FG Considers Oduoza, UBA Boss, Others as Sanusi’s Successor

The federal government is considering a long list of eminent Nigerians to replace Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) whose tenure at the apex bank will run out this June, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek has learnt.

Top on the list is Mr. Philip Oduoza, group managing director, United Bank for Africa (UBA) and one of Nigeria’s best brains; Aigboje Aig-Imoukuede, former managing director, Access Bank; Pat Utomi, renowned professor of political economy and management expert; and Bisi Onasanya, MD, First Bank of Nigeria.

Others are Tunde Lemo, former CBN deputy governor who retired over the weekend; Sarah Alade, deputy governor, Economic Policy; and Kingsley Moghalu, deputy governor, Financial System Stability.

Oduoza is a first class brain and polished professional banker who obtained a first class degree in Civil Engineering and an MBA (Finance), both from the University of Lagos.

He has undertaken the Advanced Management Programme of Harvard Business School. He commenced his banking career in 1987 with International Merchant Bank (IMB) as a Credit Officer, where he trained in credit analysis.

Oduoza who has built UBA as Nigeria’s financial powerhouse had a stint between 1988 and 1991 at Citibank, the world’s largest financial services institution, a period during which he was equipped with an indispensable knowledge of banking operations, relationship management, credit/marketing, efficient implementation of technology, risk management and lean banking methods. 

In 1991, he worked with a small team of young and talented professionals to pioneer Diamond Bank PLC and built it into one of the strongest brands and most successful financial services entity in the country.

As Executive Director, Operations & Technology at Diamond Bank in 1999, he transformed IT within the bank to global standards. In 2002, he became the Executive Director, Commercial/Retail Banking at the same bank until 2004. He joined Reliance Bank Limited in August 2004 as Deputy Managing Director, where he worked briefly before joining the Management and Board of Standard Trust Bank PLC in December 2004. 

He has attended numerous banking, management and leadership courses, and has strengths in execution, talent management, technology integration and lean banking.