Appointment

Google Cloud Appoints Noor Al-Sulaiti to Lead Cybersecurity Business Development and Government Relations for Middle East, Turkey, and Africa

by Women Times on April 4, 2024

Google Cloud has announced the appointment of Noor Al-Sulaiti as Head of Security Business Development and Government Relations for the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa region (META). Noor, an industry veteran known for her innovative leadership, brings a wealth of experience in the telecommunications and technology sectors to her new role.

Noor’s appointment is yet another testament to the company’s commitment to the region and safeguarding governments’ digital assets. In this position, Noor will be responsible for Google’s security expansion in the Middle East, Turkey and Africa underscoring the growing importance of cybersecurity for the company. She will foster strategic partnerships with the public sector to leverage Google Cloud’s cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions, including CyberSshield, a powerful cybersecurity solution tailored specifically for governments and inspired by the concept that organizations inside a nation and around the world need to “lock shields” and stand united in their defense against shared attackers.

Noor’s distinguished career includes her role as CEO of Ooredoo Oman. There, she established herself as the youngest and first female CEO in the company’s history, spearheading a transformation into a digitally led, data-powered, and customer-centric organization. Prior to joining Ooredoo Oman, Noor was the CEO of Starlink, a retail chain and IT service provider in Qatar. She was also the general manager of Phono and FASTtelco in Kuwait. She has been recognized as one of the most powerful businesswomen by Forbes Middle East and as a notable business leader by other prominent publications.

Noor Al-Sulaiti said: “I am honored to join Google Cloud, a company that has inspired me throughout my career. Google Cloud is continuously helping governments around the world enhance their security capabilities and respond holistically at the national level to keep their citizens and critical assets safe, and I’m ready to lead the charge to bring these capabilities to the Middle East, Turkey and Africa.”

Appointment

Nigeria’s Kemi Omotosho Becomes MultiChoice Southern Africa Regional Director

by Women Times on April 1, 2024

MultiChoice Group has announced the appointment of Nigeria’s Kemi Omotosho as the Regional Director of its Southern Africa operations. The promotion was part of the recent strategic management changes made by the company.

Commenting on the promotion, the Chief Executive Officer of West Africa, MultiChoice, Mr. John Ugbe, said it reflects the equal career growth opportunity for people across different markets in the MultiChoice Group.

“MultiChoice operates an inclusive workplace that provides equal opportunities to staff irrespective of their gender and nationality, as evidenced by the recent appointments within the group. Omotosho rose through the ranks in the West Africa region of the business, and her appointment attests to active diversity within the group,” he said.

Omotosho started at MultiChoice Nigeria in 2014 as the Head of Retention, where she was responsible for delivering business objectives on subscriber growth and delivering strategies to optimize customer value management. She was promoted to Executive Head of Customer Value Management in 2018.

In 2019, Omotosho rose to the post of Group Executive Head of Customer Value Management (CVM), where she led the strategic planning, budgets, decision-making, resource allocation, and operational execution of all CVM initiatives in Africa, the position she held till her new appointment.

Her proficiency in customer value management propelled her ascent within MultiChoice and is evident in her significant contributions to strategic goals in subscriber growth and retention. As part of her contribution to the profitability of the business, Omotosho played a pivotal role in the launch of the group’s popular “Step Up Campaign” and also led the FIFA 2023 World Cup CVM plans.

Appointment

Adaora Umeoji: Meet Zenith Bank’s First Female GMD/CEO

by Women Times on March 20, 2024

Zenith Bank Plc, one of the leading financial institutions in the country, has announced the appointment of Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji as the first female Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the bank since it commenced operation.

According to the bank her appointment takes effect from June 1, 2024, subject to approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Umeoji takes over from Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, whose five-year term expires on May 31, 2024, after a very successful tenure. Her appointment is consistent with the bank’s executive transition tradition, succession plan, and strategy of grooming leaders from within.

