First HoldCo Plc has appointed Gwen Mwaba as a non-executive director of the financial institution, effective 15 October, following an approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The lender disclosed the appointment in a regulatory filing signed by Abiola Baruwa, the group company secretary, on Thursday.

First HoldCo said the appointment was made in accordance with the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) Rulebook.

According to the lender, Ms Mwaba brings significant expertise in corporate governance and board oversight, credit risk and portfolio management, banking strategy, capital deployment, structured trade and commodity finance, development finance, environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, and emerging-market risk.

Profile

Ms Mwaba brings nearly three decades of experience in global banking and development finance institutions, with particular expertise in credit risk oversight, portfolio governance, corporate and sovereign lending, structured trade and commodity finance, development finance and emerging markets.

Until recently, she served as managing director of Trade Finance and Correspondent Banking at the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), based in Cairo, Egypt.

In that role, Ms Mwaba had executive leadership responsibility for trade finance and structured credit activities across Africa and the Caribbean.

The newly appointed director also oversaw a $19.5 billion portfolio of sovereign, financial institution and corporate exposures.

She contributed to the bank’s Pre-Credit and Credit Committees, providing senior credit judgement on major lending transactions. She also oversaw portfolio strategy, sector exposures and country risk limits.

Before that, Ms Mwaba served as regional head for Anglophone West Africa at Afreximbank, overseeing regional strategy and credit origination across Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, The Gambia and Cape Verde.

Earlier, she was executive vice president of Structured Trade and Commodity Finance at Standard Bank Plc, London, where she was responsible for complex commodity finance, export credit agency-backed facilities and pre-export financing transactions across Africa.

Her earlier banking career included senior roles at Stanbic Bank Zambia and Standard Bank South Africa, including head of Vehicle and Asset Finance and head of Corporate Banking.

READ ALSO: CBN restates single-digit inflation target as FG woos investors with tax credits

Ms Mwaba’s wider industry experience includes membership of the editorial board of Trade Treasury & Payments.

Until recently, her also served on the Multilateral Institutions Board Advisory Panel of the International Trade and Forfaiting Association (ITFA) and the World Trade Organization-led Expert Group on Trade Finance.

Ms Mwaba holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Heriot-Watt University, United Kingdom, and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom.

She is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) and holds a professional qualification from the Chartered Institute of Transport.

70-TRANSFORMER PROJECT REACHES 98% COMPLETION AS PLATEAU EXPANDS POWER ACCESS

There could be brighter days ahead for Tudun Wada and several other communities across Plateau State, as the state government says its ongoing 70-transformer electricity intervention project has reached 98% completion. ⚡️

The intervention is aimed at improving electricity supply and expanding access to power in communities that have experienced inadequate or unreliable electricity supply.

Among the communities listed to benefit from the intervention are Tudun Wada, Naraguta, Rikkos, Nasarawa, Agingi, Longwa, Zawan and Du, alongside other communities across the state.

💡 TUDUN WADA AMONG BENEFICIARIES

For residents of Tudun Wada, the development could mean improved power capacity for homes, businesses, shops, schools and other community activities.

Reliable electricity remains an important part of everyday life, particularly for small businesses and entrepreneurs who depend on power to operate equipment, preserve goods and provide services.

From barbershops and salons to restaurants, cold-drink businesses, tailoring shops, phone charging centres, printing businesses and other small enterprises, improved electricity supply could help reduce dependence on alternative sources of power.

⚡️ OLD TRANSFORMERS TO BE REFURBISHED

According to the Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy, Hon. Bashir Lawandi Datti, the intervention is not only about installing new transformers.

Some existing and old transformers are also being refurbished and redeployed to areas where they are needed.

This approach is expected to help maximise available infrastructure while extending electricity support to more communities.

🏘️ GOVERNMENT TO PRIORITISE AREAS WITH GREATER NEED

Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang has also approved the relocation of some transformer units to communities considered to have greater electricity needs.

The move is expected to ensure that available power infrastructure is directed to areas where it can have the greatest impact.

With the project now reportedly at 98% completion, attention will be on the final stages of implementation and when the affected communities will begin to fully experience the benefits.

MORE POWER, MORE OPPORTUNITIES

Electricity is more than just light in our homes.

For local businesses, it can mean longer operating hours, reduced operating costs and increased productivity.

For students, it can provide better conditions for studying at night.

For households, it can bring greater convenience.

And for communities like Tudun Wada, improved electricity supply could support economic activities and contribute to a better quality of life.

💡 More transformers.
⚡️ More communities.
🏘️ More access to electricity.
📈 More opportunities for Plateau residents.

But the big question remains:

👇 TUDUN WADA RESIDENTS, HOW HAS ELECTRICITY SUPPLY BEEN IN YOUR AREA RECENTLY?

Are you already noticing an improvement, or are you still waiting for the intervention to take effect?

Tell us your area and your experience in the comments. 👇

#PlateauState #TudunWada #Jos #Electricity #PowerSupply #PlateauNews #JosNews #Plateau #CommunityDevelopment #MorePowerMoreOpportunities