SANEF appoints Uche Uzoebo as MD/CEO to lead financial inclusion expansion charge

Onome Amuge

Shared Agent Network Expansion Facilities (SANEF) Limited, an initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has appointed Uche Uzoebo as its  new managing director/chief executive officer, effective February 2025.

Uche Uzoebo succeeds  Ronke Kuye, who was the pioneer chief executive officer and under  whose leadership SANEF Limited experienced growth and success in its core mandate of expanding and deepening financial inclusion and agent banking.

SANEF serves as an enabler in the economic and financial inclusion ecosystem in Nigeria, collaborating  with various stakeholders to expand the frontiers of financial inclusion. Uzoebo’s appointment brings extensive experience, knowledge and expertise to her new role. Under her leadership, SANEF Limited is committed to achieving excellence, greater growth,  development and expansion to stakeholders in the ecosystem.

Prior to her  appointment, she served as the chief distribution and stakeholder engagement officer of SANEF  Limited since inception and is credited with driving business, stakeholder expansion and and strategic  initiatives that has enabled the organisation to meet its core objectives through Agent Expansion;  Account Opening; Product & Services; Technology Solutions; Policy Advocacy; Stakeholder  Engagement, Financial Literacy, Capacity Building and Awareness.

As the chief distribution and stakeholder engagement officer of SANEF Limited, Uzoebo  also collaborated closely with regulators, banks, financial service providers, developmental  organizations, enterprise support organizations, non-governmental organizations, private sector,  government agencies to expand financial access points, digital financial services, economic and  financial inclusion through agent networks, financial literacy and innovative technology solutions.

Uzoebo is a passionate and renowned expert in financial inclusion, digital transformation, inclusive finance and women empowerment in Nigeria. With over two decades of cognate experience in banking and  financial services, she has established herself as a thought leader and passionate advocate for financial  literacy and advocacy, training, inclusive finance, women empowerment and breaking economic  barriers. Her strong business acumen and leadership qualities have driven the advancement of digital  financial services, economic and financial inclusion in the ecosystem.

Uzoebo has led strategic project initiatives focused on expanding economic inclusion and  diligently worked on empowering women as a gender specialist and advocate with special focus on  supporting women entrepreneurs; digitally transformed businesses and society. As a reputable certified  trainer, she has delivered high-impact training and well-tailored programmes to deepen knowledge  and thought leadership. She has also contributed to published works, spoken at fintech and finance  related conferences, thereby providing a strong voice in advancing financial inclusion and digital  payment. Her practice engagements involve policy and strategic management interventions.

Uche is a certified Product Manager, certified Licensed National Business Development Service  Provider (BDSP), member of the Association of International Product Marketing & Management  (AIPMM), Global Women in Management (GWIM), Honorary Senior Member (HCIB) – the Chartered  Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), a fellow of Acumen, West Africa and a fellow of The Microfinance  Association, UK.