MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO
Segun Adaju is a graduate of the University of Lagos with B. Sc in Economics and MBA (with emphasis on Finance) with over 15 years banking experience in reputable financial institutions in Nigeria. He was formerly the Deputy Managing Director/Chief Operating Officer of Integrated Microfinance Bank Limited (IMFB), the first microfinance bank to be licensed in Nigeria under the Central Bank of Nigeria policy framework and which he co-promoted. He was the architect behind the successes recorded by the microfinance bank in the retail sector of the financial services industry. Within a period of one year, he was the arrow-head of growing the customer base to 50,000 micro savers and anchored the development of various products that has become a household name in microfinancing in Nigeria. As the Chief Operating Officer and also in charge of developing businesses in the bank, Mr Adaju has interacted with various players in microfinancing globally and includes the World Bank, CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) Triodos Bank Netherlands, responsAbility, Switzerland, Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX Market), AFRICINVEST, Tunisia, ECIAFrica, South Africa, Ecobank Trans International, Ghana, Central Bank of Nigeria, K-Rep Kenya.
Prior to this, he was an Assistant Vice President 1 with First City Monument Bank Plc as Zonal Head, Lagos with responsibility to drive retail businesses in Lagos with about 300 staff strength. He also anchored the opening of many other branches of the bank and had the mandate to grow branches to 35 in Lagos Zone by December 2006.
Segun started his banking career with then Crystal Bank of Africa (transformed to Standard Trust Bank Plc, now UBA Plc) as an Executive Trainee in Financial Control. He joined Equity Bank of Nigeria Ltd (now Intercontinental Bank Plc) on the 13th of June 1994 as a Banking Officer and was Head, Strategic Planning department. He also held other responsibilities, which include Head, Business Development, Adeola Odeku branch, Group Head, Commercial Banking and Manager, Akure, branch. Segun joined First Atlantic Bank Plc in October 2002 as Branch Manager, Victoria Island where he also performed very well and was acting. Regional Manager, Lagos Island with responsibilities to grow businesses in the Victoria Island, Ikoyi, and Lekki branches. He resigned his appointment in August 2004 to take up further challenges in Standard Trust Bank Plc. He joined First City Monument Bank Plc on the 18th of July 2005 to be part of the team to drive the retail banking focus of the bank.
Segun has had an outstanding performance during his career, which include growing the balance sheet of Lagos Island Zone, First City Monument Bank Plc from N8.2 billion in July 2005 to N35.7 billion in June 30, 2005. He also grew the branch network from seven to twenty five during the same period. Segun won the CEOs award in Standard Trust Bank Plc for outstanding performance. First Atlantic Bank Plc adjudged him the Best Branch Manager and Most Profitable Branch in Year 2003 where he grew the balance sheet from N900 million to N2.4 billion within 20 months. He also won merit awards for two consecutive years in Equity Bank of Nigeria Ltd for outstanding performances.
Segun was awarded a University Scholarship by University of Lagos as the best student in Economics, 1991 academic session. He has a very strong work ethics and high level of integrity as attested to by his former and present employers. He believes in hard work and has a positive attitude to work and life, a believer of all things are possible. He also has strong passion for developing people, leadership and mentoring. He has won various awards locally for his role and contribution to entrepreneurship development and empowerment some of which are Rotaract Club, Festac, JCI International, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, City People Magazine Award for Excellence, etc. In the past one year, he has been involved in developing entrepreneurs and presentations on microfinance to many audiences including the 2007 Annual Business Seminar of Full Gospel Businessmens Fellowship International, Annual Conference of Rotary Club, Otta Ogun State, etc. He is well trained and the most recent of which was on Corporate Governance at the Lagos Business School, Strategic Marketing Management of the Harvard Business School and Building, Leading and Sustaining an innovative Organisation of the MIT Sloan School of Management, Boston USA. He is also a Fellow, Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies (AES, NIGERIA). He has attended various conferences on microfinance banking both locally and internationally, the recent of which is the 2nd Geneva Private Capital Symposium on Investing Private Equity in Emerging and Frontier Market SMEs, Geneva Switzerland. He also attended the 5th African Business Leaders Forum held in Accra Ghana, 2007.
Segun, a member of Ikoyi Club 1938, British Council and Nigeria Britain Association, is widely traveled and married with a son.