By Chinedu Nsofor.
How does one adequately capture the essence of a man who has become a Global Icon and an Undisputable Living Legend in the Banking and Financial Services Sectors?
Emmanuel Ikazoboh is Finance and Finance is Emmanuel Ikazoboh. Let us first of all take a shot at his excellent performance in 2010 when the Nigerian Stock Exchange was in serious crisis and he was called upon for the rescue of the sector. After his appointment as the Administrator of the Nigerian Stock Exchange; an appointment that came from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Finance, he swung into action immediately to carry out far reaching reforms which helped in no small measures in stabilizing the Stock Market.
He succeeded in restructuring the Management, the Equities Market, the Stock brokerage Process and Corporate Governance Structure and succeeded in putting in place an enviable Stock Exchange Market in Africa.
As an Accomplished Financial Expert and Banker, Emmanuel Ikazoboh is the immediate past Group Chairman of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, which is the Bank Holding Company of Ecobank Group.
As the Chairman of the Group, he provided the necessary leadership that ensured credibility, transparency and accountability in every aspect of the Bank’s Business across Africa.
He supervised the Board operations, corporate governance, policy formulations and strategy directions of the Group across Africa.
As far back as 1988 Ikazoboh was already the Managing Partner for Deloitte in Ivory Coast responsible for Clients in Francophone West Africa and Central Africa. From 2002 to 2007, he was Deloitte’s Clients Service Director for Africa and his areas of specialization and experience involved detailed knowledge and experience in areas of high profile project management, forensic and corporate financial services.
He also has extensive International experience as a Partner of Delotte & Touche in Dartford, U.K. which enabled him to bring a genuinely International perspective to business issues.
Emmanuel is a highly articulate and thorough bred Business and Financial Administrator with vast experience in managing top notch Advisory assignments for Federal Government Institutions, State Government and Private Sector Clients.
Between 2007 to 2009, he was the Chairman/ CEO of Deloitte West & Central Africa, which is one of the top four Professional Service Firms in the world.
Emmanuel was equally the Auditor and Financial Adviser to the African Development Bank Group, Africa Export –Import Bank, United Bank for Africa Plc. First Bank Plc. and Central Bank of Nigeria.
Emmanuel Ikazoboh did not rise to the upper echelon of the Banking and Financial World on mere wishful thinking, He studied and worked hard to it.
He holds an MBA in Financial Management from the Manchester University Business School. He also attended many Leadership and Senior Management Courses with Deloitte and was one of the top CEOs seconded to Kellogg Senior Management School at the Northwestern University, Chicago, USA.
He is a UK Certified Accountant and a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants and also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.
He was Awarded a Doctorate Degree in Business Administration by Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Edo State for his extraordinary distinction in contributing to the development of Business in Nigeria.
Emmanuel was a member of the Board of International Institute for Sustainable Development Winnipeg Canada ( July 2012) and a Member of the Presidential Committee for the restructuring of the Nigerian Government Ministries, Agencies and Commissions and reduction of the cost of governance in Nigeria.
Emmanuel Ikazoboh was the Chairman ARM Pensions Managers Ltd. (Pension Funds Administrators) 2011 to 2023, Chairman Tizeti Network Ltd., Chairman Nosak Farms Ltd., Independent Non-Executive Director Nampak Packages, South Africa 2011 to 2021, Independent Non-Executive Director Dangote Cement Plc.
Independent Non-Executive Directors United Nigeria Textile Co.Plc., Independent Non-Executive Director Dangote Industries (2021 till date). Emmanuel Ikazoboh who hails from Etsako East of Edo State of Nigeria, was born on the 30th of April 1949.