President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointments of Rotimi Akinde and Ifeoma Uz’Okpala as Executive Directors at the Bank of Industry (BOI). Akinde will oversee Corporate Finance and Risk Management, while Uz’Okpala will lead the Large Enterprises Directorate.
The bank’s spokesperson, Theodora Amechi, announced in a statement to reporters that these appointments are effective immediately.
Akinde brings over 20 years of experience in Investment and Corporate Banking, specializing in capital raising, including debt, equities, and hybrids. He has extensive expertise in Corporate Finance, which encompasses Mergers & Acquisitions, Privatization Advisory, and Project Finance.
Before joining the Bank of Industry, Akinde was an Associate Partner in Project and Corporate Finance at Infrastructure Delivery International (IDI), where he contributed to the UKNIAF program and advanced green finance initiatives, as well as structured debt solutions for subnational entities.
Previously, he served as Corporate Finance Advisor at the Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (NIAF), focusing on financing initiatives, modeling, and funding structures for infrastructure projects. He also held the position of Group Head and Assistant General Manager for multinationals in Corporate Banking at UBA Plc and was formerly the Vice President of Corporate Finance and Advisory at UBA Global Markets, now known as United Capital.
Akinde began his career as an Assistant Manager at Leadbank Plc, where he worked in the Investment and Corporate Banking divisions.
Uz’Okpala has been with BOI since September 2014. She began as the Group Head of Large Enterprises Credit and later served as the Bank’s Chief Risk Officer before her recent promotion.
As Chief Risk Officer, Uz’Okpala played a crucial role in managing risks related to the bank’s operations and provided support on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) risk matters. She offered critical ESG guidance during transactions and developed a strategic framework to attract impact investments.
Uz’Okpala is a seasoned professional in Credit and Risk Management, with over 30 years of experience in the financial industry. She began her career at the International Merchant Bank and has held various significant positions at MBC International, First Bank, Stanbic Bank, and UBA.
Her diverse skill set includes Internal Audit, Corporate Finance, Credit Evaluation and Origination, Foreign Operations, and Risk Management.
