Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Wema Bank, Moruf Oseni has been appointed Chairman of the Consultative Committee for the 19th Annual Banking and Finance Conference of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).

The two-day conference is scheduled to hold on September 8 and 9, 2026, at the Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

The CIBN Annual Banking and Finance Conference is the institute’s flagship knowledge-sharing and solution-driven platform, bringing together policymakers, regulators, financial institutions, development partners, technology providers, academics, business leaders and other stakeholders in the financial services industry and the broader economy.

The 2026 edition is themed, “Building a Resilient Economy in an Era of Disruptions: Strategic Imperatives for the Banking and Financial Services Industry.”

The conference is expected to facilitate discussions on emerging economic and financial challenges, with participants examining strategies for strengthening institutions, enhancing resilience and positioning the Nigerian banking industry for sustainable growth.

Resolutions from the conference will be documented and presented to relevant stakeholders and policymakers through a communique, with the aim of supporting informed decision-making, policy formulation and strategic alignment with global best practices.

Speaking at a press briefing, Oseni, who is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (FCIB), said the 2026 edition had been designed to go beyond conventional discussions to provide practical solutions to issues confronting the economy and financial services industry.

“This year, we have curated what is set to be the biggest edition of the CIBN Annual Banking and Finance Conference in years—and by biggest, I am not just speaking about size.

“What we have curated is a strategic fusion of insightful business sessions, bespoke youth-focused and cyber security programmes and a vast wealth of solution-driven discussions that will take place in a room where all the institutions, bodies and powerhouses with the authority to action the resolutions from these discussions, will be actively present, and this is how positive change is engineered,” he said.

Oseni disclosed that, for the first time, the conference would feature a women-focused programme aimed at examining the role of women in building a resilient, inclusive and future-ready economy.

“For the first time ever, the CIBN Annual Banking and Finance Conference will feature a women-focused programme that will bring to focus the role that women play in building a resilient, inclusive and future-ready economy—a first-of-its-kind initiative that marks a defining milestone in our collective commitment to fostering transformative leadership and shaping a more resilient and prosperous future,” he said.

He said the focus on women and youth was particularly significant to Wema Bank, noting that it aligned with the bank’s strategic objective of empowering lives through innovation and promoting economic participation.

“For Wema Bank, this strategic focus on women and youth is highly imperative and fully aligned with our strategic goals of empowering lives through innovation and contributing actively to a society where every person is empowered to thrive and be economically active,” Oseni said.

He expressed appreciation to the CIBN for entrusting him with the leadership of the committee, describing the assignment as an opportunity to advance conversations around economic empowerment and national development.

“I am profoundly proud to have earned the trust of the CIBN, the opportunity to lead the committee that has put this transformative conference together, and the honour to be at the forefront of a movement that presents the impact that we have been committed to championing, at a much larger scale. I encourage you to join us, as we work together to empower lives and promote the economy,” he said.

Oseni’s appointment comes against the backdrop of his leadership at Wema Bank, where he has championed initiatives focused on innovation, digital banking, financial inclusion, women, youth, small and medium-sized enterprises and other businesses.

As chairman of the consultative committee, he is expected to provide strategic leadership in driving the conference’s objectives and ensuring that its deliberations translate into actionable recommendations for stakeholders across the economy.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to attend the conference alongside Vice President Kashim Shettima, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, FCIB.

The Chief Host is the President and Chairman of Council of CIBN, Dr. Dele Alabi, Ph.D., FCIB.

Other participants are expected to include senior government officials, regulators, development organisations, financial institutions, technology companies, academics and private-sector leaders.