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Just In: Union Bank CEO, Emeka Emuwa Set to Retire After 8 Years Of Leading The Bank!

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Board Appoints Executive Director, Emeka Okonkwo, as Successor

The Board of Union Bank Nigeria Plc announces today that, after eight
years leading the Bank, its Chief Executive Officer, Emeka Emuwa, has communicated his
decision to retire from the Bank and his role as CEO on March 31, 2021.
Emeka Emuwa joined Union Bank in November 2012, following a $500 million investment by
Union Global Partners, with a mandate to transform and restore one of Nigeria’s oldest
institutions back to its rightful position as a respected provider of financial services.
With his imminent departure, the Board has appointed Emeka Okonkwo, an Executive Director
currently leading the Bank‘s Corporate Banking business, to succeed him. The appointment
is subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Commenting on his retirement, Emeka Emuwa said;
I have enjoyed the significant challenge of leading Union Bank over the last eight
years. I am extremely proud of the management team and what we have been able
to accomplish during my time as CEO. Today, we have a strong bank that is well
positioned to compete and deliver on its vision to be ‘Nigeria’s most trusted and
reliable partner.’ With a clear strategic direction, a growing and loyal customer base
and a strong brand, this is now the natural time for the next generation of leadership
to take Union Bank forward and deliver further value.
In over three decades of banking, my time at Union Bank has been one of the richest
experiences in a long and fulfilling career with a treasure of work and life lessons to
carry into the future. Together as a team, we scaled many hurdles and accomplished
significant feats and I would like to thank my Executive team, senior management
and every one of our employees for their integrity, support and hard work that have
brought Union Bank to where it is today.
I would also like to thank the Board for the opportunity to lead this storied institution
that has impacted generations of Nigerians for over a century and for supporting our
efforts and vision during my tenure.
As we begin the transition into a new era of leadership under Emeka Okonkwo, a
consummate professional with the right experience and values, I know that Union
Bank will continue on its path as a values driven organisation that is deeply
committed to our customers and the communities we serve.
Prior to joining Union Bank, Emeka Emuwa led a distinguished 25-year career at Citibank.
Following several senior roles in Nigeria and across Africa, he became the first Nigerian to
be named Country Officer and Managing Director of Citibank Nigeria.
On his retirement, Emeka Emuwa will also step down from the Board of Union Bank.
Union Bank’s Chair, Beatrice Hamza Bassey, said;
On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Emeka Emuwa for leading Union Bank
during the last eight years. His exceptional contribution to the transformation of the
business produced excellent results and set a solid platform for growth.
The focus over the last eight years on technology transformation, digital innovation,
and development of diverse markets for our world class range of products, has seen
Union Bank well positioned to continue growing from its current position as a market
disruptor.
Amid a tough macroeconomic environment, Union Bank maintained steady
operational momentum under Emeka’s leadership which in 2020 culminated in the
first dividend payment to investors and shareholders in over ten years. His many
significant achievements, including providing steady stewardship during the
unprecedented challenges wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, lays a solid
springboard for the future. We wish him the very best and are grateful for his support
and commitment to ensure a successful transition over the next few months.
The Board is pleased to have Emeka Okonkwo as incoming CEO. Having been a
key contributor to the achievements of the Bank over the past seven years as an
Executive Director, Emeka Okonkwo is well suited to lead Union Bank’s next phase
of growth. The Board and I look forward to working with him to execute our strategy
and deliver value to all stakeholders in the years ahead.
Emeka Okonkwo is a seasoned banker with 30 years of experience. He joined Union Bank
in 2013 as an Executive Director to lead the Corporate Banking and Treasury business. As
the Bank embarked on its transformation, he was responsible for rebuilding the business
and strategically positioning Union Bank for success in the Corporate Banking space.
Mr. Okonkwo began his career at Citibank Nigeria where he rose from officer level to
become Executive Director in charge of Commercial Banking and Global Subsidiaries in
2009. At Citibank, he worked across various disciplines including Corporate Finance, Credit
Risk Management, Marketing, Treasury and Strategic Management in Nigeria and London.
Prior to joining Union Bank, he was the Head of the Corporate and Investment Banking
Division in Citibank Bangladesh.
Emeka Okonkwo has a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Nigeria,
Nsukka; an MSc in Construction Management from the University of Lagos and an MBA
from Warwick Business School, UK.

