This year marks a special milestone as the Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria celebrates its 20th Anniversary at the Annual Corporate Governance Conference.
The 2025 edition, themed “Strengthening Ethical Governance in a Disrupted World: Reflection of Governance Journey for a Sustainable Future,” highlights two decades of advancing governance practices in Nigeria.
Over the past two decades, corporate governance has evolved in response to shifting global realities, economic disruptions, technological advancements, regulatory changes, and growing demands for ethical leadership. As organisations strive to remain resilient, the need for governance practices rooted in integrity and accountability has never been more critical.
The 2025 Corporate governance conference will reflect on Nigeria’s governance journey while addressing how ethical leadership can serve as the bedrock for building sustainable institutions in an era of uncertainty and disruption. Distinguished leaders and experts from across sectors will share insights on navigating fiscal reforms, financial reporting, credit governance, and global best practices, equipping participants with the knowledge to strengthen governance frameworks in their organisations.
With a robust lineup of keynote addresses, panel discussions, and thought-provoking conversations, this landmark conference will provide a platform to reimagine governance for the next decade, anchored on ethics, resilience, and sustainability.
Dr. Omobola Johnson is the Board Chair of Guinness Nigeria Plc. An alumnus of the prestigious University of Manchester, University of London and Cranfield University, Dr. Johnson started her professional career in management consulting in the London Office of Arthur Andersen/Andersen Consulting (now known as Accenture) in 1985. In 2005, Dr. Johnson was appointed as the Country Managing Director for Accenture. In March 2010, she sought early retirement from Accenture to enable her to pursue other interests. She was appointed as a member of Nigeria’s Presidential Advisory Council in 2010 providing support to the Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.
Dr. Emomotimi Agama holds a Bachelor of Science (Accountancy) honors degree in Accountancy from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port-Harcourt, a Master of Science degree (Banking and Finance), Master of Science degree in Economics, and a Master of Science (Banking and Finance), both from the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria and a Ph.D. in Economics with distinction from the Nile University of Nigeria where his Ph.D. dissertation was titled: Impact of Cryptocurrency Operations on Macroeconomic Variables in Nigeria.
Mr. Temi Popoola is the Chairman of Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS), the clearing house for the Nigerian capital market. He is currently the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group). Prior to this, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Exchange Limited, the operating exchange subsidiary of NGX Group, guiding it through several strategic milestones and achievements. He is a successful C-suite leader whose unique blend of business acumen, financial expertise, global market growth performance, and operational insight has earned him a reputation built on verifiable career achievements.
Dr. Rabiu Olowo, PhD is the Baa’Șiro of Iru Kingdom in Lagos State, Nigeria and a dual qualified Chartered Accountant in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
He is a Chartered Stock Broker, Chartered Tax Practitioner, Certified Internal Controls Auditor, Member of the Chartered Institute of Directors, ACCA Certified in International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) & International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), Certified Fraud Examiner; with an MBA from the University of Lagos and MSC Accounting & Finance from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, UK.
Mrs. Iroche is currently the CEO of Marnaby Limited – a financial consultancy and advisory services firm. She became a board member of Coronation Merchant Bank in October 2012.
She began her career at First Bank of Nigeria as a Foreign Exchange Supervisor in 1981, after which she then advanced to various positions at the International Merchant Bank and Chartered Bank Plc. She also held various leadership positions at the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc., where, as Executive Director of Global and Institutional Banking from 2006 to 2008, she was responsible for the expansion of UBA’s banking franchise to other African countries, as well as for the supervision of existing offshore operations of the Bank in Ghana and New York.
Mr. Taiwo Oyedele is the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms set up by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with a broad mandate to carry out critical reforms regarding Fiscal Governance, Revenue Transformation and Economic Growth Facilitation.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Oyedele was the Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader at PwC where he worked for 22 years including over 10 years in top leadership positions gaining in-depth knowledge and diverse experience ranging from Tax Advisory & Policy Advocacy to Business Strategy Consulting, Leadership Development, and Policy Design & Execution.
