Idemili Amaka, a coalition of professionals from Idemili Federal Constituency, Anambra State, has applauded the appointment of Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe as the Managing Director/CEO of Fidelity Bank PLC. Mrs Onyeali-Ikpe, who was the bank’s Executive Director in charge of Southwest Directorate assumed duties on January 1, 2021 as the bank’s first female MD/CEO.
In a statement signed by its convener, Chief Tony Onyima (Ife Idemili), the group described the appointment as “a great moment for Idemili, Anambra State and gender inclusiveness in Nigeria”. Her emergence in a highly competitive corporate world, the statement added, comes barely months after another Idemili son from Abatete, Professor Charles Egbu was appointed the first black Vice Chancellor of a British university. “Her appointment is a clear testimony to her excellent qualifications and competence and a demonstration of the robust, strong and stable succession plan of Fidelity Bank”, the statement added.
As a proud daughter of Idemili with rich pedigree, the group expressed confidence in her ability to build on the solid foundations laid by her predecessors and return a rewarding balance sheet for the shareholders.
With 30 years of banking experience, Mrs Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe no doubt is following the footsteps of her late father, Chief Onwuka Efobi, who was a senior officer of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and pioneer staff of IBWA from where he retired as an Assistant General Manager (AGM). She is highly respected in her Nnokwa community in Idemili South LGA which bestowed her with the title of ‘Ada eji Ejemba’. An old girl of Federal Government Girls Secondary School, Owerri, Nneka holds Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Master of Laws (LLM) degrees from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Kings College, London respectively.
She has also attended executive courses at Harvard Business School, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, INSEAD School of Business, Chicago Booth School of Business, London Business School and IMD amongst many others. She has just finished undergoing a diploma program in Organizational Leadership at Said Business School, Oxford University, United Kingdom.
She is married to Dr. Ken Onyeali-Ikpe, a respected and key player in the marketing communications industry and they are blessed with children.
