Remi : A strategist At the Center                         View my assets declaration                 View my current assets declaration

Remi Babalola was an Executive Director of First Bank of Nigeria Plc  in charge of Lagos and West business as well as consumer Banking and electronic payments until his appointment as Honourable Minister of State for Finance on July 26, 2007.  He has both brain-on and hands-on experience in organisational renewal, value creation and leadership effectiveness.

Remi Babalola was a Deputy General Manager (DGM) and Divisional Head of Corporate Planning & Group Coordination of the Bank before his appointment to the Board. The overarching focus of his job is involvement in turning First Bank into the "Clear Leader" of the Nigerian Financial Landscape.

Remi was a General Manager with Zenith Bank Limited before he was headhunted by FirstBank. He had a meritorious rise through the ranks from a Deputy Manager to a General Manager, spanning over a decade of cognate banking experience. His background and experience includes development and implementation of new initiatives to upgrade customer service quality, management of a high quality risk assets portfolio, management of a fast growing deposit base, proactive formulation of strategies to generating superior profitability and direction of asset liability management.

Remi has in-depth knowledge and proven achievement in financial and credit analyses, trade financing, contemporary investment banking, funds management, international and local banking operations. He is known in the industry for value management in generating consistent superior returns with sustained earnings growth. He was formerly the Financial Controller and Chief Strategist of Zenith Bank, responsible for Bankwide planning and budgetary process, Domestic Treasury and FX management support, establishment and coordination of the profit centre concept. Remi pioneered some Profit Centres of the Bank.

His other previous job experiences include a four-year stay with Arthur Andersen. While there, he was responsible for auditing, consulting, training and development assignments in the Banking and Finance Group. He also had a stint with Price Waterhouse for 1½ years.

Remi had participated in various workshops, courses, seminars and programmes amongst these are; Citibank Senior Management Course (1993) in Kenya, Competitive Strategy Programme at INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France (2003) and Leading Change & Organisational Renewal at Stanford Graduate School of Business, USA (2003). Implementing Strategy at Wharton Business School (Sept 2004), Developing Strategy for Value Creation at London Business School (Oct 2004), as well as Mergers & Acquisitions at Wharton Business School (Jan 2005) and Making Corporate Boards more effective at Harvard Business School (March 2007). He is an alumnus of the prestigious Lagos Business School. He is a member of the Commonwealth Business Council, the World Economic Forum and the IMF/World Bank Programme of Seminars.  He is a Director of First Funds Limited.

Remi's personality traits include broad vision combined with a proactive, resilient approach and diplomacy in handling sensitive issues. He is of impeccable character, excellent carriage, wide social and business network, assertive leadership and maturity. He is known for demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit, exemplary customer focus with genuine commitment to diversity and social responsibility.

Remi, who hails from Ibadan, Oyo State, is blessed with a lovely wife and wonderful children.