Prior to this appointment, Dr. Umeoji has been the Deputy Managing Director of the bank since October 28, 2016 and has close to thirty (30) years cognate banking experience of , which twenty-six (26) years has been with Zenith Bank.

She is an alumnus of the prestigious Harvard Business School ,where she attended the Advanced Management Program (AMP) and an alumnus of Columbia Business School with a Certificate in the Global Banking Program. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Jos, a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and a First-Class honors in Law from Baze University, Abuja. She holds a Master of Laws from the University of Salford, United Kingdom, a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Calabar, and also has a doctorate in business administration from Apollos University, USA.

She holds a Certificate in Economics for Business from the prestigious MIT Sloan School of Management, USA, and has attended various management programmes in renowned Universities around the world including the strategic thinking and Management programme at Wharton Business School, USA. She also attended the executive program in Strategic Management, and has a Certificate in Leading Global Business all from Harvard Business School, USA.

She is a fellow of notable professional bodies including the Chartered Banker Institute, UK, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Nigerian Institute of Management, Institute of Credit Administration, Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Nigeria, Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators, and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria among others.

In 2022, the Federal Government of Nigeria honored Dr. Umeoji with Officer of the Order of the Niger, as a recognition of her contributions to nation building. She is a Peace Advocate of the United Nations (UN-POLAC).

She has impacted many lives through her philanthropic and humanitarian activities through her NGOs; Pink Breathe Cancer Foundation and the Adorable Foundation that educates, caters for Cancer patients and indigent children education especially the Girl-Child. Her contribution to humanity was recognized by the Sun Newspaper which recently bestowed on her the Humanitarian Service Icon Award for 2023.

As a result of her passion for promoting professionalism in the banking industry and improving the well-being of the less privileged, Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON founded the Catholic Bankers Association of Nigeria (CBAN), a platform she uses to promote ethical banking and service to humanity.

She is a Lady of the Order of Knights of St. John International (KSJI), and was awarded a Papal Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester by His Holiness Pope Francis.

Appointment

Nigerian-British Chamber Reappoints Solape Akinpelu as Technology Chair of its EXCO

by Women Times on August 31, 2023

Solape Akinpelu, the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of HerVest, Nigeria’s fintech dedicated to providing financial access for women through a Gender Lens Investment (GLI) approach, has been reappointed as a member on the prestigious Executive Committee of the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC).

The reappointment as Technology Chair of the Exco marks a significant milestone for both the Chamber and Solape Akinpelu, who has been instrumental in implementing impactful, tech-driven and capacity focused initiatives for different cohorts to inspire and influence members on how to scale to become tech sector players.

Solape Akinpelu’s reappointment comes at a pivotal point as both Nigeria and the United Kingdom navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by the evolving global tech ecosystem. Her relentless dedication to promoting financial inclusion, business collaborations, tech innovations, trade partnerships, and investment opportunities has positioned the NBCC as a pivotal hub for economic growth and tech-inspired development.

Commenting on the development, Solape Akinpelu said; “I am deeply honoured and humbled to be reappointed as a the Technology Chair of the NBCC Board’s Exco. I am committed to leveraging this opportunity to continue seek newer ways that we can adopt tech to drive growth, enhance business relationships, and ensure that the Chamber remains at the forefront of promoting excellence between Nigeria and the UK.”

She added that she will continue to bring her expertise to bear as the Chambers continues to birth new initiatives to drive investments, trade, and business growth at all levels.

Solape Akinpelu’s continued presence on the NBCC Board is anticipated to further enhance the Chamber’s ability to drive tech focused initiatives, investment opportunities, and knowledge sharing between these two dynamic economies.

The Nigerian British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) is the foremost bilateral chamber promoting trade and investment between Nigeria and the United Kingdom. Since its inception, the Chamber has been instrumental in promoting bilateral trade relations, representing the interests of businesses, and driving sustainable economic growth.

