Akin Morakinyo is a consummate professional and an experienced business leader. He has over twenty-six years’ working experience, a career trajectory built on grit and resilience. He was appointed the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria in November 2022, having risen through the ranks by dint of hard work and God’s blessings. In this capacity, he has contributed to the development and execution of the institute's strategic focus in conjunction with the leadership and has upheld the sanctity/prestige of the institute's membership making it an aspirational brand. Under his watch, the Institute has transcended new horizon, helping bankers gain competitive advantage.
Asides his experience at the Institute, Morakinyo was an Assistant General Manager at the United Bank for Africa, where he served as the Head of UBA Academy with responsibility covering twenty-three countries where the organization had its footprints at that time. Before venturing into banking, Morakinyo had risen to managerial roles within the hospitality and telecommunications industries. He was a pioneer staff at Econet Wireless Nigeria now Airtel as well as Globacom Limited where he oversaw Training and Development, Quality Assurance Management, Business Process Management, Project Management, MIS/IS Support, Workforce Management and Operations Development.
Mr. Morakinyo is a Chartered Banker, a member of the Chartered Institute of Directors, member of the Nigeria Institute of Management, member of the Chartered Risk Management Institute of Nigeria, member Nigerian Institute of Training and Development; member Institute of Public Management; and member of the Project Management Institute, USA.
Akin Morakinyo sits on the Board of notable organisations including, the Global Banking Education Standards Board UK, Finthech Association of Nigeria, IOD Centre for Corporate Governance where he served from 2015 to 2018, he is the current Chairman of the Alliance of African Institute of Bankers (AAIOB). Akin is a recipient of several awards and prizes in recognition of his outstanding performance and Excellent services including the National Youth Service Corps award as the Lagos State Best Corper 1998/99 service year. He is happily married with beautiful children
Mary-Fidelis Chidoziem Abiahu is the Director of the CIBN Centre for Financial Studies, where he leads strategic research initiatives, policy advocacy, and executive education programs of the Institute, aimed at enhancing the competencies of professionals in the banking and finance industry. Mr. Abiahu is a seasoned finance and accounting professional with over two decades of experience spanning academia, professional practice, and institutional leadership.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Abiahu served as Director of Finance and Corporate Services at CIBN, where he provided financial oversight and led strategic planning and compliance initiatives. He also previously held the position of Director, Research and Professional Standards at the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), where he directed research, technical publications, and professional standards development and practice monitoring; and Senior Manager, Technical Services and Head of the Research & Technical Department at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), where he led research initiatives, coordinated technical responses to regulatory bodies, Standard-Setting bodies and other PAOs, published professional materials, and supported strategic committees to advance the Institute’s policy and advocacy goals.
His academic and professional journey includes roles such as Academic Technologist at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Assistant Lecturer at Paul University, Audit Supervisor at Onyeogali Igho & Co., and Audit Senior at Tom Onyeagwa & Co., where he coordinated audit planning, supervised audit teams, ensured quality control, and managed client account computerisation and reporting. He has also managed professional tuition and consulting services through Edo-WYSE School of Professional Studies and Edo-WYSE Consulting Services.
Mr. Abiahu holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Accounting from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, a PGDE in Education and a Mini-MBA in Business Management from Tekedia Institute, Boston.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA), a Chartered Tax Practitioner (ACTI), a Full Member of the Chartered Institute of Treasury Management (FTM), a Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (MCIB), and an Associate Chartered Economist (ACE), among other professional affiliations. He is also a Registered Professional with the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC).
Mr. Abiahu is widely published and actively engaged in academic and professional networks. His research contributions are accessible via platforms such as Google Scholar, ResearchGate, SSRN, ORCID, and Elsevier’s Web of Science.
Mrs. Rita Adeyanju is the Director, Secretariat Services at The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN). She is a seasoned legal practitioner and corporate governance professional with over two decades of distinguished experience spanning legal advisory, company secretarial services, compliance, litigation, and international institutional relations.
Since joining CIBN in 2006, Mrs. Adeyanju has played a pivotal role in driving the Institute’s legal and secretarial operations. She provides company secretariat support to CIBN’s Governing Council, its Committees, CIBN Centre for Financial Studies, and the Alliance of African Institutes of Bankers. Her portfolio also includes legal drafting, compliance oversight, regulatory interface, and provision of support to institution’s disciplinary processes in collaboration with the Ethics and Governance Division.
