Kevin Ugwuoke, Executive Director and Chief Risk Officer at Fidelity Bank Plc, has officially taken over as President of the Chartered Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (CRMI), ushering in a new era of reform focused on digital innovation, policy advocacy, and ethical risk governance.
Speaking at the handover ceremony in Lagos over the weekend, Ugwuoke — who also serves as Acting President of the Federation of African Risk Management Associations (FARMA) — described his emergence as a “call to action” to elevate risk management as a national development priority.
“Our mission goes beyond certification,” Ugwuoke said. “It’s about embedding a culture of risk thinking across sectors, collaborating with regulators, and providing tools that strengthen institutional resilience and economic sustainability.”
He outlined a five-pillar agenda to shape his presidency:
Expanding professional education and certification,
Deepening engagement with regulators and policymakers,
Driving digital transformation within the institute,
Mainstreaming ESG and climate-related risks into business strategies, and
Building the next generation of risk professionals through mentorship.
A key part of Ugwuoke’s vision is repositioning CRMI as a policy partner to major institutions like the National Assembly, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), and state governments, aiming to institutionalize robust risk frameworks in economic planning.
“We must rethink how we govern, plan, and invest — risk must be seen not just as a control function, but as an enabler of growth,” he added. “CRMI will advocate for policies that empower SMEs, support macroeconomic stability, and foster resilience across Nigeria’s financial and public sectors.”
Ugwuoke also announced a number of institutional upgrades, including the revamp of CRMI’s curriculum, the launch of specialized certifications to address emerging risks such as cybersecurity and climate disruption, and the establishment of a National Risk Observatory that will offer real-time data and analysis to public and private sector stakeholders.
“Technology will be central to how we work going forward,” he said. “We’re automating our backend, scaling our training through digital platforms, and using innovation to increase our impact nationwide.”
In his farewell speech, outgoing CRMI President Professor Ezekiel Oseni applauded the progress made during his tenure — from securing the institute’s chartered status to expanding global partnerships — and urged the new leadership to build on that momentum.
Delivering a goodwill message, Chukwuma Nweke, Deputy Managing Director of United Bank for Africa (UBA), praised Ugwuoke as “a worthy successor” to Prof. Oseni. Speaking on behalf of UBA’s Group Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba, he expressed confidence in Ugwuoke’s leadership.
“Amid rising inflation, exchange rate instability, and global financial uncertainty, the role of risk management has never been more critical,” Nweke said. “Risk is no longer a cost center; it’s a growth enabler. Institutions that integrate risk into their core strategies will be better equipped to weather shocks, inspire investor confidence, and unlock long-term value.”
The event also featured the induction of 21 new Chartered Risk Managers (CRM) and the conferral of Fellowships on 11 distinguished professionals, marking a new chapter for the Institute. A new Governing Council was inaugurated for the 2025–2027 term, signaling a fresh push for strategic renewal and national relevance in Nigeria’s evolving risk landscape.
