OUR LEADERSHIP
Baobab has gained recognition for its ability to combine financial sustainability with positive social and environmental impacts. As an industry leader, Baobab Group rigorously applies internationally recognized best practices of good governance and institutional ethics.
Baobab is a responsible financial institution, we endorse and apply the Smart Campaign Principles of fair, respectful and non-discriminatory practices and client protection. In order to prevent excessive debt, we have implemented a credit rating methodology that allows precise assessment of the borrower’s financial situation.
Baobab Group’s governance bodies define the global strategy and normative framework applicable to all subsidiaries and provides strategic guidance and supervision through intensive and targeted technical assistance missions. The subsidiaries’ Boards of Directors and the Supervisory Board also ensure a permanent link between governance and all parties involved with the institution: directors, shareholders, investors, clients, employees, and even the wider public.
OUR SHAREHOLDERS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Our directors give the bank a dual advantage: they are seasoned professionals and accomplished financial service experts with an exceptional wealth of experience. Over the years they have provided direction, strength and vision to help Baobab Nigeria achieve its strategic goals and objective.
YEMI ADEOLA – Board Chairman
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Yemi Adeola, is a notable Nigerian banker with multiple awards to his name. He graduated Obafemi Awolowo University where he earned a law degree in 1982. In 1983, he was called to the Nigerian Bar. He bagged a postgraduate Law degree and specialized in the Law of Secured Credit, Comparative Company Law and International Economic Law from the University of Lagos. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and has undertaken senior management/executive education programmes covering various business areas. He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School, Stanford Business School, Said Business School of the University of Oxford, and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is a John F. Kennedy Scholar. He has over 25 years of experience spanning banking and finance, law, corporate consulting and academia. Mr. Adeola commenced his banking career with Citibank in 1988 then he joined Trust Bank of Africa Limited 2003, serving as the Deputy Managing Director between 2003 and 2005. Before the bank's consolidation of TBA into Sterling Bank in December 2005 he became the MD/CEO of Sterling Bank in 2007 a position he held till 2018.
YEMI
ADEOLA
Board Chairman
PHILIP SIGWART – CEO Baobab Group
Philip Sigwart is currently the CEO of Baobab Group. He has been actively involved in the top level of finance institutions for over 25 years. He has served in various capacities, ranging from Chief Operating Officer to Chief Executive Officer in reputable institutions such as Equity Bank, ProCredit and Credit Suisse, to mention but a few. He has a Master’s degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s degree and a Master's degree in Economics. He also has a Master’s degree in International Management.
PHILIP
SIGWART
CEO Baobab Group
KAZEEM OLANREWAJU PhD. – MD/ CEO Baobab Nigeria
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Kazeem has over 25 years banking experience covering: Business Development, Operations, Marketing, Branch Management, Corporate and Public Sector Banking, Retail and Consumer Banking, Private Banking, Investment Banking, Risk Management and Microfinance Banking. Kazeem was the pioneer MD/CEO of Mainstreet Bank MFB Ltd, a bank he nurtured to profitability within three years with excellent portfolio quality. He is a Chartered Accountant, Chartered Capital Market Registrar He holds a Masters Degree in Financial Economics, MBA finance and a Doctorate Degree in Management Finance from (Walden University USA) and a certified Microfinance Banker. He joined Baobab Nigeria in 2014 as the MD/CEO.
KAZEEM OLANREWAJU PhD.
MD/ CEO Baobab Nigeria
BARTHOLOMEW KWAME AHADZI – Independent Director
With core competence in rational strategic planning and execution, especially in turnaround situations, Bartholomew Kwame Ahadzi is a highly passionate, diligent and motivated personality, with over 30 years’ experience in finance and the financial services sector. He has a hands-on, person-centered approach to management/leadership, which has led to a fast-track career progression in positions of increasing responsibility in finance and banking. He also has a commitment to providing an atmosphere of exceptional employee morale and customer service through team building efforts.
BARTHOLOMEW KWAME AHADZI
Independent Director
OYINKANSADE ADEWALE – Independent Director
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Oyinkansade Adewale is a senior finance executive with 20+ years board level CFO experience, with unique expertise in the turnaround of distressed banks, bank consolidation, and the set-up of world class finance functions.
OYINKANSADE ADEWALE
Independent Director
ROTIMI OYEKANMI – Independent Director
Rotimi Olayiwola Oyekanmi is a seasoned financial expert with 36+ years in the financial sector. He is a Fellow and Associate member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, and has held leadership positions in many international companies, such as Apis Partners LLP, Renaissance Group and Ecobank Transnational.
ROTIMI OYEKANMI
Independent Director
FREDERIC FLEJOU– Independent Director
Frédéric Flejou has key competencies in the development and management of international businesses, mainly in emerging markets, through inorganic growth, which goes from defining the strategy, putting in place the teams and structure to support it to the implementation and supervision. He has 29+ years of related experience and is a Chartered accountant and Memorialist e-DPECF, DPECF et DESCF.
