Julius Omodayo-Owotuga steps in as First Bank’s Executive Director, set to become next CEO
First Bank of Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of First HoldCo Plc, has appointed Dr. Julius Omodayo-Owotuga as Executive Director effective May 13, 2026.
As gathered by WESTERNPOST, the new appointment has paved way for him to become the next Chief Executive Officer after the tenure of the current CEO, Mr. Olusegun Adebiosu that was appointed June 2024.
His appointment to the board of its banking subsidiary has also been welcomed by the group and approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN).
The Holdco noted that his appointment aimed at strengthening leadership in finance, governance, risk, and transformation.
The appointment, disclosed through the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), also highlighted Omodayo’s 24 years of experience across banking, infrastructure finance, power, oil and gas, auditing, and consulting.
According to the board, his appointment “reinforces the group’s focus on strong governance, disciplined execution, financial resilience, and sustainable long-term growth across its businesses.”
Omodayo-Owotuga is often cited as a turnaround maestro considering his work in Forte and Geregu.
He has held senior roles across financial institutions and corporates, with exposure to finance, risk management, treasury operations, controls, and advisory functions.
His academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in accounting, a master’s in business administration, and a Doctorate in Business Administration, alongside alumni status from Saïd Business School, 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, as well as a member of the Institute of Directors (IoD) Nigeria.
His career includes roles at Africa Finance Corporation, Standard Chartered Bank, KPMG Professional Services, and MBC International Bank (now First Bank of Nigeria Limited), spanning financial controls, regulatory engagement, treasury management, and advisory work.At Forte Oil Plc (now Ardova Plc), he served as Group Executive Director, Finance & Risk Management.
He later served as Deputy Chief Executive of Geregu Power Plc, where he was involved in institutional processes, governance, operations, and financing activities, including its NGX listing.
Earlier, he served as a Non-Executive Director on the board of First HoldCo Plc between 2021 and 2026.
