FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, the flagship banking subsidiary of First HoldCo Plc, has appointed Julius B. Omodayo-Owotuga as executive director effective May 13, 2026, in a strategic leadership move aimed at strengthening the institution’s governance architecture, financial resilience and long-term transformation agenda.
The appointment, which was disclosed through the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), underscores FirstBank’s continuing efforts to reinforce executive depth at a time when Nigeria’s banking industry is facing tighter regulatory expectations, heightened capital requirements and increasing demand for operational efficiency and digital transformation.
In a statement accompanying the disclosure, the board said Omodayo-Owotuga’s appointment “reinforces the group’s focus on strong governance, disciplined execution, financial resilience, and sustainable long-term growth across its businesses.”
The appointment has attracted attention within financial and corporate circles, where Omodayo-Owotuga is widely regarded as a turnaround specialist with a track record spanning banking, infrastructure finance, energy, treasury operations, governance and corporate restructuring.
With more than 24 years of experience across banking, consulting, auditing, infrastructure finance, power and oil and gas, Omodayo-Owotuga brings extensive cross-sector expertise into FirstBank’s executive leadership at a period when financial institutions are increasingly prioritising governance quality, capital optimisation and sustainable growth strategies.
His professional journey spans several major financial institutions and corporate organisations, including the Africa Finance Corporation, Standard Chartered Bank, KPMG Professional Services and MBC International Bank, which later became First Bank of Nigeria Limited.
Across these institutions, he held senior responsibilities covering treasury management, regulatory engagement, financial controls, enterprise risk management and advisory functions.
At Forte Oil, where he served as group executive director for finance and risk management, he was involved in restructuring and operational reforms during a critical phase in the company’s evolution. He later moved to Geregu Power Plc as deputy chief executive officer, where he contributed to governance processes, financing arrangements and operational oversight, including activities surrounding the company’s listing on the NGX.
Before his latest appointment, Omodayo-Owotuga also served as a non-executive director on the board of First HoldCo Plc between 2021 and 2026, giving him significant familiarity with the group’s governance structure, strategic priorities and operational framework.
The appointment has received regulatory approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria, reinforcing confidence in the bank’s governance transition process.
Academically, Omodayo-Owotuga holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting, a Master of Business Administration and a Doctorate in Business Administration. He is also an alumnus of the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, IE Business School, Geneva Business School and the University of Lagos.
Professionally, he is a CFA Charterholder, a KPMG-trained accountant and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) and the Institute of Credit Administration. He is also a member of the Institute of Directors Nigeria.
Omodayo-Owotuga joins the board of First Bank of Nigeria Limited chaired by Ebenezer Olufowose. The bank’s executive management team is led by Olusegun Alebiosu as managing director and chief executive officer, alongside Ini Ebong.
His appointment comes as FirstBank continues to reposition itself within a rapidly evolving banking landscape shaped by digital disruption, stronger prudential regulation and growing investor expectations around governance, profitability and institutional stability.
