MTN Nigeria has announced that its Board Chairman, Pascal Dozie, would be leaving his position alongside five other Non-Executive Directors. Dozie has occupied the Chairmanship position for 18 years since MTN began operation in Nigeria.
In a statement sent to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), MTN Nigeria said Dozie would step down after his tenure ends on September 2, 2019. He became the network operator’s Chairman in 2001.
The Non-Executive Directors who are expected to retire alongside Dozie are:
- Col. Sani Bello (Rtd) Vice-Chairman;
- Chief Victor Odili, OON Non-Executive Director;
- Mallam Ahmed Dasuki Non-Executive Director;
- Mr Babatunde Folawiyo Non-Executive Director; and
- Mr Gbenga Oyebode, MFR Non-Executive Director.
Speaking on the Non-Executive Directors’ exit from MTN Nigeria, the company said,
“The Board of MTN Nigeria Communications Plc would like to express its appreciation to the six directors for their commitment, leadership and extensive contributions to the success of the Company since their appointment in 2001. The Board wishes them the very best in all their future endeavours.”
Replacement: Meanwhile, the telecommunications company appointed Ernest Ndukwe as the Chairman Designate of MTN Nigeria.
Independent Non-Executive Directors
- Mr Michael Onochie Ajukwu
- Muhammad .K. Ahmad
Non-Executive Directors
- Mr Andrew Alli
- Mrs Omobola Johnson
- Mr A.B. Mahmoud, SAN
- Mrs Ifueko Okauru
Michael Onochie Ajukwu’s Portfolio
- Ajukwu was the Executive Director, Corporate Banking, United Bank for Africa PLC.
- He also served as the Director of Keystone Bank Limited.
- He was the Chairman of Altech West Africa Limited, Munca Properties Limited and Mobax Nigeria Ltd.
- He is the Independent Director of Sterling Bank Plc since June 2018.
- Tiger Brands Limited since March 31, 2015.
- He also sits as a Non-Executive Director on the Boards of Intafact Beverages Ltd, a subsidiary of SABMiller in Nigeria and Novotel, a member of Accor Hotels group.
Educational Background: Ajukwu holds a B.Sc. in Finance from the University of Lagos and an MBA in Accounting and Finance from New York University.
Muhammad K. Ahmad’s Portfolio
- He was a pioneer staff of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Company (NDIC) where he rose to become a Director.
- He was a pioneer Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM).
- Ahmad worked at the Central Bank of Liberia as the Advisor and Technical Director on Bank Supervision under an International Monetary Fund (IMF) Programme.
- He coordinated the development of the Federal Government strategy document for the rebuilding of the North East that led to the constitution of the Presidential Committee on the North-East Initiative (PCNI).
- He served as the Chairman, Technical Committee on the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance in 2018.
- He currently chairs the Boards of Polaris Bank (former Skye Bank), Taj Bank, Credent Capital Advisory and FATE Foundation.
- He serves on the Interim Board of International Energy Assurance Pic.
- He is the founder of Jewel Development Foundation, a graduate assistance programme, and Certium Consulting, a strategic advisory and business applications company.
Educational background: Mr Ahmad holds a BSc. in Accounting from Ahmadu Bello University and a Masters Diploma in Innovation & Strategy, University of Oxford. He is an Associate, Toronto Center for Global Leadership in Financial Supervision, Canada.
Andrew Alli’s Profile
- He worked for over a decade at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in different positions, including Country Manager for Southern Africa and Nigeria. During that period, he represented the IFC on the Board of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited.
- Alli was subsequently appointed CEO of the nascent Africa Finance Corporation. During his tenure as CEO, AFC made cumulative investments of over USD4 billion in 30 African countries and achieved the second-highest credit rating for an African lending institution.
- In December 2018, Mr Alli was appointed CEO of SouthBridge.
- He served as a Non-Executive Director on the Boards of ARM Cement Limited (October 2012 – March 24, 2017, and Guaranty Trust Bank Pic (June 2008 – June 30, 2016).
- He currently serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director, Development Bank of Nigeria.
Educational Background: Mr Andrew Alli qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Coopers & Lybrand (PricewaterhouseCoopers) in the United Kingdom. He is a Member of the Advisory Board, Lagos Business School (LBS).
Omobola Johnson’s Portfolio
- Mrs Omobola Johnson served as Nigeria’s Minister of Communication and Technology from 2011 to 2015. She pioneered the Federal Government’s involvement in a venture capital Fund and a network of start-up incubators and participated in the launching and execution of the National Broadband Plan.
- Prior to her Ministerial appointment, she was country Managing Director for Accenture. She currently chairs the Board of Custodian and Allied Insurance Limited and sits on the Boards of Guinness Nigeria Plc as well as World Wide Web Foundation.
- Mrs Johnson is the founding Chairperson of Women in Management and Business (WIMBIZ). She is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Africa, UNDP’s Broadband Commission Working Group on Gender and the International Telecommunication Union’s Powering Development Advisory Board. Since 2015, she has been serving as Honorary Chairperson of the Global Alliance for Affordable Internet.
Educational Background: Mrs Johnson attended the University of Manchester where she obtained BEng, Electrical and Electronic Engineering and King’s College London (MSc, Digital Electronics). She has a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) from Cranfield University and is a Fellow of the Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN).
A.B. Mahmoud’s Profile
- Mr Mahmoud is the Managing Partner and one of the founding partners of the law firm of Dikko & Mahmoud. He was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2001 and is a Life Bencher of the Body of Benchers.
- He is a Council Member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
- He chaired the Committee that drafted the Securities and Exchange Commission Code of Corporate Governance for Public Companies 2011.
- Mahmoud, SAN sits on the Boards of various companies and charities including Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers and Aliko Dangote Foundation.
Educational Background: He holds LLB and LLM (Company and Labour Law) from Ahmadu Bello University. In addition, he attended the Summer Institute in Corporate Law and Business, Northwestern University School of Law. He also obtained a Certificate in Techniques of Privatisation, Harvard Institute of International Development as well as Certificate in Law and Development, International Development Law Institute.