Notably, Mrs. Adeyanju coordinated the creation and inauguration of the Global Banking Education Standards Board (GBEStB) in Nigeria and has continued to provide guidance and technical support to emerging Institutes of Bankers across Africa. Her international work has strengthened regional collaboration and contributed to the advancement of banking education and professionalism on the continent.
Prior to joining CIBN, she practiced law with reputable firms including Adesokan (SAN) & Associates and Ikenna Okoli & Associates, where she gained hands-on experience in litigation, corporate legal services, and alternative dispute resolution.
Mrs. Adeyanju holds an LL.B from Abia State University and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1998. She is an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), a Honorary member of the prestigious The Chartered Institute of Banks of Nigeria and is currently pursuing membership with the Nigerian Institute of Arbitration.
Her dedication to excellence and strategic insight continue to support CIBN’s mission to promote ethical conduct and professionalism in the banking and finance industry.
With over 20 years of experience in finance, investment, and professional development, he is a seasoned expert recognised for his strategic insight, leadership, and commitment to excellence in the financial services industry.
Babatunde holds a distinguished academic and professional portfolio, including:
Areas of Expertise
Key Achievements
Leadership Roles
Advocacy & Passion
Babatunde is a strong advocate for emotional intelligence and digital learning as transformative tools in professional development. He is passionate about mentoring young professionals, enhancing institutional capacity, and driving excellence within Nigeria's financial sector.
Babatunde's unwavering dedication, proven leadership, and broad expertise make him a respected voice and trusted authority in the finance and investment ecosystem.
Oreitan Adigun, Ph.D., HCIB, is the Head of Economics and Strategy at The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria. He specializes in Financial Economics at the Doctoral level.
He is an accomplished Business Leader, Financial Economist, and Strategist with two decades of experience in the banking sector with a record of successes in driving business growth and expansion.
Dr. Adigun’s banking experience cut across many Nigerian banks before joining the Institute. He is an alumnus of Lagos Business School.
Dr. Oreitan Adigun is an Honorary Senior Member of The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (HCIB), Fellow Chartered Institute of Administration (FCIA), Associate Member, Risk Management Association of Nigeria, and Member, Nigeria Economic Society.
Akinpelu Akinola is a seasoned legal and governance professional with over 18 years of experience driving excellence in corporate governance, legal advisory, regulatory compliance, and board leadership. As Assistant Director/Group Head, Ethics & Governance at the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), his work spans managing the secretariat operations of high-level industry committees, fostering initiatives and innovative approaches to strengthening ethics, governance and compliance frameworks across the banking sector.
Previously, he served as Corporate Governance Manager, African Subsidiaries at First Bank of Nigeria Limited, where he elevated governance standards across six subsidiaries, contributing to the bank's 2017 World Finance Corporate Governance Award (Ghana). His expertise spans board secretariat operations, policy development, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.
Akinpelu holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Obafemi Awolowo University and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2006. He is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) and the Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators (ICSAN). He is also a member of the Society for Corporate Governance Nigeria (SCGN) and the Association of Corporate Governance Practitioners of Nigeria (ACGPN). Recognized as an Honorary Senior Member of CIBN, he combines deep technical knowledge with a commitment to ethical leadership and organizational integrity.
Tolu Adeyemi, FCIB, is a visionary banking professional and institutional leader currently serving as Head of Membership Services at the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN). With over 17 years of distinguished service at CIBN, he drives the Institute's membership growth and retention initiatives.
Adeyemi's CIBN journey reflects a steadfast commitment to advancing the Institute's corporate objectives. Before assuming leadership of Membership Services, he served as Head of Ethics & Governance, where he spearheaded critical reforms to strengthen professional standards and compliance frameworks. His tenure as Head of Administration saw the implementation of operational improvements that enhanced service delivery across the Institute.
A holder of an MBA in General Management, an HND and a BSc in Banking & Finance, Adeyemi combines academic excellence with deep institutional knowledge. He is a proud Chartered Banker of the Institute and an Associate of the Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ACMC), credentials that underscore his dedication to professional excellence.
At the core of Adeyemi's leadership philosophy is the belief that robust membership engagement and ethical banking practices are fundamental to Nigeria's financial sector growth. His innovative approaches to member services have fostered stronger connections within Nigeria's banking community while attracting new professionals to the Institute.
Beyond his official duties, Adeyemi is recognised as:
Adeyemi remains committed to CIBN's mission of promoting banking excellence through his strategic oversight of membership programs, partnerships, and value-added services that empower professionals at all career stages. He is happily married with children.
