CEM REPORT, FINANCE | As preparations approach their crescendo, The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), through the Consultative Committee, chaired by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, FSDH Merchant Bank (FSDH), Mr. Bukola Smith, FCIB, is set to Examine the role of the financial services industry in Nigeria’s Economic Upsurge, at its 16th Annual Banking and Finance Conference, scheduled for September 5 – 6, 2023.
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, “Nigeria’s Economic Growth and Empowerment: The Role of the Financial Services Industry” is occasioned by the need to articulate an actionable blueprint for upsurging the Nigerian economy as the Financial Service Industry plays a major role for economic advancement in current fast-paced technology driven era.
His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is expected to grace the occasion with his presence along other dignitaries such as His Excellency, Kashim Shettima Mustapha GCON, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; His Excellency, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Executive Governor of Lagos State; Mr. Olawale Edun, Honourable Minister of Finance, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Barr. Nyesom Wike CON, Honorable Minister, Federal Capital Territory and an array of others.
The Chief Host of the Conference is Mr. Folasholadun Shonubi, FCIB, Acting Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria while the host is Ken Opara, Ph.D, FCIB, President and Chairman of Council, CIBN.
Mr. Shubham Chaudhuri, Country Director, World Bank will be speaking on the theme of the Conference and setting the tone for the Event, as the Keynote Speaker. Other confirmed resources persons are: Dr. Kingsley Obiora, FCIB , Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, Central Bank of Nigeria; Mrs. Razia Khan, Managing Director/Chief Economist, Africa & Middle East, Global Research, Standard Chartered Bank, Nigeria; Professor (Mrs) Olayinka David-West, Associate Dean, Lagos Business School; Mrs. Ronke Kuye, Chief Executive Officer Shared Agent Network Expansion Facilities (SANEF) Limited; Professor Ken Ife, Member, Governing Council Ministry of Finance Incorporated; Mrs. Damilola Akinbami, Lead, Growth Office Nigeria Deloitte & Touche; Mr. Johnson Chukwu, HCIB, Founder/CEO, Cowrywise Assets Management Limited; Mr. Olusegun Zaccheaus, Partner, Strategy& PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC); Dr. Ozoemena Nnaji, and Director, Trade and Exchange Department, Central Bank of Nigeria; Mr. Ayodeji Adelagun.
We also have Managing Director, Head, Financial Market Nigeria & Rates & Credit Trading West Africa, Standard Chartered Bank, Nigeria; Dr. Bunmi Bajomo , Head, Group Banking & COO, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated; Mr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdulahi, Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA); Dr. Abdul-Hakeem Ajijola, Chair, African Union Cybersecurity Expert Group; Mr. Tope Aladenusi, Partner & Leader, Cyber Risk Services & Chief Strategy Officer, Deloitte West Africa; Mrs. Adedoyin Odunfa, Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Digital Jewel Limited; Dr. Adewale Peter Obadare.
Those that will speak also are Co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer, Digital Encode Limited; Mr. Agada Akpochi, HCIB, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Unified Payment Services Limited; Mr. Musa Jimoh Itopa, Director, Payment Systems Management, Central Bank of Nigeria; Mr. Razaq Ahmed, Co-founder/CEO CowryWise; Ms. Mayowa Kuyoro,Partner, Fintech and E-Payment, Mckinsey & Company; Mr. Frank Atat, Divisional Head, Payment & Solutions, First City Monument Bank Limited and Mrs. Nneka Oyeali-Ikpe, FCIB, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc.
Others are Mr. Olawale Tunde Fasanya, Director General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agencies of Nigeria (SMEDAN); Mr. Yusuf Phililp Yila, Director, Development Finance, Central Bank of Nigeria; Mr. Bonaventure Okhaimo, HCIB, Chief Operating Officer, Development Bank of Nigeria; Mr. George Olutope Onafowokan, Managing Director/CEO, Coleman Wires & Cables; Dr. Dotun Ifebogun, Divisional Head, Retail Bank, Wema Bank Plc; Mr. Dennis Ezaga, Group Head, Business Banking, FSDH Merchant Bank; Mr. ‘Laoye Jaiyeola, FCIB, Past President/Chairman of Council CIBN & CEO, The Nigerian Economic Summit Group; Mrs. Ireti Samuel-Ogbu, FCIB, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Citibank Nigeria Limited; Dr. Bankole Allibay, Consultant, Social Safeguards, World Bank Group; Mrs. Tinuade Awe, Chief Executive Officer, NGX Regulation Limited; Dr. Ndidi Nnoli Edozien, Board Member, International Sustainability Standards Board, IFRS Foundation; Mr. Olukorede Adenowo, HCIB, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank, Nigeria; Mr. Opuiyo Oforiokuma, Senior Partner, Africa50 Infrastructure Acceleration Fund; Dr. Ola Brown, MFR, Founder, Flying Doctors Healthcare Investment/Director of Greentree Investment Company, Dr. Benson Uwheru, Chief Executive Officer, Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company and Mrs. Stella Marie-Omogai, HCIB ,Executive Director, Corporate Banking, FSDH Merchant Bank
The Conference is structured to feature Five Business sessions and Two 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 topics for the Business Sessions are:
- Monetary Policies and Financial Inclusion: Bridging the Gaps
- The Impact of Global Economic Trends on Nigeria’s Foreign Exchange and The Way Forward
- Unlocking Economic Growth and Development Through MSME Financing
- Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (Esg) In the Financial Services Industry: Challenges, Opportunities and The Next Steps
- Infrastructure Financing: Unleashing Nigeria’s Economic Potentials
The topics for the Break-out Sessions include:
- Cyber-Security in The Nigerian Financial Services Industry: Emerging Trends, Challenges and The Way Forward
- Repositioning Payment Systems in Nigeria Through Innovation and Emerging Technology: Opportunities, Risks, And Challenges
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.
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. Bukola Smith, FCIB, “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”.
She 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/
