Gouvernance

Tony O. Elumelu is a visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist. Born, raised and educated in Africa, Mr. Elumelu has been responsible for creating businesses across the continent, in sectors critical to Africa’s economic development.

In 2010, he founded Heirs Holdings, an African investment holding company, with investments in Financial Services, Power Generation, Oil and Gas, Agribusiness, Real Estate and Hospitality. In the same year, he established the Tony Elumelu Foundation, an Africa-based and African-funded philanthropy, dedicated to catalysing entrepreneurship across Africa. He is Chairman of Heirs Holdings as well as UBA Group Plc and Transcorp Plc, which is Nigeria’s largest listed conglomerate.

In his early career, Mr. Elumelu turned the financially distressed Standard Trust Bank (STB) into a top-five financial services player in Nigeria. In 2005, he led the largest merger in the banking sector in sub-Saharan Africa between STB and United Bank for Africa (UBA). Today, UBA operates in 20 African countries, as well as New York, London, Paris and Dubai.

Mr. Elumelu is the author and leading proponent of “Africapitalism,” an economic philosophy that advocates for the private sector’s commitment to Africa’s development through long-term investment in strategic sectors of the economy, that drive economic prosperity and social wealth. In 2003, the Federal Government of Nigeria conferred the honour of Member of the Federal Republic on Mr. Elumelu. In 2012 he was awarded Commander of the Order of the Niger for his service in promoting private enterprise. In 2013, Mr. Elumelu received the Leadership Award in Business and Philanthropy from the Africa-America Institute Awards. He was also named African Business Icon at the 2013 African Business Awards. He was conferred the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) by the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2022.

Mr. Elumelu presently serves as a member of the Global Advisory Board of the United Nations Sustainable Energy for All Initiative (SE4ALL) and USAID’s Private Capital Group for Africa Partners Forum. He sits on the Nigerian President’s Agricultural Transformation Implementation Council and serves as co-chair of the Aspen Institute Dialogue Series on Global Food Security. He played a leading role in the formation of the National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria and now serves as its vice chairman. He chairs the Ministerial Committee to establish world-class hospitals and diagnostic centres across Nigeria, at the invitation of the Federal Government.

Oliver, a seasoned banking professional, comes on board with a broad range of strategic and well-grounded experience in Corporate and Institutional Banking, Consumer Banking, Public Sector, Retail and Commercial Banking, Project Management, Corporate Governance, and overall bank management.

Oliver has acquired 25 years of work experience in the banking industry after his short foray into academia. He joined the former Standard Trust Bank (STB) as a pioneer staff in 1997. Over the years, he has demonstrated a strong passion for excellence and result-oriented leadership capabilities.

Prior to his current appointment as the Group Managing Director/CEO of UBA Group, Oliver was at various times country CEO and Regional CEO in the Rest of Africa, Executive Director, East Bank (Nigeria) and later Group Deputy Managing Director/CEO, covering Nigeria and other 19 subsidiaries in the Rest of Africa. He also worked in another bank and rose to the position of Executive Director.

Oliver is an effective and self-motivated professional. He possesses B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Food Science and Technology and an MBA in Banking and Finance. He is an alumnus of the AMP and SEP programmes of the prestigious INSEAD Business School, France and London Business School respectively. He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).

Muyiwa is the Deputy Managing Director of United Bank for Africa (UBA). He oversees the Bank’s business in Southern Nigeria and coordinates the corporate banking arm of the institution. Prior to this, Akinyemi who joined UBA in 2005, drove the bank’s Energy Bank business and was General Manager, Corporate and Commercial Banking. He also headed the Wholesale Banking arm between 2013 and 2015, where he was responsible for the Bank’s business activities in various geographies where UBA was present at the time.

Muyiwa headed UBA Kenya as the CEO/MD between 2010 and 2011. Before joining UBA, Muyiwa worked in Standard Trust Bank between 1998 and 2005, where he led in various capacities including Head of Investment Banking, Head, Energy & Telecoms Division and Structured Finance Groups. He had previously worked in Diamond Bank between 1994 and 1998.

Muyiwa, a Chartered Accountant graduated with a B.Sc. Accounting from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He is also a member of several professional bodies including the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, etc.

Amie Ndiaye SOW possède plus de deux décennies d’expérience bancaire, couvrant le développement commercial, la gestion des risques et des fonctions de direction générale plus larges.

