CIBN hosts largest Banking confab in Africa

As preparations approach their crescendo, The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria  (CIBN), through a Consultative Committee, chaired by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Sterling Bank Plc and Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, is set to host the largest gathering of banking and finance professionals in Africa, at its 15th Annual Banking and Finance Conference, scheduled for September 13 – 14, 2022.

The Conference is scheduled to hold simultaneously at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja and through Zoom Teleconferencing. Expected at the Conference are African leaders, prominent bankers, major economic players, captains of industries, regulators, policy makers, members of the academic community and other stakeholders in the banking and finance as well as the fintech industry.

The theme of the Conference, “Repositioning the Financial Services Industry for an Evolving Glocal Context” is occasioned by the need to articulate an actionable blueprint for repositioning the Financial Service Industry as a major catalyst for economic advancement in current fast-paced technology driven era.

His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is expected to grace the occasion with his presence along other dignitaries such as His Excellency, Professor Yemi, Osinbajo, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; His Excellency, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Executive Governor of Lagos State; Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, Honourable Minister of Finance, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Mr. Mohammed Musa, Honorable Minister, Federal Capital Territory and an array of others.

The Chief Host of the Conference is Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria while the host is Dr. Ken Opara, President and Chairman of Council, CIBN.

Mr. Farouk Gumel, Chairman, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc will be speaking on the theme of the Conference and setting the tone for the Event, as the Keynote Speaker while Mr. Tarek Amer, Governor, Central Bank of Egypt will co-deliver the Keynote Address with Mr. Gumel.

Other confirmed resources persons are: Mr. Mike Ogbalu III,  Managing Director/Chief Executive, Pan African Payment Settlement System (PAPSS); Mr. Souleymane Diagne, Group Head, Trade Finance Ecobank Transnational Incorporated Lomé; Mrs. Razia Khan, Chief Economist/Head of Research, Standard Chartered Bank; Mr. Uche Orji, Managing Director/Chief Executive Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority; Mr. Kunle Elebute, Partner & Chief Economist, KPMG; Ms. Chinwe Egwim, Chief Economist, Coronation Merchant Bank; Mr. Ayodeji Ebo, Managing Director/Chief Business Officer Optimus by AFRINVEST; Mr. Yemi Faseun, Chief Talent Officer, YF Talent Partners, Mr. Oreoluwa Boboye, Chief Executive Officer, Jobberman Nigeria; Mr. Ade Bajomo, President, Fintech Association of Nigeria; Mr. Karl Toriola, Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria; Dr. Aisha Mahmood, Special Adviser on Sustainability to CBN Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria; Mrs Rukaiya El-Rufai, Partner, Sustainability and Climate Change, Price Waterhouse Coopers; Dr. Innocent Onah, Chief Natural Resource Officer AFDB, Dr. Jubril Adeojo, Chief Executive Officer, SMEFUNDS Capital and Mr. Sean Melbourne, Head of Climate Change & Energy, West Africa, British High Commission, Abuja.

Others are Mr. Dele Faseemo, Group Head, Energy, Sterling Bank Plc; Mr. Aliyu Abdulhameed, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NIRSAL Plc; Mr. Kola Masha, Founder, Babban Gona; Mr. Ayodeji Arikawe, Co-Founder & CTO, Thrive Agric Limited; Ms Kofo Durosinmi- Etti, Founder, Next Generation African Innovative Farms; Mr. Olushola Obikanye, Group Head, Agric Finance & Solid Minerals Group, Sterling Bank Plc; Mr. Mezuo Nwuneli, Managing Partner, Sahel Capital; Mrs. Colette Otusheso, Head, Accelerate TV; Mr. Dare Art Alade, Co-Founder & Creative Lead, Live Spot Media Ltd; Mr. Tosin Runsewe, Chairman           Evercare Hospital; Mr. Obinna Ukachukwu, Divisional Head, Health & Education Sterling Bank Plc; Dr Olujimi Coker, Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Habevit Healthcare Limited and Mr. Ugochukwu Jay Chikezie, Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Tremendoc Limited.

The Conference is structured to feature Five Business and Four Break-out Sessions with highly engaging topics that are critical to repositioning Nigeria’s Financial Services for competitiveness within the global context, while staying locally relevant.

The Conference is an annual event and the largest gathering of banking and finance professionals in Africa, with an estimated audience of 10,000. The objective of the Conference is to, among others provide a veritable platform for subject experts and industry stakeholders to drive conversations and unanimously design a clear road map towards repositioning the financial services industry for growth and stability.

Unlike the last two editions of the Conference, there will be one physical location for this year’s Conference, at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. Participants will also have the opportunity to participate at the event virtually, through Zoom Teleconferencing.

The resolutions at the event will be made available to relevant stakeholders and policy makers to enable them to re-appraise and align their operations and strategies in line with the outcome of the Conference.

According to the Chairman, Consultative Committee of 15th Annual Banking & Finance Conference, Mr. Suleiman, “Apart from providing the participants a platform to connect with other professionals and industry stakeholders across the world, it promises to be intellectually engaging and stimulating”.

He also disclosed that the Business and Break-out Sessions have been carefully structured to address and provide enduring interventions to the myriad of challenges confronting Nigeria’s business ecosystem and the financial services industry. He called on prospective participants to register through the Conference website: http://abfconference.cibng.org/