FREDERIC
FLEJOU
Independent Director
TOKUNBOH ISHMAEL – Non-Executive Director
Tokunboh Ishmael is a non Executive Director of Baobab Nigeria, representing Alitheia (Goodwell). She has over 20 years experience spanning investment banking, private equity investing, technology and new business development in the USA, Europe and Africa. As a Country Partner at Aureos Capital Nigeria, she successfully raised capital to complete a $50m fundraising for the Aureos West Africa Fund. She also acted as the Fund Manager of a technology focused venture capital fund (Sussex Place Ventures). Tokunboh is an alumnus of London Business School, and the University of London. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a member of the CFA Institute; Yale World Fellow; a member of the boards of several commercial banks and Fintech companies.
TOKUNBOH ISHMAEL
Non-Executive Director
CHRISTINA REIFSCHNEIDER -Non Executive Director
IFRS, Risk management/MaRisk, Financial expert in audit committees, International experience, Supervisory Board member. She worked in some notable organizations such as I.D. Inspiring Development, ProCredit Bank (Bulgaria), ProCredit Holding AG & Co KGaA, Banco ProCredit Mozambique etc. She became a member of the Board of Directors of Baobab Microfinance Bank in December, 2020.
CHRISTINA REIFSCHNEIDER
Non-Executive Director
MANAGEMENT TEAM
The team is made up of seasoned individuals and professionals passionate in delivering unprecedented results to staff, value to our customers and communities we serve. Our success story is based on the exceptional leadership quality and vision of our management team in service delivering of financial solutions to our stakeholders. Â
Babatunde BARUWA - Chief Innovation and Digital Officer
Fatai began his career in the US military, developing applications and performing military research and analysis that improved administrative and tactical efficiency. He became a Consultant in New York, USA. He has served in various capacities as a Director of Information Systems, Head, Strategy & Business Transformation, Information Technology and Product Innovation, Group Head, Card Products/Projects and Alliance Management; Head, Cash Management – Transaction Banking; Group Head, Digital & Payment Solution (Banking) and Bank Head, North Bank responsible for sales and distribution (Banking)
Babatunde
BARUWA
Chief Innovation & Digital Officer
Adewale SANYA - Chief Financial Officer
A consummate Chartered Accountant and result-oriented professional with over two (2) decades of outstanding track records of excellence in financial reporting & control, financial analysis & modelling, strategic planning & budgeting, tax management & planning, treasury & cash flow Management, working capital management, audit & compliance and performance management, offering significant management experience gained in local and world class financial and large corporate institutions. An excellent team player with strong leadership qualities, analytical and communication skills, ready to face challenging tasks.
Adewale
SANYA
Chief Financial Officer
John UGWUNAYA – Financial Controller
John joined Baobab Nigeria in October 2011 as an Accounts Officer and rose to become the Head of Accounts department. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and a Master’s Degree in Banking and Finance all from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Nigeria(ICAN) and a graduate member of Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) he is also a graduate member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers Nigeria (CIBN) with a Microfinance Certification. He has worked as a Senior Auditor with Abdulkadeer & Co. a chartered Accounting firm in Kaduna. In addition, John has successfully undergone training in International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) conversion. His wealth of experience has been tapped by Baobab Nigeria since his joining in 2011.
John
UGWUNAYA
Financial Controller
Gabriel GODWIN – Head of Operations
Godwin is a Certified Microfinance Banker with over 10 years working experience. He is one of the pioneer employees of Baobab Nigeria (formerly Microcred Nigeria). He started his career in Baobab as a Portfolio Manager, grew to a Branch Supervisor, Branch Manager and then Regional Manager. He handled the Kaduna region effectively and in view of his exceptional performance was relocated to Lagos in May 2018 to oversee the difficult branches which have in turn had tremendous growth since his arrival. He is an awesome team player, focused and result oriented.
Gabriel
GODWIN
Head of Operations
Samuel AIKHUOMOGBE - Head Admin & Expansion
Dr. Samuel Aikhuomogbe is the Head of Business Expansion & Strategy at BAOBAB MFB. Dr. Ph.D. in Management, Walden University, USA, in 2016 (Leadership and Organizational Change). MSc (finance) from the Grenoble Graduate School of Business in France from 2008-2010. Health & safety (NEBOSH), financial modeling, and risk management. International Certified Expert in Microfinance at the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management in Germany, Sustainable Business Strategy at Harvard Business School, Online, Artificial Intelligence: Implication to Business Strategy at MIT Sloan Management School. Currently, Post Graduate Diploma Degree course on Design Thinking and Innovation at Emeritus University in Singapore.
