The Federal Government has inaugurated a new Board of Directors for the Bank of Agriculture, urging members to serve with dedication, unity, and a strong commitment to advancing the institution’s mandate in the national interest.
The development was announced in a statement issued on Saturday by the Communications Personnel in the Office of the Managing Director, Mr Abimbola Otepola Ishaku.
According to the statement, the appointment of the 10 member board is intended to strengthen corporate governance and provide renewed strategic direction for the government-owned financial institution.
The inauguration ceremony was performed by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
The statement noted that the newly inaugurated board is expected to enhance the bank’s capacity to promote agricultural development, improve food security, expand financial inclusion, and contribute to sustainable economic growth.
Addressing the board members, the minister urged them to provide effective leadership by supporting initiatives that create employment opportunities, reduce poverty, and improve the welfare of Nigerian families.
Chairman of the Board Mr. Muhammad Babangida, assured stakeholders of the board’s readiness to collaborate closely with the bank’s management in repositioning the institution as a leading development finance bank aligned with the Federal Government’s priorities on food security, job creation, and inclusive economic growth.
He described the inauguration as more than the formation of a new board, saying it reflects a renewed determination to strengthen the Bank of Agriculture and enhance its contribution to Nigeria’s agricultural transformation.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ayodeji Sotinrin, said the bank remains committed to turning the board’s vision into tangible results through stronger corporate governance, improved access to agricultural financing, and strategic partnerships that will benefit farmers and rural communities across the country.
He added that the bank will intensify efforts to expand affordable agricultural credit, reinforce institutional governance and risk management, accelerate its digital transformation, and further establish itself as Nigeria’s foremost agricultural development finance institution.
The statement identified the members of the newly inaugurated board as Muhammad Babangida (Chairman), Ayodeji Sotinrin (Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer), Fatima Garba (Executive Director, Corporate Services), Hakeem Salami (Executive Director, Operations and IT), Ka’amuna Khadi (Executive Director, Risk Management), as well as Rabiu Funtua, Kpochi Iorgyer, Aminu Mohammed, Oladejo Odunuga, and Charles Amuchienwa, who will serve as Non-Executive Directors.
(The Whistler)
