Bank, Abidjan]

Professor K.C. Urama is the Chief Economist and Vice President (Economic Governance and Knowledge Economy) at the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. In this capacity, he leads the generation, analysis, dissemination, brokering, and implementation of knowledge solutions for Africa’s premier development institution.

Professor Urama graduated with First Class Honours in Agriculture (B.Agric.) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in 1992, receiving the UAC (Nig.) Ltd Prize for Best Graduating Student in the Faculty of Agriculture. He earned a Master of Science in Agricultural Finance from UNN in 1995, graduating with distinction.

In 1999, he was awarded a Smuts Memorial Fund Scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree in Land Economy at the University of Cambridge, where he again graduated with distinction. He later received the prestigious Herold Samuel Scholarship for his PhD in Environmental and Ecological Economics at Cambridge. His doctoral thesis won the James Claydon Prize in 2003 for the most outstanding thesis in Economics and related subjects at Cambridge.

From 2002 to 2007, Professor Urama conducted postdoctoral research at the Macauley Land Use Research Institute in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Professor Urama has had an illustrious career spanning academia, research organisations, and developmental institutions.

After completing his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program in Onitsha, Anambra State, in 1993, he was invited to join the academic staff of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He served there as a lecturer and researcher until 1997 before departing for further studies at Cambridge.

After his postdoctoral in 2007, Professor Urama joined the African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) in Nairobi, Kenya, as Director of Research and Training. Three months later, he was promoted to Executive Director. He was pivotal to ATPS’s transformation into a globally recognised policy think tank.

In 2014, he became the inaugural Managing Director of Quantum Global Research Lab (QGRL), a Switzerland-based Africa-focused capital advisory firm.

Professor Urama joined the AfDB in 2016 as Senior Advisor to the President of the Bank. He was appointed Senior Director of the AfDB Institute in 2018 and, in April 2023, assumed his current role as Chief Economist and Vice President.

As Chief Economist, Urama has introduced innovative flagship knowledge products for AfDB, including Macro-economic Performance and Outlook (MEO) Reports as well as Country-focused Reports (CFRs), and significantly increased the impact of the bank’s yearly report on Africa’s Economic Outlook (AEO). He also led the establishment of the Public Finance Management Academy for Africa (PFMA) and several strategic reforms to reposition the bank as a leader in providing knowledge solutions for Africa’s development.

Despite leaving full-time academia, Professor Urama has remained closely connected to the academic community. He has been a Professor Extraordinary at the School of Public Leadership of Stellenbosch University, South Africa since 2012. He has also served as an adjunct Professor at the Sir Walter Murdock School of Public Policy and Internal Affairs of Murdoch University, Western Australia since 2013. He was appointed a Visiting Professor at the University College London in 2016. In 2020, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka named him a Distinguished Professor.

Prof. Kevin Chika Urama PhD (Cambridge) is from Aji in Igbo-Eze North LGA of Enugu State.

 

𝐊𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐠𝐰𝐮𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫, 𝐅𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐏𝐥𝐜

Kevin Ugwuoke is the Executive Director at Fidelity Bank Plc, where he oversees critical areas of risk management, including Credit Risk Management, Credit Strategy and Policy, Risk Measurement, IT Risk Management, Operational Risk Management, and Compliance. With over 30 years of experience in the banking industry, he is widely regarded as a thought leader in risk management.

Kevin began his career at Citibank Nigeria in 1990, where he spent 13 years, rising from an Assistant Manager to Vice President. His roles included Assistant Manager and Operations Supervisor (1990–1993), Deputy Manager and Business Operations Design Officer (1994–1995), Manager and Head of Operations (1996–1997), Senior Manager and Branch Manager for the Kano Branch (1998–2000), and Vice President (2001–2003).

In 2007, he joined Access Bank Plc as Head of Credit Risk. Two years later, he moved to Equatorial Trust Bank as Chief Risk Officer in 2009, before being appointed Chief Risk and Compliance Officer at United Bank for Africa (UBA) in November 2009. In April 2011, he was promoted to Enterprise Risk Manager at UBA, a position he held until joining Mainstreet Bank in 2011 as Chief Risk Officer.

In March 2015, Kevin was appointed Chief Risk Officer of Fidelity Bank, where his expertise contributed to the bank’s significant achievements. In August 2020, he was promoted to Executive Director. He has played a key role in the bank's recent growth, including the acquisition of an International Banking License, the 100% acquisition of Union Bank UK in 2023, ongoing capitalization efforts, and driving the bank’s midterm goal of achieving Tier 1 status before 2027.

Kevin graduated with 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭-𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 from the University of Nigeria in 1987. He also holds an MBA from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland.

𝐊𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐠𝐰𝐮𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐈𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐠𝐛𝐨-𝐄𝐳𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐧𝐮𝐠𝐮 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞.

Honoring Nsukka's Banking Leaders

The bank executives from Nsukka embody the spirit of excellence, resilience, and community that defines the region. Their achievements serve as an inspiration to aspiring professionals and a testament to the wealth of talent emerging from Nsukka. As they continue to break barriers and drive innovation in the financial sector, they not only elevate their institutions but also shine a spotlight on the potential of Nsukka's people. These leaders remind us that with determination and vision, there are no limits to what can be achieved. Here's to their continued success and the legacy they are building for future generations.