Samuel
AIKHUOMOGBE
Cadet PIERRE – Chief Client Officer
Pierre joined Baobab Nigeria in January 2016 as an Operations Expert having worked with FINCA International and ACME S.A back in his native land of Haiti. Both organizations are saddled with the responsibility of providing financial services to small, and medium scale enterprises. While at FINCA International he served as the SME Credit Manager with a wonderful track record of accomplishment to show. While at ACME S.A he served in the capacity of Regional Director of the organization before joining Baobab Nigeria. Pierre Cadet holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the prestigious INAGHEI, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, he also has several certifications ranging from Management Arts, Operational Risk Management, Portfolio Supervision and Measuring and Controlling Outstanding Payment to mention a few. He has been in the sector since 2002
Cadet
PIERRE
Chief Client Officer
Babatunde OMOLERE - Chief Risk Officer
Tunde is an alumnus of Enugu State University of Technology Business School with a Masters’ Degree in Business Administration (MBA). A Fellow of Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN) and Microfinance Certified Banker of Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIBN), he has attended several local and international courses in general banking, Internal Control and Risk Management, which include Boulder Institute of Microfinance Bank, Italy and the prestigious Harvard Business School, USA. He has contributed his quota to the development of microfinance industry in Nigeria in collaboration with Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and National Association of Microfinance Bank (NAMB). A seasoned banker with over 19 years’ experience in commercial, retail, mortgage and microfinance banking having served in almost all the departments in banking both at junior and senior levels. Very dogged and ready to reach for the stars in his endeavor to achieve personal and corporate goals. A risk professional to the core but with general banking knowledge and distinctive performances.
Prior to joining Baobab Microfinance Bank, he was the Chief Risk Control and Compliance Officer of Edfin Microfinance, Chief Operations Officer of Accion Microfinance Bank and Pioneer Head of Internal Control which later became Risk, Control and Compliance, at other times CFO and CCO in Accion Mfb. Tunde worked with Wema Bank Plc, Global Trust Savings & Loans Ltd and Intercontinental Bank Plc. He also served as Managing Director of Crowned Eagle Microfinance Bank.
Babatunde
OMOLERE
Chukwuka OBIKE - Chief Digital Strategy Officer
Chukwuka Obike holds a Second Class Honors Upper Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) and Executive MBA (Management) from the Lagos Business School arm of Pan Atlantic University. He also has a Certificate in Engineering Specialization from the Robert Gordon University Aberdeen Scotland He has also attended various training in e-Business and Leadership. He has about 20 years working experience across Oil & Gas, IT and Financial sectors. An experienced e-Business Management professional who uses technology to drive business processes for smooth operation. He has managed various channels including; Cards, ATMs, Mobile Payments, Mobile (App, USSD, Telephone, SMS & Internet Banking, POS Business, Electronic Funds Transfer platforms etc. He has worked for the following organizations; Schlumberger Sema, Access Bank, FinBank, FCMB, Cellulant, Ark Technologies, FINCA and presently with Baobab .
Chukwuka
OBIKE
Chief Digital Strategy Officer
Mayowa IROJAH – Audit Manager
Joined Baobab MFB in October, 2016, has over 10 years in the banking experience industry. He has M.Sc. in Banking and Finance from the University of Ibadan and B.Sc. in Accounting from University of Ado Ekiti. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Banker of Nigeria with Microfinance Certification, also a Member of Nigerian Institute of Management. He is currently pursuing his ACCA certification. He previously worked with Diamond Bank Plc. before joining Fortis Microfinance Bank where he started off as an Internal Control Officer and became Acting Head Audit and Control, SMC/Fortis MFB.
Mayowa
IROJAH
Audit Manager
Damilare ALABI - Country IT Manager
Over the past ten years, he has brought his expertise to bear in creating technology-driven solutions that meet strategic business needs across various sectors including FMCG, Financial Services, IT servicing and Telecommunication. He is experienced in the area of Deployment and Management of Enterprise IT Infrastructure, Unified Communications Systems, Collaboration platforms, Digital workflows and Systems Integration, Business Process Automation, E-Channels & Financial Technology, Cybersecurity, IT Service Management/Delivery, Data Protection, Cloud Products/platforms, IT Strategies and Transition planning. He is a Certified Microfinance Banker, Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate, ITIL Certified, a professional member of The Chartered Institute for IT (British Computer Society), UK and he is a graduate of Computer Engineering and Statistics. He currently pursues his MBA in University of Suffolk, United Kingdom and he has attended various training in technology and business domains.
Damilare
ALABI
Information Technology Manager
Daniel MOZOBAM - Legal Manager
Daniel is an experienced Legal professional, with 9 years of work experience. He has a Master’s Degree in Law UNN, Enugu Campus:2006, Nigeria Law School:2005, and has been the Corporate Legal Manager of Baobab Microfinance Bank Nigeria Limited since October 2017.
Daniel
MOZOBAM
Legal Manager
Tayo AKANDE – Senior Risk Manager
Olutayo joined Baobab Nigeria in the month of June 2010 as Loan Officer. He is a graduate of Accounting. He has ten years working experience spanning in accounting and financial institutions. He is an associate member of the Association of Accounting Technician (AAT), a member of the institute of chartered accountants of Nigeria (ACA, ICAN) and he has passed the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA Global) first level and is currently undergoing the second level. Olutayo Akande is CIBN certified and he is currently a Senior Risk Manager at Baobab Nigeria
Tayo
AKANDE
Senior Risk Manager