Avant d’être nommée Directrice régionale de la zone CEMAC en 2021, Amie Ndiaye Sow fut Directrice Régionale pour le Sénégal, la Guinée Conakry et le Mali, puis Directrice Afrique pour la Banque Corporate et Institutionnelle. C’est la première femme francophone à rejoindre le comité exécutif de UBA Afrique. Avant cela, elle a exercé plusieurs fonctions dans le secteur bancaire en tant que responsable marketing, responsable de la gestion des risques, directrice clientèle privée et du réseau, directrice exécutif, directrice régionale pour le secteur public Zone UEMOA. Elle a également forgé son expérience au Kenya en tant que directrice de la gestion des risques pour le compte du Fonds africain de garantie des Pme (AGF).

Amie est titulaire de trois masters en économie, banque et assurance et finances publiques des principales universités du Sénégal.

Ebenezer Essoka is a business leader with over 30 years’ experience in the financial services sector, ranging from the establishment of greenfield operations to restructuring and repositioning mature businesses for sustainable growth across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Mr. Essoka is currently the Executive Chairman at IBURU, an advisory firm focused on fostering good governance, facilitating trade and investments across Africa. He worked at Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) for 31 years, rising to the position of Vice Chairman, Africa region. He was the first African to be appointed CEO of an SCB subsidiary after over 135 years of the Group’s presence in Africa. He has also sat on various Boards, including the Boards of Standard Chartered Bank subsidiaries in Cote D’Ivoire, Cameroon and Mauritius. Additionally, he is a Senior Advisor to the President African Development Bank.

He is an internationally recognized speaker on business in Africa and also a high-performance executive who demonstrates balance in decision making, exhibiting the right amount of risk assessment and confidence needed in managing under diverse situations.

He holds an MBA in Finance and a Diploma in International Business and has attended senior executive development programs at INSEAD, London Business School, Templeton College, Oxford University and Cambridge University.

Ahmadou Oumarou holds a Masters in Policies and Management Development -Africa Potential Sciences Po, Paris – France, a Masters in Business Law, Degree in the Magistracy Section, Graduated as Magistrate, Bachelor in FRENCH PRIVATE LAW all at the University of Yaoundé, Cameroon.

He has rich experience in corporate governance, public sector performance, monitoring & evaluation, public expenditure and investment management, regulatory governance modalities, reforms and tools, rule of law & justice administration and search for financing and international co-operation. Ahmadou Oumarou serves as Technical advisor at the National Refining Company Ltd (SONARA) – Cameroon. Before this he has served in different capacities of management in state corporations and also in the judiciary.

ACHA-MORFAW DIANE, trained lawyer, is a member of the Finance, Governance, Remuneration and Nomination Committee and audit committee at UBA Cameroon.

Before joining UBA Cameroon, Diane worked as a Solicitor & barrister with Bellah Chambers and as a Senior Lecturer at Universities  in Cameroon. She holds a PHD in Legal Aspects of Foreign Investment in Africa from City University Business School London in England.

Elais Pungong holds Master in Statistics (First Class Honors in Mathematics) University of Oxford, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Fellow amongst other academic distinctions.

He has a distinguished 24 year career serving as strategic advisor to a wide spectrum of leading international clients and governments in Belgium, England and across Africa on how to develop, finance and operate large-scale infrastructure projects. Deep technical and practical insight through the project finance market including energy, utilities, mining, financial services and telecommunication projects

He is a Senior Partner, Africa Oil & Gas Sector Leader at EY Cameroon (Ernst & Young), before that he has also served in different capacities at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

IZE-IYAMU GODWIN is the president of Finance, Governance, Remuneration and Nomination Committee and member of credit committee at UBA Cameroon.

Before joining UBA Cameroon, GODWIN worked as an Independent Non-executive Director with FSDH Merchant Bank since 2018 and chairman of Sigrun Africa Limited in Nigeria since 2014. He holds (M. Sc.) in Accountancy from the University of Houston.

Mr. KONTCHOU NANA Joel is an industry leader with over 30 years of experience and an affinity for operational excellence in intellectually challenging environments. He is skilled in high-level negotiations and business transformation and has hands-on management and operations experience across the full spectrum of the upstream oil & gas industry from deep-water exploration to brownfield production to technology commercialization.

He is currently Managing Partner at CETD Cameroon, a strategic consulting, project management, technical studies and engineering firm with proven experience in business transformation and turnkey construction projects.

