SANEF appoints Uzoebo as new managing director, CEO

Shared Agent Network Expansion Facilities (SANEF) Limited has appointed Uche Uzoebo as its new Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective February 2025.

According to a statement, she succeeds Ronke Kuye, who was the pioneer chief executive and under whose leadership SANEF Limited experienced growth and success in its core mandate of expanding and deepening financial inclusion and agent banking.

Uzoebo brings extensive experience, knowledge and expertise to her new role.

Prior to her appointment, she served as the Chief Distribution and Stakeholder Engagement Officer of SANEF Limited since inception and is credited with driving business, stakeholder expansion and strategic initiatives that has enabled the organisation to meet its core objectives through agent expansion; account opening; product and services; technology solutions; policy advocacy; stakeholder engagement, financial literacy, capacity building and awareness.

As the chief distribution and stakeholder engagement officer of SANEF Limited, Uzoebo also collaborated closely with regulators, banks, financial service providers, developmental organisations, enterprise support organisations, non-governmental organisations, private sector, government agencies to expand financial access points, digital financial services, economic and financial inclusion through agent networks, financial literacy and innovative technology solutions.

The statement described her as a passionate and renowned expert in financial inclusion, digital transformation, inclusive finance and women empowerment in Nigeria.

It stated that with over two decades of cognate experience in banking and financial services, she has established herself as a thought leader and passionate advocate for financial literacy and advocacy, training, inclusive finance, women empowerment and breaking economic barriers.

Her strong business acumen and leadership qualities have driven the advancement of digital financial services, economic and financial inclusion in the ecosystem.

It said Uzoebo has led strategic project initiatives focused on expanding economic inclusion and diligently worked on empowering women as a gender specialist and advocate with special focus on supporting women entrepreneurs; digitally transformed businesses and society.

It stressed that as a reputable certified trainer, she has delivered high-impact training and well-tailored programmes to deepen knowledge and thought leadership.

She has also contributed to published works, spoken at fintech and finance related conferences, thereby providing a strong voice in advancing financial inclusion and digital payment.

The statement said her practice engagements involve policy and strategic management interventions.

According to it, under her leadership, SANEF Limited is committed to achieving excellence, greater growth, development and expansion to stakeholders in the ecosystem.

She is a certified product manager, certified Licensed National Business Development Service Provider (BDSP), member of the Association of International Product Marketing and Management (AIPMM), Global Women in Management (GWIM), Honorary Senior Member (HCIB) – the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), a fellow of Acumen, West Africa and a fellow of The Microfinance Association, UK.

According to the statement, SANEF serves as an enabler in the economic and financial inclusion ecosystem in Nigeria, collaborating with various stakeholders to expand the frontiers of financial inclusion.