Appointment

Showmax Appoints Dami Elebe As Head Writer for Flawsome Season 2

by Women Times on August 24, 2023

Award-winning Nigerian screenwriter Dami Elebe is the head writer for the highly anticipated second season of Showmax’s popular series Flawsome.

Known for her exceptional storytelling as seen in the TV series including Skinny Girl In Transit, The Men’s Club, Rumor Has It, and Far From Home, Elebe’s announcement as head writer for the Showmax Original gives fans of the series, even more, to look forward to in the upcoming season.

Elebe’s uncanny ability to breathe life into characters and craft captivating stories has made her a household name in the Nigerian entertainment scene and among lovers of Nollywood. She’s expected to bring this skill to the new season of the show, which has garnered a loyal fan base since it made its debut in 2022.

The first season of Flawsome made waves, drawing in audiences with its relatable characters and their journeys through life’s twists and turns. Centered around four friends portrayed by Bisola Aiyeola, Ini Dima-Okojie, Sharon Ooja, and Enado Odigie, the 13-part series delved into the lives of diverse characters navigating life’s challenges and triumphs, revealing the strong bonds that hold them together despite their flaws.

At the 2023 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCAs), the drama series received five nominations in four categories: Best Actress in a Drama (Enado Odigie and Ini Dima-Okojie), Best TV Series (Tola Odunsi & Akin Akinkugbe), Best Lighting Designer (Segun Adeleke) and Best Cinematography (Idowu Adedapo aka Mr. Views).

From all indications, Season 2 promises to be an even more riveting rollercoaster ride as Dami Elebe weaves her narrative magic. Will these four ladies succumb to the patriarchal edicts of the society they live in, or keep pushing back? Could it be that Ifeyinwa will no longer try to fit into her dead father’s image? Will Madam Rose finally be exposed for her prostitution ring, and will Ramat ever stop covering for her husband’s excesses? Some of these questions are begging to be answered in the upcoming season. While we can’t say for sure how it’s all going to play out, one thing is certain: with Dami Elebe’s proven track record of capturing the nuances of human relationships and societal intricacies, viewers can expect a season brimming with unexpected twists, compelling arcs, and moments that will have them on the edge of their seats.

As the countdown to the second season commences, viewers can refresh their memories by binge-watching the first season of the show on Showmax.

Appointment

Meet Olu Verheijen and Salma Ibrahim Anas, President Tinubu’s Special Advisers

by Women Times on June 16, 2023

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday appointed eight persons as special advisers and two women made the list.

Olu Verheijen as Special Adviser on Energy and Salma Ibrahim Anas, special adviser on health.

The other six appointed who are men are
Dele Alake, Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy; Yau Darazo as Special Adviser on Political and Intergovernmental Affairs; Nuhu Ribadu, Special Adviser on Security; Wale Edun as Special Adviser on Monetary Policies; Zacchaeus Adedeji as Special Adviser on Revenue; and John Ugochukwu Uwajumogu, special adviser on industry, trade and investment.

These eight persons are part of the 20 special advisers Tinubu had asked the senate to approve to achieve the goals of his administration in the next four years.

Meet Olu Verheijen, President Tinubu’s Energy Adviser

Olu Verheijen as Special Adviser on Energy to President Tinubu

Verheijen is an energy expert and renewable energy investor with nearly 20 years of experience in the oil, gas, renewables and power sectors across Sub-Saharan Africa. She is the founder and managing director of Latimer Energy, a commercial advisory firm, whose services include advising clients on value optimisation in acquisition, development and management of energy assets.

The energy expert, who has a BA from Long Island University and master’s in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, serves as an advisory council member of the US Millennium Challenge Corporation and also an entrepreneur-in-residence at the Energy for Growth Hub.

Meet Salma Ibrahim Anas

Salma Ibrahim Anas, special adviser on health.to President Tinubu

Anas is a public health specialist with over 25 years of experience in health sector development, policy formulation, and strategic development.

