With a firm grasp on both institutional strategy and continental collaboration, Kevin Ugwuoke, Executive Director and Chief Risk Officer at Fidelity Bank Plc, has officially assumed the presidency of the Chartered Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (CRMI). His emergence marks a significant chapter for the Institute, with a clear mandate to elevate risk governance standards across Nigeria’s public and private sectors.

At a formal handover ceremony held in Lagos over the weekend, Ugwuoke outlined a bold vision anchored on reform, collaboration, and innovation. As acting President of the Federation of African Risk Management Associations (FARMA), his dual roles position him uniquely to bring a regional perspective to local challenges — and vice versa.

In his inaugural address, Ugwuoke emphasized the need to move beyond traditional notions of risk compliance toward a broader culture of governance, resilience, and foresight. “Our mission is more than just certification,” he said. “It’s about strengthening the culture of risk governance across sectors. We will collaborate with regulators, raise awareness, and provide practical tools to help organizations embed risk discipline at all levels.”

Executive Director and Chief Risk Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr Kevin Ugwuoke. Credit: Fidelity Bank Plc
Ugwuoke unveiled a five-pronged strategy for his tenure, focusing on:

  1. Enhancing professional education and certification,
  2. Deepening engagement with policy and regulatory institutions,
  3. Accelerating digital transformation,
  4. Integrating ESG and climate risk into corporate frameworks, and
  5. Mentoring a new generation of risk professionals.

Central to this agenda is CRMI’s commitment to policy alignment. According to Ugwuoke, the Institute will engage with stakeholders such as the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, the National Assembly, and sub-national governments to embed risk frameworks in national and subnational planning processes.

“We must integrate risk thinking into how we plan, govern, and invest,” he stated. “We will advocate for inclusive regulations that empower SMEs, promote macroeconomic stability, and build institutional resilience.”

To support this ambition, CRMI plans to overhaul its academic and professional training framework. The curriculum will be updated to include emerging and complex risks, and new specialized certifications will be introduced. A flagship initiative — the National Risk Observatory — is also in the pipeline, intended to provide real-time, evidence-based risk insights to decision-makers across sectors.

Digital innovation, Ugwuoke said, will be a central driver of CRMI’s impact. “We are automating our operations, expanding virtual learning platforms, and using technology to scale both access and quality of our interventions nationwide.”

Outgoing CRMI President, Professor Ezekiel Oseni, in his farewell speech, praised the Institute’s growth during his tenure — which included achieving chartered status, strengthening institutional partnerships, and increasing global recognition. He urged the incoming leadership to build on this foundation and push the Institute to greater heights.

L-R: Registrar/Chief Executive, Chartered Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (CRMI), Victor Olannye; Divisional Head, Risk Management Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Grace Abioye; Immediate Past President, CRMI, Ezekiel Oseni; President, CRMI and Executive Director/Chief Risk Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Kevin Ugwuoke; Director, Enterprise Risk Management, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Amal Haruna; and Rep. Keynote speaker, Deputy Group Management Director, United Bank of Africa (UBA), Chukwuma Nweke; at the CRMI Conferment Handover/Sent-Forth ceremony, held in Lagos recently.

Adding his voice, Chukwuma Nweke, Deputy Managing Director of United Bank for Africa (UBA), delivered a goodwill message on behalf of Group MD Oliver Alawuba. He described Ugwuoke as “a worthy successor,” and reaffirmed the private sector’s expectation that CRMI under his leadership will bring a sharper, more strategic lens to risk across industries.

Nweke also highlighted Nigeria’s current economic climate — from inflation to currency instability — as a wake-up call for a more resilient risk culture. “Risk must be seen not merely as a compliance obligation or a cost center,” he said, “but as a strategic enabler of business continuity, trust, and long-term growth.”

As part of the day’s proceedings, CRMI conferred its prestigious Fellow of Chartered Risk Manager (FCRMI) title on 11 seasoned professionals, and inducted 21 new members as Chartered Risk Managers. A new Governing Council was also inaugurated for the 2025–2027 term, signaling a renewed institutional direction under Ugwuoke’s watch.

With a firm commitment to ethical standards, policy engagement, and digital growth, Ugwuoke’s presidency may well set a new tone for risk governance — not just in Nigeria, but across Africa’s emerging economies.