MCB Appoints Abiodun Azeez Chief Representative Officer in Nigeria
Omolabake Fasogbon
The MCB has announced the appointment of Abiodun Azeez as its new Representative Officer in Nigeria. A statement from the company which disclosed this, noted that with a wealth of experience in the banking sector and a deep understanding of the African market, Azeez was set to strengthen MCB’s presence in Nigeria and enhance its engagement with the Nigerian corporate sector.
“MCB is confident that its new Chief Representative Officer’s extensive experience and strategic vision will contribute to our mission of connecting Africa with MENA and support the growth of the Nigerian economy,” it added.
Before joining MCB in 2021, the new Chief Representative Officer headed Africa coverage for a Middle East Bank, facilitating trade flows and raising capital into Africa. Recognising the significant knowledge gap and the need for a reliable partner in Africa, Azeez saw MCB’s establishment of the Dubai Office as the perfect platform to engage with Middle East and North Africa (MENA) players interested in Africa. His experience in the Dubai Advisory Office, which aimed at connecting Africa with MENA, has equipped them with valuable knowledge about the sectors of interest in Nigeria for MENA corporates.
As the Chief Representative Officer in Nigeria, his primary objectives include strengthening MCB’s presence in Nigeria by being closer to existing clients, particularly in the oil and gas and financial institutions sectors, growing MCB’s share in the corporate segment by developing new relationships that meet the parameters for its Global and International Corporates (GIC), and covering sectors such as manufacturing, trading, private equity, telecommunications, and FinTechs.
Azeez also intends to adopt a collaborative approach with local financial institutions to complement each other’s strengths and support the corporate sector.
Speaking about the opportunities provided by the Nigerian market, he states: “the prevailing macro-economic situation in Nigeria presents an opportunity.”
Azeez is confident that MCB could support businesses across regions, despite Nigeria’s challenging business environment. “
Nigeria is currently implementing economic reforms, and the business environment is challenging due to high interest rates, exchange rate instability, and infrastructure deficits.