She is currently the director of Family Health Services at the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) where she leads important divisions like reproductive health, child health and gender, adolescent, school health and elderly care (GASHE), nutrition and health promotion divisions.

She was a two-time Borno commissioner of health where she led the state during the region’s humanitarian crisis – her excellent performance attracted awards such as the best performing commissioner in the northeast on polio eradication.

Verheijen was formerly a Deal Lead at Shell where she advised on gas commercialisation, merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions valued at over $5 billion. She was a member of the governing board of Shell upstream joint venture.

Appointment

Meet Adesua Dozie Exxon Mobil’s First Female Vice-Chairman

by Women Times on June 15, 2023

ExxonMobil affiliates in Nigeria – Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPN) and Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (EEPNL) – recently announced the appointment of Adesua Dozie as the Vice-Chairman of the Boards of the Companies.

Prior to her appointment, she was an Executive Director and General Counsel for MPN and EEPNL.

Dozie joined MPN in November 2019, as General Counsel and was elevated to the position of Executive Director on December 30, 2019.

Dozie is a senior Legal Advisor with over 20 years of experience as a trusted leader for multinational companies across Africa in a diverse range of industries.

She holds a Bachelor of Law degree (LL. B.) from the University of Buckingham in the United Kingdom, and a Master of Laws (LL.M) from Cornell Law School, New York.

She was admitted to the New York bar and qualified as a barrister and solicitor in Nigeria.

Dozie has advised on various large-scale transactions across the African continent, drawing on a deep knowledge of the legal and regulatory framework, in turn facilitating regional growth, strengthening corporate governance and compliance cultures across diverse business communities.

She is a passionate advocate for empowering diverse talent and is committed to building and strengthening inclusive working environments.

The ExxonMobil upstream affiliates operating in Nigeria are MPN, EEPNL and Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Offshore East) Limited. The companies have notable history, proven experience and a strong record of contributions to Nigeria’s development.

Appointment

Mabel Adeteye Becomes Wema Bank’s Head of Brand & Marketing Communications

by Women Times on February 27, 2023

Wema Bank has appointed Mabel Adeteye, a consummate corporate communications, and public relations expert as its Head, Brand & Marketing Communications.

She will be responsible for overseeing the marketing communications activities of the financial institution and ensuring that it also actualizes its set objectives.

Prior to her appointment, she was the Head, Corporate Communications, PR & Digital of one of Nigeria’s leading broadcast media firms, TVC Communications; owners of TVC News, TVC, and Max FM. She moved from managing a media brand to a financial institution.

Mabel is a trained corporate communications and public relations expert with over a decade of full-time experience and practice covering various marketing communication in customer relationship marketing, public relations, digital media marketing, brand management, event management and branding, corporate affairs, and brand sustainability.

She has developed and managed communications strategies for leading brands in various sectors such as Technology, Aviation, Banking, FMCG, Breweries, Automobile, Telecommunications, and Media, among others.

She is a certified Advanced Branding expert with numerous digital certifications with Google and YouTube. She has also managed brands such as British Airways, Ford Motors, MasterCard, Nokia, Skye Bank (Now Polaris Bank), Unilever, Etisalat (Now 9mobile), Coca-Cola, Intel, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Intel, and among others.

She is accredited in public relations with the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) UK, and Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), and accredited in Digital Marketing, Integrated Communications, and Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) UK.

Mabel is an alumnus of the Department of Business Administration of the prestigious Babcock University, Ahmadu Bello University, and the Lagos Business School.

Appointment

Zelenskyy Names Ezekwesili, Others Ukrainian Government’s ‘Grain from Ukraine’ Envoys

by Women Times on January 29, 2023

In furtherance of efforts to curb global food crisis, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine has named former Vice President of the World Bank and Nigeria’s former Minister of Education, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, and two other African leaders as Ambassadors of the Ukrainian government’s ‘Grain from Ukraine’ programme.

