NAHCO Overhauls Board as Two Directors Retire, Appoints Esan, Omodayo-Owotuga to Drive Corporate Governance
The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (nahco Aviance) has announced sweeping changes to its Board of Directors with the appointment of two accomplished professionals as Non-Executive Directors, marking a new chapter in the company’s corporate governance and leadership structure.
The new appointees, Mr. Wolemi Esan, SAN, and Dr. Julius B. Omodayo-Owotuga, were named to the Board following the retirement of two veteran directors who had served the aviation ground handling company for eight years.
The appointments were disclosed in a notice filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) and signed by the Company Secretary, Mr. Bello A. Abdullahi.
According to the company, the outgoing directors are Mr. Akinwumi Godson Fanimokun, the Independent Non-Executive Director and Vice Chairman, and Mr. Taofeeq Oluwatoyin Salman, a Non-Executive Director.
Mr. Fanimokun retired from the Board on June 15, 2026, while Mr. Salman stepped down on June 30, 2026, bringing to an end nearly a decade of service during which they contributed to the strategic direction and governance of the company.
NAHCO noted that Mr. Fanimokun’s retirement was on account of age but stressed that he remains a significant shareholder in the company despite relinquishing his board position.
The company thanked both outgoing directors for their commitment, experience and invaluable contributions over the years, describing their service as instrumental to the organisation’s growth and stability.
To ensure continuity in leadership, the Board also approved the appointment of Mr. Tajudeen Omoshola Shobayo, FCA, an existing Non-Executive Director, as the new Vice Chairman. His appointment took effect on July 1, 2026.
One of the newly appointed directors, Mr. Wolemi Esan, SAN, brings extensive legal expertise and a distinguished career spanning more than two decades.
A respected Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Esan has advised leading corporations, financial institutions and public sector organisations on a wide range of complex legal and commercial matters.
His areas of specialisation include commercial litigation, arbitration, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, capital markets, regulatory compliance, energy law and infrastructure development.
He has been involved in several landmark transportation and infrastructure projects, particularly rail, port and airport concession transactions, providing strategic legal guidance on projects critical to Nigeria’s economic development.
Esan is widely recognised for advising corporate boards and executive management on governance frameworks, enterprise risk management and strategic business transactions.
His legal excellence has earned him consistent rankings in internationally acclaimed legal publications, including Chambers Global, IFLR1000 and Legal 500.
His academic credentials include a Bachelor of Laws degree from Lagos State University, qualification at the Nigerian Law School, a Master of Laws degree from University College London, where he studied as a Jeremy Bentham Scholar, and a Master of Business Administration from Durham University.
The second appointee, Dr. Julius B. Omodayo-Owotuga, is an accomplished finance professional with an impressive record of leadership across Nigeria’s banking, energy and infrastructure sectors.
He currently serves as an Executive Director at First Bank of Nigeria Limited and has held several strategic leadership positions throughout his career.
Before joining First Bank, he was Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Geregu Power Plc, where he played a leading role in transforming the company from a government-owned enterprise into Nigeria’s first publicly listed power generation company.
During his tenure, he was actively involved in capital raising initiatives, governance reforms and operational improvements that strengthened the company’s competitiveness.
Earlier, as Group Executive Director of Forte Oil Plc, now Ardova Plc, he helped reposition the company from financial losses to sustained profitability through strategic business reforms.
He also served as an Asset and Liability Management Specialist at Africa Finance Corporation, overseeing funding strategies and infrastructure finance while managing relationships with multilateral financial institutions.
His earlier professional experience includes senior roles at Standard Chartered Bank and KPMG, where he developed expertise in auditing, financial reporting, International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), treasury operations and enterprise risk management.
In addition to his executive responsibilities, Dr. Omodayo-Owotuga serves on the Board of Quant Investment Managers and other organisations.
His academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Lagos, an MBA with distinction from IE Business School, a Doctorate in Business Administration from Oxford Saïd Business School, as well as executive education programmes at Geneva Business School and other international institutions.
He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) and the Institute of Credit Administration. He is also a member of the Institute of Directors Nigeria.
Board renewal to support future growth
The latest appointments reflect NAHCO’s commitment to strengthening its governance framework by bringing together individuals with proven expertise in law, finance, corporate strategy and infrastructure development.
With the appointment of new directors and the emergence of a new Vice Chairman, the company is expected to benefit from fresh perspectives and broad industry experience as it continues to pursue operational excellence, sustainable growth and enhanced value for shareholders in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
