Ndukwe, former NCC boss, appointed Access Bank Director
Following the controversial retirement of Mr. Cosmas Maduka, the managing director of Coscharis Motors Ltd from the Board of Access Bank Plc, the bank has announced the appointment of Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, former Nigerian Communications Commission boss to its Board as a Non-Executive Director.
In a statement by the Bank, the appointment has been ratified by the Bank's Board of Directors and the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Speaking on the appointment, the Bank's Chairman, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode said 'Access Bank is taking giant strides to increase shareholders value and we are quite delighted to have Dr. Ndukwe on board. His exposure and experience will add impetus to our institutional aspiration of becoming Africa's most respected bank.
Mr. Emmanuel Chiejina, Chairman of the Bank's Governance and Nomination Committee remarked that the Committee was impressed with Dr. Ndukwe's record of achievement at the highest level of the private and public sector governance noting that having reviewed a broad range of highly qualified candidates , the Committee enthusiastically recommended his appointment as an Independent Director to the Board.
This appointment has also been described by industry observers as a strategic corporate action aimed at elevating Access Bank's industry leadership in corporate governance beyond the aspiration of competitors. This view is not unconnected with the Dr. Ernest Ndukwe's widely acclaimed leadership experience, a statement by the bank said.
Dr. Ndukwe is an Electrical/Electronics Engineer, with over 36 years experience in the Telecommunications Industry. A former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) between 2000 - 2010, he was responsible for the level of transparency recorded at the NCC, which resulted in the liberalization of the Telecommunications Industry and significant investment in the sector.
His Board level experience dates back to 1988 when he was appointed Commercial Director at General Telecom Plc, where he was later made the Managing Director in 1989.
It was from his position as MD of General Telecom Plc that Dr. Ndukwe was appointed to lead the Nigerian Communications Commission as CEO a position he retired from in March 2010. He also served on the Presidential Committee on Job creation, and is current Co-Chair of the Presidential Committee on Strategy and Roadmap for universal broadband access in Nigeria.