Ezekwesili is also the Senior Advisor at the Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative; Founder of School of Politics, Policy and Governance and President of Human Capital Africa.

The other two ambassadors of the initiative are former President of Malawi, Dr Joyce Banda; and Regional Director for Central and West Africa Programmes at the National Democratic Institute, United States of America, Dr Christopher Fomunyoh.

Banda is a committee member of the African Women Leaders Network, board member of Tana Forum for Peace and Security in Africa, as well as Club de Madrid, the global organisation of former heads of state and government.

‘Grain from Ukraine’ is an initiative of the Ukrainian government to assist countries suffering from acute food crisis as a result of the war with Russia.

Ukraine is one of the world’s largest grain producers and, together with Russia, exports nearly a third of the world’s wheat and barley.

In addition to interacting with other experts, globally, the African ambassadors for Grain from Ukraine also discussed the results of involving international donor partners in the implementation of the initiative, improving the mechanism for receiving funds from partners, food shipment and visits of Ukrainian delegations to Africa.

Head, Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, had, in a recent virtual meeting, disclosed that the three Africans were joining international experts and leaders to support the initiative.

According to him, since the launch of the initiative in November 2022, more than 30 donor countries have signed up. They include Qatar, Turkey, Japan, Norway, Korea, Canada and USA. So far, participants have pledged nearly $200m.

“We see the prospect of expanding the project. To do this, we need reliable partners with knowledge and extensive connections,” said Yerimak.

At the meeting, last week, he introduced and welcomed Ezekwesili, Banda and Fomunyoh as the first set of African ambassadors of the initiative.

In her remarks, Ezekwesili noted that Ukraine’s active and effective initiatives to combat the food crisis were not only on the African continent, but also around the world.

“We are talking about several millions of people around the world, who will receive this support. These people will suffer if they don’t have food on their table,” she said, adding that 62 million people in Africa suffer from food insecurity for one reason or another.

“This initiative should, therefore, support the continent’s longer-term policy measures for increasing investment and raising agricultural productivity. That is why we and the world really consider Ukraine as a country that, despite the war, is doing such important things to help ensure food security,” she added.

Appointment

Seyi Layade Joins Insight Publicis As Account Director

by Women Times on January 17, 2023

Insight Publicis, a leading advertising powerhouse and member of West Africa’s largest integrated marketing communications group, Redefini, and global Publicis Groupe, has announced the appointment of Seyi Layade as its new Account Management Director.

In the statement announcing the appointment, Group CEO, Redefini, Dr. Tayo Oyedeji, expressed confidence in having Layade on board; the latest addition to the Insight Publicis management team. In his words, “The management team is pleased to welcome Seyi to Insight Publicis. She represents a set of values that we hold dearly as a company. Her experience and expertise are a veritable asset for the course we continue to chart.”

In her new role, Layade will bring to bear her experience in the dynamic marketing communications industry.

Oluwaseyi Layade is a seasoned marketing communication professional, and an advocate of collaboration and innovation for business growth. Her 15 years of multicategory experiences with P&L accountability are great assets for improving the value of businesses with futuristic insight for any organisation.

Before joining Insight Publicis, she had worked with SPV Communications Solutions Limited (Omnicom group) as the Group Operations Manager, where she facilitated strategic partnership/collaboration between the consortium of seven member specialist companies and the SPV client – MTN Nigeria; the first of its kind business model in Nigeria.

Excitingly, she also led the innovation and the client service group at Ogilvy Nigeria, spearheading the expansion of the core creative business into creating unique customer experiences through activations and Public Relations respectively.

Layade has a degree in Banking & Finance from Ogun State University and a postgraduate degree from the Metropolitan School of Business and Management (UK). Layade is a business growth expert who has also attended several management programs in leading educational institutions.