ValuCard Nigeria appoints Agada Apochi as MD/CEO and Bisi Onasanya as Chairman

Mr. Onasanya takes over as from Philips Oduoza, the Group MD/CEO of UBA as Chairman and will lead the company to new heights through his wealth of experience.

Mr. Apochi is the company’s fourth CEO and the first through internal succession since inception. He was until the appointment ValuCard’s Executive Director.

The decision on both appointments was taken at the company’s 72nd Board meeting which held on Friday, August 19, 2011. Mr. Apochi’s appointment resulted from rigorous internal and external search. He takes over from Mr. Kyari Bukar, the first indigenous CEO of ValuCard who resigned after a successful career with the company to take up responsibility as CEO in another organization.

Mr. Apochi joined the services of ValuCard Nigeria Limited in 2005. Prior to his appointment as Executive Director, he worked at various times in different capacities including Group Head Corporate Services, General Counsel and Company Secretary. He had the responsibility of directly driving the strategy and growth initiatives of ValuCard.

He worked previously with Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and FSB International Bank Plc (now Fidelity Bank Plc) and served on the Board of ValuCard as Alternate Director.

Mr. Apochi is an alumnus of the University of Jos, Lagos Business School and Bank Card Business School in Cambridge with several academic honors and awards including University Prize for Best Graduating Student. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1992 after his subsequent qualification as a Barrister & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He is also a Chartered Mediator & Conciliator.