Fidelity Bank appoints Obih, ex-NNPC downstream COO, as non-executive director

The board of Fidelity Bank Plc has appointed Henry Ikem Obih and Kenneth Onyewuchi Opara as an independent non-executive director and executive director respectively.

In a statement on Sunday, the bank said Opara will succeed Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, who is now the managing director-designate, as the executive director in charge of the Lagos and south-west directorate effective January 1, 2021.

Obih’s appointment as a non-executive director is effective September 21, 2020.

Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe will succeed Nnamdi Okonkwo who retires as managing director on December 31, 2020, upon the completion of his contract tenure in line with the internal policies of the bank.

“Both appointments are in furtherance of our positioning for the next growth phase. We welcome Henry and Ken to the board and believe they will make significant contributions that will sustain the performance trajectory of the bank in line with our strategic intent,” Mustafa Chike-Obi, the chairman of the bank’s board of directors, said.

Opara, who currently serves as regional bank head of the Ikeja region, is said to have over 29 years experience in banking and worked at various financial institutions including legacy Omega Bank Plc, Equatorial Trust Bank Plc and Manny Bank Plc, before joining Fidelity Bank Plc in 2006, following its merger with Manny Bank Plc.

Obih was the group executive director/chief operating officer, downstream of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) until his retirement in 2019 and was appointed to the board of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) in July 2020.

“Prior to joining NNPC as GED/COO in 2016, Engr. Obih had a stellar 22-year career at Mobil Oil Nigeria (ExxonMobil Nigeria Downstream) and held several high-profile positions in the company including being executive director, retail and executive director, operations, customer service and logistics,” a statement by the bank read.

“His recent leadership roles include board positions at Nigeria Gas Marketing Company Limited, Pipelines and Products Marketing Company Limited, NNPC Retail Limited, NIDAS Marine Limited (a subsidiary of NNPC in a joint venture with Daewoo Industries South Korea), NIKORMA Limited (a subsidiary of NNPC in a joint venture with Hyundai Heavy Industries South Korea) and Duke Oil Company Inc.”

Nnamdi Okonkwo, Fidelity Bank’s CEO, described Opara’s appointment as “well deserved and in line with the bank’s succession planning policy”.