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LK:
Kindly tell us about yourself.
BO:
My name is Bili Andrew Odum. I was
born in Freetown, Sierra-Leone. I am hap-
pily married to Alice, and we have two
lovely boys, Dumebi and Uzoma. I have
a Bachelors Degree in Law (1989) from
the then Bendel State University. I was
called to the Nigerian Bar in 1990. I am a
member of the Chartered Institute of Ar-
bitrators (United Kingdom), the Nigerian
Bar Association and the International Bar
Association. I am an alumnus of the La-
gos Business School where I attended the
Chief Executive Programme (CEP 18)
I have held high-level strategic positions
in a number of financial services institu-
tions with responsibilities that encom-
passed Asset Management, Structured
Finance, Legal Advisory, Corporate
Governance, Human Resource Manage-
ment, Administration, Knowledge Man-
agement and Business Communication.
LK:
Why did you choose to work for UBA?
BO:
UBA is undoubtedly the largest institu-
tion I have worked in. The diversity of the
people, the sphere/scale of responsibili-
ties, the scope of its products and servic-
es, its global reach and, more important-
ly, the opportunity to learn and deepen
my knowledge and further exposure in
the financial services sector across many
jurisdictions “pulled” me into UBA.
LK:
What was your first role/position in
the banking industry?
BO
: In 1993, I was the Company Sec-
retary/Legal Adviser of Liman Bravo
Savings and Loan Limited, a mortgage
finance institution. After that, in 1994,
I joined Universal Trust Bank (UTB) Plc,
where I served as Legal Officer III in the
Office of the Company Secretary/Legal
Adviser. UTB was a major learning plat-
form for me where I was given very good
training on the roles, responsibilities and
efficient running of the Company Sec-
retariat. The then Company Secretary/
Legal Adviser of UTB and my senior col-
leagues were very helpful and coopera-
tive and I remain grateful for their leader-
ship and kindness.
LK:
Even though your line of work is in the
back office. What aspects of banking do
you find most challenging?
BO:
Every aspect of my work as Group
Company Secretary of UBA is challeng-
ing. I would not use the term “Back Of-
fice” to describe the Company Secretari-
at. We are a service and support group.
We play a vital role in rendering com-
pany secretarial services to the various
strategic business and support groups in
Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world.
We interface frequently with many criti-
cal stakeholders such as the Board, the
Board Committees, Executive Manage-
ment, the individual/institutional share-
holders, the regulators, amongst others.
Every day is an exciting day, where
there is much to learn and much to do.
I do not work alone. I am supported ex-
tensively by colleagues in the Group
Company Secretariat in Nigeria (Gben-
ga Haastrup, Gisele Lawson, Kelechi
Uba-Osigwe, Alphonse Kougblenou,
Diana Agbamuche, Chika Osuji and
Vincent Udeji) and my colleagues in
the subsidiaries in Nigeria and the UBA
Subsidiary Companies in Africa.
LK:
As Group Company Secretary how
have you been able to deal with is-
sues occasioned by the different legal
structures and governmental policies in
various countries of UBA where hasop-
erations?
BO:
In UBA Plc, the office of the Compa-
ny Secretary and the office of the Legal
Adviser are separate and distinct. Sam
Adikamkwu is the Group Legal Adviser.
There is also another Strategic Support
Group called, Regulatory Affairs. We all
have our respective roles that cut across
the different legal structures, govern-
ment policies, etc., in the various coun-
tries. Governance in UBA is institutional-
ized. We have approved Governance
Charters and Policy Documents that
provide guidance and direction on how
to handle most matters as we carry out
our respective roles. Furthermore, there
are key personnel in the various coun-
tries of UBA operations, whose responsi-
bilities encompass legal advisory, com-
pany secretariat, compliance, etc. Our
combined capacities, exposure and
experience as well as the governance
framework enable us to proactively ad-
dress matters across jurisdictions in a co-
ordinated and efficient manner.
LK:
Service delivery is one of the 7-pil-
lars for the year. What are the impera-
tives for improved service delivery
from an internal perspective?
BO:
One of my personal philosophies
for success at work is the principle of
service. As professionals, we are here
to render service in an efficient and ef-
fective manner. The client, whether in-
ternal or external, is here to be served.
Respect for the client is important.
Once respect is set as a ground rule,
superior service is inevitable. In other
words, to serve the client, you must
respect the client, the client’s time, the
client’s needs, the client’s challenges,
etc. Service predicated on true respect
leads to service delivery.
LK:
What would you say about your
relationship with management, col-
leagues and other staff?
BO:
We all spend most of our time in
the office. We therefore must make
our place of work a fun place to be
and work. We have to make the verti-
cal and horizontal relationships work.
Progress and achievement can be
enhanced when the relationships are
healthy and mutually reinforcing. The
principles for sound and cordial rela-
tionship must be respected. Principles
such as common courtesy, empa-
thy, listening, polite communication,
should be adopted as a given. My
relationships at work are, in my view,
great and could be better.
LK:
What are the factors that inspire
and motivate you to aim for greater
success?
BO:
I have very high goals for myself
that are linked to very big “Whys”.
They motivate me every second of
the day. I cannot afford to fail. When I
think of the sacrifices and investments
that have been made for me by my
Lord and Savior, my late father, my
mother, my mentors, my teachers, my
siblings, my friends, etc., it would be
a betrayal of the highest order if I do
not aim and strive for success at work
and in life. When I also think of the in-
vestments and sacrifices that I have
to make for others, pursuing success is
not a luxury. It is a life-long necessity.
There is a saying that “Failure would
only overtake you, if your will to suc-
ceed is not strong enough!” True suc-
Ask the Executive