He was the CEO OF Energy of Cameroon (ENEO) from 2014 to 2019 where he successfully connected 450,000 new customers and increased the turnover of the business. Prior to this, he was the managing director of Schlumberger Central Africa between 2010 to 2014, and previously held the role of Vice President, Schlumberger Information Solutions. Between 1984 to 2001, he held other roles in the company including Personnel Manager, Operations Manager and Field Engineer.

Brice has over 18 years’ experience in capital markets, investment banking and business advisory across Europe and Africa. He is a successful entrepreneur who has executed more than US$2.0 billion investments in Sub Sahara Africa.

He holds a MA International Business and Management University of Westminster and a Bachelor (Hons) Business Administration London Southbank University.

He was MD/Regional Head CEMAC Region of the company Ecobank Development Corporation Cameroon and held various other high functions in several companies. Mr. BEUMO Brice has experience as an administrator. He has been a member of several company boards, such as GEMFONDS Plc and SILKINVEST.

Mr. JING Paul holds a Master of Laws degree from Harvard University, Cambridge, USA.

He was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1993. He is the founder and managing partner of JING & Partners.

He is a member of several corporate boards, including GMC, SGHC , Kribi Golf and Country Club S.A.

In addition to being a member of the Cameroonian and Nigerian Bar, Paul JING is a member of the Harvard Club of New York. He is an experienced lawyer and is fluent in French and English.

Ugochukwu Alex NWAGHODOH is the member of Risks Committee at UBA Cameroon. Ugochukwu Alex also acts as a technical advisor to the CFOs of 22 subsidiaries in Africa, Europe and America. His years of experience spans across different sectors and he has worked with reputable organisations.

Before joining UBA Cameroon, Ugochukwu Alex worked as a consultant with Pricewater House Cooper in Nigeria. He holds a Professional Diploma in a Banking certification from the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and an Accounting Certification from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.

A seasoned banker with 27 years of experience in various banks, Jude Anele is the current Managing Director and CEO of UBA Cameroon.

He has served in various capacities as UBA Group Head of Retail Banking, where he was responsible for the bank-wide retail banking strategy. Prior to that, he served in various capacities ranging from Consumer Banking, Micro, Small and Medium size Enterprises, Direct Sales and Mass Affluent Banking among others at Access Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc and Assurance Bank.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English, a Master of Business Administration and an Advanced Management Programme (AMP) in Management.

Gérard Nguemaleu is the Country Head Legal and Company Secretary of UBA Cameroon. He is a qualified lawyer and a member of the Cameroon Bar Association with 23 years of experience, particularly in the areas of audit and risk in the banking and insurance sectors. Gerard has worked as a lawyer, practising commercial lawyer, legal officer in the insurance and banking sectors.

Prior to joining UBA Cameroon, Gerard Ngamaleu was the Senior Legal Officer and back up Head Legal & Company Secretary for 5 years. He holds a BSc and Masters in Private Law.

A seasoned banker with 27 years of experience in various banks, Jude Anele is the current Managing Director and CEO of UBA Cameroon.

He has served in various capacities as UBA Group Head of Retail Banking, where he was responsible for the bank-wide retail banking strategy. Prior to that, he served in various capacities ranging from Consumer Banking, Micro, Small and Medium size Enterprises, Direct Sales and Mass Affluent Banking among others at Access Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc and Assurance Bank.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English, a Master of Business Administration and an Advanced Management Programme (AMP) in Management.

Fonda Fred Fonda is the Chief Financial Officer of UBA Cameroon and a Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA) by profession. His areas of expertise include, but are not limited to; developing and implementing financial strategies, planning and developing the activities of the bank with the aim of strengthening the financial capacity of the bank in line with the overall bank strategy and regulatory standards, ensuring sustainable balance sheet growth. His years of experience spans across various sectors working with reputable and high profile institutions in various capacities.

Prior to joining UBA Cameroon, Fred worked as a consultant with Kiel Financial in London and as the CFO of National Financial Credit (NFC) Bank. He holds a Bsc Honours Degree in Accountancy from the University of Buea and a Master Degree in Corporate Finance and Investment from the prestigious London Metropolitan University.

Issah Ndam is the Chief Operating Officer of UBA Cameroon. He has 25 years of cumulative experience and has served in various capacities as Chief Operating Officer for UBA Chad, Head of Global Shared Services Francophones (GSSC), Branch Manager and Branch Operations Manager (BOM) all in UBA Cameroon.

