Nigeria’s financial and corporate community gathered in Lagos as the National Institute of Credit Administration (NICA) conferred its highest professional distinction — the Fellowship — on leading figures who have shaped the country’s credit and financial landscape.

At an investiture ceremony held at the Muson Centre, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Polaris Bank, Kayode Lawal, was formally inducted as a Fellow of the Institute, alongside other distinguished honourees.

Recognising Excellence in Financial Leadership

The ceremony also saw the Managing Director/CEO of Union Bank of Nigeria, Yetunde Oni, receive recognition for her contributions to institutional governance and the advancement of Nigeria’s financial sector.





L–R: Kayode Lawal, Managing Director/CEO, Polaris Bank, receives the Professional Fellowship certificate from Dr. Markie Idowu, President of the Nigerian Institute of Credit Administration (NICA), during the Institute’s investiture ceremony.
In the media and corporate governance sphere, Olushola Momoh, Vice Chairman of Channels Television, was conferred with the Institute’s Professional Fellowship in acknowledgment of her leadership impact and professional accomplishments.

Similarly, Awa Ibraheem, Founder of Xpress Payment Solutions Ltd, received an Honorary Fellowship Award. The recognition highlights his strategic influence and contributions to strengthening Nigeria’s payments ecosystem and advancing financial innovation.

Strengthening Nigeria’s Credit Culture

The Fellowship of NICA represents the Institute’s highest honour and is reserved for individuals whose leadership and professional conduct have significantly reinforced Nigeria’s credit administration standards, institutional governance frameworks, and overall financial system integrity.

The investiture ceremony attracted senior executives from across the banking, regulatory, and corporate sectors, as well as policymakers and industry stakeholders. The event underscored the importance of responsible credit culture and visionary leadership in sustaining economic growth.

In their remarks, representatives of the Institute emphasised that strong institutions are built on ethical leadership and professional discipline. Speaking on Mr. Lawal’s recognition, a representative noted that his track record in strengthening financial discipline and institutional governance exemplifies the standards the Institute seeks to promote.

A Growing Record of Professional Distinction

The honour further elevates Mr. Lawal’s standing within Nigeria’s financial leadership community. In November 2025, he was also conferred with the Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) at an investiture ceremony held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts, National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

Speaking on the sidelines of the NICA ceremony, Mr. Lawal expressed appreciation for the recognition and reaffirmed his commitment to promoting high professional standards within Nigeria’s financial system. He described the award as both an honour and a renewed call to advance responsible financial practices, institutional integrity, and sustainable growth across the banking and credit ecosystem.

Polaris Bank, in its response, characterised the Fellowship as a proud milestone that reflects the institution’s enduring dedication to professionalism, innovation, and ethical leadership.

The investiture concluded with formal proceedings, goodwill messages from industry leaders, and celebrations of excellence across Nigeria’s credit management and financial services profession — reinforcing the Institute’s role in shaping standards and recognising impact within the sector.