By Olatunde Dodondawa
Professor Pius Olanrewaju at his swearing in ceremony as the 23rd President/Chairman of the Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, signing documents related to oath of office.
Professor Pius Olanrewaju was inaugurated as the 23rd President and Chairman of the Council for the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) during a ceremony in Lagos on Friday. The event was presided over by Justice Owolabi Dabiri and chaired by Wole Olanipekun, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Following the swearing-in, Olanrewaju received the insignia of office.
In a message of goodwill, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, represented by the Chairman of the House Committee on Banking in the green chamber of the National Assembly, Nwachukwu Eze, commended the outgoing CIBN president, Ken Opara, and encouraged the new leadership to harp on technology for improved financial inclusion.
“Today, as we welcome the incoming President and new Chairman of the Council, we also consider the challenges and opportunities ahead. The banking sector is in constant flux due to technological advancements, regulatory shifts, and changes in customer behaviour,” stated Abbas. He stressed the importance of adopting innovation and collaboration to navigate these shifts and foster financial inclusion and sustainable development.
“Despite progress in expanding access to financial services, millions of Nigerians remain excluded from the formal banking sector. It is incumbent upon all stakeholders, including the CIBN, to redouble efforts to promote financial literacy, expand access to finance, and foster inclusive growth,” he added.
Other elected officeholders include First Vice President, Dele Alabi, Second Vice President, Mojisola Bakare-Asieru, and National Treasurer, Peter Ashade. Professor Olanrewaju was elected on April 6, 2024.
Professor Olanrewaju is a consummate professional and an experienced scholar. He holds membership in numerous esteemed organisations, including the (CIBN). His expertise is recognised through his fellowship with several institutes: the CIBN, the Institute of Capital Market Registrars, the Institute of Management and Administrative Technology, and he is also a distinguished Fellow of Enterprise Risk Management. Presently, prior to ascending to his new position at CIBN, he served as the First Vice President of the institute, marking over three decades of dedicated service. Additionally, he has made significant contributions to academia through co-authoring various books and scholarly articles.
By virtue of his academic and professional backgrounds, his career has traversed the economy for the past 30 (thirty) years in banking, legal consulting, management, and academia. He is well nurtured in banking and commercial law.
Prof. Olanrewaju is a professor of banking law at Babcock University. He was the immediate past provost and dean of law in the School of Law and Security Studies at Babcock University, Ilishan.
