By Chiazo Ogbolu
Sky Capital and Financial Allied Limited, the financial services subsidiary of SIFAX Group, has appointed a new Managing Director and three non-executive directors for one of its subsidiaries, Skye Bank, Sierra Leone.
After the approval by the Bank of Sierra Leone, Mr Abiola Bolaji has assumed office as the substantive Managing Director while Mr Ayoku Liadi, Mr Abdul Sheku Kargbo and Mr Abel Onomake assumed the positions of non-executive directors of the bank.
This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos on Monday by the Group Head, Corporate Communications of SIFAX Group, Mr Muyiwa Akande.
According to the statement, Bolaji is a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife and has two Masters degrees in Accounting and Financial Management (Distinction) and Corporate Finance from the ICMA Centre, Henley Business School, University of Reading, United Kingdom.
“He began his professional career as an Office Assistant in Development Finance office of the Central Bank of Nigeria in Uyo as a youth corps member before joining Universal Trust bank as a Relationship Officer in 2003.
Between 2006 and 2020, Abiola worked with Guaranty Trust Bank, Access Bank and Stanbic IBTC, rising to become a Regional Manager and managing 10 branches of the bank located in Ogun and Oyo states.
“ He has received numerous awards for his outstanding performance both professionally and academically,” it said.
The statement said that Liadi was an accomplished financial expert with over 25 years of progressive experience, had served as the Deputy Managing Director, UBA Nigeria where he was in charge of about 500 branches of the bank with deposits of more than 3.5 trillion naira.
“ He also served as the MD/CEO of Guaranty Trust Bank Sierra Leone between 2011 and 2013 where he recorded outstanding achievements and led the bank to become the most profitable bank in 2013.
The statement said Ayoku’s exceptional leadership also earned the bank the prestigious KPMG award for the Best Customer Service Bank in 2012.
Ayoku holds a B Sc. in Business Management from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, an ACA from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and a Master’s degree in Marketing from the University of Lagos.
The statement said that Kargbon was an Executive Director of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the immediate past board chairman of UBA Sierra Leone, and had vast work experience in policy and strategy formulation locally and internationally.
According to the bank, Kargbo is a LLM graduate of Birmingham City University, UK; Master of Arts in Human Rights, Globalization and Justice – University of Keele, UK and LLB (Hons) from the University of Warwick in the UK.
It said that Onomake, a seasoned architectural consultant, worked on key designs and supervision of architectural and engineering projects in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia.
“He holds a B.Sc and M.Sc in Architecture from the University of Ife and a Diploma in Valuation and Estate Surveying from the Architecture and Surveying Institute, Wiltshire, United Kingdom.
Onomake, between 2005 and 2021, was the Managing Director of Ideas Limited, a West Africa-based consulting firm with offices in Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
The statement said that the appointment of the four new Board of Directors brought to seven the directors of the bank, including the Acting Chairman Mr Brimah Conteh; Chief Adekunle Oyinloye and Mr Akinremi Akinwale Oladipo (The Executive Director).
It further explained that the multitude of resident directors was part of the bank’s strategic focus on domesticating the governance, products and its services to meet the local requirements of the country’s economy.
While congratulating the new appointees, Dr Taiwo Afolabi, Chairman, SIFAX Group, said the desire to make sustainable impact in the financial sector across West Africa was responsible for the quality of leaders appointed to manage the financial institutions in Sierra Leone.
“SIFAX Group is synonymous with the delivery of best value and excellence. We know that quality workforce and experienced board would drive our vision of becoming the most desired financial services brand across the West Coast.
Afolabi said the bank was pleased with the appointments and convinced they possessed the requisite knowledge and experience to deliver on the vision.
“I have no doubt that these new leaders will catapult Skye Bank, Sierra Leone to the top in the country.
“We will provide all the necessary support needed for them to succeed in our quest to become a Pan-African financial institution,” he said. (NAN)
