In a significant development, President Bola Tinubu has officially nominated Dr. Olayemi Michael Cardoso as the prospective Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria for an initial five-year term, pending Senate confirmation.
Additionally, Tinubu has approved the nomination of four new Deputy Governors for the apex bank, also awaiting Senate confirmation.
These Deputy Governors are Mrs. Emem Usoro, Mr. Muhammad Dattijo, Mr. Philip Ikeazor, and Dr. Bala M. Bello.
Here are some key highlights about the newly nominated CBN Governor, Dr. Olayemi Michael Cardoso:
– Dr. Cardoso is a Lagos native who received his primary and secondary education at Corona School Ikoyi and St. Gregory’s College in Lagos, respectively.
– His father, Felix Bankole Cardoso, held prominent positions as the first indigenous Accountant-General of the Federation of Nigeria in 1963 and the first indigenous Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Barclays Bank of Nigeria, which later transformed into Union Bank of Nigeria under his leadership.
– Dr. Cardoso earned his Bachelor’s degree in Managerial and Administrative Studies from Aston University in 1980 and later pursued a Master’s degree in Public Administration at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in 2005 as a Mason Fellow.
– In recognition of his remarkable contributions to the private and public sectors, Dr. Cardoso was honored with a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) (honoris causa) by Aston University in 2017. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers.
– Dr. Olayemi Michael Cardoso boasts a rich and diverse career spanning over four decades in various leadership roles across the public, private, and development sectors.
– Notable positions he has held include Commissioner in the Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Chairman of the board of the African Venture Philanthropy Alliance, and Chairman of Citibank Nigeria Ltd for a remarkable 12-year tenure until his resignation in 2022.
– Beyond his professional life, Dr. Cardoso is a devoted family man, married with five children and three grandchildren. His family has strong historical ties, tracing their roots to Brazilian returnees and prominent Popo Aguda families.
With his extensive experience and notable achievements, Dr. Olayemi Michael Cardoso’s nomination as CBN Governor reflects the confidence placed in him to lead the nation’s central banking institution effectively.
