Edun, CBN Deputy Governors, Zenith Bank GMD, others bag CIBN honorary fellowships
By Seun Ibiyemi
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, alongside three Deputy Governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), was on Saturday conferred with Honorary Fellowships of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the nation’s financial sector.
The awards were presented during the 2025 CIBN Fellowship Investiture Ceremony held in Lagos, themed “Banking Beyond Boundaries: Leveraging Technological Innovations for Enhanced Performance in the Nigerian Banking Industry.”
In total, 687 banking professionals were honoured, comprising 21 Honorary Fellows, 440 Elected Fellows, and 225 Honorary Senior Members, who were recognised for their professional excellence, integrity, and contributions to the advancement of the Nigerian banking industry and economy.
The CBN Deputy Governors honoured were Dr. Muhammad Abdullahi (Economic Policy Directorate), Dr. Bala Bello (Operations Directorate), and Ms. Emem Usoro (Corporate Services Directorate).
Other notable recipients included Dr. Adaora Umeoji, Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc; Mr. Olusegun Alebiosu, Managing Director of First Bank of Nigeria Ltd; Haruna Musa, Managing Director of Jaiz Bank Plc; Mr. Hassan Imam, Managing Director of Keystone Bank Ltd; and Mr. Omokayode Lawal, Managing Director of Polaris Bank Ltd.
Also, honoured were Mr. Bayo Ajayi of Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria, Mrs. Nneka Enwereji of Citibank Nigeria, and Mr. Paul Abiagam of Coronation Merchant Bank, among others.
In his remarks, CIBN President, Pius Olanrewaju, commended the honourees for their remarkable leadership and commitment to shaping the future of the banking sector. He also applauded the CBN and the Nigerian banking community for their collaborative efforts in driving economic growth and stability.
“CBN’s proactive monetary policies and regulatory reforms have reinforced financial sector resilience, attracted foreign direct investments, and boosted investor confidence,” Olanrewaju said.
“Nigerian banks continue to expand credit access, support key sectors such as agriculture and technology, and deepen financial inclusion through digital innovation.”
He noted that these concerted efforts contributed to Nigeria’s GDP growth of 4.23 per cent year-on-year as of Q2 2025, signaling renewed economic momentum.
Olanrewaju also highlighted the ongoing bank recapitalisation exercise, which has strengthened sector resilience and improved investor confidence, as several banks move ahead of the 2026 capital deadline.
He further noted that Nigeria’s exit from the FATF grey list represented a significant milestone for the country, restoring global confidence in its financial system and easing trade and investment flows.
“To sustain this progress, we must deepen financial inclusion through digital technologies, maintain transparent regulatory frameworks, and expand credit access to sectors like manufacturing, agriculture, and SMEs,” he stated.
“Our collective commitment will make the Nigerian financial system a pillar of sustainable development and prosperity.”
The CIBN Fellowship Investiture, held annually, serves as one of the institute’s most prestigious platforms for recognising leadership excellence, innovation, and integrity in Nigeria’s banking and financial services sector.