The appointment of the Group
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (GMD/CEO) of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr.
Godwin Emefiele, as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was never
part of the calculation of many Nigerians.
In the interim, Deputy Governor,
Economic Policy of the CBN, Dr. Sarah Alade, was told to act in the capacity of
CBN governor.
Sources told us last week that
Godwin Emefiele got the nomination for the juicy job based on the relationship
between the immediate past GMD/CEO of Zenith Bank, Mr. Jim Ovia and President
Goodluck Jonathan.
We were informed that President
Jonathan consulted with key stakeholders in the economic sector and it was
concluded that Emefiele, who hails from Agbor, Delta State has the capacity to
steer the ship of the apex bank.
He is said to possess the ability to
turn around the fortune of the bank and his performances since he became the
GMD/CEO of Zenith Bank are said to be superlative.
“Emefiele is a fine banker, who has
achieved much in his banking career in Zenith Bank. We were not surprised that
his name was mentioned as the new man in the bank though he was not part of the
top contenders for the plum job. He will make things work in the bank and I can
tell you that the banking industry will never be the same with the emergence of
Emefiele as the head of the bank,” said a source.
The president also nominated the
current Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Mr.
Adebayo Adelabu, as a Deputy Governor to replace Mr. Tunde Lemo, who retired
from his position as deputy governor in charge of operations in January 2014.
Emefiele’s nomination came as a
surprise to the financial markets, as he had never been mentioned as a
contender for the position and does not hail from the South-west, the
geopolitical zone that was favoured to produce the next CBN governor.
Names previously mentioned in
various news reports as contenders were Chairman, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Mr.
Atedo Peterside; former GMD/CEO of Access Bank, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede;
GMD/CEO, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Mr. Olabisi Onasanya; CEO of the Asset
Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Mr. Mustapha Chike-Obi; Minister of
Trade, Industry and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga; former Minister of State
for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama; Lemo; Deputy Governor of the CBN, Dr. Kingsley
Moghalu; and Alade.
Emefiele’s tenure, according to most
analysts will be a departure from the controversy-prone era that characterised
Sanusi’s tenure.
If confirmed by the Senate, the
Zenith Bank boss is expected to assume office by June this year.
In the past, central banker chiefs were conservative and their interventions were felt primarily in the financial system and economic segments of the country.
In the past, central banker chiefs were conservative and their interventions were felt primarily in the financial system and economic segments of the country.
Financial watchers noted that with
Emefiele’s nomination as Sanusi’s replacement, he would be bringing to the CBN
a calm and steady hand, which has seen him successfully steer Zenith Bank to
becoming the largest bank in Nigeria, to the central bank.
Commenting on his nomination, a
market analyst, who preferred not to be named, expressed confidence in the
president’s appointment.
He said: “Following Sanusi’s
controversy-strewn era, Emefiele with his even temperament, qualifications and
unimpeachable track record as a sound banker, would be bringing stability to
the table, which is what CBN needs.
“As a banker, he would also know how
to walk the thin line between the implementation of monetary policies and
maintaining financial system stability.
“More importantly, as we enter an
election year, we expect him to deftly manage expectations and implement
policies that would keep inflation in check and currency stable, as politicians
open up their war chests and embark on spending binges to win voters. He would
also be expected to reassure investors of the financial system’s stability.”
Commenting on his appointment,
analysts at CSL Stockbrokers, a division of First City Monument Bank, said: “We
are also of the view that the CBN has a strong institutional foundation and
skilled leadership that should guide whoever occupies the position of the CBN
governor.”
The Director-General, Lagos Chamber
of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Muda Yusuf, advised Emefiele to be focused on
stimulating economic growth when he assumes office.
He also advised him to ensure that he continues the transformation of the payment system by enforcing the cashless policy and maintains the risk management policy of current central bank leadership.
He also advised him to ensure that he continues the transformation of the payment system by enforcing the cashless policy and maintains the risk management policy of current central bank leadership.
Emefiele is a University of Nigeria,
Nsukka-trained banker and financial strategist. Following his graduation in
1984 with Bachelor of Science degree in Banking and Finance from UNN, he
obtained an MBA (Finance) from the same institution as the best graduating
student of his class.
He went on to deepen his knowledge of Economics at Oxford University, United Kingdom,
He went on to deepen his knowledge of Economics at Oxford University, United Kingdom,
Having attended several executive
training programmes and courses in negotiations, strategy, leadership, critical
thinking, delivering value/profit at Harvard University, Stanford University
and University of Pennsylvania (Wharton Business School), all in the U.S.A
Emefiele, who joined Zenith Bank
from inception, assumed the post of Managing Director/CEO of the bank on August
1, 2010. Prior to his appointment, he was Deputy Managing Director from 2001.
He was also the bank’s Executive
Director in charge of Corporate Banking, Treasury, Financial Control and
Strategic Planning. He has over 23 years banking experience.
In conjunction with Jim Ovia, the
founder of Zenith Bank, Emefiele has grown the bank from a second-generation
bank set up in 1990, into a financial powerhouse that has surpassed its peers
and older first-generation banks.
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