Stanbic strengthens board, as Essien becomes independent director

Stanbic IBTC Bank, a member of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, has further consolidated the strength of its board by the appointment of Mrs. Miannaya Aja Essien, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as an Independent Non-Executive Director.

Her appointment took effect from Wednesday, 27 September 2017 following the receipt of all required regulatory approvals.

Essien, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators as well as a Notary Public, is the Managing Partner and cofounder of Principles Law Partnership, a firm of legal practitioners, arbitrators and notaries public with offices in Port Harcourt and Lagos.

Her appointment, according to the Chief Executive Stanbic IBTC Bank, Demola Sogunle, is expected to strengthen the board as the institution implements its growth strategy, while reiterating Stanbic IBTC’s commitment to continually entrenching the highest standards of good corporate governance practices and to ensure that the interests of all its stakeholders are well served.

“We are honoured to have Mrs. Essien join the board of Stanbic IBTC Bank. Her wealth of knowledge and experience in business and commercial law and the protection of shareholders’ rights will provide unique insights in our deliberations and add impetus to our strategic focus on building a great institution that everyone will be proud of,” Demola stated.

An alumnus of the Universities of Nigeria, Nsukka and Lagos, Essien obtained her LLB (Hons) and LLM respectively in 1984 and 1991. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in August 1985. As counsel, the Learned Senior Advocate leads complex corporate and commercial dispute resolution matters in Nigeria and internationally across the oil and gas, banking and insurance sectors. She also acts as sole arbitrator, panel member or as chairman of various arbitral panels.

Stanbic IBTC Bank is a member of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, a full service financial services group with a clear focus on three main business pillars – Corporate and Investment Banking, Personal and Business Banking and Wealth Management. Stanbic IBTC belongs to the Standard Bank Group, the largest African financial institution by assets.

It is rooted in Africa with strategic representation in 20 countries on the African continent. Standard Bank is focused on building first-class, on-the-ground financial services institutions in chosen countries in Africa; and connecting selected emerging markets to Africa by applying sector expertise, particularly in natural resources, power and infrastructure.