The Board of Unity Bank Plc has appointed Mr. Ebenezer Ademola Kolawole (FCA) as the Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer following the retirement of Mrs. Oluwatomi Somefun, who has successfully completed her tenure as MD/CEO.
The announcement was made at the 18th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos on Wednesday after receiving the necessary approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Ebenezer Kolawole: A Seasoned Banker with a Wealth of Experience
Mr. Kolawole is a seasoned financial expert with over three decades of experience in the banking sector.
- He began his career at Caribbean Finance Limited (an affiliate of CFL in the Cayman Islands) in 1992.
- He later joined Ecobank Nigeria Ltd., where he worked in operations and finance, rising to the role of Deputy Financial Controller.
- Between 1999 and 2005, he served as Group Head-Compliance at Standard Trust Bank Plc (STB), where he played a crucial role in regulatory risk management and finance.
- Following the STB/UBA merger, he served as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at United Bank for Africa (UBA) from 2005 to 2011.
- He was the Group Chief Financial Officer (GCFO) at Mainstreet Bank Ltd., where he played a key role in the bank’s transformation and turnaround strategies.
- Mr. Kolawole also had a brief tenure at Globacom, where he was involved in corporate business development.
A Strong Presence in Unity Bank
Mr. Kolawole joined Unity Bank Plc in 2015 as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). His performance and strategic contributions led to his appointment as Executive Director in 2018, overseeing Finance, Operations, and Information Technology.
During his tenure, he played a key role in the bank’s strategic transformation and cost-optimization initiatives, improving its market positioning and overall performance. His appointment as Acting CEO aligns with Unity Bank’s succession and business continuity strategy, and he will now be responsible for driving the bank’s corporate programs and strategic growth initiatives.
Educational and Professional Accolades
- First-Class Honours Degree in Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.
- Alumnus of Columbia Business School, New York, and The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.
- Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) and Institute of Credit Administration (FICA).
- Honorary Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (HCIB).
- Associate Member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (AMNIM).
- Member of the Institute of Directors (IoD), among others.
Oluwatomi Somefun’s Tenure and Retirement
Mrs. Oluwatomi Somefun, a banking veteran with over 35 years of post-qualification experience, previously served as Managing Director/CEO of Unity Bank Plc.
Before joining Unity Bank, she was the Managing Director of UBA Pensions Custodian Ltd. and held non-executive directorship roles at UBA Trustees Ltd., UBA Nominee Ltd., and UBA Foundation.
She is a member of The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, the Institute of Directors, and the Bank Directors Association of Nigeria.
Her retirement marks the end of a remarkable leadership chapter at Unity Bank, paving the way for Mr. Kolawole to lead the bank into its next phase of growth and transformation.
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