President Bola Tinubu on Friday nominated four deputy governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to serve alongside Olayemi Cardoso, who was also nominated as the new governor of the apex bank.

The deputy governor nominees are Emem Nnana Usoro, Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Dattijo, Philip Ikeazor and Bala M. Bello.

Here are a few things to know about them.

EMEM NNANA USORO

Usoro

Usoro has 20 years of banking experience that cuts across retail and commercial, customer service, as well as corporate banking. She currently occupies the executive director position at United Bank for Africa (UBA), which she joined in 2010 as a regional bank head.

In 13 years, Usoro worked her way up to the leadership zenith in UBA. But prior to her lengthy career at the company, she spent six years at the defunct Bank PHB Plc, rising to the position of regional executive, Victoria Island Region (DGM) after leaving Platinum Bank as the relationship manager/team leader, commercial banking.

Usoro’s educational background is as colourful as her banking career, having bagged four management-related certificates from Harvard Business School, one at the University of Pretoria; a masters and a bachelors of science from the University of Uyo and Obafemi Awolowo University, respectively.

Usoro is expected to bring her wealth of experience to bear as a deputy governor of the CBN should her nomination be approved by the senate.

 MUHAMMAD SANI ABDULLAHI DATTIJO

Dattijo

Dattijo is bringing a different kind of experience to the CBN having worked as a policy adviser at the executive office of Ban Ki-Moon, former United Nations secretary-general.

He was an economic adviser to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum prior to the appointment. He also worked as the budget and planning commissioner in the Kaduna state government under Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of the state, before his appointment as chief of staff.

Dattijo’s private sector career spanned the Balera Micro-Finance Bank, Athal Consulting, and Ecobank Nigeria, with his most recent job being the associate member, Dunning Africa Center, where he only spent three months before his appointment into CBN.

His career has been built on the back of an educational footprint that includes Ahmadu Bello University, where he secured his bachelor of science (BSc) and masters in economics, and international relations and affairs respectively. He also bagged public finance certificate in the London School of Economics and Political Science, amongst many others.

PHILIP IKEAZOR

Ikeazor

Philip Ikeazor possesses 30 years of experience in the financial sector, having worked with various banks; serving as chief executive at Keystone Bank Limited in Nigeria and Ecobank Kenya.

Ikeazor also worked as executive director at Union Bank Nigeria and director of Union Bank UK Plc, before leaving the financial sector’s boardroom to join the governing board of the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India.

He bolstered his career with certificates from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, while also becoming a fellow at the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.

BALA M. BELLO

Bello

Since starting his banking career in Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), Bello has gone on to occupy various positions in the private sector, where he has more than 20 years of experience.

Within the two decades, Bello has worked for the Nigerian Export-Import Bank, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Sigma Pensions Ltd, Marine Capital Limited and Apricot Investments Limited.

He graduated from Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, where he obtained a bachelor of science  (BSc) degree in accounting and an MBA.

His educational background extended to foreign shores, including Harvard Business School, where he secured a leadership programme certificate. Others are the Wharton Business School, Richard Ivey School of Business, and Portfolio Management Academy.

The Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has said they are waiting for singer Bella Shmurda, a close friend of late rapper Mohbad, to provide information to aid their investigation.

DAILY POST recalls that fast rising rapper, Mohbad died on Tuesday in a controversial manner.

The police on Thursday said they have launched an investigation into the singer’s demise.

The law enforcement agency had also called for individuals with useful information, especially friends and family members of the late rapper to come forward.

Controversial self-styled investigative journalist, Kemi Olunloyo, on Saturday gave Bella Shmurda 48 hours ultimatum to go to the police and speak up.

On her X handle, she wrote; “Bella Shmurda I’m giving you 48 hrs to go to @PoliceNG and speak to @Princemoye1 or force CID Ikoyi.”

Police spokesperson, Adejobi quoted her post with the caption; “I am waiting to hear from him.”

Bella Shmurda had in an interview revealed that Mohbad attempted suicide after his fallout with Naira Marley-owned record label, Marlian Music. He also stated that the late rapper was receiving threats.

Nigerian music artiste Azeez Fashola, popularly known as Naira Marley, has finally broken the silence over the untimely death of late rapper, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, professionally known as Mohbad.

Recall that Mohbad passed away on Tuesday at the age of 27.

Following the death, some social media users have continued to express dissatisfaction over the alleged ill-treatment Mohbad was subjected to by his former record label, with many calling out the Marlian boss, Naira Marley, on social media platforms.

However, reacting to the news of his former signee’s death via a statement posted on his verified Instagram account late Friday, Naira Marley said the news of the rapper’s death has left a permanent hole in his heart.

According to him, despite the fallout between Marlian Music and Mohbad, the label never wished him any harm, adding that the news of his death has left all of them heartbroken.

Naira Marley also called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

The Debt Management Office (DMO) has revealed that Nigeria’s total public debt rose by 75.29 per cent to N87.38 trillion in the second quarter of 2023.

It surpassed the projection of DMO’s Director-General, Patience Oniha, who had predicted the debt could hit N70 trillion, excluding N5 trillion in new borrowings and promissory notes of N2 trillion.

According to the Q2 report covering April to June and obtained on Friday, DMO said the total public debt increased by N37.53 trillion from N49.85 trillion in Q1 2023.

The ways and advances from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and new borrowings contributed to the significant increase.

“Nigeria’s total public debt stock as at June 30, 2023, was N87.38tn ($113.42bn). It comprises the total domestic and external debts of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the thirty-six states, and the Federal Capital Territory.

“The major addition to the Public Debt Stock was the inclusion of the N22.712 trillion securitized FGN’s Ways and Means Advances,” the report reads.

The naira devaluation also influenced the increase, as DMO said: “Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Official Exchange Rate of US$1 to N770.38 as at June 30, 2023, was used in converting External Debt to Naira.”

Recall that the debt office said it was going to add the ways and means advances – which closed 2022 at N22.71 trillion – to the total debt for the period ending June 2023.

“The securitization of the FGN Ways and Means Advances after receipt of requisite approvals, has enabled its inclusion in the Total Public Debt Stock,” DMO said.

It also stated that: “This development, which was welcomed by development partners amongst others, has improved debt transparency and led to the reduction in Debt Service costs associated with the Ways and Means Advances.

“Other additions to the Debt Stock were New Borrowings by the FGN and the subnationals from local and external sources.

“The reforms already introduced by the present administration and those that may emerge from the recommendations of the Fiscal Reform and Tax Policies Committee, are expected to impact debt strategy and improve debt sustainability.”

[RipplesNigeria]