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IBEDC records 1,459 energy theft cases in January, February

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The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company said it has recorded 1,459 cases of energy theft by its subscribers between January and February 2024.

This was disclosed in a press statement signed by the firm’s Chief Key Accounts Officer, Mr. Johnson Tinuoye, on Tuesday.

IBEDC added that it is actively pursuing investigations and legal actions against individuals and businesses involved in the theft in collaboration with the Federal Government Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offences.

Identifying the cases, IBEDC said they included various offences such as meter bypass and illegal meter tampering, which resulted in significant financial losses amounting to hundreds of millions of naira for the company.

The statement read, “We want to send a clear message to our customers that energy theft will not be tolerated. Our collaboration with the Federal Government Special Investigation and Prosecution Task Force on Electricity Offences underscores our commitment to ensuring a fair and just electricity distribution system.

“Energy theft not only undermines the integrity of our operations but also deprives IBEDC of the revenue necessary to provide quality services to our customers.”

Tinuoye emphasised that under the Electricity Act, energy theft is now recognised as a criminal offense, carrying severe penalties including imprisonment stressing, “In the Osun region, two individuals were apprehended for stealing energy through meter bypass and illegal connections. Their cases have been formally charged in court for prosecution.”

IBEDC further urged customers to refrain from engaging in any form of energy theft, emphasising that the consequences can be severe, as there is no room for negotiation with the SIPTEO Task Force team, which is actively patrolling and investigating instances of energy theft for prosecution.

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Copyright Breach: NCC Drags MTN, Others To Court Over Musician’s Works

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The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has filed criminal charges against MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd. and four others over alleged copyright infringement.

The charge with number FHC/ABJ/CR/111/2024 filed in the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court was obtained by journalists on Monday.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the four other defendants in the case include the chief executive officer of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola; Nkeakam Abhulimen, Fun Mobile Ltd.; and Yahaya Maibe.

In the three-count charge, NCC alleged that the defendants, between 2010 and 2017, “offered for sale, sold and traded for business’’, infringed the musical works of an artiste, Maleke Idowu Moye, without his consent and authorisation.

The commission alleged that the defendants used musical works and sound recordings of Mr Maleke with subsisting copyright as caller ringback tunes without the authorisation of the artiste.

The musician’s musical works and sound recordings allegedly infringed upon included 911, Minimini-wanawana, Stop Racism, Ewole, 911 instrumental, Radio, Low Waist, and No Bother.

The defendants were also alleged to have distributed the musical works to their subscribers without authorisation, thereby infringing on the rights of the artiste.

In the third count, the defendants were alleged to have in their possession, other than for their private or domestic use, the artiste’s musical works and sound recordings.

According to NCC, the alleged offences are contrary to and punishable under section 20 (2) (a) (b) and (c) of the Copyright Act, Cap. C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The case has yet to be assigned to any judge, and no date has been fixed for the mention.

Meanwhile, no official statement has been released by any of the defendants as at the time of filing this report, while all efforts to get reactions from MTN by New Telegraph proved abortive.

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LASG, LCC ANNOUNCE REOPENING OF LEKKI CONSERVATION CENTRE AFTER REPAIRS

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Following the completion of extensive routine maintenance works on the Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC), the Lagos State Government and the Management of the Centre have announced that the Walkway will be reopened for public use with effect from Friday, 29th March 2024.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Idris Aregbe confirmed this on Friday during a visit to the Centre in Lekki alongside some officials of the Ministry.

Aregbe said that he was happy to see that all repairs and renovations on the facility, including the Walkway, have been completed and would be accessible for tourism during the Easter celebration.

The Special Adviser appreciated Lagosians and tourists across the world for their patience during the thorough maintenance works carried out at the Centre in Lekki.

The Director-General of the Centre, Prof Mathew Onoja also appreciated the State Government for its intervention following the viral video, which first circulated in December as well as the swift response and efforts towards making the repairs and renovations seamless.

He noted that the Centre being a major tourism asset in Lagos State has played host to tourists from all over the world as it offers a serene environment for nature tourism and also boasts of the longest canopy walkway in Africa.

Recall that the facility has been undergoing routine maintenance since January following apprehensions arising from the damaged section of the Canopy Walkway, which had been repaired before the viral video was posted on social media platforms.

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