Chairperson

Mr. Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, OON

Mr. Mahmoud is the Managing Partner and one of the founding partners of the law firm of DIKKO & MAHMOUD. He was one time Kano State Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice and was in the public service (from 1979 to 1993) as prosecutor and legal adviser. He held various positions including Director Litigation, Public Prosecution, Solicitor-General at the Ministry of Justice, Kano. He serves on the Boards of Africa Initiative for Governance, Stanbic IBTC Pensions Managers, and MTN Nigeria Plc.

He was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2001 and is a Life Bencher of the Body of Benchers, the highest regulatory body for the legal profession in Nigeria. He holds the national honour of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). He was elected the 33rd president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigeria’s umbrella association of professional lawyers on 1 August 2016.

He is a member of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) and was accepted into the Energy Arbitrators List (EAL) in 2013.

Mr. Mahmoud trained at Ahmadu Bello University graduating in 1979. He holds a Master’s degree in Law from the same University. He was at various times at different global institutes, including the International Development Law Institute (IDLI) now IDLO in Rome, Italy, where he obtained a certificate in Law and Development in 1987, and Harvard University where he obtained a certificate in Techniques of Privatization from the Harvard Institute of International Development (2000). He was also at the Northwestern University School of Law, where he attended the Summer Institute in Corporate Law and Business in 2001.

Chief Executive Officer (Executive Director), NGX

TEMI POPOOLA

Mr. Temi Popoola, CFA is the Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Ltd. He is a successful C-suite leader whose unique blend of business acumen, financial expertise, global market growth and operational insight has earned him a reputation built on verifiable career achievements.

A Wall street trained investment banker, Temi joins the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. from Renaissance Capital (Rencap) where he was Managing Director and CEO for West Africa. Temi supported the continuous growth, profitability and success of the organization by providing strategic market insight and leadership. He led the transformation of Rencap in West Africa by diversifying the company’s revenue streams into fixed income, derivatives, structured products, debt financing and wealth management. In addition to influencing change across the organization, he was responsible for overseeing a global workforce, expanding foreign investor capital opportunities into West Africa and introducing enduring business processes and strategic initiatives.

Since his return to Nigeria in 2009, Temi has also worked with United Bank of Africa (UBA) as Head of Structured Products for Global markets and with CSL Stockbrokers Ltd. as Head of Sales and Trading. In both of these positions, he guided growth and advancement for investors across global markets, including South Africa, the UK, the Middle east and the US.

Temi began his career in London as a portfolio manager focused on African energy markets and worked for several years as a senior equity derivatives trader with Bank of America Securities in New York where he drove firm profitability by providing derivative solutions to US corporations and family offices.

Temi graduated with a First-Class degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Lagos and holds a Masters degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He is a Chartered financial analyst (CFA) and a Chartered stock-broker (CIS). He holds the Series 7 and 63 licensures.

Non-Executive Director (NED)

Mrs. Erelu Angela Adebayo

Erelu Adebayo is the founder of Erelu Adebayo Foundation, and Erelu Adebayo Children’s Home. She received the Lagos State Award Eko 2012, ThisDay Award for Service to Nigerian Children 2012, and Ekiti State Award for Development of Ekiti State, the Society and Humanity.

She was previously the first lady of Ekiti State and Chairman, Ekiti State Action Committee on Aids, Service to LASG. She was also the first female Chairman on the Board of WEMABOD. She serves on the Boards of Dangote Foundation, United Bank for Africa, Afriland Properties Plc., Meyer Paints Plc., Greenwich Trust Ltd., and Women at Risk Foundation.

Erelu Adebayo obtained a BSC Hon (Social Science) from the University of Ibadan, an MBA from the University of Lagos, and MPHiL (Cantab) from Cambridge University. She holds the traditional titles Aare Erelu of Ado Ekiti, and Erelu of Iyin Ekiti.

Non-Executive Director (NED)

Mr. Kamarudeen Oladosu

Mr. Kamarudeen Kareem Oladosu, a Chartered accountant and Stockbroker, is the Managing Director of Equity Capital Solutions Ltd.

