The 22nd President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) Ken Opara has unveiled a two-year agenda means to trsnafrom the institute and banking practice in Nigeria.
Opara, who was sworn in Lagos, said he will bring his over 30 years’ experience in diverse areas of banking including Credit, Treasury, Retail, Consumer and Commercial Banking, International Operations and Corporate Banking to lift the banking profession in Nigeria.
Opara, who is also the Executive Director in charge of the Lagos & Southwest Directorate, Fidelity Bank Plc had served as the First Vice President and Chairman, Board of Fellows and Practice Licenses at CIBN.
Opara in his acceptance speech paid tributes to the founding fathers of the Institute who sacrificed and contributed immensely to its growth and development over the years.
Opara told over 5,000 guests, both physical and virtual across the globe that “Our strategic focus is crafted into an acronym “FUTURE” which focus on six key strategic pillars: Financial innovation and transformation, Dealing with industry Uncertainties, Trade and finance collaboration. Others are: Unveiling pathways for membership growth, Reengineering and Rebranding the industry’s business model around Gen Z and Ethical conduct and governance.
He noted that with globalisation, the future was largely defined by technology, innovation, efficiency, functional optimisation and fast changing lifestyle. He stressed that the youthful segment of the society was more characterised by these changes, adding that there was the need to drive initiatives that would attract them.
According to Opara, while concerns around safety, control, stability and processes were quite germane, ignoring the existence of this phenomenon whose time had come would be at the peril of any operator.
The CIBN president, who replaced Bayo Olugbemi, pledged that the Institute under his administration would play a pivotal role between the practitioners and the regulators while ensuring adherence to sound corporate governance and ethical behaviour.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, represented by Lagos state Commissioner for finance, Rabiu Olowo, applauded the numerous contributions of the banking industry in different areas of the country and Lagos in particular, through the leadership of CIBN.
Olugbemi, thanked the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) CEO, Hassan Bello, Body of Banks CEO’s and other stakeholders for the support given him during his tenure.
He said that “as I pass on the baton to my successor, whom I have known for many years as a seasoned banking professional, who is very passionate about the Institute, I am absolutely convinced that he would take the Institute to greater heights.
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