Group Chairman, NGX Group

Alhaji (Dr.) Umaru Kwairanga

Dr. Kwairanga has 25 years’ cognate experience in the banking, pensions, investment, manufacturing and commercial sectors. He has served previously as a Council member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and is currently a Council member of the Institute of Directors of Nigeria; and an active director on the boards of many quoted/listed and unquoted companies including Ashaka Cement Plc where he served for over ten years, first as a Director and later as Chairman of the Board. He is currently the GMD/CEO of Finmal Finance Services Limited.

He is a Fellow of Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Fellow of Certified Pension Institute Nigeria (2005) and Fellow of Institute of Directors of Nigeria. He is Chairman – Commerce, Trade and Investment subcommittee of Gombe State transition committee.

Dr. Kwairanga has a B.Sc (Hons) Business Administration (1991) and MBA (1995) both from University of Maiduguri and M.Sc. Finance & Governance from Liverpool John Moores University (2007).

Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NGX Group

Mr. Temi Popoola

Temi Popoola is the current Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Exchange Group.

Prior to this, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Exchange Limited, the operating Exchange subsidiary of the Group. He is a successful C-suite leader whose unique blend of business acumen, financial expertise, global market growth performance, and operational insight has earned him a reputation built on verifiable career achievements.

A wall street trained investment banker, Temi launched his career in London, working as an asset manager where he gained extensive experience researching and assessing investment opportunities across Africa’s energy sector. In his next professional role, he expanded his expertise as an Equity Derivatives Trader with Bank of America Securities in New York, NY, USA. During this time, he fine-tuned his trading and investment advisory skills, working closely with both large corporations and private clients.

He returned to Nigeria after achieving success on Wall Street and joined UBA as Head of Structured Products and Investments for global markets. He subsequently led the Sales & Trading business at CSL Stockbrokers, a wholly owned subsidiary of FCMB. In both roles, he facilitated the flow of capital from global investors into Nigeria, particularly those from South Africa, London, the US, and Nigeria. Leveraging his expert knowledge of the Nigerian financial services industry, he became recognized as a leader in the industry and was subsequently recruited by Renaissance Capital in 2015 where he rapidly progressed into the CEO role, assuming responsibility for the West Africa operations of the firm.

During his six-year tenure at Renaissance Capital, Temi provided strategic market insight and leadership. He diversified the company’s revenue streams by adding fixed income, derivatives, structured products, financing, and wealth management. He oversaw a global workforce, expanded foreign investor capital opportunities into the Nigerian market, and introduced new processes, programs, and strategies to exceed corporate and client expectations.

Temi is passionate about business, collaborative team building, meeting organizational demands, and finance/investment banking. His greatest motivation is leading and guiding others to exceed expectations, and he uses his influence to help organizations exceed short- and long-term goals.

Temi graduated with a First-Class Honors Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Lagos and holds a Master of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He is a CFA charter holder and also obtained his NASD series 7 and 63 licensures.

Independent Non – Executive Director

Dr. Okechukwu Crescent Itanyi

Dr. Itanyi has over 30 years’ experience in the public and private sectors. He presently directs two investment and property development companies: Valuehouse Limited and Wata Resources Limited. He is a former Executive Commissioner (Stakeholders Management) at Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) (2010 to 2015). He was elected as the Deputy Governor of Enugu State for two consecutive terms (May 1999 to May 2007). Prior to being Deputy Governor, he represented Igbo-Etiti East Constituency in Enugu State House of Assembly (1997).

He worked for Catenation Incorporated, a financial consulting company in Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA, before returning to Nigeria in 1988. Between 1988 and 1995, he worked for International Merchant Bank, Diamond Bank and Commercial Trust Bank. He has extensive experience in Treasury and Corporate Banking. He is a member of Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered) and Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.

Dr. Itanyi holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Management from University of Nigeria, Nsukka (2013). He also holds a Higher Diploma (Animal Health from University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1982), B.Sc. (Agriculture) (1984), MBA from Ohio State University (1987).

Independent Non – Executive Director

Mrs. Ojinika Nkechinyelu Olaghere

Mrs. Olaghere is the Managing Consultant of Rickela Consulting Limited. She retired from Access Bank Nigeria Plc in June 2018 as Executive Director, Operations and Information Technology. Prior to her appointment as an Executive Director, she had served as General Manager, General Resource Management Group and General Manager, The Enterprise Support Group. Prior to joining Access Bank in 2007, Mrs. Olaghere worked with Ecobank Nigeria for 16 years, in the Operations Group before moving to Consumer Banking. She started her career as a translator at Tropical Farming Magazine and the Embassy of Guinea. In 1987, she joined Coopers & Lybrand (Chartered Accountants) (now PriceWaterhouseCoopers).

Mrs. Olaghere currently sits as a Non-Executive Director on the Boards of First Ally Management Limited and Coscharis Technologies. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.

She holds a Diploma in French and Literature from Université de Grenoble III, FRANCE (1983; and a B.A.(French) from University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1984). She has also attended courses at Harvard Business School, INSEAD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, London Business School and Lagos Business School.

Non-Executive Director

Mr. Nonso Okpala

Mr. Nonso Okpala is the current Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of VFD GroupPlc, an Industry agnostic proprietary investment company with interests in banking, entertainment, capital market, fintech, international remittance, real estate and hospitality.

Mr. Okpala formerly served as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Heirs Holdings Limited for five years and as a Senior Auditor for KPMG Professional Services for four years before joining VFD Group Plc.

He has a Bachelor of Science (Bsc.) in Marketing from the University of Nigeria, Enugu, where he graduated as the best graduating student in 2003. Mr. Nonso Okpala is an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

Non-Executive Director

Mr. Mohammed Garuba

Mr. Garuba is an accomplished finance and investment professional with over 25 years of cutting-edge experience across asset management, capital raising, corporate finance, macro and equity research, sales and trading, pension fund management, fintech and principal investing.

