Tinubu appoints Yemi Cardoso as CBN governor

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated Olayemi Cardoso as the new governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

He has also nominated four new deputy governors; namely Emem Nnana Usoro, Muhammad Sani Abdullahi Dattijo, Philip Ikeazor, and Bala M. Bello.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

Upon confirmation by the Senate, Cardoso will serve for a term of five years, in the first instance.

“This directive is in conformity with Section 8 (1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, which vests in the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the authority to appoint the Governor and Four (4) Deputy Governors for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), subject to confirmation by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the statement reads.

“In line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, the President expects the above-listed nominees to successfully implement critical reforms at the Central Bank of Nigeria, which will enhance the confidence of Nigerians and international partners in the restructuring of the Nigerian economy toward sustainable growth and prosperity for all.”

Cardoso, a banker, chartered stockbroker, and public policy expert, has worked in the public, private, and development sectors for about 30 years.

He was a former commissioner of economic planning and budget in Lagos state; an erstwhile chairman of the board of the African Venture Philanthropy Alliance; and most recently, chairman of Citibank Nigeria Ltd.

Cardoso is the founding chairman and co-chair of the Ehingbeti Summit, the Lagos State Economic Summit. He is also a member of the advisory board of Lagos Business School (LBS).

The statement was, however, silent on the fate of Godwin Emefiele, the suspended, and now former, governor of the apex bank.

It is also unclear how the development would affect the other deputy governors of the bank.