He was the former Head of Securities Dealing Services of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc (now Access Bank). He started his career at Continental Merchant Bank Limited (CMB) in 1989 and has had extensive experience in Corporate and Investment Banking, Treasury, and Branch management garnered in four different Banks before taking up an appointment as the pioneer Chief Executive Officer of Equity Capital Solutions Limited in March 2007.
He currently serves on the Boards of the Nigerian Exchange Ltd; Crescent Registrars Limited; Focal Point Travels Limited; MTI Plc (Nigeria and Ghana); Three Points Industries Limited and Home and You Limited.

Mr. Oladosu holds an HND in Accountancy from the Polytechnic Ibadan, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Bayero University Kano and attends the Prestigious Lagos Business School’s Senior Manager Programme in 2005.

He also attended the Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania, USA) Advanced Management Program in July 2010 and Harvard Business School’s Executive Education in July 2011. He also attended Islamic banking masterclass Academy organised by Euromoney Training MEA, Dubai.

He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS). He is also an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), and the Certified Pension Institute of Nigeria (CPIN). He is a member of the Institute of Directors of Nigeria (IOD).

He has attended several local and international courses and seminars in the areas of Risk Management, Accounting, Investment Management, Corporate Banking, and Relationship Management, and corporate governance. Recent courses attended include the following;
1. Company Direction course –IOD Nigeria
2. Advance Company Directions Course- IOD UK
3. Independent Directors masterclass- IOD Nigeria

Born on the 10th of October 1964, he is happily married with children.

Non-Executive Director (NED)

Mr. Yomi Adeyemi

Mr. Adeyemi is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fortress Capital Limited. Fortress Capital Limited (formerly Heritage Investment and Securities Limited) is duly registered by Securities & Exchange Commission as an Issuing House, Broker/ Dealer and was admitted as a Trading License Holder of The Exchange in 1997. Fortress Capital Limited offers securities trading, asset management and investment advisory services.

Mr. Adeyemi was the former group head of Financial Advisory at Core Trust & Investment Limited. He is a fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers and Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. He is also a CFA Charterholder.

He currently serves on the Boards of BDT Properties & Development Company Limited, Toksmail BDC Limited, Connect Marketing Services Limited and Livestock Feeds Plc.

He obtained a B.Sc in Mathematics/Statistics from the University of Lagos, and is a Graduate of Owner Management Program (OMP 19), Lagos Business School.

Non-Executive Director (NED)

Mr. Seyi Osunkeye

Mr. Osunkeye is the Managing Director of Pilot Securities Limited. Pilot Securities Limited is a Trading License Holder of The Exchange and is licenced by the Securities & Exchange Commission as a Broker /Dealer. He was a former Treasurer of the Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria.

He currently serves on the Boards of Alpgam Energy Plc, Greenfield Integrated Energy Services Limited, Letshego Microfinance Limited, and Star Gaming Limited. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, and Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers. He is a member of the Institute of Directors and Society for Corporate Governance.

He obtained his B.SC Hons (Accounting) from the University of Lagos, Nigeria in 1990. He also obtained an MBA in Financial Management from the University of Hull, England, UK.

Independent Non-Executive Director (INED)

Mr. Ahonsi Unuigbe

Mr. Unuigbe currently serves as the Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Petralon Energy Limited.

He was a founding Executive of First Hydrocarbon Nigeria, where he served as Chief Financial Officer & Executive Director. He has had over 14 years of extensive experience spanning the energy & petrochemicals, power, telecoms manufacturing and public sectors.

He was a part of the core team that successfully acquired 45% interest from Shell, Total, and Agip in Oil Mining Lease 26 in Delta State, and led the first reserve based-lending for the onshore Niger-Delta oil block, raising up to $230m from a consortium of banks (led by Standard Bank Plc. & FCMB) despite the very difficult economic climate at the time. He has also applied his capital raising skills to the Public Sector and development of his home state, having successfully secured $150m in concessional World Bank funding for the (Edo) state government, within his first two years in office, during his Public Sector stint as Edo State’s pioneer Commissioner for Budget, Planning and Economic Development.

He was a 2008 recipient of the Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellowship Award, has also previously served as a Special Assistant to the Minister of Finance and served on several Government Committees. He is a Lifetime Member of the Institute of Directors (IOD); and registered with the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria.

Mr. Unuigbe holds a B.A (Economics) (1998) from University of Sussex UK, MSc (International Securities and Investment Banking) (2000) from ISMA Centre, University of Reading UK.

