Olanrewaju Emerges 23rd CIBN President

Nume Ekeghe

Professor Pius Olanrewaju has been inaugurated as the 23rd President and Chairman of the Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).
The ceremony, held yesterday in Lagos, was officiated by Justice Owolabi Dabiri and chaired by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wole Olanipekun.
Following the swearing-in, Olanrewaju was adorned with the official insignia of his new office.

Other elected officials included First Vice President, Dele Alake; Second Vice President, Mojisola Bakare-Asieru, and National Treasurer, Dr. Peter Ashade.
Speaking at the event, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Bello Hassan, stressed the need for the new leadership of the institute to prioritise cybersecurity.

Hassan urged the CIBN to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to combat cybercrime and safeguard the banking sector.
In his address, Olanrewaju said he would take the institute to greater heights.
He added: “We will make sure that people are equipped. One of the major challenges we have in the ecosystem today is financial inclusion, a lot of people are not included in what is happening in our environment. We intend to drive them through our advocacy, seminars and programmes from time to time.

“Over and above that, we thank God for the amendment of the Act that is in the House. It will incorporate everyone working in the banking system so that if you commit any infraction, you cannot escape by saying you are not a chartered banker. The proposed law covers everyone working in this system and we thank the CBN in this regard.”
Also, at the swearing-in, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, represented by Hon. Nwachukwu Eze, Chairman of the House Committee on Banking, delivered a goodwill message.

He praised the outgoing CIBN president, Ken Opara, and highlighted the importance of embracing technology to enhance financial inclusion.

 Abbas said, “Today, as you welcome the incoming President and new Chairman of the Council, we also reflect on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. “The banking sector is constantly evolving, driven by technological advancements, regulatory changes, and shifts in customer behavior. In the face of these types of changes, the CIBN must remain steadfast in its commitment to excellence and innovation.

“The incoming leadership must embrace new ideas, and new emerging technologies and foster collaboration within the industry to navigate these challenges and seize the opportunities that lie ahead.”