United Bank for Africa (UBA) has announced key changes to its executive management team, with three new Executive Directors set to take office from 1 January 2026, following the retirement of four senior leaders.
The retirees include Deputy Man aging Director Muyiwa Akinyemi and Executive Directors Abiola Bawuah, Alex Alozie, and Sola Yomi-Ajayi, whose tenure ends at the start of the new year. Their departure opens the way for fresh leadership aimed at driving UBA’s next phase of growth across Africa and beyond.
To fill the vacancies, the UBA Board approved the appointment of Emmanuel Lamptey, Tosin Adewuyi, and Chidi Okpala as Executive Directors, subject to approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Emmanuel Lamptey, appointed Executive Director, Digital Banking, brings over 25 years of multinational banking experience. His career spans retail and corporate banking, asset management, securities brokerage, pensions, insurance, and microfinance across more than 30 African countries. Lamptey is an alumnus of Harvard Business School, a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK), and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
Tosin Adewuyi joins as Executive Director, Corporate Banking. He has more than 25 years of experience in Sub-Saharan Africa, with over 15 years in senior management and FCA- and CBN-approved roles in London and Lagos. Adewuyi holds a BA (Hons) in Economics and Accounting from the University of Manchester, is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA), and an honorary member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria. He is also an alumnus of The Wharton School.
Chidi Okpala will serve as Executive Director, UBA Nigeria. He previously served as Executive Director for Payments, Group Integration, and Strategy at Heirs Holdings, overseeing payments businesses and strategic investments in technology and healthcare. Okpala has more than 20 years of banking experience and holds a BSc in Finance, an MBA in Banking and Finance, and an MSc in Leadership and Strategy from London Business School, where he is a Sloan Fellow.
Commenting on the appointments, UBA Group Chairman Tony Elumelu said, “I congratulate the incoming Executive Directors. The Board is confident they will bring the experience and execution capability needed to build on the solid foundation laid by their predecessors.” He also thanked the retiring executives for their years of dedicated service and commitment, describing them as enduring ambassadors of UBA’s values.
UBA also announced other senior appointments, including Vikrant Bhansali as Group Executive, International Banking. Bhansali previously served as CEO of UBA in Dubai, leading the bank’s Middle East operations. With over 25 years of international experience across Sub-Saharan Africa, the UK, Middle East, North Africa, and India, he brings expertise in cross-border financial services and emerging markets.
Joel Owoade was appointed Group Chief Risk Officer. He has more than 20 years in financial services with deep knowledge in credit risk management, regulatory compliance, and strategic planning. Owoade holds an MSc in Banking and Finance from the University of Ibadan and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. He also serves as Vice President of the Chartered Risk Management Institute of Nigeria.
Samuel Ocheho was named Group Executive, Treasury and Financial Institutions. He has over 27 years of experience in banking, trading, and investment management across Nigeria and West Africa. Ocheho has led large teams and diverse financial portfolios, with expertise in liquidity management, fixed income, derivatives, and foreign exchange.
UBA operates in 20 African countries, as well as the UK, USA, France, and UAE, serving over 50 million customers. The bank is a leader in financial inclusion and technology-driven banking solutions, employing around 30,000 staff across its operations.
