Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc has appointed two experienced professionals to key leadership positions as part of its efforts to strengthen corporate governance and support the company’s future growth.
The appointments were officially announced in a corporate filing dated July 9, 2026, and signed by the Company’s Secretary, Sunny Kanabe. According to the company, the appointments have already received approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Ms. Olubisi Makoju has been named an Independent Non-Executive Director of Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc, while Mr. Olayinka Oni has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director of Sterling Bank Limited.
The company believes the new appointments will improve strategic leadership and board oversight as Sterling continues to expand its business operations and digital banking services.
Ms. Makoju brings more than 25 years of professional experience across several industries, including oil and gas, consulting, information technology, and financial services. She currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer of Smart Grid Development Limited and is also the founder of Earthwise Capital Limited.
Before taking on her current role, she worked as the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), where she led major strategic projects and managed important corporate initiatives.
She earned a degree in Accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University and later obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom. She is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), UK. Over the years, she has completed several executive leadership and professional development programmes.
Mr. Olayinka Oni also brings strong experience in technology, banking, and digital transformation. He currently serves as an Executive Director at Sterling Financial Holdings and previously worked as the Chief Digital Officer of Sterling Bank, where he played a major role in driving the bank’s digital transformation.
Before joining Sterling, Oni was the Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft Nigeria. He also held senior technology and operations positions at Wema Bank and worked as a management consultant with Accenture Nigeria. In addition, he co-founded CIO Nexus, a platform that connects Chief Information Officers across Nigeria.
He studied Agricultural Economics at the University of Ilorin and later earned a Master’s degree in Management from McGill University in Canada. He has also completed executive education programmes at globally recognised institutions, including Harvard University, the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School, INSEAD, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The appointments come shortly after Sterling Financial Holdings reported a strong financial performance for the 2025 financial year. The Group recorded an 89.19% increase in profit before tax, rising to ₦86.78 billion from ₦45.86 billion in 2024.
Gross earnings also grew by 44.37% to ₦486.80 billion, while profit after tax increased by 74.74% to ₦76.33 billion. The company said the impressive results reflect steady business growth despite higher operating expenses and increased loan impairment costs.
With these new appointments and its strong financial performance, Sterling Financial Holdings aims to further strengthen its leadership, improve governance, and continue delivering long-term value to shareholders and customers.
