Unity Bank appoints new chairman, directors

UNITY Bank Plc has announced the appointment of a new Chairman and eight non-executive directors.

The new Chairman is Alhaji Nu’uman Barau Danbatta, a seasoned public servant and retired Federal Permanent Secretary. Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) has already given its nod for the appointments.

Danbatta replaces Professor Akin Mabogunje, who retired from the board along with some directors in December 2010, having served since the inception of the bank in 2006 and were directors in some of the legacy banks for some years before they came to Unity Bank.

The new Chairman, at different times served as Permanent Secretary in nine federal ministries, such as Power and Steel, Transportation, Education and Works and also served Public Service Office, among other postings, before retiring in 2010.

He was also at various times the director of several organisations and chairman of certain technical committees.

The other new directors also joining the board on non-executive capacity are Alhaji Aminu Ibrahim Babangida, Mr. Thomas Etuh, Alhaji Ibrahim Abegu Kaugama, Mr. Olaseun Mabogunje, Dr. Oluwafunsho Olusegun Obasanjo and Mr. Hakeem Shagaya.

The bank has also appointed two independent directors as required by regulations. They are Alhaji Gimba Ibrahim and Mr. Gboyega Asabia.

The bank had in March this year, announced the appointment of five executive directors with Alhaji Ado Yakubu Wanka as Managing Director designate.  The executive directors as announced were Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed, Information Technology and Operations; Ahmed Yusuf, Risk Management and Control; Ismaila Galadanchi, Central; and Lanre Fagbohun as Executive Director, Lagos and South West.

The out-going Group Managing Director, Falalu Bello had at the time of the announcement, expressed satisfaction with the smooth transition and confirmed that it was the design of the bank to prepare for its future growth and expansion.