First HoldCo Plc has appointed Abiola Baruwa as its new group company secretary, the company said in a filing to the Nigerian Exchange on Tuesday.
According to the disclosure signed by the Chairman, Board of Directors Olufemi Otedola,Mrs Baruwa will assume the role on 7 November, replacing Adewale Arogundade, who is retiring after 35 years of service with the group.
Mr Arogundade joined First HoldCo in 1990 and has served as company secretary since 2006. His retirement marks the end of a career that spanned more than three decades, during which he played a key role in strengthening corporate governance and compliance structures at the financial services group.
READ ALSO: Otedola increases stake in First HoldCo with N2 billion new share purchase
Mrs Baruwa brings over 20 years of legal and corporate governance experience. She began her career with Olaniwun Ajayi & Co in 2004 before moving into the energy and banking sectors, holding senior roles at Sahara Energy, Skye Bank (now Polaris Bank) and FBNQuest Merchant Bank.
She later served as company secretary and head of legal at Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria Asset Management.
She holds a law degree from Lagos State University and a master’s degree in international finance law from King’s College London. She is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria and the Institute of Directors.
First HoldCo is the non-operating holding company for Nigeria’s oldest bank, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, and its other subsidiaries.
