The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) President/Chairman of council Uche Messiah Olowu has unveiled a five-point agenda.
Speaking at his inauguration in Lagos, he outlined the agenda as: upholding the rules and standards of the institute, skills upgrade and competencies, improved research and advocacy, investing in technology and resources and improving brand visibility.
The CIBN boss called on stakeholders to join hands with the institute in its quest to uphold the ethics and professionalism in the industry.
Olowu said banking was contending with challenges caused by regulations, disruptive models and technologies as well as new competitions and of frightening dimension is the inadequate skills set and competencies across the banks.
He pointed out that the crisis in the industry also presented a picture of poor risk management and corporate government practices, knowledge gaps in critical core banking functions and non-adherence to professional standards occasioned mainly by the failure of the larger society to address the challenge of eroding values. According to him ‘our fiduciary role is being threatened if urgent intervention is not employed”
He urged financial institutions to pursue strategies that would balance long term goals with short-term performance pressure for sustainable growth.
FBN Quest Merchant Bank Chairman, Mallam Bello Maccido, said Olowu’s tenure would mark positive changes in the institute and growth.