Mrs. Yeside Kezeem is a qualified actuary and a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. She is currently an Independent Non-Executive Director for an insurance company. She is very active with the International Actuarial Association where she serves on the Strategic Planning Committee as well as being the Co-vice chair of the Africa subcommittee.
Kim Andersen is a founding fellow of the Institute of Directors in Mauritius, where Kim not only established the Institute alongside six other visionary leaders but also developed its acclaimed Director Development Program. Kim’s influence extends further as an active member of the Institute of Directors of South Africa and the Caribbean Institute, establishing a respected presence and fostering best practices in governance throughout these regions.
Mr Adedayo Amzat, CFA is the founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of the Zedcrest Group. The Group’s businesses are in Securities Dealing, Retail Financing, Investment Management and Principal Investing through its operating subsidiaries. The Zedcrest Group is a market leader in the financial services space and was rated by the Financial Times as Africa’s fastest growing financial services firm in 2022.
Dr. Omobola Johnson is the Board Chair of Guinness Nigeria Plc. An alumnus of the prestigious University of Manchester, University of London and Cranfield University, Dr. Johnson started her professional career in management consulting in the London Office of Arthur Andersen/Andersen Consulting (now known as Accenture) in 1985. In 2005, Dr. Johnson was appointed as the Country Managing Director for Accenture. In March 2010, she sought early retirement from Accenture to enable her to pursue other interests. She was appointed as a member of Nigeria’s Presidential Advisory Council in 2010 providing support to the Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.
In 2011, she was appointed as Nigeria’s pioneer Minister of Communication Technology. During her four-year tenure at the Ministry, she oversaw the launch and execution of the National Broadband Plan and the pioneering involvement of the government in a local VC fund and a network of start-up incubators. She served meritoriously in that capacity until May 2015. In 2015 she joined TLCom Capital LLP, a technology venture capital fund, as a Senior Partner focused on investment and value generation for technology companies in sub-Saharan Africa. She is a Fellow of the Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN) and serves on the boards of several blue-chip companies.
Dr. Johnson brings to the Board over 30 years of experience from both the private and public sectors of the Nigerian economy. She was appointed to the Board of Guinness Nigeria 29th January 2016 as an independent Non-Executive Director, and she became the Board Chair on July 1st 2021, and the first female to hold the position. She is a member of the Finance & Risk Committee as well as the Governance and Remunerations Committee.
Dr. Emomotimi Agama holds a Bachelor of Science (Accountancy) honors degree in Accountancy from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port-Harcourt, a Master of Science degree (Banking and Finance), Master of Science degree in Economics, and a Master of Science (Banking and Finance), both from the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria and a Ph.D. in Economics with distinction from the Nile University of Nigeria where his Ph.D. dissertation was titled: Impact of Cryptocurrency Operations on Macroeconomic Variables in Nigeria.
He is a graduate certificate holder in Capital Market from The George Washington University Washington DC USA, and also a graduate of the International Housing Finance Programme of the Wharton Business School USA, New York Institute of Finance, Core Analyst Programme.
An IFC-Milken Institute Fellow, Mr. Agama is a Chartered Management Accountant, Economist, Investment Analyst, A Chartered Stock Broker and a Risk Manager.
He is currently Managing Director at the Nigerian Capital Market Institute (NCMI), a subsidiary of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
He was previously the Head Registration, Exchanges, Market Infrastructure and Innovation Department, Special Assistant to the Executive Commissioner Operations and Head, Public Offerings at the Securities and Exchange Commission, where he superintended over the fund raising of most companies. Timi was a Secondee to the US Securities and Exchange Commission in 2018.
He is a ranking member of the Rules Committee and a member of the SEC committee on the adoption of IFRS in Nigeria and the SEC arrow head for the introduction of Derivatives trading in the Nigerian Capital Market.
