Business
THE First Bank of Nigeria Limited has notified the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) and the investing public that its subsidiary, First HoldCo Plc (the Company), has appointed Julius B. Omodayo-Owotuga, as an executive director, effective May 13.
This will further strengthen the bank’s leadership capacity across strategic finance, governance, risk management, and institutional transformation.
Omodayo-Owotuga brings 24 years of experience spanning banking and financial services, infrastructure finance, power, oil & gas, and audit and consulting.
His appointment reflects the bank’s continued commitment to strong governance, disciplined execution, financial resilience, and sustainable long-term growth.
Prior to this appointment, he served on the Board of First HoldCo Plc as a Non-Executive Director, between 2021 and 2026.
He most recently served as Deputy Chief Executive of Geregu Power Plc, Nigeria’s first listed power generation company, where he played a pivotal role in institutional transformation, governance strengthening, capital market positioning, operational optimisation, and major financing initiatives, including the company’s landmark listing on NGX.
Omodayo-Owotuga previously served as Group Executive Director, Finance & Risk Management at Forte Oil Plc (Now Ardova Plc), where he was instrumental in the company’s financial and operational transformation, leading strategic restructuring, capital raising, treasury optimisation, enterprise risk management, and governance improvement initiatives that strengthened long-term shareholder value.
His professional career also includes roles at Africa Finance Corporation, Standard Chartered Bank, KPMG Professional Services and MBC International Bank (Now First Bank Nigeria Limited), providing him with deep experience in institutional finance, treasury management, financial controls, regulatory engagement, and corporate advisory.
He is a CFA Charter Holder, KPMG-trained Accountant, and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), and the Institute of Credit Administration. He is also a member of the Institute of Directors (IoD) Nigeria and a Certified Management Accountant.
He holds a Doctorate in Business Administration, a Master’s in Business Administration and Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. He is an alumnus of Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, IE Business School, Geneva Business School, and The University of Lagos, a statement by Abiola Baruwa, Group company secretary, First HoldCo Plc.
Omodayo-Owotuga (Dr. JB)is an accomplished finance, governance, and transformation executive with extensive leadership experience spanning banking and financial services, infrastructure finance, power, oil and gas, and the audit and consulting industry.
He was appointed as an Executive Director at First Bank of Nigeria Limited on May 13, 2026, one of Africa’s leading financial institutions. Prior to this, he was on the Board of First HoldCo Plc as a Non-Executive Director, bringing deep expertise in finance, risk management, governance, treasury management, capital optimisation, and institutional strengthening.
Omodayo-Owotuga is widely respected for his track record in institutional transformation, governance enhancement, capital raising, and operational restructuring across regulated and capital-intensive sectors.
Prior to this appointment, he served as Deputy Chief Executive of Geregu Power Plc, Nigeria’s first listed power generation company and a subsidiary of Amperion Power. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in strengthening corporate governance frameworks, driving enterprise transformation, improving operational efficiency, supporting major capital raising initiatives, and contributing significantly to the company’s landmark listing on the Nigerian Exchange.
He previously served as Group Executive Director, Finance & Risk Management at Forte Oil Plc (now Ardova Plc), where he was instrumental in balance sheet restructuring, capital optimisation, enterprise risk management, and the transformation of the company into a consistently profitable and governance-driven enterprise. He also led and supported several strategic financing, acquisition, divestment, and institutional restructuring initiatives during a critical phase of the company’s growth.
His experience includes extensive involvement in largescale bond programmes, institutional funding transactions, investmentgrade credit positioning, treasury management, and long-term capital structuring within highly regulated operating environments.
Earlier, in his career, heserved at Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) as Asset & Liability Management Specialist and Deputy to the Treasurer, having previously served as Finance Manager of the institution. As part of AFC’s pioneer team, he played a key role in establishing core financial operations, control systems, treasury processes, and institutional finance structures. His accomplishments included supporting major funding transactions, managing strategic financial institution relationships, and contributing to the generation of significant treasury and investment income.
Prior to AFC, he worked with Standard Chartered Bank and KPMG, where he gained extensive experience in financial reporting, audit, regulatory engagement, project finance oversight, and advisory services within the financial services sector.
Known as Dr. JB, he is a CFA Charter Holder, a KPMG-trained Accountant, and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), and the Institute of Credit Administration. He is also a member of the Institute of Directors (IoD) Nigeria.
He is an alumnus of Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, IE Business School, Geneva Business School, and University of Lagos. He holds a B.Sc. in Accounting, an MBA with Distinction, and a Doctorate in Business Administration.
Dr. JB is widely recognised for his strategic leadership, governance expertise, capital markets experience, and ability to drive sustainable institutional growth and transformation within complex regulatory environments.
He is married with children and enjoys playing tennis, mentoring professionals, and watching football in his leisure time.
A.I
May 15, 2026
Tags: First HoldCo Plc Julius B. Omodayo-Owotuga Nigerian Exchange Limited