By Chinedu Nsofor.
Dr.Aliyu Tijjani Ahmad is a Notable and Exceptional figure cum a Pacesetter in the Banking and Financial Industry of Nigeria.
He is a man of prodigious and exceedingly high mental acumen. He had his basic academic background in Economics as a 1988 Graduate of Economics from the Bayero University Kano.
He later obtained a Masters Degree of Business Administration at the Bangor Business School in the United Kingdom.
He also holds an Honourary Doctorate Degree in Finance and Corporate Governance from the European and American University.
He started his Banking career as a Financial Analyst Assistant at Manny Bank from March to November 1990 where he created alternatives and recommended course of action to reduce costs and improve branch finances.
He also oversaw bank’s daily liquidity status, synthesised and analysed financial data with consideration for the bank’s goal.
He was able to identify operational process inefficiencies and recommended necessary improvement to increase productivity.
When he later moved to the Central Bank of Nigeria in November 1990 as a Senior Banking Supervisor, he came in with lots of ideas and innovations.
He managed, motivated and drove performances for team members handling bank accounts. He equally oversaw and executed monthly analysis of bank returns and prepared a Situation Report that recommended rescue and restructuring measure for consideration and was able to enforce compliance and control; relating to all relevant regulatory policy and procedural requirements for financial institutions.
He then upped his game by moving to the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation(NDIC( in 1994 as an Assistant Manager Bank Restructuring Department where he analysed monthly returns from distressed banks and prepared paper on failure resolution options for the successful turnaround of the banks.
He supported operations by supervising subordinates, planning, organising and implementing administrative systems to support NDIC operations.
He also designed, recommended and implemented new processes and procedures that increased efficiency and productivity by 12% within the department.
When he was elevated to the position of Deputy Examiner in January 1999, he conducted insured banks statutory returns examinations to ascertain their financial conditions and compliance with banking laws and regulations.
When he became the Bank Examiner in January 2002, he planned, coordinated and executed reviews of applicable departments and accounts area; was able to identify and address risk factors and causes, unsound and unsafe practices and violation of laws and regulations that may affect the conditions and soundness of financial institutions, he also developed and recommended corrective actions of weaknesses deficiencies in institution operations.
As a Senior Examiner between January 2006 to 2010, he implemented strategic risk management and loss prevention programs and processes that maintained operational integrity, while mitigating losses.
Also made significant contributions in enhancing and implementing assessments that achieved positive audit and exam results.
When he eventually crossed over to the position of Deputy General Manager Risk Management at Access Bank Plc, in January 2010, he drove operational improvements resulting in cost savings and improved profit margin by 20%.
As the Chief Risk Officer and General Manager of Keystone Bank Ltd. between November 2017 and July 2019, he implemented process improvement that increased effectiveness and efficiency of existing operational business methods and workflows.
Presently as the Executive Compliance Officer and Executive Director of Risk Management Keystone Bank, he is implementing and executing risk management strategic plans to support the overall bank objectives and to avoid overall banking risk.
Dr. Aliyu Tijjani Ahmad is a Certified and Experienced Professional with over 30 years of extensive Banking experience.
Known for analytical problem solving aptitude in formulating strategic action plans at motivating, guiding and leading team of professionals to successfully meet the organizational goal.
Apart from being a Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Wales, he is also a Fellow of the Chattered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and a Fellow of the Credit Administration and a Senior Associate of Risk Management Association of Nigeria.
Among other trainings, he has undergone are: Leading For Results, INSEAD Business School, Singapore, High Performance Leadership, Chicago Booth Business School and Risk Governance and Basel Accord, CRC Credit Bureau, Dubai,UAE. As the country grapples with economic and financial difficulties, it is heartwarming to know that Nigeria still has men who can easily come to the rescue.