Independent Non-Executive Director (INED)

Dr. Faruk Umar

Dr. Faruk Umar currently serves as a Director on the board of Greenwich Merchant Bank, and chairs the Board of Governors, Pearls Award Nigeria. He previously serves on the boards of Ashaka Cement, Union Homes Loans and Savings Plc., Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc. and NAHCO Plc.

His experience in education started in 1977 as a lecturer at the school of Preliminary Studies, Kano. He was a manager, Educational Services at Kano State Foundation from 1988 – 1991. He also served as the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties with Kano State Government from 1983 -1984.

Dr. Faruk Umar holds a Bachelor of Education B(Ed) from Bayero University Kano (1976), a Master of Education Certificate M(Ed) from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, (1979) and a Doctor of philosophy(phD) in Educational Psychology from University of Wisconsin, U.S.A (1987). He is a Fellow of Institute of Directors (IOD), an alumni of INSEAD Institute, and a certified Corporate Director of Harvard Business School.

Independent Non-Executive Director (INED)

Mr. Ibrahim Dikko

Mr. Ibrahim Dikko is the Managing Director and CEO of Backbone Connectivity Network (BCN). He is a seasoned professional and Entrepreneur with over 30 years’ experience in the Oil & Gas and Telecommunication sectors. Prior to joining Backbone Connectivity Network, Mr. Dikko served as the Managing Director, Hambali Investment Limited (2009 – 2011).

Between 2004 to 2009, he served as the Deputy Managing Director/ COO of Eterna Oil, where he was part of the team that successfully developed and structured the most effective models that transformed the business operations. From 1987 to 2004, Mr. Ibrahim Dikko worked with the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company(PPMC) where he served and rose to the position of the Chief Marketing and Supplier Officer, S&D Department.

He obtained his first Degree in Accounting from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State Nigeria, in addition, Mr. Ibrahim Dikko has attended numerous courses at home and abroad.) in the UK; Holder of FINRA Series 7, 24, and 63 in the USA.

Independent Non-Executive Director (INED)

Ms. Ummahani Ahmad Amin

Ms. Ahmad Amin is a Senior Counsel and Capital Market Solicitor with over 15 years multifaceted legal practice experience with specialties in Core Financing, Islamic Finance, Legal & Regulatory Compliance, Estate Planning, Private Placement, Privatization Advisory, Corporate and Commercial Law.

She was previously a General Counsel at Northbridge Investment and Trust Limited. She has been Secretary and Legal Adviser to several companies and served on numerous boards. She has significant experience in Islamic Finance and Takaful spanning over ten years. She is a certified PPP specialist from Institute of Public Private Partnership IP3 Washington DC. She is a member of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and International Bar Association (IBA).

She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) Common and Sharia Law (2001) and a Master in Business and Commercial Law (M.B.C.L) from Bayero University Kano (2008).

Chief Executive Officer

Temi Popoola

Mr. Temi Popoola is the Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Ltd. He is a successful C-suite leader whose unique blend of business acumen, financial expertise, global market growth and operational insight has earned him a reputation built on verifiable career achievements.

A Wall street trained investment banker, Temi joins the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. from Renaissance Capital (Rencap) where he was Managing Director and CEO for West Africa. Temi supported the continuous growth, profitability and success of the organization by providing strategic market insight and leadership. He led the transformation of Rencap in West Africa by diversifying the company’s revenue streams into fixed income, derivatives, structured products, debt financing and wealth management. In addition to influencing change across the organization, he was responsible for overseeing a global workforce, expanding foreign investor capital opportunities into West Africa and introducing enduring business processes and strategic initiatives.

Since his return to Nigeria in 2009, Temi has also worked with United Bank of Africa (UBA) as Head of Structured Products for Global markets and with CSL Stockbrokers Ltd. as Head of Sales and Trading. In both of these positions, he guided growth and advancement for investors across global markets, including South Africa, the UK, the Middle east and the US.

Temi began his career in London as a portfolio manager focused on African energy markets and worked for several years as a senior equity derivatives trader with Bank of America Securities in New York where he drove firm profitability by providing derivative solutions to US corporations and family offices.