Prior to joining UBA Cameroon, Issah worked in the Operations Department of Standard Chartered Bank Cameroon from 1999 to 2008 and also with SOCADA (Cameroonian Automobile Company), a member of the CFAO Group, from 1997 to 1999.

He holds a Masters Degree in Banking and Finance from the prestigious Paris Institute of Banking Techniques.

Gérard Nguemaleu is the Country Head Legal and Company Secretary of UBA Cameroon. He is a qualified lawyer and a member of the Cameroon Bar Association with 23 years of experience, particularly in the areas of audit and risk in the banking and insurance sectors. Gerard has worked as a lawyer, practising commercial lawyer, legal officer in the insurance and banking sectors.

Prior to joining UBA Cameroon, Gerard Ngamaleu was the Senior Legal Officer and back up Head Legal & Company Secretary for 5 years. He holds a BSc and Masters in Private Law.

Rose BONNY-WONJA is the Country Head of Retail Banking with a long career in the banking sector.

Before joining UBA Cameroon in March 2022, she handled the dual functions of Retail Banking and Marketing Director with Bank Atlantique Cameroon for 10 years. Her banking career started in Eco Bank where she spent 11 years in various functions.

Rose is a strategic thinker, a business developer who is passionate in people development and customer service quality.

Rose has an Executive MBA from CEIBS, a Master degree in Management & Marketing and went through the Harvard Business school Executive Management program.

Joseph ABENA is the Head of Marketing and Brand Communication at UBA Cameroon. He is an experienced marketing and communication expert with over 15 years playing pivotal marketing roles in multinational companies in Telecom and Finance sectors. His areas of expertise includes Marketing Strategy, Brand Management, Digital Marketing, Advertising and Crisis Communication.

Before joining UBA Cameroon he served as Head of Brand, Marketing & Communication for Ecobank Cameroon and before that Head of Marketing, Communication & Innovation for Orange Money at Orange Cameroon; Head of Digital Marketing & Innovation at Orange Cameroon; Digital Marketing Manager at Vodafone; Head of Product Management and Group Head, Digital Marketing at YooMee Africa.

He holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Engineering and a Master of Research in Advanced Software Engineering, in addition to other executive program certifications in Marketing and Management including Certified Expert in Microfinance from Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, Certified Expert in Crisis Communication and Certified Professional in Brand Reputation Management.

Azaana Makanjuolais the Country Treasurer for UBA Cameroon. She has experience in currency and fixed income trading, research and analysis amongst other competencies. Before her recent appointment, she served as team lead in the Treasury Unit of UBA Cameroon.

With over 15 years of experience, she has worked in various roles at Skye Bank Plc Nigeria, Mainstreet Bank Ltd Nigeria and Afribank Nigeria in Treasury, Commercial Banking, International Operations etc.

Dintar Berka is the Human Resource Business Partner for the CEMAC Region. He has over 15 years of experience in various aspects of Human Resource Management including staffing, development, compensation, health and safety, employee and industrial relations having worked in various companies in Cameroon and Belgium.

Before joining UBA Cameroon in September 2018, he worked as Employee Relations, Cameroon for MTN Cameroon and before that as Human Resources Advisor for Glencore Exploitation Cameroon.

He holds a Bachelor of Law (LLB) and a Master of Arts in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations.

Aissatou Hamadou is the Head of Public Sector at UBA Cameroon. She has 23 years of banking experience and has worked in UBA Cameroon in various capacities such as Regional Director Centre and North Regions, Branch Manager and Relationship Manager.

She joined UBA Cameroon in 2008 from BICEC Cameroon where she worked in various capacities as Credit Analyst and Relationship Manager SME

She holds a Masters in International Finance and a Bachelor of Management Sciences from the University of Yaounde II and a Higher Graduate Diploma from the Institut des Techniques Bancaires, Paris Nanterre.

Fointama Beizia Che has been Head of Corporate Communication at UBA Cameroon since June 2018. He joined UBA Cameroon in June 2015, where he served as Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications. He has over 15 years of experience in corporate communications, public relations and media relations.

Prior to joining UBA Cameroon, he worked in the communications and broadcasting sector in various capacities. He was deputy editor-in-chief, news desk coordinator, senior reporter, lead prime time news anchor at Spectrum Television.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea, Cameroon and other specialised trainings.

