DIRECTORS
CHAIR: NOBLE BRO.FRANCIS SUNDAY FRANK
Sir Frank, an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, joined Femi Johnson & Company Limited, an indigenous Insurance Broking firm at their Kano branch on the 1st of March 1979 after a brief stint with J. Akin George & Company Zaria. A highly resourceful and diligent worker Sir Frank was rewarded with rapid promotions. He was made the Pioneer Branch Head of the Company with the designation of a Resident Inspector on the 8th of March 1982, rising to the position of Assistant Manager in 1986 and subsequently in July 1987, he was transferred to the company’s new Abuja Branch as the Pioneer Branch Manager and was promoted to full Managerial grade in 1989. Subsequently he had rapid promotions to Senior Manager in January 1993; Deputy General Manager- Northern Operations in January 1994 and General Manager in January 1999. In acknowledgment of his hard work, and enterprise, Sir Frank was appointed Executive Director and Shareholder of the company in May 2001.
It is worthy of note that in 2018 Sir Frank was found fit by the Board of Directors of the Company to be appointed as the Company’s Managing Director. He was made to occupy the position in compliance with a regulatory requirement, pending the appointment of a substantive Managing Director. He is currently the Chairman of the Company’s Audit, Risk Management, and Compliance Committee, Member of the Remuneration and Succession Committee, and a Member of the Finance and Planning Committee.
Sir Frank was elected an Associate of the Nigeria Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) on the 21st of October 2004, member of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Insurance Brokers (ACIB).
He was a Pioneer Member of the Education Board of the Independent Mission of Abuja under the Chairmanship of His Eminence John Cardinal Onaiyekan. The Noble Knight is a Member of the KSJI Supreme Subordinate President’s Advisory Council.
SIR CASIMIR EMMAN AGENE: MANAGING CONSULTANT/CEO
Sir Casimir Emman Agene, born on 30 May, 1947 at Afowah, Etsakor West Local Government Area of Edo State had his secondary school education at our Lady of Fatima College, Auchi where he obtained the West African School Certificate in 1966. Later in 1978, and in the path of fulfilling his ambition of becoming a professional banker and following the completion of the prescribed examinations by the Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, London was elected an Associate. He later attended the Imo State University (Abuja Outreach) for a Master’s Degree in Banking and Finance in 2021/2002.
Between December, 1970, and January 2002, Mr. Agene served the Central Bank of Nigeria in various capacities rising from Clerk to the grade of Assistant Director in 1993. He doubled as Chairman, CBN/NDIC Technical Committee on Supervision and Secretary, CBN/NDIC Executive Committee on Supervision from August 1999 to February 2002, Member, Editorial Advisory Committee of the Bullion – a Central Bank of Nigeria publication, Facilitator/Course Coordinator at the Central Bank of Nigeria Bank Examiners’ Training School, Satellite Town, Lagos from 1987 to 2001. He had a total of 31 years banking experience including 20 years experience as supervisor/regulator of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Mr. Agene retired on the grade of Group Head/Deputy Director in Banking Supervision Department.
Sir Agene also rendered invaluable contributions to the Chartered Institute of Nigeria right from the inception of the institute - served as a member, Publications Committee and Editorial Board of ―The Nigerian Banker between 1984 and 1987, Examiner, Finance of International Trade, Vice-Chairman, Abuja Branch and Chairman, Education Committee, Abuja Branch. He became Council Member/Chairman, Abuja Branch of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria from May 9, 2002 to May 2004. Previously, Sir Agene doubled as Editor of Central Bank of Nigeria’s Bullion/CenBank News (1978-1984) and Member, Editorial Board and Publications Committee of the Nigerian Banker, a publication of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (1984-87). His resourcefulness and contributions to the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria was rewarded with his elevation as Fellow of the Institute (FIB) in 2004.
He has authored three banking books, namely, Foreign Exchange and International Trade (1991), Principles of Modern Banking – first edition (1995) and Modern Principles of Microfinance Banking (first edition 2011), which is on the reading list of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria for professional banking examinations. Sir Agene’s Modern Banking Principles and Practice (2023), the forth publication is currently in print.
A well groomed banking, Finance and Management consultancy service provider, Sir Casimir Agene has served as the Managing Consultant/Chief Executive Officer of Gene Financial Advisory Services Ltd (Banking, Finance and Management Consultants, Abuja from the company's inception in June 2002. Gene Financial Advisory Services Limited is a regulatory compliance and relationship management outfit. Specifically, Gene Financial Advisory Services Ltd provides financial consultancy assignments for promoters of various types for banks, finance companies, etc licensed by CBN, involving preparation of feasibility reports, company formation/incorporation, operation manuals, recruitment and training (both induction and on-going programmes in various operational areas) as well as the restructuring of ailing financial institutions.
With more than 22 years experience as banking, finance and management consultant specialising in the microfinance sub-sector, Sir Agene has through Gene Financial Advisory Services Ltd successfully guided many community banks’ migration into microfinance banks in 2005/2006. In addition, the company has helped many promoters of MFBs, finance companies and bureau de changes to obtain operation licences from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Mr. Paul Akeni is a Programme administrator with high blend of financial, business and development science educational background. He acquired successful working experiences cutting across Financial, Educational and Development/Regulatory sectors. He has been focused on various tasks within the sphere of development programme operations since 2000. He served in various capacities in Development Organizations such as BASICS-USAID, Association Against Poverty & Ill-Health (NGO) and lately, PATHS-DFID programme, which is being presently compressed for a round off.
His competencies in development programme operations and administration were particularly sharpened when he was co-opted into a newly crafted team that was engaged to resuscitate a highly challenged PATHS-DFID state programme in one of the northern Nigerian states. As one of the new entrants inclusive of the State Team leader during that period, they were given a mandate to evolve an end-of-programme process. The assignment was successfully accomplished, as the team was able to resuscitate stakeholders’ confidence while also realigning thematic pursuits in compliance with PATHS organizational procedural manuals.
He possesses vast exposure on Human Resource Policies and Procedures as applicable to Non-Profit Organizations and International Development agencies.
GEFASL