Fidelity Bank Plc Announces Fresh Appointments to Board of Directors

Fidelity Bank Plc has announced significant changes to its Board of Directors, effective January 14, 2025.

The new appointments include Alhaji Abdullahi Sarki Mohammed as an Independent Non-Executive Director, Ms. Obiaku Augusta Okam as a Non-Executive Director, and Mr. Sufiyanu Ibrahim Garba as the Executive Director for the North Directorate.

The bank has confirmed that these appointments have received the necessary approvals from the Central Bank of Nigeria and have been communicated to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), and the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN).

1. Profile of Alhaji Abdullahi Sarki Mohammed (Independent Non-Executive Director):

Alhaji Abdullahi Sarki Mohammed joins the Board of Fidelity Bank Plc with over thirty-six (36) years of experience in the financial services industry spanning Retail, Corporate, Consumer, and Commercial Banking, Treasury, Pension Fund Administration, business and Financial Advisory, Human Resources Development, and Public Administration.

He has held key leadership and management positions at notable financial institutions and most recently served as Executive Director Abuja and Northern Directorate (covering the Federal Capital Territory and eighteen (18) States) of Polaris Bank Limited from September 2018 to June 2023, before his retirement.

Prior to joining Polaris Bank Limited, Alhaji Mohammed was Executive Director Abuja and Northern Directorate of Skye Bank Plc from July 2016 to July 2018. He also served as a Non-Executive Director of Trustfund Pensions Limited and Skye Bank Limited, Guinea where he chaired the Board Credit Committee and Board Audit & Risk Management Committee.

Before joining Skye Bank Plc, he had held key leadership positions at First Bank of Nigeria Plc from October 2003 to July 2016, where he was responsible for business development activities across Corporate, Commercial, and Retail Banking.

He holds Ordinary and Higher National Diplomas in Electrical Engineering from Kaduna Polytechnic, a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Education and Technology, and a Master’s degree in Career and Technical Education from Bowling Green State University, Ohio, USA.

Alhaji Mohammed has attended leadership and executive development programmes at world-class business schools, including INSEAD, London Business School, Cornell University, USA, and Strathmore Business School, Kenya.

He is a member of the 37th Senior Management Programme (SMP) of the Lagos Business School and an Honourary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Nigeria. He is an avid golfer and IBB Golf and Country Club member.

2. Profile of Ms Obiaku Augusta Okam (Non-Executive Director):

Ms. Obiaku Augusta Okam has over thirty (30) years of cumulative experience in the Banking, Financial Services, Real Estate, and Retail Sectors and currently serves as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Skycurve Nigeria Limited, a company engaged in the development and sale of residential properties.

She has over twenty-two (22) years of experience in leading financial institutions and started her banking career at Nigeria International Bank Limited (Citibank) in 1990 during her National Youth Service Corps Programme.

She rose to the position of Treasury Operations Officer at Citibank before leaving in 1996 to pursue further studies at the University of Cardi , Wales, where she obtained a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and returned to join Zenith Bank Plc in May 1998.

She held various leadership and senior management positions at Zenith Bank Plc, including Head of Marketing and Branch Head at various branches, before leaving in April 2012 as an Assistant General Manager.

Ms. Okam holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Statistics from the University of Benin, Nigeria, and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Cardi, Wales.

3. Profile of Mr Sufiyanu Ibrahim Garba (Executive Director, North Directorate):

Mr Sufiyanu Ibrahim Garba joins Fidelity Bank with an impressive background of multifunctional and cross-border experience in leading financial institutions.

His career spans general management and business origination across a broad range of segments, including Commercial and Business Banking, Financial Advisory/Consulting, Retail Banking, Public Sector, Corporate Banking, Credit Structuring, Investment Banking, Strategic Financial Planning and Analysis, Data Analytics, Investment Appraisal, Fundraising, and Capital Structuring.

With over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, Sufiyanu has held key leadership and management positions in financial and non-financial institutions. His extensive career also includes public service, where he served as Technical Adviser to the Honourable Minister at the National Planning Commission between November 2007 and December 2008.

Sufiyanu began his professional journey in 1995 at Guaranty Trust Bank Plc after completing his National Youth Service at the Central Bank of Nigeria. Between 1998 and 2010, he gained invaluable experience working in the UK and Nigeria across public and private sectors.

He held significant roles at Threadneedle Asset Management, UK; Morley Fund Management Company Limited, UK; Asset and Resource Management Company Limited; ARM Pension Managers Limited; and Access Bank, where he served as Group Head of Financial Institutions, Insurance & Asset Management in 2003, and later as Group Head of Commercial Banking (North).

Sufiyanu holds a BSc in Economics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and an MSc in International Banking, Investment, and Securities from Henley Business School, University of Reading, UK. He recently completed a certification in the effective Execution of Organisational Strategy from Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania.

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