Temi graduated with a First-Class degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Lagos and holds a Masters degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He is a Chartered financial analyst (CFA) and a Chartered stock-broker (CIS). He holds the Series 7 and 63 licensures.

Divisional Head, Capital Markets

Mr. Jude Chiemeka

Jude Chiemeka comes with over 26 years’ experience in Securities Trading and Asset Management across markets in Africa. He joined NGX from United Capital Securities Limited a subsidiary of United Capital Plc, where he was the MD/CEO. He had previously helmed affairs at leading investment banking firms in Nigeria such as Chapel Hill Denham Securities and Rencap Securities (Nigeria). He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers and an alumnus of University of Lagos, Lagos Business School as well as University of Oxford, UK.

Divisional Head, Digital Technology

Dr Olufemi O Oyenuga

Pan ECEMEA technology leader driven by excellence to build world-class platforms for large organizations expanding across Africa. Driven to deliver process and operational excellence, customer focused platforms and cost leadership for clients. Strategically focused executive who elicits top performance through staff motivation, mentoring, recognition learn and development. Robust experience in 6 verticals and public sector – Health, Telecommunications, Banking, Micro-finance, Capital Market, OEM.

Olufemi is a technology strategist with over 26years experience in delivering value propositions across vertical organizations, enterprise and public sector with a resolve to achieve efficiencies, effectiveness in operational management and revenue leveraging IT/ICT. He is also a data scientist who leads the Oracle Solution Pattern, as part of the data engineering information management capabilities. Olufemi who being a medical professional has associated bouquet of degrees from Harvard business School, Colombia business college, Imperial College London as well as Pan African University Lagos. A certified member of information management society, Royal college of Engineer and Certified Enterprise data miner. He is also an advisory to board members of Data Scientist Nigeria and extends different advisory responsibilities in Africa and Europe. Depth in the telecommunication industries, BT, MTNN spanned over 15years with pitch insight in cybersecurity /security white papers produced on Enterprise Data Lake, internet of things and business intelligence, data sciences (MLAI). He was responsible for MTN Group Enterprise architecture blueprint leadership.

He is an avid Cyclist, violinist, and hand on in plumbing skills.

He led MTN CIO Architecture Review Board which over saw programs that represented around $260m of Capex budget. As a Doctor, he brings not only extensive Telco knowledge to the team, but also truly hands-on healthcare, financial and management experience and now Financial services , pivot into micro-finance bank He also speaks Yoruba, English, Spanish and French.

As Divisional Head of Technology and Chief digital officer of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), the goal is to paint the canvass of the capital market listing, trading business with revenue generating deliveries powered by solution and digital innovation, data monetization and infrastructure gateway that provide best in class access for the CM intermediary, ensured partnership with Fintech, RegTech etc.

Divisional Head, Business Support Services Division

Irene ROBINSON-AYANWALE, FCAI, FCMR

Irene Robinson-Ayanwale is an accomplished legal practitioner with twenty years’ experience. Her expertise spans numerous areas including capital market, regulation, administrative proceedings, international trade, intra-African trade, international relations, corporate, commercial, intellectual property, technology, labour, banking, telecommunication, oil & gas, aviation and constitutional matters.

She is currently the Division Head, Business Support Services of Nigerian Exchange Limited.

In 2021 she was named General Counsel of the Year at the renowned Esq Nigerian Legal Awards, and also received a Highly Commended recognition at the 2021 African Legal Awards in the General Counsel of the Year category.

Under her leadership, her Legal Team was recognized as one of the top 100 Legal Departments/in-House Teams in Africa Legal 500 GC 2018 Power List, won the In-House Legal Team of the Year at the 2018 Law Digest African Awards, has won five times consecutively (including in 2021) the In-House Capital Market Team of the Year Esq Nigerian Legal Awards, and from 2017 – 2020 been a finalist at the In-House Legal Team of the Year (Large) African Legal Awards.

She serves in multiple capacities (including as Chair, Member and Private Sector Champion) on several National and Continental Committees and Associations geared towards the integration of the African Market, the advancement of the Nigerian services sector agenda into domestic, regional, continental and multilateral trade policies, and the promotion of financial system stability in Nigeria.

She is known for her versatility, creativity and innovation, excellent analytical skills, extreme attention to detail, thoroughness and effective management.

Chief Finance Officer

Adebayo Opatade