Prior to joining the SEC, he was at various times with the University of Benin and Office of the Accountant General of the Federation. Timi is a Fellow of the IFC-Milken Institute Capital Markets Programme.
He also holds The Advanced Risk Management Certificate from the University College London and PRMIA, a graduate of Strategic Enterprise Analysis and PRINCE 2 Project Management of the SEEC, York University Toronto Canada, as well as a graduate of the Duke University USA programme on Fintech law and Policy.
He is an Associate Member Chartered Institute of Management Accountant UK, a Chartered Global Management Accountant, Chartered Member of LIFA USA, Member Chartered Securities and Investment Institute, London, Associate Member Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), a Senior Fellow of the Risk Managers Association of Nigeria(riman).
He represents the Nigerian SEC as a plenary member of the Regulatory Oversight Committee (ROC) of the Global Legal Entity Identifier where he also sits on the board of the global body as a Vice Chairman. He has led various initiatives at the Nigerian SEC, including serving as the Project Manager for the Nigerian Capital Market Master Plan (2015-2025), a major driver of the resuscitation of the Commodities Market, a fintech enthusiast and a global contributor to the Fintech discourse. He is also a knowledge disseminator serving as faculty member to various institutions, including the Chartered Institute of Stock Brokers and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria(ICAN).
Dr. Agama serves as regional executive member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountant (CIMA) UK and Chairman Board of Trustees for Purity Rose Orphanage Home.
Mr. Temi Popoola is the Chairman of Central Securities Clearing System Plc (CSCS), the clearing house for the Nigerian capital market. He is currently the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group). Prior to this, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Exchange Limited, the operating exchange subsidiary of NGX Group, guiding it through several strategic milestones and achievements. He is a successful C-suite leader whose unique blend of business acumen, financial expertise, global market growth performance, and operational insight has earned him a reputation built on verifiable career achievements.
A Wall Street trained investment banker, Mr. Popoola launched his career in London, working as an asset manager where he gained extensive experience researching and assessing investment opportunities across Africa’s energy sector. He further expanded his expertise as an Equity Derivatives Trader with Bank of America Securities in New York, USA.
Mr. Popoola joined UBA as Head of Structured Products and Investments for global markets. He subsequently led the Sales & Trading business at CSL Stockbrokers, a wholly owned subsidiary of FCMB. In both roles, he facilitated the flow of capital from global investors into Nigeria, particularly those from South Africa, the UK, the US, and Nigeria.
Leveraging his expert knowledge of the Nigerian financial services industry, he became recognized as a leader in the industry and was subsequently recruited by Renaissance Capital in 2015, where he rapidly progressed into the CEO role, assuming responsibility for the West Africa operations of the firm. During his six-year tenure at Renaissance Capital, Mr. Popoola provided strategic market insight and leadership. He diversified the company’s revenue streams by adding fixed income, derivatives, structured products, financing, and wealth management. He oversaw a global workforce, expanded foreign investor capital opportunities into the Nigerian market, and introduced new processes, programs, and strategies to exceed corporate and client expectations.
Mr. Popoola’s influence extends beyond his executive roles. His contributions to the World Federation of Exchanges and the African Securities Exchanges Association, as a Board and Executive Committee member respectively, underscore his commitment to shaping the future of global financial community. Additionally, his position as the Chairman of NG Clearing Limited highlights his dedication to enhancing market infrastructure and fostering transparency within the Nigerian financial ecosystem.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Mr. Popoola is deeply committed to fostering collaborative team environments and leveraging his expertise to mentor and guide others towards surpassing organizational goals. His passion for finance and investment banking is complemented by his dedication to empowering teams and driving impactful change within the industry.
Mr. Popoola graduated with a B.Sc. (First-Class Honors) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Lagos, Nigeria and holds an M.Sc. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA. Additionally, he is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder and has obtained FINRA’s Series 7 and 63 licensures.
