Sterling Financial Holdings Enhances Leadership with New Appointments
Sterling Financial Holdings Company PLC has welcomed Mr. Olubisi Makoju as an independent non-executive director, along with the appointment of Mr. Olinka Oni as a non-executive director of Sterling Bank Limited. These changes were formally announced in a regulatory filing signed by company secretary Sunny Kanabe.
The moves are part of a strategic effort to bolster the leadership within both Sterling Financial Holdings and its banking subsidiary. The company emphasized the necessity of these appointments in order to enhance governance and strengthen its operational framework.
Both appointments are pending approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). In its announcement, Sterling Financial Holdings communicated its commitment to transparency by informing the Nigerian Exchange Limited, shareholders, and the investing public of these significant changes to the Board of Directors.
Profile of Olubisi Makoju
Mr. Makoju brings over 25 years of diverse experience spanning the oil and gas, consulting, information technology, and financial services sectors. His expertise encompasses financial management, corporate strategy, operational leadership, and organizational transformation, all of which are crucial for guiding Sterling Financial Holdings into its next growth phase.
Currently, he serves as the Chief Financial Officer of Smart Grid Development Limited and is also the founder of Earthwise Capital Limited. Makoju previously held the role of Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer at the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), where he led strategic initiatives and managed multidisciplinary teams.
Academically, Mr. Makoju holds a degree in Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Warwick. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).
Insights on Olinka Oni
Mr. Oni’s appointment as a non-executive director at Sterling Bank Limited follows his current role as Executive Director at Sterling Financial Holdings Company. In his previous position as chief digital officer at Sterling Bank, he was instrumental in shaping the bank’s digital strategy, driving key innovations to enhance customer engagement.
Prior to his journey with Sterling Group, Mr. Oni served as Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft Nigeria, where he was responsible for overseeing technology strategy and stakeholder relations. His career also includes significant experience at Wema Bank Plc as Chief Information Officer and General Manager of IT and Operations, as well as a management role at Accenture in Nigeria.
Academic and Professional Credentials
Mr. Oni graduated with a degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ilorin and is an honorary senior member of the Chartered Bankers Association of Nigeria. He holds an MBA from McGill University in Canada, further enhancing his diverse skill set.
His expertise stretches across solutions engineering, program management, enterprise architecture, and IT governance. Additionally, he has participated in executive education programs focusing on business strategy and financial acumen at prestigious institutions such as Harvard University, Said Business School at Oxford University, INSEAD, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