He is a Co-Founder of CardinalStone Partners Limited and the Managing Director of CardinalStone Real Assets Limited. He has also worked with Renaissance Capital, Zenith Bank, Investment Banking & Trust Company Limited (now Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc) and Intercellular Nigeria Limited.

He is the Chairman of CardinalStone Securities Limited, and an active Director on the Board of several companies such as CardinalStone Partners Limited, CS Advance Finance Limited, Zapphire Events Limited, CardinalStone Trustees Limited, and Value Payment Solutions Limited.

He has served previously as a Council Member of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers of Nigeria and a member of the ministerial committee set up to review the Investment and Securities Act (ISA) 2007 based on international best practices regarding statutes governing the operations of the capital market.

He holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Insurance from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, and an MBA from the London Business School. He is a Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers of Nigeria and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. He is also an Associate of the Chartered

Institute for Securities & Investment, UK, and an alumnus of Yale University and Harvard Kennedy School.

Non-Executive Director

Mr. Sehinde Adenagbe

Mr. Adenagbe is currently the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Standard Union Securities Limited. He is vastly experienced in Capital Market Analysis, Corporate Finance/Stockbroking, Clients Advisory Services and Management. He has worked with various  Capital Market institutions including Midland Capital Markets Limited, Midas Stockbrokers Limited, and Negotiable Finance Limited.

He is the 1st Vice Chairman of Association of Securities Dealing Houses of Nigeria (ASHON), a position he holds till date. He is also a member of the Certified Pension Institute of Nigeria (CPIM), the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), and the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers.

Mr. Adenagbe holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife (1989) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Financial Management (2001) from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho.

Non-Executive Director

Mr. Ademola Babarinde

Mr. Babarinde is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Offificer of Reward Investment & Services Limited, a position he has maintained from 2015 till date. He has over 34 years working experience as an accountant and Capital Market specialist. Prior to joining Reward Investment & Services Limited, he worked with International Standard Securities Limited as a Manager and Agip Nigeria Plc as a Senior Accounting Offificer.

To further demonstrate his leadership skills and astute qualities, he currently serves as a Council member of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, and a Council member of the Institute of Capital Market Registrars.

Mr. Babarinde holds a Higher National Diploma (HND) Certifificate in Accountancy from the Polytechnic, Ibadan (1987) and an MBA in Banking and Finance from Enugu State University of Science and Technology (1999). He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of

Taxation of Nigeria.

Independent Non-Executive Director, NGX Group

Mrs. Mosun Belo

Mrs. Belo-Olusoga is the Lead Consultant/Chief Executive officer of The KRC (Knowledge and Resource Centre) Limited, a world-class services provider with specialty focus on Credit Training. She holds a B.Sc. degree in Economics from University of Ibadan, graduating with a Second-Class Upper Degree and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and Honorary Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers.

She began her career as a Trainee Accountant with the then Messrs Coopers and Lybrand (Chartered Accountants) in 1980. She qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1983 winning the ICAN First Place and the Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN) Awards in the qualifying professional examinations. She subsequently moved to the then Continental Merchant Bank Limited towards the end of 1986 in a bid to change her career to Banking.

She joined Guaranty Trust Bank Plc as a pioneer staff in 1990 where she gained robust experience having headed the major core banking groups including Investment, Corporate and Commercial Banking, Transaction Services, Risk Management and Settlement (Domestic and International Operations) Groups. She retired as Executive Director/ Head of the Bank’s Southwest Division responsible for all marketing operations within the region.

Mrs. Belo – Olusoga was the first female Executive Director of Guaranty Trust Bank, the first female Director of Access Bank, first female Director of Premium Pensions Limited, first African Director, Global Alliance for Women in Banking, first female Chairman of Access Bank and first female Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of Olabisi Onabanjo University. She is the immediate past Co-Chair of the Nigerian Chapter, Women Corporate Directors (WCD) and was named one of 100 Most Reputable Africans in 2018, one of 100 Globally Inspiring Women for 2021 and one of 50 Nigerian Amazons in 2021.

She is a product of some of the world’s prestigious Business Schools including IMD, Harvard, Kellogg, Columbia, Chicago Booth, Wharton and INSEAD. She is a past Chairman of the Equipment and Leasing Association of Nigeria, Acting MD, Trust Bank of Africa and sits on the Board of several companies. She is also a recipient of two Honorary Doctorate degrees (Honoris Causa) in Finance and Accounting.

Independent Non-Executive Director

Mrs. Fatima Wali-Abdurrahman

Mrs. Wali – Abdurrahman is a Senior Adviser to the Group President, Strategic Relations and Special Projects at Dangote Industries Limited. She was the Founder/Chief Executive of Filmco Group from 1994 – 2014.

She has over 30 years’ experience in the Real Estate industry. She has worked with other big firms such as Alpha Properties International Limited, Cosmocorp Realty and Femi Majekodunmi & Associates.

She serves as a Director on the Board of several Companies including NASCON Plc, Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Co. and BBL Landmark Refinance Realty/Landmark 2007 Global Realty. She is the current Chairperson of FilmoRealty Ltd and a member of the Advisory Board, Women’s Investment Fund (Chapel Hill Denham).

Mrs. Wali-Abdurrahman is also a Director of Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative (IWEI) and a member of the Advisory Board, CoAmana. She is a member of the Institute of Directors (IOD), Institute of Management Consultant, Women in the Boardroom and Women Corporate Directors.

Mrs. Wali – Abdurrahman has a B.A, Arch and Urban Studies University of Minnesota, U.S.A (1983), and M.Sc. Architecture from the University of London, UK.