Jean-Paul TCHOUNGUI is the Chief Credit Officer. He joined UBA Cameroon in December 2008 and has been instrumental in building the subsidiary in various capacities.

Prior to joining UBA Cameroon, he worked at Ecobank Cameroon as a Wholesale Credit Analyst and Retail Risk Manager. He is a graduate of CESAG Business School in Dakar, where he obtained a Masters in Banking and Finance. He also holds a Maîtrise in Management from the Catholic University of Central Africa in Yaounde.

He has 15 years of experience, particularly in credit, wholesale banking and risk management, and has worked on a number of issues in the Central African sub-region.

Dr Priscille NGUIMBOCK DJOMEN is the Head of Commercial Banking at UBA Cameroon and a pioneer employee of the subsidiary.

Prior to her appointment, she held various positions at UBA, including Director of Human Resources, Head of Customer Fulfilment Centre and Relationship Manager.

Priscille’s current skills are built on strong previous work experience as Business Partner Manager at SIC Cacao (a subsidiary of Barrycallebaut); Medium Manager at ExxonMobil and Junior Auditor (intern) at Price Waterhouse Coopers.

Priscille holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from TBS-France, a Masters in Human Resources Management from ISM Dakar-Senegal, a Masters in Tax Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.

AZAH CLETUS AMEH is the Head of Compliance at UBA Cameroon. He is a senior Compliance, Legal, Risk Management, Conduct and Anti-Financial crime professional with over 13 years of experience working with multinational and global banks in Africa and Asia.

Prior to joining UBA Cameroon, Cletus was Associate Director, Compliance and Conduct Manager at Standard Chartered Bank Cameroon and prior to that, Chief Compliance Officer & Head of Quality at Guaranty Trust Bank Sierra Leone.

He holds a Masters in Corporate Business and Financial Law from the University of Douala, Cameroon and an MBA from Preston University, California, USA. He is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (ACAMS) and holds a Diploma in Governance, Risk and Compliance from the International Compliance Association in England. Azah is a member of the Sierra Leone and Cameroon Bar Associations and a Barrister & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Cameroon.

Chrystelle TEJONA FADIL is Head of Corporate Banking and has over 17 years of multinational experience as a commercial relationship manager, including 13 years in the banking sector in junior investment banking roles (Credit Analyst, Commercial Assistant, Senior Relationship Manager, Financial Structure Manager). Her areas of expertise include Organising and structuring corporate and sovereign financings, tracking and monitoring transactions, developing business with other banks through syndication.

Prior to joining UBA Cameroon, Chrystelle worked as Regional Head Structure Finance Group, Central Africa. She holds a Masters in Economics and Management with a specialisation in Project Analysis. She graduated from the prestigious University of Renne (France).

Leonel Ajeagah is the Country Chief Risk Officer for UBA Cameroon. He is a banker with over 14 years’ experience in banking and finance, particularly in risk management, credit monitoring, financial analysis and operational risk management. He is one of the pioneers of UBA Cameroon.

He has held the positions of Risk Management Team Lead and Head of Risk Management in UBA Cameroon and Republic of Congo respectively.
Prior to joining UBA Cameroon, he held various positions at the Community Credit Company (CCC), UNICS and Union Bank of Cameroon.

He holds a B.Sc. in Banking and Finance and a Master of Philosophy in International Finance, Money and Banking.

Jacques-Herve Imoma is the Country Head, Internal Audit of UBA Cameroon. His areas of expertise are Internal and External Audit (in the banking, utilities, telecommunications, petroleum), Accounting, Risk Management and Reporting. His vast experience has seen him work in various capacities with renowned institutions such as Deloitte Equatorial Guinea, Ernst & Young Cameroon and BGFI.

Prior to joining UBA Cameroon, Jacques was a Senior Project Manager at SCB Cameroon. He holds a Diplome d’étude supérieures de management bancaire and a Masters in Accounting.

Jacob Forbah is the Country Head for Internal Control and Compliance(CHICC) a position he has held since March 2017. He is a pioneer staff of UBA Cameroon and has since August 2007 served within this institution in Cameroon, and other Subsidiaries of the same Group such as in Guinea Conakry, and Congo Brazzaville in the position of Chief Financial Officer(CFO) until February 2017.

Before joining UBA Jacob worked with Amity Bank(now Banque Atlantique) and Ecobank where he worked in the operations finance and accounting departments. He holds a Bsc in Finance and an MBA.