Tinubu appoints Rotimi Akinde, Ifeoma Uz’Okpala as executive directors of BOI

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Rotimi Akinde and Ifeoma Uz’Okpala as executive directors of the Bank of Industry (BOI).

According to a statement on Wednesday by Theodora Amechi, head of public relations division at BOI, the appointment took effect on August 26.

BOI said Akinde will serve as executive director of corporate finance and risk management, while Uz’Okpala will take on the role of executive director of large enterprises directorate.

‘AKINDE HAS 20 YEARS INVESTMENT EXPERIENCE’

Akinde is a finance professional with over 20 years of investment and corporate banking experience and an extensive track record covering capital raising (debt, equities and hybrids) as well as corporate finance (mergers and acquisitions, privatisation advisory and project finance).

Before joining BOI, he was an associate partner, project and corporate finance at Infrastructure Delivery International (IDI), where he worked on the UKNIAF programme, promoting green finance and structured debt solutions for sub-nationals.

Akinde also worked as the corporate finance advisor at the Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (NIAF), providing financing initiatives, modelling and funding structures on infrastructure.

His previous roles include serving as group head and assistant general manager, multinationals at UBA Plc and vice-president of corporate finance and advisory at UBA global markets (now United Capital).

“He was a privatisation adviser and head of oil and gas team at the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), where he closed on the divestiture and sale of the government’s equity interest in 11 oil services companies and achieved the sale of all the government’s LPG assets,” BOI said.

“Akinde was an assistant manager in Leadbank Plc, within both the investment and corporate banking groups.”

He also has experience in the financial sector in the United Kingdom (UK), having worked as an investment analyst with Barclays Funds and as an analyst with Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, London.

Akinde holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, a master’s degree in international securities, investment and banking from the University of Reading, UK, and an executive MBA from INSEAD.

‘UZ’OKPALA IS A CREDIT MANAGEMENT EXPERT’

BOI said Uz’Okpala is a seasoned credit and risk management professional, with a career spanning over 30 years in the financial sector.

She joined BOI in September 2014 as group head of large enterprises credit and later served as the chief risk officer of the bank before her appointment.

As chief risk officer, BOI said she played a crucial role in managing and mitigating risks associated with the bank’s operations while providing environmental, social and governance (ESG) risk support.

According to the bank, Uz’Okpala offered invaluable ESG support within transactions and provided the roadmap for attracting impact investments.

Prior to joining BOI, she commenced her career at the International Merchant Bank and progressed through key roles at MBC International, First Bank, Stanbic Bank, and UBA.

“She commenced her career at International Merchant Bank and progressed through key roles at MBC International, First Bank, Stanbic Bank, and UBA. Her versatile expertise includes Internal Audit, Corporate Finance, Credit Evaluation and Origination, Foreign Operations, and Risk Management,” the bank said.

“She is an alumna of the University of Nigeria, where she attained a BSc. In Accountancy and a graduate of the prestigious Lagos Business School.”

Also, Uz’Okpala is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA), an honourary senior member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and a member of the Chartered Risk Management Institute.