BY Babajide Komolafe

The importance of professionalism, ethics, and capacity-building in the banking industry was revived when the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) conferred Fellowship status on top bankers last week.

“Though it is the highest grade of membership of our professional Banking Institute and conferred only on bankers who have distinguished themselves within the industry and beyond, the Fellowship status serves as a strong reminder to the various awardees and even the Institute on the need for commitment, professionalism and capacity development of young bankers.”

This was emphasised by the Special Guest of Honour of the Investiture programme, and President, Bank Directors Association of Nigeria (BDAN), Olorogun Sunny Kuku, who called on the Institute to be steadfast in its commitment to professional development.

He also called for a framework that mandates all prospective bank applicants to undergo a basic CIBN training as prerequisite to gaining employment in the banking sector.

On his part, President/Chairman, Governing Council, (CIBN), Mr Segun Aina  said that  conferment of Fellowship status imposes additional responsibilities on the awardees.

He said; “Our new Fellows, your elevation to the status of Fellow of the Institute imposes additional responsibilities on you to further contribute to the overall development of the banking and finance industry.

“This is in addition to continuously supporting the mandate of the Institute in promoting professional banking education and ensuring the furtherance, maintenance and observance of ethical standards and professionalism among practitioners of the Banking profession in Nigeria.”

The awardees include Managing Director/Chief Executive, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, and two deputy governors of the Central Bank, Dr. [Mrs] Sarah Omotunde Alade, Deputy Governor, Economic Policy and Alhaji Suleiman Barau, Deputy Governor, Corporate Services.

The Institute also conferred Fellowship on  eight banks chief executives namely: Managing Director/Chief Executive, Nigeria Export Import Bank (NEXIM), Mr. Roberts Orya, Group Managing Director, Ecobank, Mr. Arnold Ekpe, Group Managing Director, Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Kehinde Durosinmi-Etti, Group Managing Director, First Bank Plc, Mr. Olabisi Onasanya, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Union Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Olufunke Osibodu, Managing Director, Diamond Bank Plc, Dr. Alex Otti and Alhaji Ado Yakubu Wanka, Managing Director, Unity Bank Plc.

In their various responses some of the awardees said that the Fellowship conferment is an incentive to increased professionalism and capacity-building.

“It is an incentive to partner with the Institute and to build the banking profession,”  said Dr. Mrs. Sarah Alade of CBN

“It is always an incentive to work with the Institute and to lift the banking profession in Nigeria. To ensure that professionalism and standards are adhered to. That is what we have, but we hope that we would be able to build on what we have and make it better. So that when Nigerian bankers speak, they would be on the same standard with their peers internationally. That is bankers who are good, bankers who have integrity, bankers who know what they are doing,” she said.

Similarly, Managing Director/ Chief Executive, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Alhaji  Umaru Ibrahim, said the award is a credit to the founding fathers of the Institute who laid a foundation  of professionalism, competence, integrity, and fairness. It is also a challenge to all of us in the Corporation to continue to  build on the foundation.

“What the CIBN is doing is a boost professionalism and it will help to uplift the standard in the country. This is critical to the development of a sustainable and sound banking system. For us to have a sustainable, sound and safe banking system, we must have professionals that run banks in an ethical manner,” said Mr. Roberts Orya.

“The CIBN has done so much; they have come out with an Act which is all inclusive. I think what they need to do now is enforcement, because we have all the laws but what we need now is enforcement. But it is a collective thing; it is not just the CIBN. All Nigerians must ensure that we run our banks in a more professional and ethical manner and when we do that, all the sharp practices we witness in the banks will be a thing of the past.”