Unilever Nigeria Plc has appointed Ibrahim Sodipe as its new Executive Director, effective July 1, 2025. The company announced this appointment in a statement released to the Nigerian Exchange Limited, confirming that Sodipe is expected to bring his wealth of experience and leadership into the Nigerian operations.
Before this new role, Sodipe was the Head of Finance at Unilever Ethiopia. He has over 13 years of experience in financial reporting, internal controls, and corporate business strategy across various African markets. Unilever Nigeria described him as a transformational leader who has played a key role in enhancing profitability and streamlining business operations across West and North Africa.
“Ibrahim Sodipe has been pivotal in driving business profitability and has helped enshrined this winning mentality in the business,” the company noted in its official communication to shareholders and the Nigerian financial community.
Sodipe is a graduate of Industrial Relations and Personnel Management from the University of Lagos. He is also a professional member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), an internationally recognised accounting body. His professional career at Unilever spans several important roles. He has served as Financial Controller for Unilever Maghreb, overseeing financial strategy and regulatory compliance in the North African region. He also held the position of Commercial Finance Business Partner for West Africa, where he worked closely with commercial teams to support revenue growth and financial sustainability.
His promotion to the Board of Directors comes at a critical time for Unilever Nigeria, which is actively restructuring its business for growth and operational efficiency amid a challenging macroeconomic environment. With inflation and currency volatility affecting many multinationals in Nigeria, the company sees experienced leadership as key to navigating these economic headwinds.
Unilever Nigeria’s board now includes Sodipe as Executive Director, joining a team of experienced professionals tasked with driving the company’s growth strategy. Other notable members of the board include Mr. Tobi Adeniyi, the Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria Plc, who assumed office in early 2024.
Also on the board are Mr. Bolaji Balogun, who serves as the Chairman and Independent Non-Executive Director. Balogun is well known in Nigeria’s corporate finance space. Another Independent Non-Executive Director is Mr. Michael Ikpoki, a former Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, while Mr. Ben Langat continues his role as a Non-Executive Director. The board composition reflects a blend of local and international business expertise.
Unilever Nigeria Plc, a subsidiary of the global consumer goods company Unilever, is one of the major players in Nigeria’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. The company produces and distributes popular household and personal care products like Close-Up toothpaste, Lipton tea, Lux soap, and Knorr seasoning cubes. It has operated in Nigeria for nearly 100 years and is listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group.
Sodipe’s appointment is seen by industry analysts as a strategic move by Unilever Nigeria to strengthen its financial leadership and build resilience against economic uncertainty. With his strong background in finance and regional knowledge of African markets, Sodipe is expected to bring renewed focus on cost efficiency, process improvement, and sustainable profitability.
As Nigeria’s business environment continues to evolve, companies like Unilever are increasingly looking inward to promote talent with local expertise and regional exposure. Sodipe’s appointment reflects that shift and may signal more changes in leadership structures in the FMCG sector, especially among multinationals.
