By Nkiruka Nnorom

Shareholders of NEM Insurance Plc have approved the appointment of Mr. Tope Smart as the chairman of its Board of Directors, and Mr. Andrew Ikekhua as the managing director.

Their appointment was ratified by the shareholders at the company’s 54th Annual general Meeting, AGM.

Profile of the appointees

Tope Smart holds a master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He is an Associate member of both the Chartered Insurance Institute of London and the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria.

He is an unrepentant advocate of a better and stronger insurance sector in Africa. He is a Council member, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, Council member, West African Insurance Companies Association (Ghana), Council member, Nigeria-Britain Association, member of Senate, University of Lagos, and a past Chairman of Nigeria Insurers Association.

Tope is a past President of the African Insurance Organisation (AIO). During his presidency, AIO witnessed phenomenal growth and increased visibility as a result of several initiatives introduced by him.

Tope is presently the Chairman, Alpha Morgan Capital Limited, Chairman, NEM Health Limited, Vice-Chairman, AIO Foundation, amongst others. In 2014, he was appointed by the Federal Government as Co-Chairman of the Insurance Industry Transformation Committee.

Mr. Andrew Ikekhua holds a Higher National Diploma Certificate in Mass Communication in 1997 from the Plateau State School of Accountancy & Management Studies, Jos and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Administration and Entrepreneurship from the London School of Business and Finance. In addition, he has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Entrepreneurship from ITTL-Doctoral Research Center and University of Phoenix, Arizona.

He is an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (ACIIN) and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria (FCE 2009). A full member, Nigeria Institute of Management (MNIM 2014); a Fellow of the Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (Chartered 2020); a Fellow of the Institute of Commerce of Nigeria (Chartered 2020) and a Fellow of the Institute of Credit Administration (2020)
Prior to his appointment as the company’s branch manager, Ibadan and Ikeja from 2001 to 2006, he worked at various levels of the accounts and audit department of both BAICO (1981 -1990) and NEM Insurance Plc, (1990 -2000). Subsequently, he became the Head of the Lagos Mainland Branch upon recapitalization in 2007 and an Assistant General Manager in 2009.

In recognition of his excellent track record, he was promoted to the position of Deputy General Manager in 2013 and in 2014 to the position of General Manager, Marketing. He is currently the Executive Director, Marketing & Business Development.

Other appointments approved by the shareholders are: Idowu Semowo as an Executive Director, Chief Anthony Aletor, Mrs Abisola Giwe-Osagie and Dr Daphne Oterie Dafinone as Non-Executive Director of the company.

PwC Nigeria welcomes three new partners

PwC Nigeria has announced the admission of three new partners effective July 1, 2024. They include Marilyn Obaisa-Osula (Consulting & Risk Services), Taiwo Oyaniran (Assurance), and Tim Siloma (Tax & Regulatory Services).

This announcement is part of PwC Africa’s admission of 15 new partners, with 40 percent being female, marking a significant step towards achieving the firm’s gender representation goals in leadership.

In a statement congratulating the new partners, Sam Abu, Country Senior Partner, PwC Nigeria, said: “Our new partners bring deep expertise and experience in strategic areas that are vital to contributing to Nigeria’s continued growth. As leaders, they’ll help our clients navigate challenges and disruptions, building resilience to thrive in an age of continuous reinvention.

We celebrate their achievements in reaching this career milestone. Together, we’ll continue to power forward to our new frontier, delivering sustained outcomes for our clients and communities.”

Marilyn Obaisa-Osula is Head ESG/Sustainability and Climate Change. She leads the firm’s efforts in supporting clients’ transitions to Green, Circular, and Blue economies across West Africa with over 15 years of experience in business development, market entry, and sustainability.

She has directed numerous projects across various sectors, including agriculture, FMCGs, public sector, pharmaceuticals, insurance, Development Finance Institutions, DFIs, commercial banks, tech-startups, and energy.
Marilyn holds a certificate in Business Sustainability and Sustainable Finance from the University of Cambridge (CISL) UK, a degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Benin, and a master’s degree in Public and Development Management from the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa.

Taiwo Oyaniran is a seasoned chartered accountant with extensive post-qualification experience.

He drives PwC Nigeria’s Agribusiness Services, service delivery to international donor agencies, and clients in the Consumer and Industrial Products & Services industry.

Throughout his career at PwC, Taiwo has consistently demonstrated a commitment to the highest service quality delivery, earning recognition from the firm’s quality management programs.

As a passionate advocate for ethics, he has progressed to become the Lead Ethics Officer at PwC Nigeria and the West Market Area of PwC Africa. As a partner, Taiwo will focus on expanding the firm’s market presence in Agribusiness, International Donor Agencies, and Consumer and Industrial Products & Services, while mentoring young professionals.

Tim Siloma is a seasoned tax professional with over 15 years at PwC, specialising in Tax Reporting and Strategy. With 11 years of international experience, he has worked in the UK, Kenya, and Nigeria, contributing significantly to the firm’s tax compliance practice.

As a key member of PwC’s Tax Administration Consulting, Tim enhances tax systems for revenue authorities with sustainable solutions in people, processes, and technology.

He holds an LLB from the University of Nairobi and a CPA from Strathmore Business School. Tim is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, a CPA-K, and an Associate Member of both ICAN and CITN.

Wole Adedeji becomes Group Marketing Director at Cavista Holdings

Cavista Holdings Limited, aleading conglomerate in technology, agriculture, hospitality, and fintechs has announced the appointment of Wole Adedeji as the new Group Marketing Director.
Wole brings over 20 years of extensive multi-industry and multinational experience to new his role.
His career, according to a statement by the company, spans Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) with Heineken N.V. and Guinness/Diageo; Technology with Interswitch; Telecommunications with Glo Mobile, and Advertising with Insight (Publicis) Communication and Omnicom Media Group.
“Wole’s rich background in commercial leadership, customer acquisition, customer journey and lifetime management, brand building, digital transformation, and revenue management makes him an invaluable addition to our leadership team.
“His proven track record in developing winning portfolio marketing strategies, business frameworks, commercial acumen, and thought leadership will significantly enhance our talented management team.
“Wole Adedeji’s wealth of experience and proven leadership make him a perfect fit for Cavista Holdings. We are confident that his innovative approach and strategic vision will drive our marketing efforts to new heights,” said Dele Odufuye, Group Managing Director of Cavista Holdings.
“We are delighted to welcome him to our team and look forward to the positive impact he will make,” Odufuye added.
Wole is an alumnus of the University of Greenwich Business School in London, the Executive Business School of Imperial College London, the University of Lagos, and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Anambra State.
He holds numerous international certifications and is a fellow of several professional bodies, reflecting his commitment to continuous professional development and excellence.