Financial Services

Hauwa Ibrahim (born 1968) is a Nigerian human rights lawyer who won the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize in 2005. She was especially cited for her pro bono work defending people condemned under the Islamic Sharia laws that are in force in the northern Nigerian provinces, including her defence of Amina …

Tekena Nitonye Tamuno (28 January 1932 – 11 April 2015) was a Nigerian historian and Vice-chancellor of the University of Ibadan. He was the President of the Board of Trustees of Bells University of Technology. EDUCATION AND CAREER Tamuno attended St Peter’s School in his hometown of Okrika for primary …

Leo Igwe (born July 26, 1970) is a Nigerian human rights advocate and humanist. Igwe is a former Western and Southern African representative of the International Humanist and Ethical Union, and has specialized in campaigning against and documenting the impacts of child witchcraft accusations. He is currently performing research on …

Gamaliel Oforitsenere Onosode (22 May 1933 – 29 September 2015) was a Nigerian technocrat, administrator and a former presidential candidate of the All Nigeria People’s Party of Nigeria. Educated at the Government College, Ughelli and the University of Ibadan, he emerged in the 1970s as one of Nigeria’s leading educated …

Michael Adeniyi Agbolade Ishola Adenuga Jr (born 29 April 1953) is a Nigerian business tycoon, and the second richest person in Nigeria. His company Globacom is Nigeria’s second-largest telecom operator, and also has a presence in Ghana and Benin. He also owns stakes in the Equitorial Trust Bank and the …

Olufunke Iyabo Osibodu or Funke Osibodu is a Nigerian banker who led Ecobank Nigeria and the Union Bank of Nigeria. LIFE Funke Osibodu was born in January 1959. She was educated at the University of Ife and the Harvard Business School. She was CEO and later a director of the …

Jim Ovia (born November 4, 1951) is a Nigerian businessman who founded Zenith Bank in 1990. After gaining degrees at both Southern University and University of Louisiana at Monroe, he attended Harvard Business School. He served as CEO until 2010, when he transferred into the chairman role. He has been …

Stella Chinyelu Okoli (MON, OON) (born c. 1944) is a Nigerian pharmacist and entrepreneur. She is the founder and current C.E.O of Emzor Pharmaceutical, a pharmaceutical manufacturing company. EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION Stella was born in Kano State, Northern Nigeria into the family of Felix Ebelechukwu and Margaret Modebelu, descents of …

Gabriele Volpi (born 29 June 1943) is an Italian-born Nigerian businessman, active in various sectors in Nigeria and Angola, and also the owner of the Italian and Croatian football clubs Spezia Calcio and HNK Rijeka.   EARLY LIFE Gabriele Volpi was born in Recco, province of Genoa, Italy on 29 …

Ibukun Abiodun Awosika (born Bilkisu Abiodun Motunrayo Omobolanle Adekola on December 24, 1962) is a Nigerian business magnate, author and motivational speaker. She currently serves as Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria. EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION Born as the third child of seven children in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo …