Gombe-born seasoned banker, Risikatu Ladi Ahmed, has been ratified as the first female Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Aso Saving and Loans Plc by shareholders.
A lawyer and banker of about three decades of experience, Hajiya Risikatu Ladi Ahmed was named among the 50 most inspiring women in Nigeria as published by Business Day newspaper. She was one of the seven directors ratified during the bank’s 16th and 17th Annual General Meeting held in Kano on July 13, 2022.
The appointments were part of the bank’s repositioning drive in its bid to remain a mortgage bank of choice in Nigeria.
The AGM was held to approve the accounts of 2013 and 2014 financial year and ratify the appointment of Risikatu Ahmed as MD/CEO by shareholders based on approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria effective from May 1, 2021.
The shareholders also ratified the appointment of seven new directors, namely, Abdul Kofarsauri (non-executive), Umar IIiya Damagum (non-executive), Isiyaku Ismaila (non-executive), Daniel Dayo Kunle (independent director) and Henry Semenitari (independent director); Richard Femi Bello and Enesi Makoju are executive directors.
The shareholders by consensus appointed the Boardroom guru and President of the Association of the Advancement of the Rights of Shareholders, Dr Umar Faruk, to act as interim chairman of the AGM.
The reconstituted board, whose members have been described by financial experts as professionals, are set to reposition the bank and take it to greater heights.
Since May 2021, under the leadership of Risikatu Ladi Ahmed, the bank has witnessed a positive turn around in its fortunes through aggressive loan recovery drive and implementation of new business plan to revitalise and bring the bank back to the path of growth and profitability.
The meeting received, approved and adopted the company’s audited accounts for the years ended 31st December 2013 and 31st December, 2014.
ASO Savings & Loans Plc shareholders are optimistic that the bank is on the path of transformational change and a leading mortgage power house in the provision of housing solutions in the country.
Former member of the House of Represebtives, representing Kaltungo and Shangom federal constituency, Hon. Binta, has congratulated the MD for a successful AGM and advised her to continue mentoring young female bankers to emulate to excel in the financial sector.