Dr. Rabiu Olowo, PhD is the Baa’Șiro of Iru Kingdom in Lagos State, Nigeria and a dual qualified Chartered Accountant in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
He is a Chartered Stock Broker, Chartered Tax Practitioner, Certified Internal Controls Auditor, Member of the Chartered Institute of Directors, ACCA Certified in International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) & International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), Certified Fraud Examiner; with an MBA from the University of Lagos and MSC Accounting & Finance from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, UK.
Dr. Olowo served as the 22nd Honourable Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State (2019-2023), where he successfully managed the fiscal policy strategy of the 5th largest economy in Africa, during one of the most challenging periods in the world’s history i.e COVID-19.
Before entering mainstream public sector, Dr. Olowo has been an experienced Chief Finance & Audit Executive across Industries, having worked for top multinational organizations including Zenith Bank Plc; British Pharmaceutical Giant’ GlaxoSmithKline; Dutch Global Diary Leader’ FrieslandCampina; Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA UK); Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE, USA); Development Finance Organizations in multiple geographies; with project immersion across Africa, Europe, Middle East, USA.
He is a Professor of Practice in Forensic Accounting, Development Finance and Public Policy, at the Africa Academy for Counter-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Studies (AACAS), and Executive-In-Residence at Lagos State University.
He has significant experience in Corporate Financial Reporting, Public Accounting & Financial Management, and the development of Corporate Governance frameworks and Internal Control Systems that cut across multiple industries.
A sought after speaker on corporate governance, accountability, finance and fraud issues. Dr. Olowo offers his knowledge at business schools, company’s in-house trainings and conferences. In 2015, he became the first Nigerian paper presenter (ACFE Global Fraud Conference) in 2015 with over 2,000 delegates.
Dr. Olowo is a life-long learner. He holds a PhD in Forensic Accounting and Auditing. His numerous research works, including The Future of Finance; Whistleblowing Culture in Africa; Islamic Micro-Finance and Poverty Alleviation etc have been recognized as major contributions in the field of Business and Public Policy.
He is an alumni of Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Blavatnik School of Government (Oxford), and Cranfield University School of Management.
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Mrs. Iroche is currently the CEO of Marnaby Limited – a financial consultancy and advisory services firm. She became a board member of Coronation Merchant Bank in October 2012.
She began her career at First Bank of Nigeria as a Foreign Exchange Supervisor in 1981, after which she then advanced to various positions at the International Merchant Bank and Chartered Bank Plc. She also held various leadership positions at the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc., where, as Executive Director of Global and Institutional Banking from 2006 to 2008, she was responsible for the expansion of UBA’s banking franchise to other African countries, as well as for the supervision of existing offshore operations of the Bank in Ghana and New York. In 2009, she was appointed CEO of Finbank by the Central Bank of Nigeria, where she significantly reduced the loss position of the Bank, reduced operating costs by 25% and grew deposits by 35%.
Some of her achievements include appointment as a member of the University of Lagos Advancement Board in 2010 and appointment as a member of the advisory board of WISCAR (Women In Successful Careers) – an NGO assisting professional women to succeed in their careers.
Mr. Taiwo Oyedele is the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms set up by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with a broad mandate to carry out critical reforms regarding Fiscal Governance, Revenue Transformation and Economic Growth Facilitation.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Oyedele was the Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader at PwC where he worked for 22 years including over 10 years in top leadership positions gaining in-depth knowledge and diverse experience ranging from Tax Advisory & Policy Advocacy to Business Strategy Consulting, Leadership Development, and Policy Design & Execution.
Mr. Oyedele is an accountant and an economist by training. He is an author, keynote speaker, mentor, and commentator on finance, business, and economic matters.
He was the Thematic Lead for the Fiscal Policy & Planning Commission, and Chairman of the West Africa Debt Management Roundtable of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG); Chairman of the Taxation & Fiscal Policy Faculty Board of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN); member of the Nigerian Taxation Standards Board of CITN; and a member of the Ministerial Committee on the Design and Implementation of Nigeria’s National Tax Policy.
