Emeka B. Echeazu - Managing Director
Emeka has over 25years of development/international banking and global capital markets experience. Prior to joining UBA in April 2008, he held several Professional and Management Positions at the ADB. During his tenor at the ADB, he worked with leading international investment banks such as Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, Solomon Brothers, Kidder Peabody, Solomon Smith Barney, Merrill Lynch, DG Bank, Deutche Bank, Normura Securities, Daiwa Securities, Swiss Bank Corporation, UBS, Credit Commerciale de France (CCF), Etc), to structure, launch and successfully raised approximately, US$10billion via bilateral and long dated bond issues in the major international capital markets.

While at the ADB, Emeka was instrumental to the bank catalyzing the setting-up of a number of leading Pan-African; Sub-regional; In-country Private Equity Funds and indeed some Fund-of-Funds active in the Continent to-day. He was also involved in a number of successful M&As; Privatisations and Project Finance initiatives in the Southern and Eastern African Countries such as South Africa; Zambia; Uganda; Kenya and in Ethiopia.

During his tenure at UBA, Emeka successfully established and headed the International Financial Organizations Division, which anchors global institutional banking relationship with IFIs, Off-shore banks and DFIs. The division was also responsible for sourcing medium & long term finance for the Group, from bilateral and multilateral sources as well as originating and managing global strategic alliance with MDB’s; ECAs; Donor Agencies; Sovereign Wealth Funds; Etc.

Emeka was educated at the Norwood Technical College, Croydon, UK; The University College, University of London, where he graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons) Degree in Financial Economics and The Cass Business School, City University of London, where he earned an MBA Degree in Finance.

Dr. Valentin Ururuka - Executive Director
Valentine has over 16 years work experience in banking and higher education. He worked for over 8 years in various areas of banking including enterprise risk management, project management, strategy, customer services, relationship management, and banking operations. He also has over 8 years work experience as a lecturer and researcher in accounting and finance. Organizations he worked for include United Bank for Africa PLC; Citibank Nigeria; Lancaster University Management School UK; and De Montfort University UK.

During his tenure in UBA, Valentine headed various departments at different times including Risk Measurement and Risk Projects; Credit Strategy, Projects & Portfolio Management; and Economic and Business Intelligence Units. He successfully managed several automation projects and operational change projects in UBA including the implementation of UBA’s credit rating system and credit process re-engineering. Whilst in Lancaster University, Valentine collaborated in several research projects in the area of performance management, and international share cross listing. He taught courses in financial reporting, management accounting and finance.

Valentine holds a PhD degree in Accounting & Finance from Lancaster University, and an MSc in Accounting & Financial Management also from Lancaster University. He also holds an MBA degree from Bayero University Kano, and a BSc in Accountancy from University of Nigeria Nsukka. He is a recipient of various academic and scholarship awards.

Goddy Oghenesede Oki - Non-Executive Director
Goddy has over twenty-two years banking experience with fifteen years at senior management positions. His experience spans all major areas of core banking. He held various senior management positions including Regional Bank Head, Head of Debt Recovery, Group Head, Area Manager, etc.

Goddy started his banking career with the defunct Allstates Trust Bank Plc in 1989 and rose to the position of Assistant General Manager Designate before resigning in 1997 to join Universal Trust Bank Plc (UTB) where he rose to the position of General Manager. Following the restructuring of the banking sector in 2006, Union Bank Plc acquired UTB. Goddy resigned in the same year and joined United Bank for Africa Plc as a Deputy Chief Credit officer in charge of Commercial Banking. He worked in various positions and rose to the position of General Manager and Chief Credit Officer (North and East/Head of Agriculture lending) before he resigned in January 2012.

Goddy studied accountancy at the Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State and graduated with distinction in 1985. He won various prizes including the Best Financial Management Student and the Best Management Accounting Student. He holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Business Management from the University of Sunderland, United Kingdom. He also has a Masters of Business Administration degree (MBA) with specialisation in Marketing from Delta State University Abraka.

He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.

A thorough bred professional, Goddy has attended various courses in top rated business schools including the London Business School, Lagos Business School, and Oxford University Business School.