The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) on Saturday elected Kenneth Opara as the 22nd president of the institute’s board.
Mr. Opara was elected along with seven other members during the institute’s 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos.
The new president would handle the affairs of the institute for the next two years. He will replace Bayo Olugbemi, whose two-year term ends on May 21.
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Opara said that he was aware of the fact that members of the institute expect a lot from him and his colleagues.
“Let me assure you that we will collectively do everything we can to fulfill your mandate as an obligor, innovator and implementer,” he said.
“We will build on what the previous chairman has done and also look at how to build capacity, engage with stakeholders and work with other regulators and banks to ensure that we do fair and meaningful competition.
“I thank the election official and congratulate all the candidates. I want to say that we are all winners, no winner does not win.
The other elected officials are Pius Olanrewaju, first vice president; Oladele Alabi, 2nd Vice President, and Mojisola Bakare-Asieru, National Treasurer.
Other members of the Governing Council are Victor Aguwah, Olayinka Odutola, Mary Aina and Segun Oshadare.
The Nigerian News Agency reports that the Institute has also reviewed the 2021 financial and operational reports.
The National Treasurer, Mr. Alabi, while giving the financial highlights, said that the Institute recorded an Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) improvement of N1.77 billion in 202.
It said the IGR represented an increase of 20.3 per cent compared to N1.47 billion recorded in 2020.
He added that the growth was an indication that the CIBN was moving strategically towards its aspiration to become financially independent.
Speaking about the 2021 operations, CIBN’s outgoing president, Mr. Olugbemi, said that the institute stood out as a vanguard for the promotion of banking education and professionalism in Nigeria and the world at large.
In his remarks, Seye Awojobi, Registrar/Executive Director of CIBN, said that a total of 291 graduates received MCIB, 380 candidates with ACIB and 320 candidates through the regular ACIB exam route.