Mr. Oyedele is a fellow of the Nigeria Leadership Initiative, member of the Global Tax Forum, and a former member of the Global Governing Council of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
He is a professor of practice at Babcock University and a guest lecturer at the Lagos Business School. He is an alumnus of the London School of Economics & Political Science, Yale University, and Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education. He is the founder and president of Impact Africa Foundation.
Mrs. Yeside Kezeem is a qualified actuary and a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. She is currently an Independent Non-Executive Director for an insurance company. She is very active with the International Actuarial Association where she serves on the Strategic Planning Committee as well as being the Co-vice chair of the Africa subcommittee.
Yeside currently consults across the insurance and actuarial space. Her experience spans Europe and Africa. She was the CEO of Prudential Beneficial General Cameroon, the CRO and Chief Actuary for Prudential Beneficial Group spanning 3 countries.
She also worked as the Senior Business development lead for Prudential Africa covering 8 African markets. Prior to Prudential, she worked for Old Mutual Nigeria and Deloitte UK in various actuarial roles covering pensions, investment and life assurance giving her experience in valuation, merger and acquisition transaction, audit and accounting for insurance companies and pension funds.
Kim Andersen is a founding fellow of the Institute of Directors in Mauritius, where Kim not only established the Institute alongside six other visionary leaders but also developed its acclaimed Director Development Program. Kim’s influence extends further as an active member of the Institute of Directors of South Africa and the Caribbean Institute, establishing a respected presence and fostering best practices in governance throughout these regions.
With over three decades of experience as a chairperson, director, governance advisor, master trainer, and executive coach, Kim has guided private enterprises, family businesses, small and developing economies, and state-owned organizations through the ever-evolving complexities of the modern business landscape. Kim specializes in Independent Board Evaluations, Governance Reviews, Ethics Risk Assessments, and Corporate Governance Training for directors and governance professionals. Furthermore, Kim’s expertise encompasses advanced leadership development, governance advisory for emerging markets, and building capacity for state-owned enterprises.
As a contributor to the International Corporate Governance Forum—an initiative of the World Bank and The Ethics Institute of Southern Africa—Kim is recognized for designing and implementing bespoke programs, facilitating high-impact training, and incubating strategic capacity within organizations worldwide. Proficient in leading methodologies, including Dale Carnegie, Myers-Briggs, Covey International, DDI, and the American Management Association, Kim is a certified Ethics Officer and Project Facilitator, renowned for guiding executive teams and Boards through critical decision-making processes.
Kim’s reputation as an executive coach is distinguished by a portfolio that includes chairpersons of boards, CEOs of listed companies, and senior government officials. A specialist in cultivating organizational culture, fostering high-level leadership, and developing both in-person and online learning modules, Kim’s approach is characterized by authenticity, collaboration, and lasting client relationships built on trust and adaptability.
Adedayo Amzat, CFA is the founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of the Zedcrest Group. The Group’s businesses are in Securities Dealing, Retail Financing, Investment Management and Principal Investing through its operating subsidiaries. The Zedcrest Group is a market leader in the financial services space and was rated by the Financial Times as Africa’s fastest growing financial services firm in 2022.
Adedayo holds an Executive MBA degree from the London Business School and is a fellow of the Institute of the Institute of Investment Advisers and Portfolio Managers (IAPM) in Nigeria. He also holds the prestigious CFA charter and is a member of the Nigerian CFA Society.
Adedayo is also a Director at Ingentia Energies, operator of the Egbolom Field (OML 23), newly licensed under the 2020 marginal field bid round by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
Adedayo is very passionate about people development and the empowerment of economically disadvantaged communities. Through the Adedayo Amzat Foundation, he is providing STEM education in villages and small towns in Nigeria to expand the opportunity horizon for indigent populations.